TO UPDATE concerned MMSU constituents with revisions in the accreditation process and with new initiatives of the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) survey instrument, a seminar-workshop was held Sept. 14 at the Teatro Ilocandia.
Attended by 171 faculty members serving as either coordinators or members of the different areas for evaluation, the activity was conducted in preparation for the accreditation of the university’s graduate and undergraduate academic programs as a result of its application for accreditation by AACCUP.

During the seminar-workshop, Dr. Nancy B. Balantac, vice president for academic affairs, enlightened the participants on the accreditation process and its importance. Likewise, Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis and Dr. Cristina B. Coloma, both trained AACCUP accreditors, presented the features of the new AACCUP instrument and the new initiatives in AACCUP survey, respectively.

As a result of the workshop, the participants identified and discussed relevant documents to be prepared in the various areas of the new AACCUP survey instrument particularly with regard to their availability and presentation. The different areas were: Area I-Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives; Area II-Faculty; Area III – Curriculum and Instruction; Area IV – Students; Area V – Research; Area VI – Extension and Community Involvement; Area VII – Library; Area – VIII – Physical Plant and Facilities; Area IX – Laboratories; and Area X – Administration. Trained AACCUP accreditors of the university such as Dr. Epifania Agustin, Dr. Shirley Agrupis, Dr. Cristina Coloma, Dr. Artemio Seatriz, and Engineer Carlos Ungson guided the participants in identifiying documents needed in the different areas while Prof. Bucalen Saboy and Dr. Lucena Felipe led those in-charge in the area of library.

The seminar-workshop was initiated by Dr. Agustin and Dr. Agrupis under the leadership of Dr. Nancy Balantac who recently attended a training of accreditors by the AACCUP.

The accreditation activity was in line with the 10-point agenda of the university president and is expected to support the university’s aim for more centers of excellence and to strengthen external linkages as a strategy for generating funds to augment the meager resources of the university.