18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW)
BatStateU eases academic requirements for students, extends deadlines for faculty
In an act of compassion and solidarity with the academic community, the Batangas State University eased the academic requirements of students and extended all deadlines for the submission of grades and other requirements of faculty members. Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo, BatStateU President, released Memorandum Order No. 416, s. 2020, reiterating the relaxation of academic rules and advising faculty members to limit the requirement to a maximum of one per week for each subject. The memo also emphasizes flexibility in setting deadlines for submission of requirements, in consideration of the individual students’ contexts. The teachers are advised to observe forbearance and focus on “compassionate flexibility first as they endeavor for academic quality.” On the other hand, all the deadlines set for the submission of grades and other requirements have also been extended for faculty in order to give them ample time to compute student grades and comply with other end-of-term requirements. The College Deans were advised to coordinate with other offices in the exercise of discretion as regards compliances of faculty. This was after a meeting held by the university’s Executive Committee, in which Vice Presidents and Executive Directors are members, for the purpose of concretizing ways to further extend support to its faculty members and students. This is in recognition of the difficulty and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic and in the aftermath of the spate of typhoons that recently hit the province. The memorandum states that the university responds with “compassion, flexibility, and considerable relaxation of rules to help the academic community cope with the situation.” The College Deans, faculty members, and student leaders were also consulted on the areas where faculty can provide further flexibility to students, and where the college administration can do the same for the faculty members. This was done through an e-Kapihan with the President on November 25, 2020. Further, in order to gather feedback on the implementation of flexible teaching and learning, the university has developed a Student Support and Feedback Mechanism portal, which can be accessed via the individual Student Portal on the university website. This online feedback mechanism portal provides a platform for students to raise issues and concerns they experience in the implementation of flexible teaching and learning. In addition, the university continuously provides e-Counseling service, which has been accessible to all faculty, staff, and students through the university website since the start of the semester. The university’s professional guidance counselors are always ready to reach out and connect to their clients through online and electronic platforms, as part of the university’s efforts to support the counseling needs of the academic community.
BatStateU extends help to typhoon-hit community through Lingap-Kabayan
The Batangas State University, in partnership with the Ayala Young Leaders Alliance – Batangas (AYLA-Eh), brought aid to Brgy. Talahib Pandayan in Batangas City, one of the communities severely affected by the spate of typhoons that recently hit the country. Spearheaded by the Extension Service Office (ESO), the relief operation was conducted through the extension project ‘Lingap Kabayan’ on November 10, 2020. Situated at a coastal area in the southern part of Batangas City, Brgy. Talahib Pandayan was one of the university’s adopted communities in its Adopt-a-Barangay Program. ‘Lingap Kabayan’ is an initiative of the ESO personnel, extension heads and coordinators in the aftermath of the devastating effects of typhoons Quinta (international name: Molave), Rolly (international name: Goni), and Ulysses (international name: Vamco) that hit Batangas province in just a three-week span. A call for donations was made on November 2, and the office received almost P60,000.00 worth of cash and in-kind donations from several private groups and individuals, including Sunlife Seoul Tower Sales Team, who also helped in repacking the goods. The monetary donations were used to purchase hygiene kits and sacks of rice, which were found to be the immediate needs of the community after ESO’s initial assessment of the affected families’ conditions. The relief operation benefited 358 families from three sitios of Brgy. Talahib Pandayan. ESO was assisted by the local government unit of the barangay. Six families from the university’s own Integrated School also benefitted from the operation. In a social media post, the Extension Services Office thanked all the donors who supported the team’s goal of providing aid to the communities that need help the most. The office still accepts donations in kind for the families of Talahib Pandayan.
BatStateU Research Unit conducts virtual trainings on research productivity
Library and Information Services Month
Red Spartan team Bags 2nd Prize in Int’l. Online Competition
A team of Electrical Engineering students, who call themselves the Spartan Kingsmen, received second prize at the 2020 International Energy and Electricity Market Business Decision Simulation Online Competition, hosted by the Shanghai University of Electric Power (SUEP), in awarding ceremonies held virtually on November 6, 2020.
The New Batangas State University Library Website and Library System
As part of its continued efforts to provide not only a renewed sense of normalcy but also fresh, new ways to deliver academic services amidst the global pandemic, the Batangas State University accelerates the shift to digital and electronic means of reaching out to its stakeholders.
DA chief visits BatStateU, leads inauguration of stronger DWPB FM 107.3
BATANGAS CITY – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Dr. William Dar visited Batangas State University for the inauguration of the DWPB FM 107.3 D’AniKita radio station at the School of Development Communication building, Pablo Borbon Main I. The university received a grant from DA for the expansion of its existing radio station. It is now powered with a 100-watt FM transmitter and a full set of state-of-the-art radio broadcast equipment. This is part of a tripartite agreement between BatStateU, DA, and Forefront Broadcasting Company (FBC), which provides the training for the university’s radio anchors. In his speech, Sec. Dar highlighted the significance of the continued use of conventional technology to reach the farming and fishing community, who largely rely on radio programs for information. This new project, he said, will help not only the stakeholders of the university, but also those people who are considered the lifeline of Philippine agriculture. DA’s Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes and CALABARZON Regional Director Engr. Arnel De Mesa were also present in the inauguration. Seasoned broadcaster Mr. Francisco Flores represented FBC in the event. BatStateU President Dr. Tirso Ronquillo expressed his gratitude to DA for trusting the university in running the community-oriented radio program. He underscored the importance of the university’s radio station as a platform to augment the means of communication, information and education among people in remote areas that are hardly reached by modern technology. From L-R: ASec. Noel Reyes, President Tirso Ronquillo, Secretary William Dar, Regional Director Arnel de Mesa and Mr. Francisco Flores during the inauguration ceremonies of the DWPB 107.3 D’ AniKita radio station. After the ceremonies, Sec. Dar, Engr. De Mesa, and Dr. Ronquillo were interviewed at the radio station by one of the station’s program hosts and a core faculty of the Development Communication program, Dr. Vaberlie Mandane-Garcia. They discussed the objectives of establishing the radio program on a university setting, the role of agriculture in times of crisis, and the call for support to DA’s project, “Plant, Plant, Plant.” The radio station was blessed by Rev. Fr. Vic Cisneros. Only select representatives from DA, BatStateU and FBC attended the inauguration and blessing, following the university’s Health and Safety Protocols. Sec. Dar, Dr. Ronquillo, and Director de Mesa being interviewed by anchor Dr. Vaberlie Mandane-Garcia for the station’s first program. On stand-by is the station’s technician, Mr. Nico Manalo. Dr. Benedict Medina, the Department Chair of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs of the College of Arts and Sciences, serves as the OIC Radio Station Manager. Some of the programs to be aired initially are the ‘Buhay sa Bahay’ of Dr. Vanessa Castillo, ‘TALAKalikasan’ of Dr. Vaberlie Mandane-Garcia, programs of the DA central and regional offices, and music programs for students. DWPB 107.3 FM D’AniKita radio airs everyday from 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Academic, research collab forged between BatStateU and MISI
Batangas State University forged a new partnership with the Malaysia Institute of Supply chain Innovation (MISI) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in a virtual ceremony on September 18, 2020.
BatStateU’s Computer Science program receives ABET-CAC accreditation
The US-based Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology – Computing Accreditation Commission (ABET-CAC) officially awarded international accreditation to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program under university’s College of Informatics and Computing Sciences.
