In line with the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Flagship Program TAYO (Participatory Governance and Health and Wellness) of the UPOU Strategic Plan 2016-2019 and the UP System Goal No. 4 (Improve Welfare of Constituents) of the UP Strategic Plan 2017-2023, the new All UP Academic Employees Union-Open University (AUPAEU-OU) Chapter Council led the UPOU Research, Extension and Professional Staff (REPS) consultation-meeting with the Chancellor on 27 April 2021 via Zoom.
Asst. Prof. Queenie R. Ridulme (from the Faculty of Management and Development Studies or FMDS), the newly elected President of the AUPAEU-OU Chapter, officially started the activity with her opening message. She said that the consultation-meeting aims to: (1) conduct a courtesy call with the Chancellor to formally introduce the newly-elected AUPAEU-OU Chapter Council 2021-2023; (2) share the highlights of the 2021 UPOU REPS Conference held on 24 March 2021; and (3) come-up with key agreements/action plans based on the issues and concerns raised during the REPS conference.
Pres. Ridulme formally introduced the rest of the newly elected officers of the AUPAEU-OU Chapter: Assoc. Prof. Diego S. Maranan (from the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies or FICS) as Vice President for faculty; Ms. Carmelita A. Orias (from the Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services or OASIS) as Vice President for REPS; Ms. Jeniffer F. De Pasion-Guevarra (from FMDS) as Secretary; Ms. Margaret J. Suarez (from FICS) as Treasurer; Ms. Eleanor P. Manipol (from Campus Development and Management Office or CDMO) as Public Relations Officer; and Asst. Prof. Ria Valerie D. Cabanes (from FMDS); Asst. Prof. Roja L. Rivera (from the Faculty of Education or FEd); and Mr. Larry N. Cruz (from FMDS) as Directors. She added that the newly elected Council Members will serve a three-year term from 2021-2023.
Chancellor Melinda dela Pena Bandalaria acknowledged and congratulated the new set of officers. She said that she looks forward to a good partnership with the AUPAEU-OU Chapter Council as in the past set of officers. The Chancellor also expressed her appreciation to the previous set of officers.
For the highlights of the 2021 UPOU REPS Conference, Pres. Ridulme turned over the discussion to Dir. Cruz who served as the facilitator in the UPOU REPS conference. Dir. Cruz shared the following highlights which also served as the discussion points during the consultation-meeting: (1) hiring/recruitment and selection of new REPS; (2) renewal of UPOU REPS with UP Contractual Appointment; (3) promotion (current, proposed and automatic promotion of permanent REPS upon obtaining a PhD degree or its equivalent); (4) audit of REPS items; and (5) request for REPS items.
In response, the Chancellor gave her comments and suggestions for each of the discussion points raised which also formed part of the key agreements and/or action plans. On the hiring/recruitment and selection of new REPS, she advised the immediate filling-up of the two vacant University Extension Associate positions, and the submission of the justification for the filling-up of the College Librarian following the Proposed Guidelines in the Hiring Process for REPS Member. The proposed guidelines were prepared and submitted by the UPOU REPS Welfare Council (RWC) which was approved by the Chancellor on 23 February 2021.
Chancellor Bandalaria also requested the AUPAEU-OU Chapter Council to facilitate the sending and/or resending of the following documents to the Office of the Chancellor: (1) Proposed revised policies, procedures and guidelines for the renewal of UPOU REPS with UP contractual appointment; (2) Letter of recommendation regarding the automatic promotion of a REPS upon obtaining a PhD degree; and (3) Letter of inquiry regarding the total number of REPS Items at UPOU addressed to the UP System RWC Chair. Furthermore, she encouraged the UPOU RWC through Ms. Margaret J. Suarez, UPOU Representative to the UP System RWC, to work closely with the Office of the Chancellor and the UP System RWC in the audit of and request for REPS items.
In the question and answer portion, the following concerns were raised: (1) REPS with administrative appointment (i.e. Director, Program Development Associate or PDA); and (2) REPS involvement in the development and delivery of Massive Open Online Course or MOOC.
Chancellor Bandalaria suggested that the UPOU may initiate to study the terms of reference of the REPS with administrative positions considering that this is a UP System level concern. She also suggested that the REPS involvement in MOOC development and delivery be considered in the second revision of the UPOU MOOC Policies, Principles and Guidelines which is being reviewed by the Multimedia Center using the 2017 original version and the 2018 revised version of the policies.
To formally end the event, Chancellor Bandalaria delivered her closing message. She expressed her appreciation and congratulations to the new AUPAEU-OU Chapter Council for organizing the successful consultation-meeting.
Moving forward, the new AUPAEU-OU Chapter Council hopes to organize a similar consultation meeting with the Chancellor for the faculty members and contract of service (COS) staff within 2021.
Written by Larry N. Cruz
Edited by Joane V. Serrano and Anna Cañas-Llamas
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