Article by: Lia Cahinhinan, Marvin Corsino, Shaina Camille Macaranas, Mikaela Pontanares, Marco Sunga, Therese Anne Cruz
Photo by: Mary Lesley A. Beriña
After 22 years, Mapúa University (MU) is set to end the four-terms-per-year system (Quarterm) and follow a three-terms-per-year system (Trimester) this upcoming school year 2024-2025. Along with this shift, MU developed policies to aid students in the transition and ensure an efficient rollout of the system.
Since the first news of the curriculum shift back in February of this year, the change of MU to a trimestral school calendar started an uproar amongst the students as the University is notorious as the only institution who implements Quarterm for higher education in the Philippines.
To ease concerns and provide clarification on the new system’s policies, The New Builder held an interview with MU’s President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) Dr. Lilibeth D. Sabino, and Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Mr. Raul Tan last July 15.
Reason behind the shift
According to Dr. Maestrecampo, the decision is based on multiple factors. One of those reasons is to allow the students to have more time each semester to accomplish their work. “Kasi ang isang nagiging problem natin nung maiksing term system is [...] some of the universities, or some of the processes would take longer than nine weeks. [...] So when we want to, for example, send students for training in other universities [like] internships or research, the always problem is that the term is very short, so they have to extend.” the President elaborated.
Furthermore, with the increased opportunities for the students to do internationalization activities on a 14-week per semester, the Mapúa admins suggest that it shall improve the actions in achieving globalization in the education of the Mapúans.
Another reason is that it is done to correspond with the needs and the feedback that the administration have been receiving, which is mostly based on the Happiness Index Survey that launched earlier this year. “Pero I think you understand, and you have heard the reason why we are doing this is because of the request of the students... In fact, we're okay already with the quarter system. But it keeps on popping [up] during surveys, during feedback, that they're [students] really having difficulty coping with the short-term system.” highlighted by Dr. Maestrecampo, detailing the results of the survey and how it affects the Trimester decision.
Shifting to trimester
As per EVPAA Dr. Sabino, the new curriculum for both new and old batches will be released by the Registrar before the school year starts. Moreover, the handbook for A.Y. 2024-2025 will also be released in the same timeframe.
In a student dialogue held last March 2024, the administration explained that the Trimester will compose of 14 weeks per term, with a one-month break which students may opt to use as a summer term to catch up on classes, especially during this transition period. “… so three terms and then we will have one month break and the students are actually encouraged, everyone is encouraged to take that one-month break…,” Dr. Maestrecampo stated.
In terms of the proposed summer classes, Mr. Tan stated that it was a little too early to talk about the enrollment process for the term to which the other administrators agreed. “Hindi na yun [by] preloading, kasi as per request yun eh,” Dr. Sabino added.
When asked about the threshold for opening courses and sections for the summer term, the administrators regarded the matter to be negotiable as it will depend on certain factors (i.e., the demand and need for a specific course, availability of instructors). Specifically, less populated courses may also be offered despite not reaching the minimum of 15 students “…if the department sees that it is strategic [in order] for you to complete your program,” said Dr. Maestrecampo.
Moreover, the EVP-COO assured that the University will be identifying certain courses that have a significant number of retakers and will be considered to be automatically offered for summer term.
Dr. Maestrecampo mentioned that the fees for the summer term will be the same by default, but the miscellaneous fee is subject to change. “Kasi ‘yung miscellaneous fees covers the whole [...] fourteen-week term [...] if it will just shorten to just one month, there should be adjustment[s].” as explained by Dr. Maestrecampo.
Among the mentioned policy changes was a longer deadline for certain activities such as the dropping of courses, making it possible for the students to decide much later if they will drop the course or not. In addition to that, Dr. Sabino also reiterated that the load of the students from 15 units in the quarterm would then be adjusted to a maximum of 21 units for the trimester, which equates to seven courses.
The application process for students aspiring for scholarships will also remain the same as per the University’s policy.
When asked how the grading system of I (Incomplete) and IP (In Progress) would work in the summer term, Dr. Sabino revealed that the IP grading system would be abolished and will only be retained in thesis courses. “Tatanggalin na yung IP na ‘yun. Bale, yung IP, instead na bibigyan kayo ng grade na IP, yung teacher niyo must give you chances already within the term. […] Yung IP, ibibigay na lang natin sa mga thesis courses, tulad ng dati.”
Dr. Maestrecampo added that the IP for normal courses would be satisfied within the term and not cross over to the next term.
Adjusting to the shift
As the last term of the quarterm ends, Dr. Maestrecampo, together with Mr. Tan, have shared that to ensure the smooth transition to trimestral, they have already been doing test runs in the previous term. “In fact, some of the processes that we intend to provide or to implement for the trimester system, we started implementing it this fourth term. For example, the ability for you to change your section even without going to the gym, we provided that already. That’s intended for the trimester.” the CEO stated.
As mentioned by Dr. Maestrecampo, students can also enroll in the summer term to catch up, whether they are graduating students or those with backlog courses. “… We can actually enroll in that summer term but it's very short it’s just four weeks. Practically you don’t have any break anymore if you’re going to do that…” stated by the President.
In the subject of fees, Mr. Tan also confirmed that the five installment payments will be continued and implemented.
When asked if the overloading of units and the option of taking the summer term would be limited to the first year of the trimester, Dr. Maestrecampo replied that it will be decided later on. As MU moves forward in implementing the three-terms-per-year system, the MU administration encourages students to participate in the Happiness Index Survey to gauge the students’ response to the shift – stating that it helps address concerns, “And we're serious about that. Tinitignan namin yung mga comments niyo. We are trying to implement changes and improvements based on what you are telling us […] Our request is really to take those surveys seriously […] because we're very serious in handling those comments. ” Dr. Maestrecampo emphasized.
EVP-COO Mr. Tan claims that the shift is for the benefit of the entire Mapúan populace and acknowledges the Mapúan pride that comes with the difficulty of studying in the University that implements a quarterm system, “…May certain students or certain types of Mapúa students na parang the difficulties of a quarter system is like a badge of honor. Diba? Parang yan, ang Mapúa way. It's hard, difficult. Maybe we can put that in a positive tone. That, you know, whatever difficulties you have in a quarter system, make that same effort in a trimester. Then you will do better. Kasi if you're having a hard time in a quarter system, the trimester system will allow you to actually perform better given the way you can handle a quarter system.”
Moreover, Dr. Sabino encourages students to voice their concerns in this transition period. Dr. Maestrecampo also imparted that the administration is open to communicate. “So, what we can say is that if there would be problems, we know that it is not easy because this is… there would be a lot of things that would be happening during transition. But what we can promise the student body is we're open to communicate. We're open to listen. We listen, we talk, and then hopefully propose a solution to their problems that we've encountered during the transition.”
Mapúa University (then Mapúa Institute of Technology) has been under the quarterm system since 2002, making it the first in the country to do so. Previously, the institution followed a semestral setup.
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