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Cancellation of classes, 2020
3F, Quezon Hall, Diliman, Quezon City
Tele/Fax: (632) 962-6345; 9818722; 9818500 local 2528
Email:
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
20 March 2020
Memorandum No. OVPAA 2020-38
For: UP System Faculty
(through the Chancellors, Vice-Presidents for Academic Affairs, the
Deans, Institute Directors and Department Chairs)
From: Maria Cynthia Rose Banzon Bautista
Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Re: SUSPENSION OF CLASSES IN ALL UP CONSTITUENT UNIVERSITIES EXCEPT UP OPEN UNIVERSITY
LIFTING OF DEADLINE FOR DROPPING AND FILING OF LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER AY 2019-2020
_________________________________________________________________
On the Suspension of Technology-Supported Learning
In light of the enhanced community quarantine over the entire Luzon and the imposition of similar measures in other regions of the country, classes both residential and online and alternative learning activities in the UP System (except UP Open University) are suspended until 14 April 2020 while the University assesses the situation and decides on how best to facilitate learning and manage academic requirements in the time of COVID-19. Since the situation remains very fluid, the University’s academic response to the crisis will be crafted iteratively and disseminated accordingly.
In the meantime, the faculty is urged to continue exploring alternative delivery modes apart from online tools and to learn to optimize the use of online tools from home, if feasible. They are also expected to use the time to calibrate their courses beyond the stipulated 23 March 2020 deadline for the submission of revised syllabi in OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-35—which is now lifted. In addition, faculty members and officials are encouraged to share creative strategies or thoughts on how to move forward by email with their Vice-Chancellors for Academic Affairs cc
o The University’s education site subscription to ZOOM will be available within the next few days. This will enable hosting and attendance of formal and informal meetings, classes and webinars even after the projected mid-April end of the lockdown as long as the UP System faculty, staff and students use their up.edu.ph addresses, gadgets and access to the internet. The epidemiological pattern of the disease suggests that it may peak around May and begin its decline thereafter. However, the period of decline will not necessarily imply a return to normalcy in the next few months.
OVPAA Memorandum 2020-31 and 2020-35 directed the faculty to utilize UP’s learning management system and other platforms for uploading learning materials, assessment tools and student submissions, and interacting with students. The period of suspension is also a time to further enhance the use of these platforms in preparation for the lifting of the suspension of classes.
The suspension is also the time for the faculty to get to know each of their students more and take their situation into account when calibrating their courses.
o There are different types of technology-supported learning activities, from “low-tech” options (e.g. Q&A via SMS, printed worksheets) to online activities (e.g. blogs, online quizzes, discussion fora, webinars), that may be utilized given the varying conditions of our campuses and students. The Webinar Series that UPOU is offering to the faculty of other UP Constituent Units will discuss these and general principles in the design of technology-supported learning.
1) Prioritize: What do students really need to know for the next few weeks? This is really difficult, and, once again, it means that the quality of teaching and learning will suffer. But these are NOT normal circumstances.
2) Stay in contact with students, and stay transparent. Talk to them about why you’re prioritizing certain things or asking them to read or do certain things. Most of us do that in our face-to-face teaching anyway, and it improves student buy-in because they know content and delivery are purposeful.
o There are also various online discipline-specific resources that faculty can explore, such as the STEM video education library of the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) at https://www.jove.com/blog/educator-blog/jove-offers-free-access-to-extensive-stem-education-video-library-to-aid-remote-teaching-learning-as-covid-19-pandemic-shuts-down-classrooms-around-the-world/
Highlights for March, 2020
[UPDATE: 10 March 2020, Chancellor Digal announced the temporary suspension of all university activities effective immediately. Browse the link: http://bit.ly/2TZdSg9 ]
Reading the Regions, 2020
Highlights for February, 2020
February 2020 is the month of the 25th anniversary of the University of the Philippines Mindanao.
UP Mindanao was created through Republic Act 7889, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on 20 February 1995.
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EVENTS FOR THE MONTH
05-Feb-20 Bored Games, at the Atrium [from Alpha Phi Omega]
06-Feb-20 Blood Donation Activity[Office of Student Affairs]
07-08-Feb-20 School Supplies Donation to the Community [from Alpha Phi Omega]
08-Feb-20 Induction of officers of the UP Mindanao Foundation Inc. • Benefit Concert for Jade, Suazo Bar, Davao City [from Class of 2014]
10-Feb-20 Orientation on the Progressive Youth Association on Mental Health (PYAM) and Learning Session on Depression [Office of Student Affairs]
10-29-Feb-20 "Virtual Love Notes: Send Mail Love For You" [from SPARCS]
13-Feb-20 LOVErinth [Y2DN/Youth to the Nations] • Quiz Bee Careful With My Heart [UP Salida]
14-Feb-20 Roses and Chocolates Day [Latagaw-Lamdag] • Crinkles Giving for Valentine's Day [Alpha Phi Omega]
16-Feb-20 Lingap Center Outreach Program [Alpha Phi Omega] • Philippine Eagle Foundation Service 2 [Alpha Phi Omega]
17-Feb-20 Orientation on Emergency/ Disaster Action [College of Humanities & Social Sciences (CHSS)] • Ligtas Dagat Coastal Clean-up Campaign [Alpha Phi Omega]
18-Feb-20 CHSS Lecture Series: Risk Management [CHSS]
19-Feb-20 Legacy Lectures [Postponed] • Brain it On 2019 [Alpha Phi Omega]
20 Feb-20 Kick-off program [Postponed]: Motorcade from Ladislawa to Mintal, 9a.m. • UP Mindanao Fair at Kalimudan, 11a.m. • Opening Ceremonies at the Atrium, 4p.m. • Evening Concert, 6p.m.
20-Feb-20 UPMin Panagtigom @25 [constituents only], 4:00 p.m.
21-Feb-20 Recognition for Employees and Students [Postponed]
22-Feb-20 UP Alumni Association Davao Chapter elections: 9am to 1pm, Philippine Farm Fix Solutions Inc., Riverview Village, Bacaca Road, Davao City • Inter-High School Statistics Quiz Bowl [Society of Math Majors] • Discussion on RA 8049 - Anti-Hazing Act of 1995 [Association of Pre-Law Students]
23-Feb-20 U.P. Law Admission Exam
24-Feb-20 [POSTPONED]School of Dangerous Minds • [POSTPONED] Supply Chain Management Forum [SOM] • Health and Wellness: Zumba for All [CHSS]
25-Feb-20 [POSTPONED] Banana Policy Forum [SOM]
28-29-Feb-20 Reading the Regions: Literature Arts Conference [CHSS]
28-Feb-20 Taboan vegetable sale
Creative Summit [UP Mindanao Bidlisiw]
Tree Planting [UPMin, DENR, and student organizations]
Data Science Symposium [College of Science & Mathematics - Dept. of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science]
STEM Student Research Conference [CSM - R&D Committee]
Food demonstration (tentative activity title) [CSM - Dept. of Food Science and Chemistry]
Lecture Series [ANAK UPMin]
Speak Up! 2020: Inter-High School Public Speaking Competition [Communicators' Guild]
CHSS Week [DUGONG-Antro]
KE SEA (Small Environmental Acts) [Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and Sorority]
Panagtigiay 2020 [Phil. Association of Food Technologists (PAFT)] • Food Demo 2020 {PAFT]
Adopt-a-School Project [Rotaract UPMin]
Participation during CSM Week [UPMin League of DOST Scholars]
Compost Bins Distribution [UPMin League of DOST Scholars]
Play Drums for UPMin events: UP Mindanao Opening Festivities • CSM Night • CHSS Night • UP Mindanao Football Festival • Basketball Carnival • Oblation Run • Pride March [UPMin Agipo]
SOM Exhibit [Society of Agribusiness Economists] • UP Economics Mania • SOM Cafe [Society of Agribusiness Economists]
UP Anniversary Income Generating Project [SPARCS]
King of the Court [UP Latagaw Lamdag Society]
UP Omega Alpha 25th Anniversary Charity ball • UP Omega Alpha 25th Anniversary Community Service • Valentine's Day Income Generating Project/Photobooth • Tatak UPMin Income Generating Project [UPOAFS]
LitoORgy 12 [UP Literary Society] • Literary Mannequins [UP Literary Society]
Oblation Run Painting [UP Mindanao Bidlisiw]
Alliance of Davao Biology Majors Biolympics [Biological Society]