A FOUR percent tuition increase next year is the best arrangement the administration can do to maintain services to everyone in the university.
“We wanted to go lower [than] the cap of the university which allows up [to] 5% maximum increase,” said Vice President for the Loyola Schools (VPLS) Assunta Cuyegkeng. The bulk of the increase will go to salaries and benefits, as well as scholarships and financial aid, she added.
The budget was discussed during the annual “Magtanong sa VP at mga Dekano,” a forum where VPLS presents the plans for the coming school year.
Communion. Outgoing VPLS Assunta Cuyegkeng answers queries from concerned students regarding plans for the next school year. | Photo by Ean L. Dacay
Various department chairs, deans and administrators were present in the forum on February 5 to address the different concerns and questions by the students.
Budget breakdown
“We are hoping to have total revenue of around one billion pesos for the next school year,” added Cuyegkeng.
Some of the areas that will increase its fees are medical and guidance, Introduction to Ateneo Culture and Tradition, and the Ateneo Schools Parents Council (ASPAC).
“There will be a 10-percent increase on the medical and guidance fees, which includes the infirmary care, drug testing, medical certificate, health database, counseling, etc,” said Cuyegkeng. “We also had an increase from P200 to P250 [for the ASPAC fees].”
Major improvements for next school year are also expected, such as the renovations of Faura AVR and Environmental Science and Physics Departments. The Social Sciences building will also be rehabilitated, while the walkway leading to the College Covered Courts will be paved.
“There is [also] a provision for permanent LCD-to-laptop cables and LCD remote controls in classrooms,” added Cuyegkeng.
Addressing the concerns
During the open forum, clarifications about allocation, student programs, and facilities were raised.
Cuyegkeng explained that part of the undergraduate student fees would be allocated for the new Rizal Library. “The donations were still not enough and we still have loans to pay.” She added that the collection would only last until school year 2012 to 2013.
As for concerns raised regarding the Junior Engagement Program (JEEP), Cuyegkeng answered that the JEEP enlistment will be integrated into the AISIS system, adding that some Management Information System students are currently working on it.
Physical Plant Administrator Leoncio Miralao has also submitted his proposal for improved parking facilities. “[In the proposal], there are repairs for the car parks such as the north car park. We target this summer to fix the necessary things.”
Transparency. Issues ranging from tuition hikes to improving parking facilities were made available to the students in the forum. | Photo by Ean L. Dacay
With regard to security, Office of Administrative Services Director Mary Joy Salita said, “We will be putting CCTV cameras and boom system in the car parks by next school year to monitor [hit and run] incidents.”
Students also need to take initiative when outsiders enter school premises, said School of Management Dean Rudy Ang. “We should take the responsibility of informing the security, let us not act helpless because people in the campus who should not be here pose threats.”
Cuyegkeng added the school does not have power over the outsiders as well. “But the person who brought them in is the one responsible and will take the consequence.”
“We also have problems even if we catch the culprit because the victims don’t want to file any charges [thus] the police simply lets them go,” said Office of Social Concern and Involvement Director Mary Ann Manapat.
Associate Dean for Student Activities Rene San Andres said ADSA is coordinating with the barangay to improve security outside the campus. “[What] we are trying to do is to establish a strong relationship with the barangay,” he added.
Feedback
Students The GUIDON interviewed said that this forum was effective because it was interactive.
“The different questions were clarified and the funds were made known,” said Sanggu SOSE Secretary Treasurer Gemmo Fernandez in mixed Filipino and English.
“I appreciate the admins’ response, they didn’t [leave] any questions hanging and they explained their answers well,” said Executive Officer Reg Guevara.
“It was also good that teachers and department heads were present there because I was able to know them better and understand their perspectives as well,” said Office of the Secretary General Representative Olive Quintana, in mixed Filipino and English.
However, students still have more expectations.
“I just hope that the exact breakdown of the budget and expenses will be published as well so that not only those who attended the forum will know about it,” said Guevara.
“I hope they delved more on the issues of the smocket, dorm and security. I also hoped that more students came because most of those present here are leaders and Sanggu officers,” said Fernandez. “We can only represent the [students] to a certain extent.”
