Written by: Aldous Dale Caballero
Photo by: Dana Arcilla
The University has released new guidelines on the suspension of classes during inclement weather, and the vaccination of students, faculty, and non-teaching staff.
According to the Office of the Secretary-General (OSG), national or local announcements regarding the suspension of classes are to be followed by the university which means that no suspension will occur for classes, online assessments, and examinations for all levels under Signal No. 1.
Under Signal No. 2, face-to-face (F2F) class suspension for the tertiary level is “discretionary on the part of the University," according to the OSG.
Further, online assessments and examinations are to be suspended for the tertiary level and online sessions are to be conducted asynchronously.
Classes for all levels whether F2F, synchronous, or asynchronous are to be suspended under Signal No. 3, as well as online assessments and examinations.
UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said that classes are to proceed accordingly with the absence of announcement of class suspension as “guided by the principles of dialogue, flexibility, and accessibility" which are defined as follows:
Dialogue: Students and academic staff are expected to communicate with their academic officials if they are placed in extraordinary situations that prevent them from participating in classes whether online or F2F.
Flexibility: Academic officials shall evaluate the requests of students and academic staff to determine valid reasons that may be granted consideration and flexibility given individual contexts and concerns.
Accessibility: Online synchronous sessions and hy-flex sessions shall be recorded and uploaded to the UST Cloud Campus; thus, providing the students access to the recordings as supplemental material for study.
Moreover, non-vaccinated students, faculty, and non-teaching staff are now permitted to participate in limited F2F classes. Along with this, the requirement of medical insurance has been revoked as well as the “zoning policy."
Although this is the case, UST Secretary-General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. still highly urges Thomasians to be fully vaccinated and to continue availing insurance coverage for themselves.
Other health protocols are maintained such as the use of face masks and hand sanitizers, physical distancing, and the daily health declaration form through the Thomasian Online Medical Support and Services (ThOMedSS).
Only those with scheduled F2F classes for that specific day are allowed to enter a building by presenting their identification card (ID) or other documents such as registration forms, appointment papers, vaccination cards, and accomplished ThOMedSS health declaration form.
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