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Office Highlights and Accomplishment Report January-December 2022
Office Highlights and Accomplishment Report January-December 2022
A. Office Highlights
A. Office Highlights
A.1. Approval of the Two Graduate Studies-related Proposals
The proposal to rename the Office of the Director for Graduate Studies (ODGS) into Center for Advanced Education and Lifelong Learning (CAELL) and the Graduate Studies Handbook were approved by the MSU Board of Regents during the December 22, 2022 Meeting.
CAELL is an administrative academic support unit that envisions to promote quality, relevant, and inclusive continuing education. In particular, the Center is tasked to ensure the proper implementation of policies and guidelines concerning graduate studies, assist and support the Colleges in the implementation of the said policies and guidelines, conduct periodic review of graduate policies and guidelines, support the offering of innovative and multidisciplinary graduate programs, joint/dual degree programs, online graduate degree programs, micro-courses, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and promote lifelong learning with a focus on continuing education.
The Graduate Studies Handbook on the other hand is an enhancement to the Graduate School Guidelines and Philosophical Framework approved by the Board of Regents on its 147th Meeting through BOR Resolution No. 72, series of 1992. The modifications are in accordance with the current policies, standards, and guidelines set by the Commission on Higher Education through CMO 15, series of 2019 and with the University’s goal of becoming a research-intensive University. It is also driven by the new management set-up of the graduate programs in the University (BOR Resolution No. 8, series of 2021). The handbook is a consolidated effort of the graduate program coordinators and the immediate past director of ODGS and will serve as the operations manual of the University's graduate programs.
A.2. Designation as Delivering Higher Education Institution for CHED SIKAP
The University is designated as a delivering Higher Education Institution (DHEI) for CHED Staff and Instructors’ Knowledge Advancement Program (SIKAP) grant. CHED Regional Office-10 conducted an orientation on grant mechanics, application requirements, qualifying and selection process, financial privileges, study plan and work and financial plan preparations on
April 20, 2022 (https://tinyurl.com/2ctpehf8). Dr. Rolando T. Candidato, Jr., the immediate past director of the ODGS was designated as administrator of CHED scholarships in the University.
A.3. Conduct of Online Orientation on COPC Application requirements
The Office invited Ms. Nathalie I. Igot, Supervising Education Program Specialist of the Technical Services Division of CHED Regional Office-10 to give an orientation on the Certificate of Program Compliance application process and requirements. The online orientation was held on June 22, 2022 and was participated by the graduate program coordinators and directors and deans of the various Centers and Colleges.
A.4. Conduct of the 20th Graduate Research Colloquium
The degree granting Colleges and Centers of the University require both master’s and doctoral students to at least present their special project/thesis/dissertation in a colloquium or any other conference/forum prior to final defense. While these students have the option to present their papers in the Annual In-house Review of R&D Projects and other conferences outside the University, the Graduate Research Colloquium organized by the Office of the Director for Graduate Studies, remains to be the most accessible platform for them. For this reason, the Office finds it necessary to hold a research colloquium at least once every semester.
The Graduate Research Colloquium allows graduate students (who have already defended their special project/thesis/dissertation proposals) to present their studies to a panel of experts and researchers for further scrutiny. The goal of the activity is threefold: expose graduate students to a research conference, develop their presentation skills, and enhance their special project/thesis/dissertation.
The 20th Graduate Research Colloquium was held on May 20, 2022 via Zoom. There were 48 paper presenters from seven clusters of studies. Professors from the University were tapped as members of the panel and moderators. The Graduate Teaching Assistants served as Session Assistants.
A.5. Conduct of Graduate Policies Orientation
The Office conducted an in-person Graduate Policies Orientation on September 16, 2022 at the Gymnasium. The orientation presented the policies and guidelines to the graduate students.
B. Accomplishment Report
The Office of the Director for Graduate Studies (ODGS) of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is mandated to:
• Coordinate with the Colleges in planning, administering, monitoring, evaluating, and enhancing the graduate programs of the University;
• Ensure that policies concerning graduate programs are implemented and procedures followed;
• Coordinate with Institutions and other Government Agencies in matters relating to graduate programs;
• Provide support and assistance in the development and approval of new programs; • Ensure that new programs proposed by each department are consistent with CHED’s policies and procedures and any other relevant professional, regulatory, or statutory bodies;
• Put in place quality assurance mechanisms and ensure that faculty and staff are performing their duties competently;
• Secure the accreditation and recognition of graduate programs;
• Ensure that the career development plans of the faculty and staff of the graduate programs are implemented;
• Recommend to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs the hiring of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs).
Below are the accomplishments of the Office in each of the above functions:
B.1. Coordinate with the Colleges in planning, administering, monitoring, evaluating, and enhancing the graduate programs of the University
The Director holds regular monthly meetings with the graduate program coordinators of the degree granting Centers/Colleges. The meetings discuss the issues and challenges regarding the management of graduate programs.
The Office also collects important data from the Colleges and Centers as part of its monitoring function. As of December 21, 2022, the University offers a total of 55 graduate programs, 38 of which are master’s degree programs and 17 are doctoral degree programs. New programs are offered at the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies beginning the Second Semester of AY 2022- 2023. This includes the Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainable Development Studies (Community Development), Doctor in Sustainable Development Studies, Master of Science in Sustainable Development Studies (with specializations), and Master in Data Science.
A total of 1,629 students are enrolled in the various graduate programs of the University during the First Semester of AY 2022-2023. Of this total, 1,293 are enrolled in the master’s program and 336 are enrolled in the doctoral programs.
As of First Semester, AY 2022-2023, 525 out of the 1,629 (32.22%) graduate students have availed of the scholarship grants offered by the University. The nature and type of scholarships availed by graduate students are shown below:
B.2. Ensure that policies concerning graduate programs are implemented and procedures followed
All communications pertaining to graduate programs are coursed through the ODGS before reaching the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA). This year, the Office received 10 requests for extension and 2 requests for consideration of scholastic status. These requests were acted upon appropriately (in accordance with the existing policies and guidelines) and forwarded to the OVCAA.
Moreover, the Office conducted the Graduate Policies Orientation on September 16, 2022 (see photos below) to disseminate the policies and guidelines to the graduate students.
B.3. Coordinate with Institutions and other Government Agencies in matters relating to graduate programs
The Office is in constant coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in matters relating to graduate programs. In line with this, the current director attended the public zonal orientation of the Philippine Qualifications Framework and the Philippine Credit Transfer System on December 7, 2022 in Davao City (see photo below).
B.4. Provide support and assistance in the development and approval of new programs
The Office has been assisting the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies in proposing the following multidisciplinary graduate programs, namely: Master of Science in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Nanoscience, Master in Risk Management and Resiliency, Master of Science in Design, and Master of Science in Conservation Agriculture and Food Security. It is also supporting the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy in the offering of Master of Islamic Banking and Finance.
B.5. Ensure that new programs proposed by each department are consistent with CHED’s policies and procedures and any other relevant professional, regulatory, or statutory bodies
The Director of ODGS sits as a member of the Campus Curriculum Committee to make sure that the new graduate programs proposed are compliant with the minimum requirements set by CHED and that of the Philippine Qualifications Framework.
B.6. Put in place quality assurance mechanisms and ensure that faculty and staff are performing their duties competently
The Office coordinates with the Center for Pedagogical Innovations (CPI) in monitoring the Teaching Efficiency Rating (TER) of the faculty handling master’s and doctoral courses. The Office designs an intervention program based on the TER data.
The ODGS personnel are evaluated by its clientele for every transaction completed.
B.7. Secure the accreditation and recognition of graduate programs
The Office has been assisting the Colleges/Centers in their Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) applications. It invited a representative from CHED Regional Office-10 last June 22, 2022 to give an orientation on COPC application process and requirements. As of December 2022, 13 graduate programs have been granted (COPC) by CHED.
It also assists the Colleges/Centers in submitting their graduate programs to AACCUP (Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines) accreditation and CHED COE/COD application. As of date, four (4) graduate programs in the University are granted Level I- Accredited status by AACCUP.
B.8. Ensure that the career development plans of the faculty and staff of the graduate programs are implemented
The ODGS director sits as a member of the Campus Academic Scholarship Panel to make sure that the faculty are sent to pursue relevant degree programs in accordance with the Faculty Development Plan of their respective departments.
B.9. Recommend to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs the hiring of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)
The Office facilitates the hiring of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). GTAs assist the graduate program coordinators in their clerical jobs and other office functions. They are also given teaching duties. Five out of the 13 GTAs are funded by the Office during the First Semester of AY 2022-2023.
B.10 Other Accomplishments
The Office was in-charge of the documentation and evaluation during the 52nd Commencement Ceremonies on July 21, 2022 and during the Special Commencement Ceremonies on November 27, 2022. As practiced, a photo album was produced and given to the Commencement Speaker after the program. The ODGS personnel also conducted an evaluation of the activity and submitted the evaluation report to the Office of the University Registrar.
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