Piloting of PLM Electronic Classcards (eGrades)

The Supreme Student Council (2010-2011), as the representation of the 9,000-strong scholars, served as a leading development partner of the IT Center in spearheading this innovation. As a project proponent, the SSC was part of the program development by a select group, otherwise known as the Core Group, which started its full-blown efforts in August 2010 upon the approval of the PLM's executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs.

Early on as early as March 2010, the SSC was already conducting exploratory talks with the ITC about piloting electronic grades in PLM to effectuate better academic services as part of its year-long program of action. Said idea was germinated during the courtesy call to the PLM community of Microsoft's director for Asia-Pacific. Microsoft, which maintains a strong industry-academe linkage with PLM, is also a development partner by providing the medium for the distribution of the electronic grades, through the official PLM email <yourname@plm.edu.ph>, which is hosted courtesy of Microsoft's Live@Edu worldwide program.

Electronic grades (with a computed general weighted average) were sent at the end of the 1st semester, SY 2010-2001, to the pilot class. Regular students have received their electronic grades through their official PLM email address. By the end of the 2nd semester of the same school year, the students of the identified pilot department (Civil Engineering) are expected to receive the eGrades.

As the eGrades project is of continuing nature and character with an escalating pilot, the ITC plans to expand the next phase (1st semester, SY 2011-2012) into covering all freshman scholars in all colleges, and further into a pilot college, which may be the College of Engineering & Technology (2nd semester, SY 2011-2012).

The eGrades is an innovative development program intended to cause a lasting impact and leave a lasting legacy in the operations of the University.

SSC president Jessica Anne Sibal is the SSC's point person for this project with the University.

Related Article: PLM Electronic Classcards soon to Deploy

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State of Facilities Address

The Supreme Student Council serves as the partner of the University Management in the latter's efforts of ensuring the provision of adequate academic services to the scholars to optimize their learning experience while in the University. To augment the PLM Management's efforts, the SSC is at the forefront of exerting efforts at identifying areas of enhancement and bringing the same to the attention of appropriate offices for resolution. SSC had this as its program known as the State of Facilities Address (SOFA), in cooperation with the Bukluran Students’ Alliance-Integrated Students’ Organization and other allied student organizations.

With the SSC’s mandate as the voice and face of all PLM students, the SOFA was part of the fulfillment of the SSC officers’ commitment to the studentry as its modest share of augmenting the efforts of PLM by enunciating student concerns to the Management while advocating for student welfare to sustain academic excellence. The SOFA is in preparation for the then-upcoming opening of the new school year as an offshoot of the ocular inspection of the facilities around the campus.

PDSPO chief Rolando Marasigan promptly attended to the concerns itemized in the SOFA. Through a formal meeting on 23 June 2010 at the Executive Building's conference room, Engr. Marasigan assured the SSC that said concerns were to be attended to, even stating that some of those are part of the items being monitored in a periodic cycle, i.e., after the semester then-ended in preparation for the incoming semester.

Related Article: PDSPO acts promptly on SSC's state of facilities address

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Project 350 environmental program launched in PLM

Under the leadership of the Supreme Student Council and in cooperation with college student councils and other societies, the Bukluran Students’ Alliance-Integrated Student Organization (BSA-ISO) made its strongest statement of spreading awareness on the issue of global warming and climate change by creating a giant human 350 sign with the theme, “Isang Hakbang ng Pamantasan, Isang Bukluran Para sa Kalikasan.”

Around 85 PLMayers joined the 10-10-10 Global Work Party of 350.org which pooled together 183 nations around the world to host different activities in working towards the reduction of carbon dioxide in the environment. 350 parts per million, according to scientists and climate experts, is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. However, the Earth's current level is at 388ppm and rising at the rate of 2ppm every year. Global warming has become a real threat to the world and had already caused disastrous and irreversible climate impacts, and may only be averted through a unified global effort.

In this worldwide event, the scholars of the University of the City of Manila are uniting with the rest of the world and are sending a strong signal that the future generations stand to suffer the dire consequences and repercussions of our current generation's audacity and temerity to abuse nature.

After the creation of the human 350 sign, invited resource speakers gave a short talk on the purpose and significance of the event in curbing environmental degradation. Former SSC president Noliver F. Barrido and former SSC secretary Carolina Mariazeta delivered an introduction to global warming and climate change, and a variety of ways and means on how to reduce personal contributions to the increasing level of carbon emissions. Garry Erwin de Gracia, ITC director and himself a pro-environment advocate, also enunciated his profound insights on his advocacy which is shared by the incumbent university officials.

Shortly after the lecture, the participants scribbled on commitment cards their simple personal contributions in the global efforts of solving the climate change crisis, among which are:
     1. Bringing own lunchbox instead of using styro
     2. Stopping cigarette/smoking
     3. Avoiding the use of CFC-based hairsprays
     4. Using bicycle or mass transit to save coal-based energies
     5. Planting more trees to absorb CO2
     6. Using recyclable materials
     7. Avoiding overcharging of mobile phones
     8. Saving fresh water and electricity
     9. Become more disciplined
     10. Participating in environmental projects

The human 350 activity is also in line with the Biological Society’s call for and proposal to make PLM a styro-free university. The organizers believe that PLM, as a “communiversity," aims to instill among its students the culure of social responsibility like caring for our Mother Nature. PLM is an institution, not merely for higher learning, but for a higher sense of purpose and moral values geared towards producing good citizens effecting social transformation.

The Supreme Student Council believes that in spearheading these efforts, it is significantly performing its social responsibility as an efficient and effective tool in achieving the goals and objectives of PLM.

Related Article: SSC launches environmental program awareness campaign in PLM

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Supreme Student Council's Student Loan

The Supreme Student Council recognizes the fact that PLM is comprised of underprivileged but intellectually competent students who need support mechanism -- the sole reason why the Council has had a policy initiative of granting student loans to deserving scholars. The Student Loan Program targets to help out the scholars who are undergoing financial difficulties in times of necessity. In the 1st semester, SSC has helped deserving students in their school fees through this program. Below are the guidelines for the Supreme Student Council Student Loan Program.

Student Loan
1. The student loan is a program of the Supreme Student Council that aims to aid the poor but deserving students in times of emergency financial needs.
2. It will be headed by the SSC President and the Treasurer.
3. The maximum loan that a student can obtain is 1,000 Php. payable for one month. There will only be 10 (ten) student loan grants per semester.
4. Application form is available at the SSC Office.
5. A contract will be signed between the SSC President and the student applicant plus his/her parents/guardian, and will be notarized.
6. The SSC will only accept reasons for loaning money such as to finance books, uniforms, laboratory equipment, tour, enrolment and others deemed reasonable by the SSC.
7. The applicant must present a letter addressed to the SSC President as to the reason for borrowing money. Prior to the contract signing, an interview will be conducted to evaluate the student applicant and assess his/her capacity to settle the account.
8. After the amount has been given to the student, he/she is obliged to submit a photocopy of the receipt of the item where he/she used the said amount.
9. One week prior to the deadline, the SSC will write a letter, thru the College Secretary, reminding the student about her account.
10. Failure to comply on the content of the contract, the SSC will decide on how to aid the student in settling his/her own account.
11. As for the graduating students, who applied for their student loan, their clearance will be held until they are able to settle their account. Student Applicant
12. The student applicant for the loan must be in good academic standing for the purpose that we want the SSC fund to help those students worthy of financial assistance.
13. Along with the letter of intent, he/she must submit a copy of his/her registration form and the student loan application form.
14. At least one his parents or siblings have a work so as to guarantee that he/she has the capacity to pay the amount he/she will borrow.

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PLM Sapphire Shirt

In celebration of the 45th founding anniversary of PLM, the Supreme Student Council launched the University Shirt with the theme, “tAPAT na pagtaLIMA sa Diwa ng Pamantsang May Malasakit sa Lipunan,” designed with the official color of the university which are blue, yellow and gold, printed with the statement, “Push forward… Liberate the masses… Make a difference!”

The University shirt, which is on its third year of being offered since the pioneering of SSC A.Y. 2008-2009 headed by former SSC President Mr. Hermes Palad, is on voluntary basis, costing PhP 180-200. This is also the first time that students are given choices of availing either black or white shirt, while blue shirts were offered to the student councils of different colleges.

This has enabled the SSC to mount up some funds for the 3-day event, and the entire proceeds were allocated to the different activities, as specified in the Office of Student Development & Services’ first recommendation dated 20 April 2010. The bidding of the shirt, participated in by seven t-shirt companies, was held in the University Café 24 April 2010 through the help of the CTHTIM dean. Among those that tendered their bids were 7 Folds, Rugged Republic, Sorbetes Avenue, Infinity Shirts and Printing, Quick Cross Marketing, Reptilla and Pepetee.

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University Organization Fair

On 02 September 2010, the Supreme Student Council, in collaboration with the Junior Officers in Training, has arranged an organization fair for all the accredited organizations at the University Activity Center. With the theme “Uniting Leaders in Promoting Students’ Rights and Welfare,” the affair was arranged to celebrate the successful accreditation of the various student organizations, to give the recently-accredited organizations the opportunity to recruit members through an organized awareness campaign.

The groundwork for the Best Booth Competition started at 5:00 pm a day prior to the event proper. The opening ceremonies were highlighted by the ribbon-cutting led by former SSC treasurer Mark Jethro Escamilla, the opening remarks from the SSC, announcement of the mechanics for judging by PLM-SPADES president Rachelle Anne Taberao, introduction of the judges by the emcees (Edrian Baylon, coordinator of Mass Communication Students’ League [MCSL], and Mr. Ace Christian Emmanuel Polias, College Representative of College of Human Development [CHD]).

The OrgFair also promoted environmental concerns by requiring all the participating organizations to use recyclable materials in assembling their booths and proscribing the use of styrofoam, in support of the SSC's crusade for a “Styro-free University.” Using a styrofoam in the booth design will disqualify the organization from the contest.

The winners for the “Best Booth Competition” are:
Magwayen Creative Arts Guild
Bukluran Students’ Alliance-Integrated Students’ Organization
Tugon-RESCUE

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