By Kean Andrei Bagaipo
Silliman University (SU) colleges laid out their plans as the nominations for new deans and directors officially began for the next term of office.
In an administrative letter published last Jan. 28, SU Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research (VPAAR) Dr. Margaret Helen Alvarez stated that a Nominating Committee was appointed for each college to “consult stakeholders and address other tasks.”
The committee comprises full-time faculty of the college, current student council governor, member of the pastoral team, and a convenor assigned by the VPAAR.
Last Feb. 9, members of each college’s nominating committee convened for an orientation on the nomination guidelines, process, and timeline.
According to the university guidelines, each college must choose and submit at least five nominees by mid-March which are identified by opening a “call for nominations” to faculty and staff, students, and alumni.
“It will seek the views of the different constituencies of the college (faculty, staff, alumni, students) as to what, to them, are the most desirable criteria for selecting nominees to the deanship/directorship,” the guidelines wrote.
Depending on a college’s current situation, it can also form and release a specific nomination criteria based on the inputs and suggestions from its constituencies.
These include specifying requirements and qualifications set by the Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order (CMO).
College’s processes
With over 460 enrolled students, College of Education (COE) Student Organization Governor Edylc Chiu said that they conducted a general assembly with different academic organizations to collect students’ opinions on the nomination process.
“But for the faculty, I really have to go to each office, interview the secretaries of the faculty who their preferred deans are–to senior high, junior high, and [School of Basic Education] and then just tally and break down the criteria,” Chiu explained.
He confirmed that they had already identified five prospects, pending further review and confirmation through consent.
As per the college’s CMO on qualifications, a nominee must be licensed with three years of satisfactory teaching experience and two years of administrative experience on top of their doctorate degree.
Meanwhile, the College of Business Administration (CBA) eyes to open its call for nominations by mid-February, according to Governor Lia Nicole Angelika Bungabong.
“Our mechanisms would be conducting interviews with faculty and staff. As for me, I plan to also consult with students,” she said, adding that a “more specific” guidelines from the VPAAR would help them in the process.
Should they be nominated, incumbent deans Dr. Gina Bonior of COE and Dr. Wilma Tejero-Libarios of CBA still qualify for another term.
Expectations
Governors of the College of Performing and Visual Arts (COPVA) and College of Mass Communication (CMC) also shared their expectations for their new academic heads next school year.
COPVA Governor Sean Christian Joy Cuizon said she wants their next dean to “push to develop more internship programs” by expanding mentorship, career counseling, and post-graduate support.
“Building direct connections between students and potential employers in the arts industry will be key to post-graduation success,” Cuizon stated.
As for CMC, Governor Angelique Kara Sorbito noted that the next administration must be “innovative and a forward thinker” into the 21st-century learning environment.
“I hope that there are new courses under our college especially with film, different types of communication, and such. I hope the upcoming administration holds the value of Mass Communication but works towards the future of media and communication” she said.
Both governors also stressed that streamlining the selection phase and conducting an online orientation for newly-appointed council leaders can fast-track the nomination process.
Other colleges also opened their respective call for nominations via their social media pages such as the College of Engineering Design and Divinity School.
The selection process for new academic heads is expected to finish by May this year.
