The Samar State University – Student Development and Related Services (SDRS) conducted a five-year development planning as part of the university-wide series of similar activities which will culminate before the end of the year. The SDRS planning workshop is also in response to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 9 Series of 2013 or the Enhanced Policies and Guidelines on Student Affairs and Services. This new CMO has specified several services to be offered to the students to ensure the proper balance between rights of SSU and that of the students; improve the quality of SDRS; promote access to quality, relevant, efficient and effective student affairs and services, and to support student welfare.
First for the university are the creation of offices and providing personnel therein. These new offices which were not available before include Economic Enterprise Development, Multi-faith Services, Foreign/International Student Services, Cultural Arts Programs and Disaster Risk and Reduction Offices.
The other main issues tackled include students’ mobility, international students, attracting the top graduates in Samar and the construction of SDRS Building to house all the key offices. With the limited funding totaling to about PhP 1.7M, external support has to be sought through various strategies. Engaging the alumni for said endeavors as well as partnering with agencies and funding institutions is a must for the realization of the projects identified.
The event also served as a venue for the Supreme Student Council (SSC) presidents from the Main, Paranas and Mercedes campuses to express some concerns of students specifically on projects implementation. The Dean of SDRS Engr. Ma. Lourdes P. Amante who facilitated the said activity together with the Offices of the Industrial Linkages and Development Services and the Alumni Affairs and Placement Services expects better services for the students in the succeeding years. Activity was held at the Ceriaco Resort Hotel in Calbayog City on October 13-14, 2016.