CAEc 1st Quarter Performance Review and Regular Faculty Meeting

Meeting Overview

The College of Arts and Economics (CAEc) held its first quarter performance review and regular faculty meeting on March 27, 2026. The meeting covered administrative matters, academic planning, research initiatives, extension activities, and faculty workload distribution for the upcoming semester.

Key Discussion Topics

1. Internationalization Activities

• Lecture Series on Data Analytics (April 16 - May 7)

• Spanish speaker: Andrea Blanco Cano
• Focus: Python programming and data processing/statistical treatment
• Target: 72 students

• Green Jobs and Employment Lecture (April 18)

• Speaker: Dr. Atifiasin (online format)
• Topic: Green employment and labor economics

• Economic Research Methods Workshop (April 27)

• Travin team visit to Davao
• Welcome dinner: April 26 (Sunday)
• Courtesy call and lecture: April 27
• Venue: College of Innovation (COI) AVR
• Target audience: Third and fourth-year students working on thesis

• International LEARN Conference 2026

• Tentative dates: August 19-20, 2026 (Wednesday-Thursday)
• Budget: 250,000 pesos
• Format: Two-day conference with international speakers
• Awards night planned for graduating students

2. Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)

The college endorsed several MOUs for approval to the International Affairs Division:

• Brawijaya University (Indonesia) - for student exchange and research collaboration
• AFEC (Korea-based organization) - for logistics support during study tours
• PICO - for webinars promoting Korean university scholarships

3. Faculty Development and Training

The college approved its Learning Development Plan for 2026, which includes three in-house training programs:

1. Research Publication Training (Quarter 2)

   • Focus: Practical strategies for academic publishing
   • Topics: Publication processes, journal selection, citation management
   • Potential speakers: UST faculty or external experts

2. Community-Based Research for Extension (Quarter 2)

   • Speaker: Dr. Agnes Rola or similar expert
   • Focus: Integrating research with extension programs

3. Citizen Science Research Engagement (Quarter 4)

   • Focus: Collaborative research approaches involving community participation
   • Application to extension projects

4. Instructional Materials Development

• Local Instructional Materials Committee established

  • Chair: Dr. Ivee Fuerzas
  • Purpose: Review and approve instructional materials before submission to University Instructional Materials Committee
  • Process: Local review → College endorsement → University UIMRC → Approval

• Policy Implementation

  • New instructional material development policy manual approved (February 26, 2026)
  • Materials must follow 4As format (Activity, Analysis, Abstraction, Application)
  • Target: Complete review process before July for JC (Job Classification) consideration

5. Faculty Loading for First Semester 2026-2027

The meeting extensively discussed faculty workload distribution, considering various scenarios:

• Standard teaching load: 15-21 units depending on designations

• Load adjustments for:

  • Thesis advising (proportional to number of advisees)
  • Administrative designations (3-6 units reduction)
  • Research projects (load release provisions)

• Special Considerations:

  • Attorney Caramugan: Potential study leave for PhD program at UPLB
  • Wendy: Pending hiring process completion
  • General Education subjects: Distributed among faculty to balance loads

• Approved faculty loading subject to adjustments based on:

  • Final hiring decisions
  • Study leave approvals
  • Student enrollment numbers

6. Budget and Financial Planning

• Budget Reduction: 8% cut from original allocation (152,000 pesos reduction)

  • Original budget: 1.9 million pesos
  • Revised budget: 1.748 million pesos

• Budget Priorities:

  • Internationalization activities maintained
  • Representation expenses: Reduced from 50,000 to 20,000 pesos
  • Local travel: 10,000 pesos allocated
  • Petty cash system: Advance request system for small expenses

7. Quality Assurance Updates

• Internal Audit Results: Pending final report
• Minor findings expected regarding assessment plans
• New classification system: No longer using OFI (Opportunity for Improvement), NC (Non-Conformance) categories

• Compliance Monitoring:

  • QA Officer (Ma'am Riza) monitors compliance with COPC, CHED requirements
  • Regular updates on CPCR (College Performance Commitment Review) targets

8. Public Affairs and Communications

• New CAEc Website Launched (April 2026)

  • Improved design and navigation
  • Sections: Academics, Administration, News/Updates, Faculty Profiles
  • Integration with social media platforms

• Social Media Guidelines:

  • Strict approval process for all postings
  • Sanctions for violations (unauthorized t-shirts, plastic bottles in photos, unblurred youth faces)
  • Three-strike system for posting violations
  • All posts must be approved before publication

• Content Strategy:

  • 200-300 word articles with photos for each activity
  • Website posting before social media sharing
  • Backfilling content from 2020-2024

9. Academic Programs

• Curriculum Revision: Planned for undergraduate program

  • Adjustment of course sequencing (Micro/Macro economics)
  • Addressing underload issues through course redistribution

• OJT/Practicum Coordination:

  • Coordinators: Dr. Ronald Estrada and Ms. Elizabeth Visca
  • MOA review: Checking validity of existing agreements with partner institutions
  • Target: At least 12 students per section for economic research courses

10. Research and Extension

• Research Activities:

  • Research Track conducted (previous quarter)
  • Internal funding proposal submitted (one study with 5 members)
  • Publication incentives and citation tracking system in place

• Extension Activities:

  • Prunite extension activities conducted in Davao del Sur (March 21)
  • Community work by Attorney Caramugan's team
  • Extension rights processing for community engagement outputs

Action Items and Deadlines

1. Prepare activity designs for internationalization events (Sir Noland)
2. Submit revised Work and Financial Plan with 8% budget reduction
3. Finalize faculty loading after Wendy's hiring decision
4. Prepare different loading scenarios for contingencies (Ma'am Ivy, Sir Ronald)
5. Compile old website content for migration (Ma'am Jen to provide to Elizabeth)
6. Submit accomplishment reports (200-300 words) after each activity
7. Review and update MOAs with partner institutions (Sir Noland)
8. Prepare instructional materials for committee review (Faculty members)
9. Submit learning development plan training proposals

Important Dates

• April 6: FGD on organizational structure
• April 16 - May 7: Data Analytics Lecture Series
• April 18: Green Jobs lecture (online)
• April 26: Welcome dinner for Travin team
• April 27: Economic Research Methods workshop
• August 19-20: International LEARN Conference 2026 (tentative)
• August 3: First day of classes (First Semester 2026-2027)

Attendance

Present: Dr. Jennifer Hinlo (Dean), Dr. Rupert Deluna, Dr. Ronald Estrada, Dr. Ivee Fuerzas, Dr. Christopher Balubayan, Dr. Michael Ayala, Attorney Karlo Caramugan, Ms. Rizamae Palen, Ms. Elizabeth Visca, Wendy Aledon, Sir Noland Armodia, Ms. Lyra Mae Erine (minutes)

The meeting demonstrated strong faculty engagement in planning for academic excellence, internationalization, and institutional development despite budget constraints.