BOR clarifies November 28 meeting

By Allana Marie P. Nacino

The University Student Council (USC) together with other student leaders had a meeting with the Board of Regents (BOR) led by UP President Alfredo Pascual on 02 December 2013 to discuss and clarify matters regarding the alleged meeting held by the BOR on 28 November 2013.

It was brought about to the students’ attention on the afternoon of 28 November 2013 through room-to-room visits of various student leaders that the BOR has allegedly approved a number of student policies that are against students’ right to education. The rumor immediately spread around the campus and outraged the student body prompting the student leaders to ask for an emergency meeting with the BOR to clarify on the matter.

When asked by the Philippine Collegian’s representative to shed light on the controversial meeting, Pascual said that a formal meeting was not held by the board last November 28. A formal meeting would have been held however only five (5) members of the board were present, thus only an informal discussion was held among the attending members.

On the alleged approved anti-student policies, Pascual stressed that no formal voting was done. Apoll was taken among those who were present to gain cursory information on the position on the issue of those present. Also, Pascual said that all the policies proposed are for the betterment of the students and are based on the BOR commitment that no qualified student shall be denied access to UP education due to financial incapacity.

Socialized Tuition System 2013

Brackets	Present STFAP	Proposed STS2013
A	Over P1,000,000	Over 1,300,000
B	P500,001 to P1,000,000	P650,001 to P1,300,000
C	P250,001 to P500,000	P325,001 to P650,000
D	P135,001 to P250,000	P135,001 to P325,000
E1	P80,001 to P135,000	P80,001 to P135,000
E2	P80,000 and below	P80,000 and below

Table 1: Current STFAP and Proposed STS2013 Bracket Ranges

Among these policies is the Socialized Tuition System 2013 (STS2013), which is proposed to replace the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP). It composes of the following changes:

1. simplification of the basis for assigning tuition brackets by using only two indicators: a) the declared household income as expanded in scope and b) the Marketing and Opinion Research Society of the Philippines Socioeconomic Classification (MORES 1SEC) instrument for all students starting in academic year 2014-2015;
2. upward adjustment of the gross income cut-offs of Bracket A, B, C and D by 30% , but still retaining cut-offs for E1 and E2 (refer to Table 1);

3. increase in the monthly allowance of Bracket E2 students from P2,400 to P3,500 for 10 months each year;
4. streamlining and automation of the bracket assignment;
5. streamlining and decentralization of the appeal process; and
6. implementation of supporting measures that includes: a) appointment of System-level official; b) proper training of concerned UP personnel at the different CUs; c) intensified dissemination of STS2013 information to the students; d) issuance of more detailed guidelines and procedures; e) strengthening of control systems; f) institutionalization of the mechanisms for sustained regular review; and g) enhancing the related student financial assistance service (e.g., more scholarships, more need-based grants-in-aid, more and better paying student assistantships).

Tuition fee decrease?

STFAP has always been a controversial topic in the university. Since its implementation in 2007, it was met by various movements clamoring for its amendment or repeal. When asked if it was possible to have a provision about the decrease of tuition, Pascual answered, “I see no reason. Mura na ang edukasyon sa UP kumpara sa Ateneo. Ano ba ang gusto nyong mangyari? Scrap STFAP? Ano bang ibig sabihin ninyo ‘don? Ibalik sa P40.00 per unit? May nag-propose na ba sa inyo ‘nyan sa board? Basta may proposal kayo at may ipapalit kayong sistema we will consider your proposal and take a look on it. Pero kasi wala naming nagpapasa”

Revisions in the University Code

Article	Existing Provision	Proposed Provision
330	No person who has not duly matriculated may be admitted to the classes. In exceptional cases, the University Registrar, may on the recommendation of the Dean or Director concerned, authorize the admission of a visitor to a class for not more than five sessions.	All students must be duly registered before they are allowed to attend classes. A student who is unable to pay the required tuition and other fees due to financial incapacity may apply for a loan from the Student Loan Board to complete the registration.
430	Students who are indebted to the student loan board, their sureties and parents or guardians, shall be notified that such indebtedness must be paid in full one month before the final semestral examinations begin.	Students who are unable to settle their loan accounts with the Student Loan Board by the final due date shall be notified, together with their parents and/or guardians, of their past due obligations.
431	If a student fails to settle his account at the time herein provided, the faculty members should either bar the delinquent student from taking the exam or, if they allow him to take the exam, to withhold his grades – that is, instead of indicating the grades, the faculty members should write a note in the ‘remarks column’ – ‘has account with the student loan board’. If the account is not settled by the opening of the following semester, the student may not be allowed to register.	In no instance shall a student, who has unpaid loan obligations due to financial incapacity as attested to by his/her parent, guardian, or professor in an appeal endorsed by the concerned Dean and approved by the Chancellor, be barred from registering for, and attending, his/her required classes. However, the said student shall have to settle his/her loan account in full as a condition for the release of his/her diploma, transcript of records, clearance and other academic credentials.

Table 2: Existing Provisions and Proposed Revisions of Articles 330, 430 and 431

Also discussed was the proposed revision of Articles 330, 430 and 431 of the Revised University Code.  (Refer to Table 2)

With the proposed revisions, Pascual and the BOR members present assured everyone present that all the proposed revisions are for the benefit of the students. However, alleged issues like the “Super Bracket A” was not further dwelled upon in the meeting but its possibility was not also denied by the board. Also, to ensure that no student will be deprived of UP education due to financial incapacity, it was also proposed that students be allowed to loan amounts of up to one hundred percent (100%) of total assessed fees without interest for the first three months.

Pascual added that we should not immediately believe all of the rumors we hear because not all of them are true. “Maganda ‘tong ginawa ninyo na lumapit sa amin. Mas okay na itong alam ninyo ang talagang nangyari because none of the rumors are really true.”

Another consultation was held on 10 December 2013 to clarify with the students everything that was discussed during this meeting. Three venues and schedules were identified.