Benguet State University President Felipe Comila has assured the extension class of the Bachelor of Science in Criminology at the La Trinidad campus would continue to operate.
Comila said they are waiting for the resolution of the board of regents (BOR) approving the extension classes at the La Trinidad campus, which is currently under the Buguias campus.
Once the board resolution is approved, BSU will apply for the certificate of program compliance at the Commission on Higher Education.
The Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) is a recognition that a specified degree program being offered by state universities and colleges or local colleges and universities is fully compliant with the policies, standards, and guidelines of CHED.
Comila acknowledged that it is a miscalculation on his part to establish the extension classes of criminology at the La Trinidad campus without the BOR resolution and certification from CHED.
“We just assumed that by the reason of the one university concept, whatever we offer in Buguias, we could offer it in La Trinidad and in Bokod (campuses),” Comila said.
This year, the La Trinidad campus offered an extension class for 430 Criminology students enrolled at the Buguias campus.
Comila said the action was in response to the clamor for more Criminology courses in the different campuses of BSU for the accessibility of students.
He said only the Buguias and Bokod campuses underwent the necessary procedures with board resolutions and the COPC from CHED.
Due to this, he said they have earlier offered enrolled students the option to attend at the Buguias campus, transfer to other colleges in BSU-La Trinidad or other campuses, or to transfer to other schools offering Criminology.
Comila said some students took the alternative remedies, but he assured those who will continue at the La Trinidad campus that they will still offer Criminology next semester.
He said he hopes the board would approve the extension class at the La Trinidad campus, as well as another extension class of Criminology in Kapangan.
CHED-Cordillera Officer-in-Charge Chief Education Program Specialist Menzi Cuengan said the BSU La Trinidad campus has not yet applied for a COPC to offer BS Criminology.
Cuengan said the COPC needs to be applied per campus, thus the extension campuses in La Trinidad and Kapangan should apply for the certification prior to accepting students. – Ofelia C. Empian
