At par with the University's effort towards enhancement of professional competencies, Central Philippines State University (CPSU), along with 110 other higher education and basic learning institutions, participated in the PAPSAS Region V Chapter virtual convention and training with the theme, “Forward PAPSAS5 Model: Strive, Thrive, Evolve and Future-Proof (STEP) for a Better Normal” last December 9 and 10, 2021.
Out of more than 400 participants, CPSU was recognized to have the highest number of delegates, who joined the said event. These were CPSU-OSSA practitioners coming from all the 10 campuses and 2 extension classes of the University for a total of 51 attendees.
The goal of the said activity aimed to discuss urgent and timely Student Affairs and Services (SAS) topics, such as school crisis management, handling of students at risk and with special needs, and optimization of digital technologies and social media, as well as the sharing of replicable practices in SAS, which are relevant and timely towards the achievement of enhanced professional competencies.
The Keynote Speakers were renowned OSSA practitioners and academicians, such as Prof. Maria Estrella V. Paulino from the Ateneo de Manila University who discussed about "Handling Students at Risk and with Special Needs"; Atty. Hilario S. Caraan, DPA from De La Salle University who discussed about "School Crisis Management"; and Dr. Aldrin A. Darilag, CHRP, RMT, RN, Commissioner from CHED. Dr. Darilag particularly highlighted on how SAS catered mental health well-being of students, on the support of the Commission in the flexible delivery of SAS services, and how the challenges faced in this period had made SAS practitioners to go beyond their means and extend services to the students as the main clientele, especially to the last, the least and the lost.
The last Speaker was Sir John Stephen M. Cornwill from Cornwill Media who discussed about "Optimizing Social Media and Digital Technologies in Student Affairs and Services." His talk focused on student affairs in the new normal. In his discussion, he identified the common social media platforms, and those which were used by the Universities. Furthermore, he shared the best practices in maximizing social media which included, but was not limited to responding to students' queries, creating pages for information dissemination, and event updating.
As a whole, the talks tried to bring the best multimedia-mediated education to the students by nurturing professionally competent SAS administrators and staff, guidance counselors, members of disciplinary boards, and moderators of student organizations.
Towards the end, participants expressed their gratitude to the event organizers and hopes for a similar productive and insightful virtual Convention.\
By A. Gako, BSABE 4 - EIC, The Cenphilian Publication
Photos: OSSA & J. Emoy