H I S T O R Y

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UP MANILA
OFFICE OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

The birth of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) coincides with the birth of the UP Health Sciences Center, which became an autonomous component of the UP System through Executive Order No. 519 dated 24 January 1979. Through Executive Order No. 4 issued by then UP President Edgardo J. Angara on 22 October 1982, the UP Health Sciences Center was renamed as the UP Manila, and it became the second autonomous campus of the UP System.

UP Manila underwent its first reorganization on 21 December 1983. This was made possible by Executive Order No. 11, which integrated the UP Health Sciences Center and the College of Arts and Sciences (formerly called UP College Manila). The second reorganization was approved by the Board of Regents at its 1007th and 1008th meetings held on 21 December 1987 and 11 February 1988, respectively.

The aforementioned reorganization abolished the Offices of Vice Chancellors and created the “Staff Office” in lieu of the Offices of the Vice Chancellors. This was envisioned to improve effectiveness and efficiency. The Staff Office “shall provide the Chancellor with manpower for the purpose of conducting studies, preparing development plans for the programs and projects and advising him/ her on academic, administrative, fiscal and related matters. It shall have a basic working force of 3 to 5 personnel but shall appoint additional personnel on an ad hoc basis. An Assistant to the Chancellor shall be appointed from this group when necessary." Thus, instead of Vice Chancellors, UP Manila had Assistants to the Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Administration, Planning and Development.

The Assistant for Academic Affairs supervised and coordinated the Academic Services Offices that included the Office of the Registrar, Office of Student Affairs, Office of Research Services, Office of Graduate and Continuing Education, Office of Alumni Affairs, and Office of Information, Publication and Public Affairs. It was a different title but the functions were those of a Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Through the years, it has become clear that the work of the Assistants to the Chancellor was basically the same as that being performed by Vice Chancellors in the other constituent universities. The Assistants to the Chancellor have progressively assumed the regular functions of Vice Chancellors. They have shared the same responsibilities and duties assumed by their counterparts.

At its 1144th meeting on 31 August 2000, the Board of Regents approved the proposal to reinstitute the Offices of Vice Chancellors in UP Manila.

The following have assumed the position of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs:

BERNADETTE HEIZEL MANAPAT-REYES, MD, MHPEd, FPCP, FPRA
Professor and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Sources:
  1. Excerpt from the Minutes of the 1144th Meeting of the Board of Regents held on 31 August 2000.
  2. 1988 Reorganization of UP Manila, approved by the Board of Regents at its 1008th Special Meeting on 11 February 1988.
  3. Minutes of the 1008th Special Meeting of the Board of Regents held on 11 February 1988.