CNU Updates 2021

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021

CNU celebrates 119th Foundation Day

Cebu Normal University (CNU) commemorated its 119th Foundation Day with the theme, “CNU: Serving and Flourishing in the New Normal”, last June 30, 2021, through a live stream on CNU’s Facebook page.

Despite the changes imposed by the pandemic, the celebration was attended by esteemed members of the administration, headed by Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil, CESE Officer-in-Charge – Office of the University President.

She summarized the entire university’s efforts during this pandemic through the acronym CARE, which stands for “Collaboration, Accountability, Rigor, Excellence”, emphasizing the entire Normalite community’s role in preserving the university’s excellence.

Furthermore, Dayagbil pointed out that this year’s 119th foundation anniversary is embodied with victory.

“We have survived, we have flourished, and we have served in the new normal — and that is the essence of significance,” she said.

Words by Juanne Claire Son

June 21, 2021June 21, 2021

CNU bags 14th spot in WURI crisis management ranking

Cebu Normal University (CNU) secured another accolade as it placed 14th on the recently released World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) 2021’s Top 50 universities in Crisis Management.

Now in its second year, WURI, a global innovative ranking system formed by the Organizing Committee of the Second Conference of the Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU), aims to discover and evaluate innovative universities around the world which provide real, feasible contributions to society.

For 2021, the WURI Ranking added crisis management as a new category to its assessment due to the great challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil, CESE Officer-in-Charge – Office of the University President, expressed her gratitude to WURI for acknowledging the impact of CNU’s Innovative CNU Assistance and Relief Effort (iCARE) program on the lives of its stakeholders amid the ongoing health crisis in a Facebook post.

“When the pandemic created havoc worldwide, CNU was unprepared. Guided by the mantra to survive, thrive and lead in the new normal, Team CNU launched the iCARE (CNU’s Assistance and Response in Emergency). The “i” is added before CARE to show oneness and individual investment of self,” Dayagbil stated.

Furthermore, Dayagbil shared some of iCARE’s projects like 24hr Communication Hotline, telecounselling, donation drive, HEdConnect Webinar Series, Adopt-a-Student, Share-a-Ride, Alternative RLE Delivery (ARLED), and refocussing/reframing teaching and learning.

Other universities from the Philippines that made it to the list were Far Eastern University (FEU) in 12th place and Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) in 26th place.

Words by Lorille Antoinette Mata

June 17, 2021June 18, 2021

CNU gets initial nod from CHED to make its campuses SMART

Cebu Normal University (CNU) is one step closer to transforming its campuses into SMART ones.

The University submitted a P23.1M project proposal to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) seeking assistance to develop CNU’s campuses into SMART (Systems Management Automation and Related Technologies) campuses with specific priority areas on establishing a learning management system (LMS), a student information system (SIS), and a school management information system (SMIS).

The LMS would be the main tool in delivering engaging lessons synchronously and asynchronously, administering courses, tracking, and reporting which will feature student accounts, online examinations, grade books, virtual lockers, forums, built-in chat, teacher accounts, question bank, e-resources, attendance checker, and even guardian/parent accounts for them to monitor their sons’ and daughters’ progress.

The SMIS would include offsite enrollment module, admission and testing module, registrar’s module, and teaching-learning equipment and software (smart interactive whiteboard, control system, microphone, amplifier system, rich ports for external computer in an interactive education platform software bundled with e-learning solution with the use of different teaching tools such as text, 3D animation, video, audio, and virtual simulation).

Meanwhile, the establishment of the SIS would also create an accounting system, budget monitoring system, asset management system, procurement management system, records management system, and project monitoring system.

Mr. Omar Roma, the SMART project leader and the University’s Information and Communications Technology Officer (ICTO) said that the proposed project will result to an improved accessibility and efficiency of the institution’s academic and administrative operations since automation and advancement of the University system and ICT facilities provide secure and real time access to the its information system.

Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil, the OIC of the Office of the President opined that the SMART project opens windows of opportunities to make the University globally competitive in its academic processes.

“Amidst and beyond the health crisis, the flexible learning modality is the best option for learning continuity. Thus, the major component of the SMART project is the development of a learning management system that is responsive to the needs of the students and the faculty for quality teaching and learning,” Dr. Dayagbil said.

She also expressed her gratitude to CHED through the leadership of Chair Popoy de Vera and the Chair of the CNU Board of Regents Dr. Perfecto A. Alibin for the support.

The 12-month SMART project includes pre-procurement, procurement of proposed learning management system and services, implementation, software development, pre-testing, data migration, end-user training, turn-over, and continuous quality improvement mechanism. – KFR

June 12, 2021June 15, 2021

CNU – Balamban, Medellin proclaim A.Y. ‘20–‘21 grads

To honor the students’ successful completion of their respective programs, Cebu Normal University (CNU) – Balamban and Medellin Campus embarked their second virtual graduation ceremony via live on CNU Facebook page last May 5 and 6 respectively.

With the theme “CNU: Flourishing in the New Normal”, CNU – Balamban celebrated its 13th Commencement Rites and graduated 36 students of Bachelor of Tourism Management (BTM) for the academic year 2020-2021.

The virtual ceremony was participated by the administrative staff and faculty of the extension campus fronted by the Balamban Campus Director Dr. Levi T. Atibula and the officers of the administration led by CNU President Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil.

On her commencement message, founder and chief executive officer of Access Travel and Hapilab Ms. Angely Dub encouraged the BTM graduates to explore beyond their field and shared that sacrifice is necessary in life.

“You are allowed to change your dreams… your fate, your passion. You are capable of doing everything. The world is such a big place, there are so many, many things you can explore,” she said.

Meanwhile, CNU – Medellin campus also aired their 10th Commencement Rights on Facebook last June 6, 2021.

With graduates from the degree programs Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) Major in English, Bachelor of Tourism Management (BTM), and Bachelor of Elementary Education with concentration in General Education, the event took place inside their campus, but with the strict compliance of health protocols.

Staff and faculty members of the campus, led by Dayagbil, also gave their heartfelt recorded messages to the graduates, with Provincial Tourism chief Office (PTO) chief Ms. Maria Lester Ybañez giving warm words to the graduates.

“Visualize what you want to be, create goals, make your dreams into reality,” said the PTO chief.

Words by Mikaela Jane Dagani and Dykembie Dingal

Screenshots by Bruce Borja

June 6, 2021June 7, 2021

CNU lauds graduates in 2021 commencement exercises

Restrictions brought by the pandemic didn’t hold back the celebration of an academic feat as accomplished graduates of the three colleges of Cebu Normal University (CNU) Main Campus participated in the second virtual Commencement Rites with the theme, “CNU: Flourishing in the New Normal”.

The 92nd College of Teacher Education(CTE), 40th College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and 36th College of Nursing (CN) Commencement Rites were streamed in CNU’s Facebook Page last Friday, June 4, formally concluding the academic year 2020-2021.

Administrative officials opened the ceremony by giving encouraging pieces of advice to graduates; among them were Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Daisy R. Palompon; Vice President for Administration Dr. Floriza N. Laplap; Vice President for Research, Extension and Publication Dr. Angeline M. Pogoy; CTE Dean Dr. Ethel L. Abao; CN Dean Dr. Emiliano Ian B. Suson II; and, CAS Dean Dr. Milagros M. Greif.

The words imparted by the administrative officials reminded the graduates that the”end of their academic pursuit is just the beginning of their quest in taking more challenging roles”; roles that demand them to make a better future for the nation with the values gained in their learning triumphs as a guide.

Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil, CESE Officer-in-Charge – Office of the University President, conferred the degrees to the 198 graduates who have satisfactorily complied with the requirements of their respective curricula.

Congressman Marquez “Mark” Go, representative of the Lone District of Baguio City, graced the 2021 commencement exercises with his virtual presence as the event’s speaker and talked about the importance of goal-setting in navigating one’s direction in life.

“With proper preparation and grit, you will be able to achieve everything that you wish to. Set a goal. I always believe that goal setting’s half the journey. Once you set a goal, it does something to you as a person. It causes you to act differently, it prepares you to tackle the job,” he said.

Furthermore, Go stressed that the “COVID-19 survivors” batch should grab the opportunity to transform the world and make it a better place, as their “generation is now responsible so that something like this will not happen again in the future.”

For this academic year, 131 students from CTE, 62 from CAS, and 5 CN students accounted for a total of 198 graduates, lesser than the previous year.

Words by Lorille Antoinette Mata & Jamaica Ola-a
Screenshot by Alyssa Cañete

June 4, 2021June 5, 2021

CNU places in most popular HEIs list

Crimson and gold shone as Cebu Normal University (CNU) made it to the sixth place in uniRank’s 2021 Central Visayas University Ranking.

The non-academic ranking was initiated by uniRank, a leading international higher education institutions (HEIs) directory and search engine, which featured reviews and rankings of over 13,800 officially recognized universities and colleges in 200 countries.

Listed as global university ranking by the International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence, uniRank aims to provide valid, unbiased, and non-influenceable web metrics provided by independent web intelligence sources rather than data submitted by the universities themselves.

According to the directory’s website, it included worldwide higher education institutions which satisfied the following requirements: (1) officially recognized, licensed and/or accredited by national or regional bodies such as Ministries of Higher Education or government-recognized accrediting organizations; (2) officially licensed or authorized to grant at least four-year undergraduate degrees (Bachelor’s Degrees) and/or postgraduate degrees (Master’s and Doctoral Degrees); and (3) provide higher education courses mainly in a traditional face-to-face learning format delivered through on-site facilities.

In terms of methodology, uniRank made use of five independent web metrics extracted from four different web intelligence sources, which included Moz Domain Authority, Alexa Global Rank, SimilarWeb Global Rank, Majestic Referring Domains, and Majestic Trust Flow.

Among the HEIs which made it to the top 10 were Siliman University, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose Recoletos, University of Cebu, Southwestern University, Cebu Doctors’ University, Cebu Technological University, Cebu Institute of Technology, and Holy Name University.

Words by Mark Aleson Sanico

Layout by Jezza Mae Jumamil

May 27, 2021May 28, 2021

College of medicine to kick-start next school year

On a joint local and national press conference held last May 24, 2021 via Zoom and was streamed live on Facebook, Cebu Normal University-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (CNU-VSMMC) College of Medicine, hand-in-hand with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), answered queries about the first state-funded medical school in Region VII to open this upcoming school year 2021-2022.

In accordance with Republic Act 1159 or “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act” signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, qualified students will be able to study medicine for free, and as a return service, they will serve in government hospitals in their hometowns after graduating.

Dr. Gerardo M. Aquino Jr., Medical Center Chief ll of VSMMC, noted in his speech that the lack of physicians in the rural, underserved, and geographically isolated areas remains to be felt by the medical center; he also mentioned about the distressing 3.1: 10,000 doctor to population ratio in Central Visayas which signifies the scarcity of physicians in the region.

“CNU has the degree-granting authority while VSMMC has the expertise and facilities in training medical doctors… Where we lack, we complemented each other, making the partnership perfect,” Aquino said.

Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera lll, Chairperson of CHED, was also present at the press conference and said that he personally asked that the event will be conducted while he is still in Cebu city.

“The commission always thought that it was a very good fit between a university that has shown itself to be an excellent teacher training institution because we expect the same level of excellence when it opens a medical program, and of course for Vicente Sotto [VSMMC], because it has anchored healthcare in the region and has treated so many patients,” the CHED chairperson said, adding that the partnership between the two is “logical”.

De Vera also disclosed that the starting grant to be given to CNU-VSMMC College of Medicine will be around PhP 25 to 30 million, which according to him, “to jumpstart its acquisition of necessary educational equipment for their medical program” with an assurance of continuous assistance.

Aspiring medical students can start sending their applications on June 1-25, 2021.

Words by Rena Mae Avila and Dykembie Dingal

Screenshot by Alyssa Cañete

May 23, 2021May 24, 2021

Doctor of Medicine Admission Requirements

Application for Doctor of Medicine will start on June 1-25, 2021

Applicant Qualifications:

Applicants should possess the following qualifications prior to taking the CNU College Admission Test:
a. A natural-born or a naturalized Filipino citizen;
b. With outstanding scholastic record from a Bachelor’s Degree (BS) in a field relevant to Health from a college or university duly recognized by the CHEd;
c. Had taken the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) and at least in the 60% percentile rank or better. Validity of NMAT result is within two (2) years from the time of admission;
d. Must have good moral standing as certified by the university/college graduated from in the BS degree;
e. Priority will be given to applicants with low family income; and
f. Preferably from Central Visayas (Region 7)

Application Requirements:

a. NMAT Rating (Scanned or Picture Copy of the original)
b. Accomplished College of Medicine Applicant Profile Sheet (from the College, pdf downloadable form)
c. 2×2 colored picture with name and signature (Scanned or Picture Copy of the original)
d. Transcript of Records (Scanned or Picture Copy of the original) – with a GPA of 2.0 in the Bachelor’s degree
e. Accomplished College of Medicine Testing Admission Form attached 2×2 colored picture with name and signature (download and print pdf form, then, fill out and scan)
f. Valid Identification Card (Scanned or Picture Copy of front and back)
g. NSO/PSA Certificate of Birth (Scanned or Picture Copy of the original)
h. Letter of Recommendation from either of these two references: (Scanned or Picture Copy of the original)
1. Academic Head(s) of the school graduated
2. Professional/Work station head/Professor.
i. Good Moral certificate (Scanned or Picture Copy of the original)
j. ITR of earning family members or BIR Certification of Exemption (Scanned or Picture Copy of the original)
k. Testing Fee of P400.00