Thread by @tinigngplaridel

HAPPENING NOW: The three nominees for the next UP Diliman Chancellor face the community in a public forum to present their vision papers and plans for the next three years.

Follow this thread for updates.

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Prof. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, chair of the 2023 UP Diliman Chancellor Search Committee, delivers the welcome remarks to begin the forum.

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Bonifacio-Ramolete stresses the importance of the forum to know the nominees and their vision for UP Diliman.

“Maaari rin natin silang tanungin at hingian ng paliwanag ukol sa kanilang bisyon.”

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Dr. Fidel Nemenzo reports on the state of the campus during his term as Chancellor from 2020 to 2023.

Nemenzo is also among the nominees for this round of chancellor selection.

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Nemenzo on his administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Even with the challenges brought about by the pandemic, we aimed to ensure an environment conducive to research.

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Nemenzo said one of his first activities as chancellor is the campaign for academic freedom and the defense of the UP-DND accord.

“UP should always be a safe haven for civilized and intelligent discourse.”

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Nemenzo highlighted strengthening the GE program and improving the systems used in academic activities like UVLe. He also mentioned initiatives to update library databases and management systems.

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Nemenzo: Our global partnership continued despite the pandemic. We made sure that our students, faculty, and staff who participated in international activities were safe and protected.

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Nemenzo on quality assurance in the campus: We should review academic performance metrics to make sure we live up to the values of the university.

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Nemenzo also highlighted the introduction of 13 new academic programs in UP Diliman “amid several challenges.”

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Nemenzo reported on UP Diliman’s vaccination drive where almost 37,000 vaccine shots were administered throughout the program’s implementation.

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Aside from vaccines, UPD under Nemenzo’s administration also conducted swab testing and contact tracing and converted dormitories into isolation facilities at the peak of the pandemic in 2020.

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Nemenzo also mentioned initiatives for students such as the setting up of study centers both virtual and onground.

“Because we value every member of the community, regular dialogues and consultations were held among the stakeholders.”

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Nemenzo adds that his term saw the launch of workshops and trainings to strengthen the rights of women and LGBTQ+. Among these is the approval of the Transgender and Gender Non-conforming (TGNC) affirming policy.

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Nemenzo shares the launch of digitized services for faster university transactions, such as the Contract of Services Payroll System (COSPay) and the University Transactions Automated Kit (UTAK).

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On establishing a “safe and resilient” campus, Nemenzo reports on improved security services through the procurement of a new patrol car for the UPD Police.

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Nemenzo: We made UPD a smart and sustainable campus. We made sure our data is always protected, that’s why we are recognized with the privacy management program award.

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The forum moves to the presentation of vision papers by the nominees. Back on the podium is Dr. Fidel Nemenzo, who is vying for his second term.

Read more about his plans here: tinyurl.com/43yf2s35

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Nemenzo: Kakaiba ang aking termino bilang tsanselor ng UPD. Ang pinakamalaking hamon na kinaharap ng aking termino ay ang siguraduhing ligtas ang komunidad [mula sa COVID-19].

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Nemenzo highlights three things in his leadership: “tatag, husay at talino, at prinsipyo.”

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Nemenzo eyes to renovate the University Health Service, as well as to provide an “integrated, comprehensive, and accessible” services for the health and well-being of the community.

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CONTEXT: On Jan. 27, the UP Diliman Health Service held the inauguration of its newly renovated space.

facebook.com/UPDHealthServi…

On concerns for accommodations, Nemenzo promises to finish the renovation of existing dormitories and the construction of new ones. He also plans to propose post-retirement housing facilities for UPD employees.

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Nemenzo expresses commitment to institutionalize the UP PsycServ and expand other psychological services.

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Nemenzo: We will continue to work with neighboring barangays and the LGU to address the situation of informal settlers.

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Nemenzo proceeds on his plans to focus on academic excellence and the promotion of academic freedom and integrity.

Among his priorities are to upgrade the university’s digital infrastructure and improve research management.

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Nemenzo also eyes establishing a new support office that will assist researchers in the procurement of equipment.

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Nemenzo plans to lead in the study of the impact of artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT and GPT4 on education.

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Nemenzo stresses his commitment in strengthening the General Education program.

“GE should provide the 21st century skills that are essential in times of great change,” he says.

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Nemenzo also plans to enhance music, theater and local culture and programs.

He adds that collaboration with other state universities and colleges is an important point in hisvision.

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Nemenzo stressed the importance of a “democratic, efficient, and effective governance” through the continued development of homegrown administration technologies.

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Nemenzo’s term as Chancellor saw the launch of a roadmap to a “plastic-free” UP Diliman. He plans to continue this if given a second term.

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Nemenzo also plans to launch a “sustainable” bike share program and to assist jeepney drivers in their transition to cleaner public transportation.

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Nemenzo: Ngayong mas panatag na ang sitwasyon, lubos kong ikararangal kung mabibigyan ako ng isa pang pagkakataon para maipagpatuloy ang mga programang ating nasimulan.

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To close his presentation, Nemenzo reiterates his main points: Isang UPD na walang sawang maglilingkod sa bayan. Isang UPD na tapat sa ating prinsipyo.

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Former Archaeological Studies Program Director Dr. Victor Joaquin Paz is next to present his vision paper.

Read more of his plans here: tinyurl.com/47hzdams

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Paz emphasizes the recognition of UPD’s position in society, “not just as an academic institution.”

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Paz: If I am chosen, it is my responsibility to make sure that we push from the gains of the former chancellor.

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Paz says he will push the university into a “transformation of culture and the way we see ourselves” through improving the head of local units.

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Paz raised alarm on the lack of foreign students in UP Diliman. He said this merits a review of existing policies and an improvement of graduate programs.

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Paz on increasing the number of local journals: We produce data and information. We can definitely produce knowledge.

The archaeology professor was a founding editor of Hukay Journal, a journal on Southeast Asia and Pacific archaeology.

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Paz also vows to strengthen the higher education profile of faculty and REPS through a “more aggressive” recruitment and the development of local graduate programs.

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Paz proposes the review and reevaluation of existing policies such as the admissions policy of the UP Integrated School and the university’s academic calendar.

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Paz says the university under his term will work for the fine tuning of the research, extension, and professional staff (REPS) sector.

“This large sector of our community can provide the energy and production in making our university a top class university.”

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Paz also plans to enhance local and international linkages by incentivizing extension work and improving the Office of International Linkages.

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Paz on improving students’ rights and welfare: We have to be serious in giving democratic access to [UP]. It’s high time that we expand the number of students we accommodate in UPD.

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Paz calls to maximize the use of the Student Union Building in favor of students and other members of the community. He notes that maintaining these facilities is “a big task but it’s not impossible.”

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Paz also eyes to provide more housing opportunities for employees on- and off-campus. He highlights that on-campus housing “is not a right; it is a privilege.”

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Paz: I am all for housing of everyone, but we cannot accommodate everyone inside the UP campus.

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Paz reiterates the role of UPD as a “placemaking field.”

“It is our responsibility to make sure that our campus is for everyone, but at the same time, we must harness the potential of our campus towards a place, a sense of belonging, a campus serving [a] university town.”

UP College of Law Dean Atty. Edgardo Carlo Vistan is last to present his vision paper.

His vision centers on making UP Diliman a university that “leads in the holistic formation of individuals and communities.”

Read more: tinyurl.com/33cxz8wh

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Vistan: Napakaraming magandang pagbabago at pag-unlad ang nangyari sa UP Diliman [mula] noong panahon na nag-aral ako dito.

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In the next three years, Vistan sees a university that is “more actively and meaningfully engaged.”

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Vistan: We must be a leading university that also leads in helping other institutions to improve their capacity.

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Vistan says engagement will be the driving force of his leadership as UP Diliman Chancellor.

“We could do better in engaging with each other. What we produce here should matter.”

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If appointed as Chancellor, Vistan eyes to conduct dialogues with stakeholders to “share where we want to bring UP Diliman in the short- and long-term.”

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Vistan: To have facilities, systems, and processes in an institutional level will allow us to interface with our students and other stakeholders and process the feedback we gather.

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Vistan promises to reform the administrative processes of the university to make them "more efficient."

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Vistan also plans to complement student-faculty engagement with student-stakeholder engagement.

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Vistan says engagement with faculty will also be boosted through internal faculty exchanges, regular and active dialogues, mentoring and coaching programs, and the improvement of course content and teaching techniques.

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Vistan eyes making UP Diliman both a “physical and virtual campus” that furthers engagement, with a focus on building a sustainable campus that “communicates to the rest of the world.”

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Vistan will look into the possibility of lobbying the exemption of UP from the salary standardization framework to offer "better packages for faculty and staff."

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Vistan reiterates his push for enhancing engagement.

“I will bring with me the working knowledge of this approach. If you help others achieve what they want, they will also help you achieve what you want.”

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The program proceeds to the question and answer portion.

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Question to all nominees: What is your plan to make the university respond to its mandate to become a research and graduate university?

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Nemenzo says improving support systems and giving chances to researchers to discuss among themselves will help the university fulfill this mandate.

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Nemenzo adds that there are incentives given to encourage the faculty and staff to engage in more research.

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Paz insists that junior faculty members should be encouraged to develop their research and pursue “higher degrees.”

“We create a lot of systems [which] intend to dampen the momentum of researchers.”

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Paz: Expedite the support system and make sure that it does not [hinder] the momentum for the research.

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Vistan suggests a review of the roles of the faculty, including the transfer of undergraduate teaching load from full-time faculty to part-time faculty.

In this way, he believes that faculty members will have more time to conduct research.

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Vistan: With more time, the regular faculty can train and improve the course content and pass it on to other faculty and contribute to the educational mandate of their respective units.

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Question to all nominees: What is the role of the liberal arts and general education in the 21st century?

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Paz says he was “critical” that the General Education was not assessed in a decade.

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Paz: Central liberal education [is our] antidote to the seeming threat of artificial intelligence.

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Vistan: It is unfortunate that policies today focus on technical capacity. We need the liberal arts and general education.

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Vistan says that based on experience, he learned many things from areas outside his line of work that can be applied to his work as a lawyer.

He vows to promote the general education program.

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Nemenzo: We need to imbue our students with wisdom to control and properly direct the technologies we are creating. That is the role of the liberal arts.

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Nemenzo: The way to understand social phenomena right now is to look at it from multiple perspectives. Liberal education is the heart of UP education.

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Question: How do you plan to address the lack of units during registration period that students struggle with every semester?

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Vistan reiterates the importance of surveying for units. He notes that there are already informal mechanisms for this.

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Vistan suggests bringing in more part-time faculty could solve the problem in the lack of offered units.

"I think part of the problem is hindi kinakaya ng faculty complement natin yung kailangan ng bawat estudyante.”

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Nemenzo advocates for the review of enrollment patterns. He says part of the problem is that students are given much freedom in choosing courses.

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Nemenzo also raised the need to recruit more faculty especially for the General Education courses, as well as conducting bigger classes through retrofitting classrooms and utilizing available technologies.

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Paz says the dearth in the number of available units for students is due to the increase in the required GE subjects.

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Paz: Students must celebrate this right of choosing [their own] courses and professors they want to enroll in. Let faculty members have the program to increase the number of students in their class.

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Question to all nominees: What plans are in place to expedite the processing of salaries of UP employees?

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Nemenzo says BULSA and COSPay have contributed in reducing the processing time of salaries, but audit requirements remain a major blockage.

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Nemenzo says the university is working with the Commission on Audit (COA) to fix their requirements and speed up the process.

“Habang hindi nagbabago ang [requirements] ng COA ay mahirap pa rin.”

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Paz also supports the idea of coordinating with COA to streamline the processing of salaries of UP Employees.

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Paz: Teamwork between the UP System and UPD is crucial in the way we talk and organize with COA.

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Vistan says the problem of delays is because the payment processes only start after the service is done. He suggests an advanced processing of payments to speed up the transaction.

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Vistan: We have to address the aspect of our operations. Masimplehan yung mga proseso, mabawasan yung mga steps.

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Question to all nominees: What is your stance on the proposed mandatory imposition of the ROTC program and the possible increased military presence that comes with it?

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Paz: We have the infrastructure to provide top-class military training, [but] my problem is that, if you apply this across the nation, babalik tayo sa dati... We must be cautious in coupling [mandatory ROTC] with militarization in the campus.

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Paz: I am not in favor of [mandatory ROTC]. But in the [event] that is implemented by law, we must rely on our friends to make sure it is not [taken advantage] for militarization.

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Vistan says the ROTC program should be reviewed and not imposed to all.

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Vistan: Kailangan nating tanggapin na not everyone can [render military service]. We have to give our students choices. We should also recognize the individual capacities of our students.

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Nemenzo: I am against mandatory ROTC. Ako po ay hindi anti-military [...] but we have to recognize the different functions of the [academe] and the military.

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Nemenzo to proponents of mandatory ROTC: There are lines you do not cross. That line is academic freedom.

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Nemenzo proposes the establishment of a security studies program which will tackle not only military security, but also other perspectives such as economic and food security.

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Question to all nominees: How do you think should commercial establishments like the Shopping Center be utilized?

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Nemenzo: The UP Shopping Center should not be seen as a profit-making enterprise, but as an establishment that provides services to students.

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Nemenzo hopes old service providers and stall owners will be given first priority in the new Shopping Center.

“We need to make sure that there are places that would offer services affordable to the community.”

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CONTEXT: The Samahan ng Manininda sa UP Campus earlier expressed concern over the Shopping Center after not being prioritized in the recently built Food Hub.

Read their full statement here: tinyurl.com/h3xup8ba

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Paz likens the Shopping Center to the development of Area 2 as a “hub of eating services” due to the affordability of its options.

“The Shopping Center must remain as a service provider [to the community].”

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Paz: We should be able to subsidize [the operations of the Shopping Center]. It is not for profit.

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Vistan says the UP administration is eyeing to get a third-party to source tenants at the upcoming establishment.

“Hindi completely hawak ng magiging chancellor ang [management] ng Shopping Center.”

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Question to all nominees: How do you plan to deal with frat-related violence?

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Paz: I think there are enough draconic policies existing to address frat-related violence and I think the fraternities have already adjusted.

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Paz says most, if not all, UP fraternities have done away with hazing.

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Vistan: Early intervention in frat-related violence is the key. I think hindi na masyadong malaking problema yan ngayon.

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Vistan agrees that there are already enough rules in place, but their implementation needs improvement.

He adds that there are other forms of violence which are “more difficult” to address.

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Nemenzo: Hindi madaling mag-implement kasi hindi karamihan ng frats ay hindi nagpapa-recognize. If they are not recognized, how can we control [them]?

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Nemenzo maintains that frat-related violence and misogyny must be condemned.

“I believe that fraternities are here to stay because of their traditions, but the macho culture and misogyny are not part of those traditions.”

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Question to all nominees: Did the lack of female nominees in the final list of nominees for chancellorship happen by chance?

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Vistan says it must only be a coincidence that there were no female nominees in the search for UP Diliman Chancellor and UP President. He also noted that chancellors in other constituent units are female.

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Nemenzo: Some of the best administrators are women. Wala namang katotohanan na may pagkukulang ang mga kababaihan.

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Paz: The most effective and influential administrators I know are women. Some are gay, very rare ang men. It’s not an issue.

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Question to all nominees: What are your plans for UP Pampanga? What are your plans on UP Pampanga being an autonomous unit?

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Nemenzo clarifies that there is currently no UP Pampanga, only UP DEPPO (Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga and Olongapo).

He notes, however, that they should be autonomous, given that they are "comparatively bigger" than other UP Diliman colleges.

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Nemenzo calls to improve the programs in the extension campus because of its “growing importance” in Central Luzon.

“UP [needs] to have a presence in Central Luzon. If there is a UP [campus] in Central Luzon, it will grow [to become] UP Pampanga.”

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Paz agrees that UP DEPPO should be an autonomous unit: The infrastructure [is] already there. It has a big land grant.

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Paz: UP Pampanga can have a specific area of study like UP Los Baños and UP Mindanao.

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Vistan also agrees to make UP DEPPO an autonomous unit. He says the next chancellor should assist this transition through the sourcing of requirements for it to function as a constituent university.

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Question to all nominees: What are your thoughts on the current admissions system (UPCAT)?

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Paz sees UPCAT as just another variable in the admission process, but he hints at the possibility of exploring other admission standards.

“The admissions system of UP must be constantly reviewed and tweaked.”

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Vistan: My position is that there should be an exam. It is an equalizer for those whose grades are not equally assessed and evaluated as their fellow applicants.

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Vistan says he trusts the admissions office, after their collaboration for the Law Aptitude Exam (LAE).

“UPCAT should be an essential part of our admissions process.”

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Vistan: I do want to look at the possibility of adding more to the [admissions] equation. Tinitingnan pa ba ang extracurricular activities?

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Vistan says he is more concerned with regionalizing the UPCAT.

The last UPCAT, conducted for batch 2020, already has multiple testing centers outside of constituent universities.

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Nemenzo: I think that the suspension of UPCAT in the last three years is a good thing. It allowed us to introduced equity and make admission to the university more inclusive.

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Nemenzo: We have data on high school grades, UPCAT performance and college. We cannot show that performance in UPCAT will show their performance in the first year.

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Nemenzo: High school grades proved to be a better predictor of performance than the UPCAT.

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Nemenzo says the exam-less UP admission system caused an increase in students coming from the provinces.

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Nemenzo: If UPCAT is there, I am in favor of reducing its percentage in the University Predicted Grade (UPG).

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The question and answer segment has ended. The forum ends with the singing of UP Naming Mahal.

Sectoral consultations will be conducted from March 21 to 23, with the nominees doing a closed-door interview on Thursday afternoon.

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