Student Support

Expectation: The program provides strong academic support, accessible services, and responsive guidance from faculty and staff

I reached out to the personnel of the College of Information and Communications Technology through email last December because there was limited information available, and I needed to address my concerns personally. In my email, I clearly stated my concerns and requested information regarding the curriculum and programs of study. During my first attempt, I contacted the college secretary and eventually the dean. However, I did not receive any response, which I assumed was because they were handling greater responsibilities as the semester break was approaching.

I decided to wait until January before following up on my concern and personally visiting their office. On my second attempt, the college office appeared busy due to students’ OJT matters, and I felt unable to interrupt because many people were already lined up outside their office. To ensure they could accommodate me, I sent another email asking about their available schedule, the appropriate person I should speak with, and the proper venue to discuss my interest in shifting to one of their offered programs. Until now, I still have not received any email replies, even the simplest acknowledgment.

Before the Holy Week break, I contacted the CICT telephone directory. The college secretary advised me to visit the office during the program head’s office hours. They specifically informed me that I could come at 11:00 AM onward because the program head would be available after class and before the lunch break. Before going there, I carefully prepared my questions so I could maximize the time in gathering the information I needed for my decision-making process.

However, on May 13, which I considered the right time to decide about shifting programs, the program head was unavailable because of responsibilities as a panel member for a thesis defense. I informed the student assistant on duty that I would wait until after lunch. I waited for two hours, but no one informed me that the event would take the entire day. I became frustrated and eventually decided to leave. What disappointed me the most was that there were around four students present, including the student assistants, yet none of them attempted to entertain or accommodate my concerns. Additionally, email communication, which should serve as an accessible means of contact for students, was never properly utilized—unlike the responsiveness I experienced from other departments in the university. Not even a brief acknowledgment was sent by the staff. None of the student assistants made even the slightest effort to assist or ask about my concerns.

One positive aspect I noticed, however, was the availability of tutoring, mentoring, and academic counseling. Upon checking their bulletin board, I saw that students are given opportunities to seek assistance from advisers during designated consultation hours, which I consider a significant advantage.

Licensures & Certifications

Expectation: The program adequately prepares me for required licensure exams or relevant professional certifications

Regarding certifications for IT-related courses, the available options seem limited to AWS and CompTIA certifications. For me, these are not enough, especially since I am more inclined toward multimedia tools and platforms such as Microsoft, Google, or Adobe. Obtaining certifications independently may not align with my financial capacity. Unlike before, there are also no TESDA NC offerings available anymore. Although I am now more open and satisfied with the certifications that can still be offered, it remains inconvenient that students must seek numerous certifications outside the university or pay additional costs when the institution is supposed to prepare them for their future careers during their stay and education. Some organizations, such as Microsoft, already provide certification voucher programs, so I wonder why the university cannot establish partnerships or promote these opportunities more effectively to encourage students to enroll in their programs.

Extracurricular Activities

Expectation: The program offers meaningful extracurricular activities that enhance my personal, social, and leadership development.

Based on the perspectives shared by a Computer Science student, there are not many departmental activities aside from extracurricular events such as competitions, educational tours, or seminars. I also feel that the college lacks a stronger and clearer representation in terms of leadership and student participation within the university. According to the student I spoke with, the population in BS Computer Science is also relatively small, with only one section consisting of around 15 students.

Curriculum

Expectation: The curriculum is well-structured, up-to-date, and aligned with current academic and industry standards

As for the curriculum itself, I do not find it poor or disorganized. I was able to recognize the differences in curriculum design and intended outcomes between BS Information Technology and BS Computer Science. Their approach to teaching programming languages appears foundational, which I believe would benefit me in the long run. However, I would suggest adding more Mathematics subjects and strengthening the university’s institutionalized General Education courses to further improve the program.