The UP Board of Regents approved several UP Mindanao proposals in its 1395th Meeting on November 28, 2024. The approved proposals are the following:
1. MS Biology program
2. Graduate Program Office
3. Renovation for the Integrated Offices of PPO/CPDO/OASH/OGAD
4. Projects for occupancy permits
5. Grocery allowance
MS Biology program
Through the MS Biology program, its first graduate program, the Department of Biological Science and Environmental Studies (DBSEs) responds to the UP mandate by expanding academic program offerings. It is expected to provide advanced professional training in response to a felt need for competent graduates who will be experts in integrative biology. Some 70 of 105 survey respondents wanted to take MS Biology, and 60 were willing to enroll in UP Mindanao. The MS Biology program will comprise 33 units, with 15 units of core courses, the rest made up of required courses, specialty electives, and the thesis. The program will begin with an existing faculty complement of ten (10) all-PhD faculty items and one (1) Professorial Lecturer to be augmented by an additional one (1) Professorial Lecturer. This complement will increase in the succeeding years. The DBSES has announced the intake of students for the Second Semester of Academic Year 2024-2025.
Graduate Program Office
Creating the Graduate Program Office (GPO) will support the “Road to 5K” academic program expansion. It will promote efficiency in the implementation of post-baccalaureate and graduate programs by providing overall coordination and management. The GPO will ensure adherence to the UP System’s harmonized policies in offering its existing graduate programs and the institution of new ones. UP Mindanao currently offers two (2) post-baccalaureate programs: Diploma in Exercise and Sports Science; Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning, and nine (9) graduate programs: Master in Management; MS Food Science; MA Urban and Regional Planning; MS Human Movement Science; MS Biology; MS Quantitative Methods and Modeling; PhD by Research in Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship; PhD by Research in Agriculture and Applied Economics; PhD by Research in Economics.
Renovation for the Integrated Offices of PPO/CPDO/OASH/OGAD
The BOR approved the proposal “Renovation for the Integrated Offices of the Physical Plant Office (PPO), the Campus Planning and Development Office (CPDO), the Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH), and the Office of Gender and Development (OGAD).” The location is the Senator Jaworski Hall, the former Department of Human Kinetics office, and the Dance Ensemble rehearsal hall. It is now the PPO office and is expected to house the CPDO, OASH, and OGAD. The renovation is projected to cost P18.696 Million. This budget includes interior and exterior upgrades such as tiling, ceilings, partitions, door and window replacements, furniture, re-piping, electrical retrofitting, a mezzanine floor, and repainting, enhancing the building’s functionality and user experience.
Projects for Occupancy Permits
The Projects for Occupancy Permits are required to meet the Office of the City Building Official’s requirements for issuing the said permit, which requires a total amount of P1.828 Million. At the UPMin Infectious Disease Laboratory, these are for the demolition of walls for the installation of doors and similar works. For the CHSS Department of Architecture’s Construction Laboratory, these are for the permanent power connection, installation of the downspout and overflow pipe, the rainwater tank, and the gutter. For the UPMin Three-Storey Student Dormitory 2, it is for the water service connection. For the UPMin Masjid (Mosque), it is for the power and water service connection. For the School of Management Phases 1 & 2, it is for the water service connection. For the CARIM Phase 2, it is for the power service connection, and for the NICER Temporary Facility, it is for the power and water service connection.
The Grocery Allowance is a UP System-wide benefit, but the BOR approved a fund allocation specifically for UP Mindanao.