MMSU welcomes students online

By JOHN VINCENT B. TORIBIO

 

“Virus ka lang, Stallions kami,” stressed University President Shirley C. Agrupis as she welcomed the 'New Normal' students of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) during its Online School Opening and General Orientation Program on Monday (August 24).

 

This quote by Dr. Agrupis was, then, re-echoed by the students in the comment section of the MMSU Official Facebook Page that streamed the live broadcast - showing that they, too, embrace the University's brand of resiliency amid the COVID-19 pandemic, that is, the persistent upholding of academic excellence despite the challenges of the time.

 

To kick-off the first semester of Academic Year 2020-2021, the University met thousands of its returning and incoming students who officially and virtually entered the University on this first day of classes in the comforts of their homes.

 

In the activity’s morning session, the University officials whom the students may go to for MMSU-related concerns were presented. Also, the University Vision, Mission and Quality Policy were introduced to the students. 


In the afternoon, University officials discussed MMSU academic concerns such as library and security matters, health and wellness program, student development, institutional student programs and services, and student welfare. 


The following served as resource speakers of the event: Prof. Henedine A. Aguinaldo, university registrar; Ms. Eliza G. Villarin, university librarian; Mr. Jan Francis O. Javier, security and monitoring services director; Dr. Leonisa A. Silvestre, health and wellness director; Dr. Jan Rich A. Guira, student development chief; Prof. Milagros B. Barruga, institutional student programs and services chief; and, Dr. Geraldeen B. Pascual, student welfare chief.


Dr. Agrupis has greeted all the ‘New Normal’ students, especially the Freshmen, during the program and thanked them for their “bold and brave decision to start college at this time when education seems to be of low priority amid the COVID-19 scare.” 


She, too, expressed commitment “to provide the kind of excellent education and training they need to become ‘virtuous’ individuals capable of responding adequately to challenges that confront us at the local, national, or global levels.”


With more than 21,000 views, 14,500 comments, and 6,000 reactions of the morning session; and with 8,700 comments, and 4,600 reactions in the afternoon session, Dr. Agrupis deemed that the overwhelming participation of the students reflects the success of the virtual school opening. 


The event was initiated by the Office for Student Affairs and Services, headed by Dr. Elizabeth Marfel F. Gagni. Other units, like the Office for Strategic Communication (OSC), Information and Technology Center (ITC), and the Office of the University Registrar and Admissions Office also collaborated for the activity.


To reach a wider audience, the University has also sought the assistance of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), some Local Government Units (LGUs), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), telecommunications companies, and local radio stations.  


Meanwhile, all college departments held their orientation programs for their respective students in the morning of August 25. In the afternoon, another orientation program was held specifically for health and wellness and for the MMSU Virtual Learning Environment (mVLE), the University’s common online platform for instruction. (StratCom)
 

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