The UP Open University (UPOU) Office of Public Affairs (OPA) participated in the 2020 UP Alumni Relations Committee (ARC) Convention held on November 3 and 5, 2020 (Tuesday and Thursday) 9-11 AM via Zoom Meeting. The ARC Convention aimed to to build on the achievements from the 2019 ARC Convention held at Benitez Hall in UP Diliman; reaffirm agreements in seamlessly providing and exchanging information of UP alumni, and to address new concerns of the Office of Alumni Relations (OARs), Office of the University Registrar (OURs), Information and Technology Development Center (ITDC), and Computer Center.
During the first day of the ARC convention, the participants discussed the planned unified alumni database and the various issues and concerns faced by the OARS, OURs and ITDC as well as how to maintain strong relationships among these offices. The second day of the ARC convention discussed the editorial content of the Carillon Magazine 2021-2025. UPOU facilitated the breakout session on featured local and abroad alumni associations for carillon. The Carillon is the official UP alumni newsletter, published since the 1950s. The publication and distribution are managed by the Office of Alumni Relations, UP System, with the Director as official editor.
The ARC is a standing committee created under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs in 2000. It is composed of the Vice President for Public Affairs (Chair); Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs and Director, Office of Alumni Relations (Vice Chair); Immediate Former Director of Office of Alumni Relations (Co-Vice Chair); with Directors of the OARs in the various Constituent Units as members, plus two (2) former or current faculty members of the University of the Philippines to be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Public Affairs. The Alumni Relations Committee meets annually wherein the Office of Alumni Relations Directors discuss and plan activities with the aim to continuously improve its services for UP and its alumni.
For UPOU, the OPA handles alumni relations. Dr. Joane V. Serrano, OPA Director and Asst. Professor Rita Ramos, University Registrar, and Janele Belegal, OPA project staff represented UPOU in the ARC Convention.
Written by Phoebe May Apostol
Edited by Joane V. Serrano