Office of Student Affairs

This service is designed to disseminate information that will interest and benefit the students which is not ordinarily provided through instructional program during the regular semester. The information is classified as educational, vocational, personal and social.

Objectives:

1.    Create awareness of the need for accurate, valid occupational, educational, personal and social information.
2.    Help students adjust to the new world of school.
3.    Develop proper attitudes towards work to make the individual understand that there are many reasons for working.
4.    Assist students to develop a value system compatible to the world of work.

Policies:

1. Varied information should be posted in the guidance bulliten board and leaflets.
2. Availability of jobs be posted and updated
3. Relevant memorandum be posted and updated.
4. Screen information to be posted to avoid discrimination and sensitive issues.
5. Posted information, tips, etc. to be updated regularly.
6. Guidance Counselors should be ready to answer queries related to the posted information.

This service keeps the individual students record and reports to be utilized for counseling, planning the student’s educational and vocational programs and for administrative purposes.

Objectives

1. To help individual understands himself/herself to become more capable of making career decisions, achieving self-direction, maintaining healthy social relationship and becoming self-actualized person.

2. To help parents, teachers, counselors and administrators understands the learner and be prepared to create and maintain the kinds of environment needed to reinforce healthy growth and development of the individual.

Policies

–    Records must be securely filed

–    Records must be accessible to counselors concerned

–    Information must be kept in strict confidentiality

–    Unauthorized persons are not allowed to borrow nor look at the cumulative folders or records of students. Parents/guardians who send them to school, teachers involved in their academic needs, and administrators are considered authorized persons.

–    The records cannot be out from the office except by the authorized persons

–    The college-based guidance counselors should interpret records whenever necessary.

–    Records must be utilized properly especially in guidance for the maximum benefits of students.

For proper Disposition of the Cumulative Record

–    When a student changes or transfers to other schools the Cumulative folder should be labeled as “dropped out”

–    When a student finishes or transfers to other schools the records shall be kept for  five (5) years, after which it can be destroyed.

Utilization of Cumulative Record

        The record should be examined first

1. Before the student is called for individual interview and academic follow-up

2. To discover students of exceptional talents such as arts, music, sports or creative thinking.

3. To help counselors in making referrals or recommendations

4. For teachers who need to have adequacy of significant information about each student for effective instruction.

This is the heart of the guidance services. This service is designed to help individuals and groups come to full awareness and understanding of the self so he/she will become an effective individual. The service is implemented through individual or group counseling, consultation, career counseling, information and follow-up.

Objectives:

1. Help each individual come to an awareness of his/her weaknesses and strengths, skills and knowledge, values and feelings.
2. Help students whose achievement is below his general scholastic aptitude.
3. Assist individual to meet and solve his/her problems as they arise, to make correct interpretation of facts and wise choices of adjustment.
4. Equip the students with skills in making choices, decisions and skills in problem solving.
5. Help students become self-directing and self-actualization.
6. Help the individual develop his own insight.
7. Establish career goals.

Policies

–   Confidentiality should be observed at all times

–   Referrals should be done if necessary

–   Etc.

This service aims to provide an efficient testing service through administration of standardized tests and inventories as tool for appraisal of students’ personal growth and this is also extended to faculty and staff.

Objectives:

1. Predict future performance and to obtain a measure of ability, achievement and other characteristics that will offer a solid basis upon which individuals can make decisions.
2. Help students gain self-understanding.
3. Provide basis for group guidance or counseling.
4. Help students make decisions basic to their personal growth and educational planning.
5.    Guide students in making decisions regarding their academic life.
6. Diagnose students’ problems.
7. Provide data base for every colleges to help the administrators make decisions in their overall educational planning or appropriate interventions to address the academic needs of their students.
8. Provide data for administrators as one of the basis for selection of faculty and staff.

Utilization:

1.    Provide profile of interpreted materials.
2.    Serve as basis for guidance program planning and development.
3.    Discuss findings and implication with faculty and administration.
4.    Make relevant recommendations.
5.    Provide data base for every college.
6.    Come up with a plan of action/s and help in its implementation.
7.    Evaluate outcomes.

Policies:

1.    The Guidance Center will seek the help of the college deans to assign a testing room. The College-based Guidance Counselor will recommend for a test schedule.
2.    The college will announce the test schedules approved by the UGC  two weeks before the test.
3.    All students will have the privilege of taking the test on their scheduled dates.
4.    Students who fail to take the test during their assigned schedule will be allowed to take on another date.
5.    The examinees should be informed of the purpose of the test.
6.    Any guidance staff that will handle or have access in testing must have been trained for the job.
7.    The college guidance counselor/s will be responsible in interpreting the results to their students. However, students may come to the Center for test interpretation on appointment basis.
8.    All test materials, especially the manuals and booklets, must be secured strictly.
9.    Test must be used with relevant objectives.
10. Unauthorized persons will not be allowed to borrow any test materials in the office.
11. Nobody in the staff should bring test materials outside the office.
12. In case of special request such as qualifying tests, a testing fee shall be charged.
13. The Center will accept industrial testing for a separate rate/fee.

Tests to be Conducted/Administered:

1. Freshmen  -Academic Aptitude Test (Verbal and Non-verbal) –AAT    
2. Sophomore – Career Competency Scale for College Students –CCS-Cs
3. Juniors – Manchester Personality Questionnaire (version 14.0) –MPQ v.14.0
4. Seniors – Work Habits, Attitudes and Productivity Scale –WHAPS

This service is designed to listen to students and help them in their academic adjustment problems and difficulties such as absences, sequencing of subjects and failures. Students are required to come to their college or unit guidance office and update their individual academic records every semester. Letters are also sent to parents/guardians for consultation and/or referral purposes.

Objectives:

1. Ensure that students will not encounter difficulties on sequencing of subjects.
2. Guide students who are experiencing academic deficiencies.
3. Ensure that students will graduate from their respective degree programs on time.
4. Determine the adequacy of preparation the University has contributed in the development of students in particular in their readiness to enter the world of work.
5. Guide academic delinquent students in the preparation of their plan of course work.
6. Guide them to make wise decision.
7. Determine the areas which the University has to improve to achieve its mission and vision.
8. Determine the reasons why students leave the University.

This service aims to improve the guidance program in terms of functions, services, programs and implementation. Likewise, it attempts to help the University address the academic and personality development concerns of students.

A program wherein a pool of student volunteers coming from different colleges and institutes provide assistance to college-based guidance offices and to the university guidance center. They assist their fellow students in their growth, development and adjustment, particularly to college life. This group is provided with training on facilitation and counseling skills. They take charge of facilitating the Group Growth Program (GGP) of the University.

Objectives:

1. Build and establish an organization for peer facilitators from every college that shall promote unity, cooperation and closer relationship among students.
2. Assist peer facilitators to grow as a person.
3. Allow peer facilitators to experience and discover the development of values in their personhood and translate the essence and thrusts of valuing development into classroom situations and work environment.
4. Allow peer facilitators to help their peers in school life adjustments and difficulties.
5. Help students in the assessment of values which are detrimental in their growth and personhood.
6. Help the students in their academic performances in collaboration with the different academic societies and campus organization.
7. Provide manpower to the University Guidance Center and College-based Guidance Offices in the implementation of its guidance program and activities.

Policies:

1. The recruitment of membership is open only to 2nd year students in a 4 year course degree while 3rd year is still eligible to 5 – year or 6-year degree.
2. Membership is done by sending an application letter, address to the College Guidance Counselor signifying their intention.
3. Applicants must undergo and pass the interview with the College Guidance first. He final interview is with the University Guidance Counselor.
4. Accepted applicants are required to attend the 3-day free seminar-workshop on Peer Facilitators Training. Failure to attend the said training will disqualify him/her to be a member of the organization.
5. Every member is required to facilitate the Group Growth Program (GGP).
6. A member will be disqualified to continue his/her service as peer facilitator if proven inefficient incurred a failing grade, if not due to a depending case filed against him/her/or violated any provision of the USM Code.
7. A member who wishes to leave the organization must tender a letter of resignation address to the President of the Organization and the UGC.
8. A graduating peer facilitators will be awarded with Certificate of Appreciation during the Peer Recognition Program.

This program is designed for the freshmen and transferee students. It aims to facilitate their adjustment to the new academic environment by providing them with activities that would enhance their emotional, social, spiritual, and mental growth and development.

Objectives:

1. Orient the participants about the Group Grwoth Program (GGP) its objectives, process, schedules and expectations.
2. Provide general information about University and help them get oriented about their new academic environment.
3. Equip participants with a better understanding of the diverse cultures in the University.
4. Help the participants identify and share their own difficulties concerning them and likewise draw and utilize insights in coping with these difficulties.
5. Assist the participants to be able to acquire knowledge and skills on time management.
6.    Help participants to be able to acquire and apply the principles and techniques on effective study habits.
7. Imbibe among the participants the values of proper budgeting of allowance.
8. Facilitate self-awareness among the participants by recognizing their own strengths, weaknesses and values.
9. Enhance the participants skills both in communication and interpersonal.
10. Practice in their day to day activities proper behavior expected of them as college students.
11. Equip the participants with knowledge and understanding on how to handle a healthy boy-girl relationship.

Policies:

1. The program is exclusive only for the freshmen and transferee students. It is for free.
2. The program is voluntary however; the College-based guidance counselor has the option to make it compulsory with the approval of their dean.
3. Only two peer facilitators are allowed to handle a section until they finish the entire GGP Modules.
4. Only GGP participants who completed the entire sessions are allowed to graduate and are requested to attend the culmination program.

This program is especially designed for new and transferee students. This aims to provide general information about the university to help them get oriented in their new academic environment.

1.    University Orientation
2.    College-based Orientation
3.    Parents’ Orientation
4.    Special Orientation

(Major Selection, Internship, etc.)

Objectives:

1. Provide general information on the following concerns:
   1. Mission-Vision of the University
   2. The University of Southern Mindanao Key Personnel
   3. Academic Policies and Policies on Student Records
   4. Health Services
   5. Library Services
   6. Student Discipline
   7. Scholarship/Grants and their Respective Requirements
   8. Student Affairs: Its Programs and Services
   9. ISPEAR
2. To establish camaraderie among freshmen and transferees.

This program facilitates the seeking of financial assistance for the needy students by referring them to work in faculty and staff homes. The students may also be recommended as student-Paid Labor (SPL) in offices needing their services.

Objectives:

1. Provide assistance to needy students who need free home and lodging.
2. Provide financial assistance through SPL

This program is designed to help delinquent students pass the course and graduate from their respective degree programs on time. Group sessions on time management, study habits, and tutorial sessions in English, Math, Chemistry and Physics are extended for free.

This program is given to the graduating students with the assistance of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XII and other agencies. This aims to prepare them in meeting the challenges in the world of work.

Objectives:

1. Orient the students about the Job-Information Program

2. Inform the students about the job-trends and opportunities in the region, nearby regions, in the country and the global market.

3. Provide tips on how to appear and answer interview.

4. Provide basic information on how to take psychological tests.

5. Provide with basic mechanics on how to write an application letter and resume.

6. Inform the participants of the rights and privileges as a worker.

7. Provide relevant information necessary for job application or generation and entrepreneurial activities.