THE OFFICE of Student Activities (OSA) has made progress in coming up with a new evaluation system for student organizations. OSA has also been coordinating with independent organizations in developing this new system.
OSA created the Student Organizations Assessment and Review Team, or Project SOAR, to come up with the new system that will replace the Loyola Schools Performance Management System (PMS) for student orgs.
First implemented in S.Y. 2007-2008, the PMS was suspended in March to allow an in-depth review on how it can be improved.
Project SOAR is currently headed by OSA Professional Kevin Ace Lopez-Vito, with Aeron Syliongtay as co-coordinator. The beta implementation period of the new system is targeted at the start of the second semester.
According to Coordinator for Emerging and Independent Organizations Rem Casiño, Project SOAR has acquired initial data that has been presented to OSA. The findings are slated to be be presented to the student body by August or September. Casiño also said that he hopes this system will encompass both accredited and independent orgs.
Independent or emerging orgs comprise the League of Independent Organizations (LIONS) that is separate from the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA). Independent orgs were previously identified as “unaccredited orgs.”
Presently, LIONS has 29 member-orgs.
‘Tedious’ process
Based on the findings from their focus group discussions with accredited and independent orgs, formators, and alumni, Casiño said that orgs still want some form of evaluation and the presence of formators in their orgs’ activities.
“There were parts of the old system that they still appreciate, parts of the planning, parts of the monitoring, and parts of the recommendation. Pero ‘yun nga, sabi din doon na very tedious ‘yung proseso. So ‘yun ‘yung isa sa sinusubukan naming i-address (They also said that the process is very tedious so that’s what we’re trying to address),” he added.
According to Ateneo Gabay President Angel Aranas, the previous evaluation process was tedious because of conflicts in logistics and framework.
“Based from what I heard [from past officers], there were times when OSA’s deadlines of forms were incompatible with org events, most importantly the transition period from sets of officers, or election period. Also, while the forms are consistent with OSA’s [Organizational Development or Core Competencies] framework, many of the organizations’ projects and concerns were not easily compatible with this,” he said.
Developments
Casiño also mentioned that some changes have already been made while OSA is still in the process of analyzing their data.
For instance, the recruitment week for independent orgs will take place a week after the COA recruitment week, an improvement from last year’s one-month delay.
In addition, independent orgs can now reserve venues for up to 15 days before an event, compared to only five days previously.
The office has also invited independent orgs to orientation seminars on the different processes within OSA and the Loyola Schools that were held between April and July. Casiño said that the office is trying to be more conscious of making its orientations and general assemblies inclusive for independent orgs.
Casiño noted that leaders of independent orgs joined the Ateneo Student Leaders Summit, the annual leadership seminar for student leaders of different orgs, for the first time last July.
Lobbying for inclusivity
Cuisina President Cess Yu noted how LIONS is becoming more progressive. LIONS has finalized an organizational structure and held its official elections on July 24.
According to Musikero President Casey Lumagbas, OSA mentioned during the focus group discussions held last intersession that they are going to focus more on the integration of independent orgs this year.
“I hope for more inclusivity for the [independent] orgs in terms of funds, being able to reserve venues, and knowing the systems of the accredited orgs so that we may see how they work and what rights they have, [so we can] compare ours to theirs,” she said.
APO President Andrea Ilagan said that she hopes for better representation for independent orgs in terms of decision-making, as well as better delegation of benefits for them, such as more efficient reservation of facilities.
Meanwhile, Wella Lobaton, President of WriterSkill, explained that there should be no more distinction between accredited and independent orgs and no “biases” in terms of reservations and funding in favor of accredited orgs.
Sectoral representation
Sanggunian President Ia Marañon said that sectoral representation is still in the works for independent orgs. A meeting with the Ateneo Commission on Elections on the matter is in the works.
For now, Marañon said they are just letting the independent orgs “do their own thing,” and acknowledged how they have formalized the structure of their league.
“They’re formalizing their body as [independent] orgs and trying to assert themselves as a body [that’s] different from COA, different from Sanggu, but a league that’s really theirs,” she said.
She also said that the Sanggunian will respect the independent orgs’ processes but will be there should they need them. “It’s really providing a direction and a guideline, and if [they] need our help, that’s when we’ll step in,” she added.
