HERITAGE

By Evangeline Dawagan

Last December of school year 2006-2007, the Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS) was accredited earning a Level 1 status from the Accrediting Agency for College and Universities of the Philippines (AACUP).

The success of the accreditation is credited to the joint efforts and unity of the Faculty and Staff of IAS who had worked hard, slept late and barely goes home to ensure that the institute will earn its Level 1 status. The students also contributed to the success of the accreditation as they all joint forces in beautifying and landscaping the garden of the IAS, cleaned and decorated the rooms and making sure everything is in order when the accrediting team comes.

With an interview to the Dean, Dr. Joy Grace P. Doctor said that, “The Accreditation would not have been attained without the full cooperation of both the faculty and staff of the institute. The faculty members collected, processed and arranged important documents while the staff provided the necessary materials needed before and during the accreditation. Students also contributed to a large extent.”

Talks are going on that this coming December, our Institute will have to pass another rigid test and evaluations to earn the Level 2 status. According to a reliable source, the faculty and staff are now trying to set whatever is needed to be set so the institute will always be ready if ever the said accreditation will push trough.

There are certain steps to be followed during the preparation for accreditation according to the Dean:

The steps were as follows:
1. Information dissemination to both faculty and students of the importance of the accreditation;
2. Determination of the commitment of those involved in the accreditation process;
3. Assignment of different faculty to take charge of the key areas of accreditation;
4. Collections of documents/evaluations of documents;
5. And lastly, documentations.
But the dean also add that, “If ever the accreditation will push through, it is no longer enough to follow or undergo the same preparations since our institute is now aiming for a higher level of accreditation.”

We asked Dean Doctor if there are facilities needed that they did not use before or are there facilities that needed improvement.

According to Dean Doctor, “A number of facilities must be in place for the next level of accreditation such as student center, audio-visual room and the facilities that needs improvement are the science laboratory, computer laboratory and the library.”

Wrapping up our interview with the Dean, we asked if what is the real essence of this accreditation program for both the school and the students and what are her plans for the upcoming Level 2 accreditation?

“I must say that accreditation means quality education to both the school and the students, but I refuse to reveal my plans because we are not yet sure if the incoming accreditation will push through,” Dean Joy Grace Doctor’s final words to us.