The 14th Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines Open University was held last Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the Oblation Park, UP Open University Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. UP System Officials attended the said occasion including UP System President Emerlinda R. Roman, who was also the Commencement Speaker.

Jeric wearing the UP Sablay, the academic regalia of the University of the Philippines

I, together with other 31 students, graduated with a degree in Associate in Arts. It feels so good that all my efforts have paid off. And now, I’m a graduate and a member of the UPOU Alumni Foundation, Inc. and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association. You could listen to the third episode of my podcast, EDUC Today, where I talked briefly about my UPOU graduation.

I really don’t know what to say. But, I’m really grateful to all those who’ve supported me all the way, especially my mom. Without them, I won’t be able to achieve this.

I was actually nervous few weeks before my graduation day because I wasn’t really sure if I’m going to be part of this year’s graduating class. Words can’t express how relieved I was upon receiving the letter from the Office of the University Registrar stating that I’m indeed part of the graduating class.

I’m not really leaving UP Open University for I actually applied for admission to the BA Multimedia Studies program and one of the admission requirements is to be an AA graduate. However, I haven’t heard from UPOU regarding my application. I also applied for admission to the Bachelor of Secondary Education program of UP Diliman College of Education. On May 12, 2010, I will be taking the Teaching Aptitude Test and I’m not really sure about the contents of that test. Taking the Teaching Aptitude Test is, I think, the last step in the admission process at the UP College Education. I’m really hoping to be admitted to both programs and from there I shall decided which to pursue.

If you’re wondering about the future of this blog, let me make it clear that I’m still going to update this blog with the help of my mom and my eldest sister, Dianne. My mom is a Master of Public Health graduate of the UPOU and is now enrolled in the Master in Distance Education program, still at UPOU. On the other hand, my eldest sister, Dianne, is now also a UPOU graduate student under the Master of Arts in Nursing Program. So basically, they would give an overview on how is it like to be a graduate student at the UP Open University.

See you around!

University of the Philippines Open University to offer Doctor of Communication program staring First Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011

The University of the Philippines Open University, fifth constituent university of the University of the Philippines System and the National Center for Excellence in Open Learning and Distance Education, would be offering an online Doctor of Communication program starting First Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011.

The said degree program has been approved by the University of the Philippines Board of Regents on its 1254th meeting held last February 25, 2010.

The Doctor of Communication (DComm) Program of the UP Open University, the first DComm program in the country, is designed to strengthen the capability of practitioners by bringing the academic rigors or research, intellectual growth, and professional skills into the profession of communication as it is practiced in industry and academe in particular and society in general.

For more information regarding the degree program, admission requirements/deadlines, and other program policies, interested parties should send an email to fics@upou.edu.ph or call telephone numbers (049) 536-6001 to 6006 local 841. You could also visit the Doctor of Communication page at the official website of the University of the Philippines Open University.

On the beginning of this semester, I have posted that this would be my last semester as an Associate in Arts student. True enough, last January, I have received a letter from the Office of the University Registrar informing me that I’m already a candidate for graduation. Of course, I jumped for joy upon learning about it although I already expected the said news. But still, I need to pass the courses I took this semester.

So now that graduation’s only a few weeks and the opening of the new academic year’s a few months away, I asked myself, “What’s life after AA?”

When I entered UP Open University, my goal was to pursue Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS). However, as I was exposed into the university life and the open learning and distance education learning, I realized that I wanted to do study something else. I’m not abandoning the fact that I still what the BAMS program. But, one thing is clear—I want a bachelor’s degree. So, after Associate in Arts, I would definitely study again and get a bachelor’s degree.

I’m considering every option I have and carefully thinking about them. I told myself that I need contingency plans in case my first plan fails. I know how competitive getting a slot at a UP unit is.

Being a UPOU student doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have a slot at, let’s say, UP Diliman if you want to transfer.

So, I need to have a PLAN A all the way up to PLAN Z. I don’t want to elaborate each of my plans. But, in a nutshell, I either transfer to other UP units and take up a bachelor’s degree or stay at UPOU to take up Bachelors of Arts in Multimedia Studies.

I’ve been to a couple of UP colleges to inquire about their undergraduate degree programs and admission policies. I’ve already submitted my papers for them to evaluate and here I am wishing, hoping and praying that they would admit me as a student.

I’m excited and I can’t wait for my graduation day and of course, the upcoming academic year.

05.08.10

AT UP DILIMAN

1. Go to the Office of the University Registrar-Diliman. Approach the “Records Management and Appraisal Section” of the UPD-OUR and tell them that you’re a cross-registrant from UPOU and that you wish to obtain a TCG or True Copy of Grades.
2. The personnel will give you a clearance form which you need to fill out. Be sure to indicate all the subjects you’ve cross-registered at UPOU including the semester and academic year. When done, approach the window and give your clearance form. Take a seat and wait for the personnel to call you.
3. When you are called, approach the window and the personnel will give you an application form for TCG. The form includes the amount you need to pay. Fill out the application form and pay the fee at the UP Cashier. The TCG costs P20.00 / page.
4. When you are done paying, approach the Records Management and Appraisal window and present your application form and receipt. Upon receiving your TCG, you need to sign the logbook located beside the window.

AT YOUR LEARNING CENTER

1. Submit the original copy of your TCG to your learning center coordinator.

For this semester, I am taking the following courses: COMM3 (Speech Communication), ENG157 (English for the Professions), HIST2 (Asia and the World), PHILO173 (Practical Ethics), CWTS2 (Civic Welfare Training Service 2) and PE2 (Walking for Fitness). Interesting courses, right?

There are two things I’m looking forward this semester — the AA General Assembly and Fellowship and of course, the Lantern Parade. I’m not sure if the UP Open University will be participating in this year’s Lantern Parade. But, I hope we will because I truly enjoyed the experience last year.

In other news, UP Open University already implemented an online registration system for students. However, for the second semester, only a handful of beta testers were able to take advantage of the said registration system. As for me, I still have to go UP Manila to enroll. Anyway, it’s also a great thing that UPOU is on Twitter! I just wish that students can check their grades online.

A new semester is here again, a brand new start for us, students, to learn and unlearn things!

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to e-mail at agpena@up.edu.ph or tweet me @JericPena.