By: Trixie Charlotte S. Cafirma

Three departments of the Our Lady of the Pillar College – Cauayan undergo accreditation on July 11-13. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) applied for Level 3 accreditation while TELA and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) pushed for Level 2 re-accreditation.

Seven accreditors from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) arrived in OLPCC on July 11 to conduct a two-day observation and interview concerning the different areas of accreditation. Dr. Elisa B. Maligalig led the entire team as the chairperson and took charge in the following areas: Philosophy and Observation, Organization and Administration (All Programs) and Criterion IV. A Strong Faculty/Staff Development Tradition (BS Business Administration). Dr. Liwayway Dapito, Dr. Samuel Chua and Dr. Rolando Robledo were the accreditors in charge in the area of Faculty, Instruction and Laboratories for the Bachelor of Secondary Education and Elementary Education, BS Information Technology and BS Business Administration respectively. Accreditor Lourdes Fumera was tasked in the area of Library (All programs) and Criterion VII. Extensive and Functional Library and Other Learning Resource Facilities for BSBA. Engr. Leonardo Sawal was assigned in the area of Physical Plant and Facilities and Research for all programs, and Adreline Ansula was the accreditor who took charge in the area of Student Services and Social Orientation and Community Involvement (All programs) and Criterion II. A Highly Visible Community Outreach Program for BSBA.

D-Day: A Series of Meticulous Process

On the morning of July 11, the OLPCC administration, faculty and staff headed by the president Dr. Exuperio V. Flores Jr. together with Dr. Franklin L. Soriano, VP for Academic Affairs, Dr. Grace M. Casauay, TELA Dean, Dr. Evangeline I. Sarte, Dean of CET and the chairmen for the different areas: Dominador Regatchon for Student Services, Jacqueline Aquino for Research, Sofronio Turingan for Outreach and Community Extension,and Myrna Macarubbo for Library Services and Engr. Dexter Villanueva for Physical Plant, cordially welcomed the newly arrived accreditors. The first day of accreditation started with meetings and orientation of the PACUCOA accreditation team. The meeting was then followed by thorough verification of documents and exhibits. There was also the Ocular Inspection of the facilities, interviews, classroom observations and a visit to the community outreach program.

Still being faithful to the schedule, the seven avengers of accreditation conducted a dialogue with the most numbered constituent of the school — the students.

The three concerned programs deployed their handpicked student representatives to face the accreditors and give their two cents about the service of the school. The dialogue consisted of two parts: the large group dialogue where the accreditors asked the students about the facilities and light jab on the topics of students services and community extension, and the small group dialogue where the accreditors had an in-depth Q and A style with the students concerning faculty instruction.

After the dialogue with the students, the accreditors also had one with the faculty members and the non-teaching personnel.

The second day of the accreditation continued on the verification of documents and exhibits, and interviewing. Instances of surprise observations and inspections during class were also present. The afternoon of the second day mostly revolved on report writings and the conference of the PACUCOA team.

Mission: Success or Nay?

At the end of the conference, Chairperson Dr. Maligalig shared her thoughts and sentiments in an interview. She started by congratulating the departments and school for a job well done and extended the same reactions to the administrators and teachers. She also gave favorable statements to the students for being articulate and very respectful.

“We gave suggestions so that you [the school] will be able to move up to the ladder of accreditation. That’s the reason why we are here, to help you,” Dr. Maligalig said at the end of the interview.

Dr. Exuperio V. Flores, Jr., the school president, also shared his insights regarding the accreditation. “So nagsabi sila kung ano yung mga strengths na nakita nila at nagsabi din sila ng mga suggestions to improve better yung ating operations, faculty intsruction, library services pati research and community outreach. So far, marami yung sinabi nilang positive and strengths natin, ng school especially among the faculty and also this is confirmed by their interview with the students”.

The president also expressed his sentiments regarding the accreditors’ comment on the students, “We are happy that they were impressed by the students, yung [Filipino] values na nandun parin sa mga students natin that they are greeting the visitors and accreditors. They were also impressed by the group of students interviewed because they’re able to express themselves in English and are fluent”,

Dr. Flores also revealed the areas of improvement the accreditors mentioned in the exit conference. He said that the library was one of them and hoped that once the student population is back to normal, improvements will be done. “These are doable. Hihintayin lang natin na babalik yung enrollment natin dahil hindi pa tayo kumpleto”, he said.

At the end of the interview, the president expressed his hopes that the accreditation will be a tool for the Pillarican community to move forward. He also wished for the partnership of students and employees for the good of the school.

BTS: Steadfast Pillarican spirit amidst restlessness

While the accreditation seemingly ended in good terms, it is no doubt that the favorable reviews were the result of the combined efforts of the administration, faculty and staff, non-teaching personnel and students; from the confusing and nerve-wrecking document preparations, checking and maintenance of facilities and library to the preparation of the accomodation and food of the accreditors and the students helping out in the decorating of boards and some facilities. The accreditation was one way for the Pillarican community to show that it will take more than restlessness and confusion to break their spirit.