XU 2020-2021: The Class Must Go On

The previous academic year turned to an abrupt close as the students’ usual yearending requirements were modified to comply with the mandates of the University and the government in view of the safety precautions against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Examinations were conducted online and other pending coursework were to be submitted electronically as well. Summer classes had been moved or integrated in the coming years.

Months have passed since the students bid their hasty goodbyes to that bitter end of a year, and yet again, complications present themselves with the coming of a new one. As the popular saying goes, “The show must go on,”—but is everyone ready for it?

Crowdsourcing

Over the course of the supposed summer break, the University has constantly updated its students and faculty of its different course actions amidst the crisis. Emails sent by the XU Communications Office ensure that the memoranda, safety reminders, and other kinds of information are received by its constituents. As the Administration took into discussion the strategy for the new school year, they introduced the idea of online learning through surveying. The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) posted the Survey On Availability Of ICT Devices Among XU Higher Education Students on April 27.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero de Vera III mentions in a virtual meeting with the higher education committee of the House of Representatives on April 30 that Higher Education Institutions (HEI) may open in August 2020 if they are using flexible learning. He elaborates, “‘Flexible learning’ for HEIs involve a combination of ‘digital and nondigital technology.’” De Vera notes that this does not necessarily require connectivity. For HEIs that use the face-to-face setup, classes may start in September.

As the representative of the student body, the Central Student Government (CSG) took an initiative to convey the viewpoint of the students with their survey titled, “Constituency Check On Online Learning”, distributed on May 5.

Of beginnings in July

Only a few days later, the announcement of XU’s proposal for the coming school year took

the students by surprise and elicited a chain of reaction.

On May 8, University Memorandum U1920- 086 was released indicating the academic calendar of the Basic Education Schools as well as all the Higher Education Colleges, with the exception of Graduate School, Law, and Medicine. It states that these schools will follow a quarterly schedule with the college semester composing of two quarters. Classes for the first semester will begin in July and end in November, and classes for the second semester will begin in December and end in May of the next year. The respective Registrars of each school shall issue the specific dates for the school calendar and enrollment.

University President Fr. Roberto C. Yap, S.J. acknowledges in the beginning of the memo that there may be a necessity for continuing measures of social distancing, imposing sanitary and safety protocols, and other precautionary initiatives. With these considerations, the memo discloses that XU will follow Flexible Learning arrangements. Its components include, Home-Based Learning where portable learning packets (hard and soft copies), online learning (synchronous and asynchronous), and online student support (for those courses applicable) will be utilized, and Cautious Return to On-Campus Learning, which will observe physical distancing, limited number of students in a classroom, safety and sanitary precautions, and limited large gatherings. Flexible Learning is therefore a combination of HomeBased Learning and Cautious Return to OnCampus Learning to ensure that the University complies with the minimum standards of CHED and Department of Education (DepEd) are met. Primers for Academic Policies will hold the explanation for the details for these modes and will be issued by the different schools. Yap ends the memorandum in hopeful spirit, “With God’s help, Xavier Ateneans will continue to Experience Excellence even during these trying times.”

Of overlooked responses

The feedback that surfaced following the announcement of XU’s 2020-2021 learning arrangement pointed out many concerns. Parents shared their queries as well.

On May 11, CSG published the results of their survey in Memorandum 018-2021 signed by CSG President Matt Anderson Ondap. According to the consolidated report of XUCSG Department of Research and Statistics, 1226 students took the survey. In order to make a conclusive recommendation to the administrators, CSG has made use of the results from their survey as a reliable basis. As stated by Ondap the CSG, “Humbly request our school administrators to consider starting the classes in August 2020.” The survey’s findings present that much consideration may be given to the fact that there is a need for time to recover from the distress from the pandemic, financially and mentally, before attending to academic matters. Ultimately, the sentiment of the CSG concludes that the students are unready for the proposed learning rearrangement.

Despite the seemingly unfavorable reaction from social media and the publicized recommendation of the CSG on the decision of XU to pursue Flexible Learning in July, Vice President for Higher Education Juliet Dalagan PhD announced the dates for the enrollment and the beginning of classes in Memorandum 1920-47 released on May 16. The enrollment schedule follows: May 25 for freshmen, June 16 for undergraduate upperclassmen, and July 22 for graduate school. Classes under the Flexible Learning Arrangement begins on July 6.

In response to all the queries to the consecutive announcements, attached within University Memorandum U1920-090 released on May 22 is a document to the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the academic calendar and their corresponding answers. The University aims to retain the regularity of learning as quoted in the document, “XU believes that ‘interrupted education causes lasting scars in the form of delayed or foregone human and social development’ (Alba & de Dios, 2020),” therefore opting to begin classes earlier than August. It also noted that DepEd and CHED allows the earlier opening of classes provided that the condition that face-to-face classes are prohibited until August 24.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected a majority of aspects in a lot of people’s lives. It has forcibly pushed us to make some sort of compromise in order to secure our own wellbeing, and others as well. For some students, to carry on with their education in these trying times may not be easy. As identified in the aforementioned survey, the conditions that a percentage of students cannot be financially supported, do not have internet access, and are not mentally prepared for online learning indicate that the application of Flexible Learning will entail considerations for these issues.

It is recognized that the administration has taken it upon numerous comprehensive discussions among themselves to come up with the plans for the new academic year. The many years that XU has served as an exemplary learning institution is proof of the collaborative effort of its people. As the time calls for us to venture into unconventional arrangements, may our continuing pursuit for excellence allow us to overcome the challenges of the new normal.C