Colleges to undergo hybrid mode of instruction for second semester
By Kaela Gabriel, Patricia Lumenario, and Alexandria Grace Magno
Last Dec. 10, 2022, the Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (OVRAA) of the University issued directives to each college to determine their respective onsite to online class ratio in light of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) memorandum for the second semester of the current academic year.
In memorandum order no. 16 signed last Nov. 11, 2022, CHED had instructed higher education institutions (HEIs) to conduct either full face-to-face classes or hybrid learning for the second semester of the academic year, requiring higher education institutions (HEIs) to eliminate all full-online courses and implement at least 50 percent of face-to-face programs.
Hybrid learning is defined by CHED as “a learning approach that combines both remote learning and in-person learning.”
This measure has been encouraged by CHED to help HEIs transition back to on-site learning, following recovery from the impacts of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, as the opening of second semester started yesterday, concerns and questions on the upcoming face-to-face classes of some Thomasians also rushed in.
TomasinoWeb reached out to different faculties to answer queries Thomasians may have concerning their limited face-to-face (LF2F) schedule and other rules they should be informed of.
Faculty of Engg will remain in hybrid mode
According to Prof. Angelo Dela Cruz, dean of the Faculty of Engineering, most of the technical courses in all six engineering programs will remain in a hybrid (LF2F and enriched virtual mode) mode of learning this semester.
All of the engineering programs already obtained a go signal from higher administrative offices to implement LF2F last academic year. However, courses and activities that will be taken onsite and online shall depend on the student’s program.
“As of last term, most students for all year levels from the six programs have conducted in-person classes and are familiar with the Institutional Health Protocol apart from the Health Protocol being implemented by the Faculty,” Dela Cruz said.
Dela Cruz told TomasinoWeb that some of the guidelines he mentioned were disseminated through the memoranda released last academic year and last term. But students may directly coordinate with the chairpersons of their respective departments for inquiries and further information.
College of Commerce and Business Administration: Program-based intermittent mode of in-person classes
Mr. Francis De Jesus, college secretary of the College of Commerce and Business Administration, said that Commerce and Business programs will have a program-based intermittent mode of in-person classes.
“All programs and all levels will have their F2F classes. Only general education courses will remain fully online,” he added.
De Jesus clarified that even before the first term began in August 2022, they already announced the expanded F2F classes.
When asked about the guidelines and safety measures for the upcoming term, he said that two Townhall forums with students and parents were conducted to ensure proper expectations are set.
A streamlined Google form is made available for inquiries and case reporting purposes.
CTHM in hybrid learning setup
Meanwhile, as per Assoc. Prof. Gezzez Giezi Granado, dean of College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, all year levels of the faculty will conduct both online and face-to-face learning modality for the upcoming semester.
“All major and professional courses will have face-to-face and online classes,” he said.
Granado also added that guidelines and safety measures before entering the campus premises and in attending their respective classes were provided to students during their orientation.
CICS to conduct both online and face-to-face learning modality
For the College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS), Asst. Prof. Jerralyn Padua, the College’s dean , told TomasinoWeb that the guidelines for the department’s set-up this second semester has been released last Dec. 3, 2022 through a general orientation.
In the said general orientation, it was stated that all courses for CICS will be delivered in hybrid mode.
On-site laboratory professional courses and lectures for FoP’s hybrid learning mode
The Faculty of Pharmacy also announced that they will hold a hybrid modality of learning with lecture and laboratory professional courses on-site.
However, lectures for general education courses will be discussed online while its major examinations will be held face-to-face.
AMV with hybrid learning for professional courses per schedule
In a memorandum released by Prof. Patricia M. Empleo, dean of Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy, last Dec. 15, 2022, the college will conduct a hybrid learning modality for all year levels with different schedules for its professional courses.
Students will have both three days online and on-site classes for the divided days depending on their year level, that is; Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday.
Meanwhile, general education courses may also hold in-person classes according to the said schedule and all assessments will be on-site.
Among the faculties that responded, the Faculty of Engineering, Commerce and Business Administration and CTHM said that vaccination status of the students will not affect their eligibility to enroll for in-person classes.
As per the Office of the Secretary General (OSG) Memorandum №03 for the A.Y. 2022–2023, those unvaccinated individuals can participate in on-site classes in accordance with the order of CHED.
Departments such as College of Architecture, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Nursing, College of Education, College of Science Conservatory of Music, IPEA, CFAD, AB, Faculty of Civil Law, and Faculty of Medicine and Surgery have yet to respond with our inquiries regarding face-to-face class setup.
