Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion on academic matters
March 20, 2020
Dear members of the UP community:
As you all know, our national government has placed all of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine. Regions south of Luzon are also undergoing similar safety measures within their localities. All of these is part of our government’s effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease.
In light of these developments, the UP System has suspended all classes, both residential and online, as well as alternative learning activities, across all constituent units until April 14, 2020, with the UP Open University as the only exception. A new schedule for online classes will be announced in an upcoming Memorandum.
Moreover, the deadline for dropping and filing leave of absence for the second semester of AY 2019-2020 has been lifted. New deadlines will likewise be announced soon.
We are continually assessing the situation throughout the UP System, including factors such as students’ access to the Internet and digital technology and the time needed for faculty to shift their curricula to online and alternative modes of delivery. In the meantime, we exhort our faculty to continue exploring the different avenues for blended learning, and to be as creative and resourceful as possible so as to give all students equal access to the lessons and learning materials, and an equal chance to interact with the class and submit requirements, regardless of Internet access. The use of UP’s learning management system such as Zoom, which can now be accessed by all UP faculty and REPS at up-edu.zoom.us, is highly encouraged to aid faculty in transitioning to online and blended learning. Please refer to the email sent out by the UP System ITDC for more information and support. The UPOU also provides webinars on how to migrate to online teaching formats. While the March 23 deadline for the submission of revised syllabi is lifted, we must all continue to learn, to adapt, and to help one another by sharing our ideas and insights.
The situation at the local and national levels remain in a state of flux. We need to be nimble and flexible in responding to the shifting conditions under which our academic systems are operating. We in the administration remain on the highest alert, and we are constantly strategizing ways to facilitate learning, manage academic requirements, and maximize our academic resources in this time of COVID-19. Above all, we continue to prioritize the health and wellbeing of all members of the UP community.
This is an extraordinarily challenging time and it demands much of us. But UP has survived wars, natural disasters, civil and political turmoil, and martial law, and it has done so with brilliance, courage, an unshakable sense of unity, and a bayanihan spirit.
UP will do so again.
Naglilingkod,
Danilo L. Concepcion
