THE ENGLISH and Philosophy departments have once again been granted the distinction as Centers of Excellence (COEs) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Meanwhile, the Filipino Department was named a Center of Development (COD) for the first time.
The announcement was made through CHED Memorandum Order No. 8 released on April 15.
The English Department’s Literature program was honored as a COE in 1999, while the Philosophy Department was last given the distinction in 2003.
Aside from offering a quality program, a department must also have an excellent faculty to be recognized as a COE by CHED.
“We were asked where we got our degrees, how many teachers have Master’s degrees, how many teachers have PhDs,” said English Department lecturer Miguel Lizada.
CHED also takes into consideration the placement of graduates and their literary and scholarly contributions.
“Very important is the contribution to literary tradition in terms of producing creative writers, substantial creative verse, making innovations and, more importantly, the critical tradition,” Lizada said.
An equally important requirement is the research produced by the faculty. This includes publications, journals, theses and books.
COE or COD status is not easily rendered. An interested school must apply first before CHED can begin its deliberation process.
A site visit by the commission’s officials is required. To prepare, the applying school must hold an exhibit where numerous documents are laid out for the CHED representatives to inspect. A question and answer session will then follow.
“It’s a rigorous process,” Lizada said. “Last year I saw members of the administrative team putting together all these kinds of documents like [syllabi], basically any certification, and that involved a lot of paperwork.”
Far from over
According to the CHED memo, departments that the commission has identified as COEs and CODs have the option to “avail of financial assistance on a project proposal basis geared towards the development or improvement of the programs.”
The distinctions given to the three School of Humanities departments are valid until May 31, 2014. The departments may also avail of financial assistance from CHED until the said date.
Filipino Department lecturer Mark Lim said that his department will also strive for a COE status.
“Probably there will also be an intensification of research [output from the faculty] as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lizada said that the English Department would take all the necessary measures to maintain its COE status.
Greater recognition for SOH departments
Lizada said he is happy that the English Department has been recognized by CHED.
“We worked hard for this and it shows us that we are doing it right,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lim said that he is delighted for the Filipino Department and the opportunities a COD status can bring them.
“Siyempre masaya ka na ang department ay Center of [Development]. Sobrang saya dahil karangalan siya, hindi lang sa kagawaran kundi sa pamantasan… Kung baga, hindi naman lahat ng kagawaran ay [matatawag na ganito] (I’m really happy because not only is it an honor for the department but for the school as well. Not every department can be called a Center of Development),” he said.
“Iba talaga ‘to. Bilang guro, mas maeenganyo kang manaliksik sa research mo at sa pagtuturo mo… Actually, more opportunities ‘yun (This is really different. As a teacher, you become more motivated to teach and research. It also means more opportunities for your work to be recognized),” Lim added.
Harvey Parafina, a junior philosophy major, says that the Philosophy Department deserves the recognition.
“This just proves even further that they have always upheld a tradition of excellence that the Ateneo has continually strived for,” he said.
No faculty from the Philosophy Department was available for interview as of press time.
