AACCUP confers level III re-accredited status to SLSU-BA Comm

Post date: 30-Apr-2017 15:10:59

Bachelor of Arts in Communication joins the ranks of six other programs in the University as it received level III re-accredited status from the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), April 17.

The only Level III accredited undergraduate communication program in Quezon Province, SLSU-BA Communication underwent and passed the level III phase 1 accreditation in October 2015, which made the program qualified for the phase 2, and final evaluation to be granted the third level accreditation.

Prof. Brian Villaverde (left), Chairperson of BA Communication,

and Dr. Mari Jane A. Lee (right), Dean of CAS answer accreditors' queries.

The award of the Level III accreditation status is an indication that a curricular program commits itself to quality instruction to students, excellent research activities and outputs, and impact-driven extension services to the community, often higher than required by the Commission on Higher Education, and in comparison with 110 other State Universities and Colleges in the country. CAS’ AB Psychology was the first to have been granted Level III accreditation status in 2015 among the programs offered by the College.

BA Communication was evaluated on March 27-28, 2017 in four areas such as Curriculum and Extension for mandatory areas; and Research and Faculty Development for areas chosen by the faculty of the program. The undergraduate program was evaluated by Dr. Angeline E. Borican of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Dr. Thelma T. Lanuza of the Isabela State University, and Dr. Manuel T. Corpus, the executive director of AACCUP.

Dr. Mari Jane Lee, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, presented the program’s profile including the video prepared by the faculty of BA Comm. Prof. Brian Villaverde, chairperson of the program together with the other area chair helped in clarifying the inquiries of the accreditors.

Dr. Corpus suggested that there is a need to highlight the profile of BA Comm graduates since they are the ultimate evidence that the program performed well in terms of curriculum and instruction. He also suggested that an intensive tracer study on the graduates of BA Comm be conducted including the alumni who are promoted and who received awards in their job.

Dr. Borican, on the other hand, suggested that the program should conduct an impact analysis on its extension programs in addition to the studies presented by the extension coordinator. She also suggested to the CAS faculty and research unit to subject its research journal for CHED accreditation.

During the exit conference, Dr. Corpus said that they will be giving recommendations not because they want to scrutinize the program but to guide it as it aspires for a higher level of accreditation.

The level III re-accredited status is effective for four years, from April 21, 2017 to March 31, 2021. Afterwards, the program is to be subjected to level IV accreditation, the highest level to be conferred to a curricular program. - CAS Web Development Team