K-12 changes DLSU-D educational landscape – CSA director
Enrollees for undergraduate programs this academic year (AY) 2019-2020 dropped by 131 students from 2,324 last AY 2018-2019 as a result of the implementation of the K-12 curriculum, Center for Student Admissions (CSA) Director Romano Angelico Ebron said.
Despite mentioning that “there’s not much significance” to the decrease of enrollees in the University, the CSA director shared that higher education institutions should be prepared to face the changes brought about by the K-12 curriculum: “The implementation of K-12 has changed the landscape of the educational system we have here [in the University].”
Relatively, as there is a rise in other educational institutions offering the same programs with the University, the number of enrollees decreased due to the prevalent competition, Ebron furthered.
The CSA director assured that the office is promoting the University in different ways, including visiting Senior High Schools inside and outside Cavite to entertain admission process inquiries and encourage new applicants to enroll in DLSU-D.
Mentioning that the promotion of the University and its programs is “a shared responsibility among the departments,” the CSA director furthered that the office is collaborating with administrators of the seven colleges within DLSU-D to gain more marketing collaterals and connections with neighboring schools.
Programs drop in freshmen decrease
According to Office of the University Registrar enrollment statistics, programs that experienced a drop in enrollees, having the least number of freshmen, are the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Office Administration, BS in Applied Mathematics, Bachelor (B) of Early Childhood Education, B of Physical Education, and Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Broadcast Journalism.
The enrollees in BS in Office Administration for last AY amounted to 19, which dropped to 12 this AY. While there is only nine B of Early Childhood Education freshmen this AY, as compared to 12 last AY. Based on enrollment trend, the BS Applied Mathematics maintained a low number of undergraduate enrollees, having two students this AY, with five last AY. Showing another drop, B of Physical Education enrollees declined from 21 enrollees last AY to 16 enrollees.
Meanwhile there is a total number of 15 enrollees in AB in Broadcast Journalism program which showed a continuous drop in enrollees in comparison to last AY with 18.
“We went back to how Broadcast Journalism started, [like] with only 8 students,” Communications and Journalism Department (CJD) Chair Artin Umali expressed his concern in the drop of Broadcast Journalism freshmen.
Umali shared that, in consideration of students he interviewed under the CJD, many AB Broadcast Journalism interested applicants wanted to become a broadcaster or newscaster, but ended up choosing the AB Communication program since it covers broader topics over the other, focusing on broadcasting and covering news.
He added that there is an economic factor to this decrease, pertaining to the low income of journalists in the country. Another factor that caused for the decrease are safety concerns, emphasizing cases of harassment towards journalists in the country.
In effect of the drop, Umali mentioned that CJD had to temporarily stop recruiting part-time faculty members, “The part timers can provide kung ano ‘yung hindi namin nabibigay,” Umali said.
Previously, the CJD considered cutting off the AB Broadcast Journalism program, following the constant drop. However, despite the challenges that the department is facing, Umali addressed that the CJD remains positive and hopes to regain and increase the number of students. As such, the department initiated multiple projects in order to maintain or gain more enrollees, such as asking for assistance from Broadcast Journalism alumni or practitioners to speak about their experiences during promotions in other Senior High Schools.
Furthermore, the department chair encourages the Broadcast Journalism Program Council to organize events that caters to the DLSU-D Senior High School, showcasing what the program is all about and featuring a tour to the broadcasting laboratory, along with a partnership offer for training participants of journalism, or documentary contests.
Programs increase in freshmen
The enrollment statistics show that programs having a low number of enrollees last AY have increased this AY, which includes BS Business Administration Major in Economics, B of Special Needs Education, AB Philosophy, and AB Community Development Studies.
Having no enrollees last AY, BS Business Administration Major in Economics program gaining 12 new students this AY. While B of Special Needs Education enrollees showed a gradual increased from 10 last AY to 11.
Addressing Social Sciences Department (SSD) programs, department chair Loreto Camiloza said that due to the fact that there are only four enrollees in the AB Philosophy course last AY, it was previously decided by the administration to not continue the program, however, after regaining students this AY with 12 students, they have decided to reopen AB Philosophy. While, AB Community Development Studies has only six enrollees.
Camiloza expressed his worries on the low number of enrollees in these programs, considering that Philosophy and Community Development Studies, along with International Development Studies, are priority programs of the SSD.
The SSD department chair also added that part of the reason for the low number of enrollees in the Philosophy course is because it is unrecognized. “I think only one of the few institutions that offer [the] philosophy course is La Salle Dasma,” thus lacking interested applicants in the program.
This low number has caused discussion between SSD professors on possible plans to promote the courses. Similar to CJD, multiple projects have been done by the department, such as Senior High School visits within Dasmariñas and online promotions with the help of SSD alumni.
