| University of the Philippines Mindanao | |
|---|---|
| Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Mindanao | |
| Motto | Honor and Excellence |
| Established | 18 June 1908 (system); 20 February 1995 (campus) |
| Type | National university Public |
| Chancellor | Dr. Gilda C. Rivero |
| President | Alfredo E. Pascual |
| Location | Mintal, Davao City, Philippines |
| Hymn | U.P. Naming Mahal |
| Colors | UP Maroon and UP Forest Green |
| Nickname | UPMin, UP of the South |
| Mascot | U.P. Oblation |
| Affiliations | Association of Pacific Rim Universities (via UP System) Davao Colleges and Universities Network |
| Website | www.upmin.edu.ph |
The University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao or UPMin) is the sixth constituent university (CU) of the University of the Philippines System and is the only representative of the UP System in the Mindanao island, located at Mintal, Tugbok District, Davao City.
The university was first named University of the Philippines in Mindanao to declare the arrival of the state university’s presence in Mindanao after a long period of waiting by eager alumni and students. This was later replaced to its present name due to the request of the UP System for formalities’ sake.
UP Mindanao was created on February 20, 1995 by Republic Act 7889, and formally created by the Board of Regents of the UP System on March 23, 1995, with its main focus in Mindanao studies through an affirmative action program in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao to attract Muslims and Lumad students, aside from the marginalized and deserving students.
The university offers nine undergraduate degree programs and one graduate program heavily inclined in research through its two colleges and one school; the university is the one of its kind in the Philippines to have a discipline in Agribusiness Economics (ABE), and is one of the three worldwide to have such a degree program.
As of 2007, the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education (CHED) awarded a National Center of Development (COD) to UPMin in Information Technology (College of Science and Mathematics). Currently the university is developing itself to become a Center of Culture and Languages, engaging in activities enriching the Filipino and ethnic languages and Mindanao through literature and translation; the university is also an active member of the Davao Colleges and Universities Network (DCUN) in the field of cultural integration and development.
The university also aims to become the best science university in Southern Philippines with the UP Mindanao Science and Technology Park Consortium; the university’s long term plan is to transform UPMin to a “green university town”, the only one of its kind in the UP system and in the Philippines.[1][2]
Contents |
| Chancellors of the University of the Philippines Mindanao[3] |
| Prof. Rogelio V. Cuyno, 1998–2001 |
| Prof. Ricardo M. de Ungria, 2001–2007 |
| Dr. Gilda C. Rivero, 2007–present |
UP Mindanao is governed by the 11-member Board of Regents composed of the UP President, the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the chairpersons of the Committee of Higher Education of the Senate and the House of Representatives, four regents representing the student, faculty, alumni and staff sectors, and three regents who are appointed by the President of the Philippines.[4]
The university is directly administered by the Chancellor, assisted by the Vice Chancellors for Academic Affairs and Administration.[5]
The University Council is composed of the Chancellor, university professors, professors, associate professors, and assistant professors of the various degree-granting units of that university. The Chancellor serves as Chairperson and the University Registrar as Secretary.
The Council has the power to prescribe the courses of study and rules of discipline, subject to the approval of the Board of Regents. The Council is also authorized to fix the requirements for admission to any college of the University as well as those for graduation and the receiving of a degree. The Council is empowered to recommend to the Board of Regents students or others to be recipients of degrees. The Council exercises disciplinary power over the students through its Chancellor or Executive Committee within the limits prescribed by the rules of discipline approved by the Board Regents.
The Executive Committee, which counts as members the Deans of the various degree-granting units of the constituent university, also acts in an advisory capacity to the Chancellors in all matters pertaining to their offices for which they seek its advice.
The President of the University is an ex officio member of the University Council of each constituent university and presides over its meetings whenever present.[6]
UP Mindanao is composed of two colleges and one school: the College of the Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), focusing on the cultural diversity of Mindanao; the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM), studying the local flora and pioneering scientific development; and the School of Management (SOM), undertaking research on supply chain management.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences (Dean: Prof. Maria Araceli Dans-Lee)
College of Science and Mathematics (Dean: Dr. Reynaldo G. Abad)
School of Management (Dean: Dr. Sylvia B. Concepcion)
College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS)
College of Science and Mathematics (CSM)
School of Management (SOM)
Even before the establishment of UPMin, Barangay Mintal, notably the area of Bago Oshiro, is one of the agriculture research centers within Davao, housing many of the Department of Agriculture's research centers. Centers for scientific education and research, notably the Philippine Science High School - Southern Mindanao Campus at Sto. Niño and the Mindanao Science Centrum at Bago Oshiro, are also within Barangay Mintal, further defining the area as a "academic and research hub".
With the establishment of UPMin in Mintal, this sleepy barangay has been rapidly turned into a small university town within Davao City, with businesses and establishments built around the university accommodating to the needs of the students and faculty. Furthermore, the UP Mindanao Land Use and Master Development Plan aims to create UP Mindanao a "Green University Town", being a "garden" campus with emphasis on the Mindanaoan culture, with each building reflecting each ethnolinguistic group in Mindanao[2]
As with the other UP units, the University is home to many student organizations that sponsor many activities, most notably during the month of July, December and February. These organizations also foster camaraderie and excitement in a major university that is quite distant from downtown Davao.
Like in UP Diliman, UPMin has its own jeepney transportation network (“UPMin Ikot”) supported by motorcycles and tricycles called "HH" or "Habal-habal" and "Princess", respectively. They usually ply the Admin-Kanluran, Admin-Sitio Basak, Admin-Mintal and Kanluran-Mintal routes.
Even though the university is considered "young" in its academic history, due to the efforts made by the students and academe, and due in part to its isolation to urban Davao, UPMin has strived to become a cultural melting pot in the whole Davao region. Most of the traditions practiced were borrowed from other constituent units, but were given a cultural twist, adding Mindanaoan elements to the events. Because of these unique cultural elements, such events draw an enormous crowd not only from the UPMin student body, but also from other schools and universities as well.
Most of the events are organized by the UP Mindanao University Student Council (USC) and student organizations, and are supported by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA); other events are also hosted by courses and student organizations, notably course-based organizations, fraternities and sororities.
During the first day of classes for every academic year, the whole community gather at the Atrium to welcome the freshmen with an acquaintance ceremony, in which members of the administration, faculty, heads of the colleges, staff and students are introduced. The administration, upperclassmen and alumni then give an inspirational message for the new members of the student body.The freshman with the highest University-predicted Grade (UPG) will then give his message and lead the batch during the oath-taking. Usually, the University Student Council also conducts an oath-taking ceremony for the new student government elected during the preceding academic year.
Usually done during June or July, the Torch Night involves the symbolic passing of the lit torch (symbolizing responsibility and privilege as "Iskolar ng Bayan") and group presentations between the courses, which is then sort-of an introduction between the freshmen batch with their upperclassmen.
This event was controversial in 2008 when freshmen from the Communication Arts program were booed upon by the upperclassmen which resulted to the event (and all student-organized activities thereafter) being suspended by the Chancellor in the same year after a complaint was filed by one of the parents, but was reinstated in 2009 through the efforts of the University Student Council.
One of the highlights during the academic year, the Freshmen Night is held weeks after the Torch Night, where all freshmen, with the help of their upperclassmen, compete in a pagaent (Search for UPMin Isko and Iska) and a dance competition.
For the 2009 and 2011 Freshmen Night, the celebrations of both the Torch and Freshmen Night were simultaneously conducted.
Dula, a Cebuano word meaning "play", is the university-wide sportsfest, preceded by college-based sportsfests (Dula-dula for the CSM and SOM, and Hampang for the CHSS). Done usually in the middle of the semester (August/September), students get together with their teachers in the spirit of enjoyment, sportsmanship and camaraderie. The highlight of the competitions is the Cheerdance Competition, the climax of intercollegiate rivalry between CHSS, CSM and SOM, drawing huge crowds from other universities and is commonly featured in the local media.
Usually held at the last week of November or the first week of December, this event involves students, faculty and staff dressing up with their "not-so-everyday" attires; male students usually wear female clothes during this day, as well as other students and teachers wearing sleeping gowns, costumes and formal dress, with some going to the extreme: wearing almost nothing at all. This is then highlighted by a program in the evening which consists of talent shows and a free concert.
For 2011, the event consisted of two talent shows (One Minute of Fame, Three Minutes of Fame), two pagaents (Echusero Echusera Mary Joy of the Night, Oyot Alert) and the free concert, sponsored by UPMin AMPLI.
This event is organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) under the Department of Social Sciences (DSS) and the Dalub-aral na may Ugnayan, Galing at Organisadong Ningas na Ginagabayan ng Antropolohiya (DUGONG-ANTRO) student organization. The event is an adaptation of UP Cebu's "Crazy Day" and was originally a free concert hosted by the BA Social Sciences and BA Anthropology programs.
A Cebuano word meaning "joy, happiness," Kasadya is the highlight of the university-wide Christmas celebration that starts during the last month of November and ends before the Christmas break; the affair features a lantern parade made by the university constituents and other sectors in UP Mindanao, and Pasiklaban, a skit contest for students and alumni sponsored by the UP Alumni Association-Davao.
In 2010, the Christmas celebrations were officially opened with the lighting of the University Christmas Tree, constructed with lanterns from the different student organizations, at the Kalimudan Student Center.
In 2011, the celebrations for Kasadya will be held at the campus, a break from the traditional venue at Peoples' Park.
A month-long event, this commemorates the foundation of UP in Mindanao as a constituent university with the UP System on February 20. Cultural and civic events are conducted during this time, spearheaded by the administration, while the respective colleges celebrate their foundation weeks during this period. Honorable students, faculty and staff are also given recognition during the Recognition Day (held during the third week of February). Many organizations and courses also celebrate their own foundation celebrations during the month, with a week-long Orgs Fair organized by the University Student Council to support the endeavor.
Tatak UPMin, a student organization fair headed by the University Student Council, is the highlight of the festivities; this is actually a beauty pageant with a twist: male students from the different student organizations portraying their respective female "alter-egos".
The Elias B. Lopez Hall (EBL Hall) serves as the student residence center of the university, administered by the Student Housing Section (SHS) under the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). Most residents are freshmen and upperclassmen with official residences outside Davao City. In the near future, the Science and Technology Dormitory (the Dorm Annex) will be also used, catering students from the College of Science and Mathematics.
Several dormitories and apartments are also near the campus, located mostly at Sitio Basak and Mintal, where most of the upperclassmen coming in and outside Davao City reside.
All student organizations are under the auspices of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and are duly recognized as such by the University Council and University Student Council (USC), the highest student policy-making body in the campus.
Due to the 2009 Code of Student Conduct, many of the organizations, mostly course-based and regional, were disbanded due to the stringent requirements of the said code, and sadly the arts and culture life has been waning as a result.
The UP Alumni Association-Davao Chapter, which was established on December 3, 1949, clamored for the creation of a “UP in Mindanao” for more than two decades; as early as 1961, the UP Summer School already offered extension courses in Law, Business Administration and Education, with the old location of the Davao Central Elementary School as venue.
On November 24 and November 25, 1989, the UPAA Davao Chapter hosted the 12th UP Alumni Institute with Senator Vicente Paterno as keynote speaker. Then UP President Jose Abueva, who attended the conference, was confronted with the strong and united voice of about 630 alumni in attendance as well as media and the business sector, all clamoring for a resolution that would promote the establishment of a "UP in Mindanao" in Davao City. The resolution was unanimously approved and adopted by the Institute on November 25, 1989. This was submitted to the UPAA national and endorsed by the UP Board of Regents.
The vision of a UP in Mindanao began to materialize when, on the third regular session of the House of Representatives on April 30, 1990. 1st District Representative Prospero Nograles introduced House Bill 30358, also known as "Act to Establish the University of the Philippines in Mindanao". A public hearing on House Bill 30358 was conducted by Senator Edgardo Angara (then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education) on October 12, 1990 at the Davao Chamber of Commerce. It was sponsored by Representatives Prospero Nograles and Rodolfo del Rosario of Davao del Norte. A strong sentiment for the establishment of a UP in Mindanao pervaded during the public hearing.
To alleviate the strong clamor for a UP Mindanao, Abueva created instead the UP Consortium System, much like the UP Open University. When Abueva's term ended, President Fidel V. Ramos appointed Emil Q. Javier as UP President. It turned out that Ramos had already instructed Javier to create a fact-finding committee composed of Regents Oscar Alfonso, Vice-President for Planning Fortunato dela Peña, Atty. Carmelita Yadao-Guno, and Rogelio V. Cuyno.
The committee came to Davao for an ocular inspection of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) and Bago Oshiro, Mintal. After receiving the committee report, Javier did not pursue the plan to convert USEP into UP Mindanao due to demonstrations conducted by USEP faculty and staff. Instead, he opted for a congressional action. At the same time, the committee also talked with Bureau of Plant Industry director Nerios Roperos for the segregation of 204 hectares of the BPI area in Bago Oshiro for the UP Mindanao campus. The task of pursuing UP Mindanao was given to Representative Elias B. Lopez, as he is the only UP alumnus among the Davao Representatives.
Finally, RA 7889, the Bill creating UP Mindanao was finally enacted into law on February 20, 1995. On March 22 of the same year, the Board of Regents passed a resolution officially creating the University of the Philippines Mindanao. To emphasize the importance of RA 7889 to the Mindanaoans, a re-enactment of the signing was held at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, with President Ramos himself in attendance.
The Lee Business Center in Juan Luna Street corner J. de la Cruz Street (the so-called Ladislawa Campus) and the Casa Mercado Building in Matina served as UP Mindanao's home from March to September, 1995 and from September 1995 to January 1996.
On June 1996, the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Management were created. After a year, the CAS was split into the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Science and Mathematics. The School of Management was retained.
On February 20, 1998, the U.P. Oblation was installed at the Bago Oshiro campus during the University's 3rd Foundation Anniversary. The Board of Regents granted full autonomy to UP Mindanao on February 26, 1998, making it the sixth and latest constituent unit of the UP System. Dean Rogelio V. Cuyno, was elevated as it First Chancellor on December 11, of the same year. The second University Chancellor of the University was Prof. Ricardo M. de Ungria, who was installed on September 21, 2001. Succeeding him is the present Chancellor Dr. Gilda C. Rivero, who was installed on July 30, 2007. Her two vice chancellors are Dr. Emma Ruth V. Bayogan, Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Prof. Miguel D. Soledad was appointed as Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Administration starting June 2, 2008 with Prof. Soledad’s appointment eventually approved by the Board of Regents on its 1233rd Meeting.[9]
During the first year of Chancellor Rivero's administration, the general tuition fee was increased due to the TOFI, resulting in a Php600-per-unit calculation of matriculation, which infuriated many regular, outgoing and incoming students due to the high fees, coupled with a few "miscellaneous" fees like cultural and internet fees.
The University was also on closely guarded by the National Police, the Army and some ROTC corps during the visit of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the laying-down of the capsule for the Biotechnology Complex at CSM; many protesters, mostly from UPMin and some from other universities within the region, rallied at the Administration Building and barricaded Kanluran Road so as to block the passage of the Presidential convoy.
The most recent setback of the University was the uprooting of the Bt Eggplant samples by personnel from the City Agriculturist's Office while the whole community was at the Peoples' Park for the Kasadya celebrations last December 17, 2010. The issue was with the concerns of biological safety of the genetically-modified samples to the environment, which was deliberated three months before the said uprooting.
Recently, the road system of UPMin has been improved, with the concreting of the Mindanao Avenue, directly connecting the Administration Building (and UPMin itself) to Mintal (via the Mintal-Basak Road Network) and downtown Davao (via the Davao-Bukidnon Highway System), the repair of the Oblation Circle and the so-called "Abortion Road" (which was, until recently, the only road connecting Admin to the external road network via Kanluran Road). The School of Management's Administration and Corporate Center also reached its final phase of construction last January and will be operational in May 2011; during this time, UP Mindanao's address will be solely at Mintal, Tugbok District, Davao City.
The House of Representatives, under the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, approved on February 10, 2010, House Bill 3076 (An act providing for the Development Fund for the Medium-Term Development Plan of UP Mindanao) authored by First District Congressman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles providing UPMin with PhP1.2 billion for the construction of vital facilities set out by the UP Mindanao Land Use and Master Development Plan of 2009, including the CHSS and SOM Buildings, Student Dormitory, DOST-SEI-CSM Biotechnology Facility, among others, spread over four years.
The testimonial ceremony for President Emerlinda R. Roman was held at UPMin SOM Campus (at F. Iñigo, popularly known inside UPMin as "UP Anda") last February 4, 2011.
| Preceded by Baguio |
University of the Philippines campuses by foundation February 20, 1995 (6th) |
Succeeded by Open University |
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