IITians huddle as KASAMA carry out Online General Assembly

By Honey Grace Gaid

As online classes for IITians continues, Kataastaasang Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral (KASAMA) carried out virtual General Assembly on Monday, October 4 via Facebook Live.

The program commenced with a welcome address from the Institute Chancellor, Dr. Sukarno Tanggol. Aside from welcoming the students for the school year 2021-2022, Chancellor Tanggol assured that “the institute is continuing its best to innovate its means of delivering [quality education] based on whatever resources and technologies that are available”. He then asks for the students’ patience and feedback for the inevitability of challenges in learning online.

Rest assured that we will continue the mark of excellence that we strive for in trying to make you better citizens in the future, better career people in the future,

the Chancellor said.

The Vice-Chancellor for Student Services, Dr. Marie Joy D. Banawa, also welcomed the students and urged them to get vaccinated. "Walang tatalo sa face-to-face [classes]”, Banawa stressed as she hoped for the pandemic to end.

A sneak peeks of campus events was glimpsed which made the students recall the bond and memories shared between them in face-to-face classes whilst giving the freshmen and those students who have not experienced the campus life in IIT an idea of what it is like. The students also gained some convenient and helpful tips for online classes as Smart Student Circle Ambassador Estephanie Bucog, shared her online class essentials.

Concerning the students’ mental health in the advent of pandemic, Professor Charity Pagarigan, the OIC of the Guidance and Counseling and the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) Guidance Counselor, encouraged the students to reach out to their college counselors. Moreover, she talked about the Office of Guidance and Counseling (OGC) services such as online counseling for students, free online tutorial services, and the upcoming virtual activities of the OGC, highlighting the World Mental Health Day Celebration of the month of October.

In the event that your personal, academic, and social life becomes very difficult for you to cope with, your mental state is our primary concern as we value your well-being,

Pagarigan said.

On the same grounds, Professor Jean S. Taypa, the Chairperson of the MSU IIT Psychology Society, presented the MSU-IIT Psychosocial Hub - a collaborative effort among the College of Arts and Social Sciences Psychology Department, College of Education, College of Computer Studies, MSU IIT Clinic, and the Office of the Guidance and Counseling, which provides help to those who are experiencing pandemic-related distress through free online psychological services open to anyone who will reach out to the hub.

The General Assembly concluded with a statement from the KASAMA, saying, “always remember that we are, #worldclass.” This year’s General Assembly is sponsored by Smart Communications giving prizes essential for online classes to students with the wittiest answers to the given questions, which spiced up the event.