TAU honors Graduating Class 2020 with virtual celebration amid the pandemic

As the academic sector was in compromise when the pandemic paralyzed the world’s economy last mid-March, the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) nationwide remain resilient as they honor this year’s batch of graduates amid the crisis.

With this year’s theme, “Leading Sustainable Development in the New Normal,” the Tarlac Agricultural University’s 74th Commencement Exercises celebrated the success of 932 graduates through a simultaneous livestreaming via TAU Facebook page and TAU official website at 6 PM of August 7.

When the national and local government units suspended the face-to-face classes in the middle of the second semester due to the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Central Luzon, the TAU’s academic community raised the issues and predicaments they encountered amidst the crisis. With the strong call from the students regarding their lack of resources and capability in engaging to online classes, the TAU Academic Council released guidelines in adjusting the online classes to flexible learning so students could still complete their remaining requirements for the semester.

TAU conducts mid-year strategic planning to mitigate the impact of the pandemic

The TAU Administrative Council (ADCO) engaged in a midyear strategic planning to mitigate the impact of COVID19 while observing safety protocols thru a series of online conferences from August 19, 24-25, until 27.

Spearheaded by the Planning and Development Office (PDO), the Office of the Presidential Management Services (OPMS), and the Gender and Development Office (GAD), the conduct of Midyear Performance Review and Revisiting of Strategic Priorities in the New Normal is an organizational management activity used to identify the priorities and to review and fine-tune the organization's direction in response to the changing environment.

TAU sustains Anti-COVID-19 initiatives in the new normal

As with other establishments and institutions, the TAU Task Force sustains its efforts in implementing safety protocol measures against COVID-19 pandemic when work resumes at TAU after the national government placed the Tarlac province under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) on May 16.

After work was suspended for 58 days when Tarlac was under the Enhanced Community Quarantine, all TAU employees who returned to work as part of the TAU skeletal workforce followed strict Anti-COVID-19 protocols as initiated by the TAU Medical and Dental Services Unit. The skeletal workforce members also adapted the alternative work arrangement as per the Philippine Civil Service Announcement No. 13 s. 2020 released on March 17, 2020. Employees experiencing symptoms like cough, headache, and colds are not allowed to enter the University. Visitors may be given entry subjected to the approval of the TAU Task Force. Meanwhile, the “vulnerable” employees such as the senior faculty/personnel, pregnant women, students age 21 years old below, and PWDs shall not report to the University, instead they will be doing their tasks/work from home.

CHED Chair De Vera lauds TAU during its 75th Founding Anniversary

CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III personally lauded Tarlac Agricultural University as he graced the convocation program of TAU’s 75th Foundation Anniversary last December 18, 2020.

Accompanied by the CHED’s OIC-Deputy Executive Director and the Director of International Affairs, Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, Chairperson De Vera personally greeted the TAU administrative council who were physically present during the program and the rest of the TAU community who were watching the live streaming of the program via Zoom and Facebook.

Despite the pandemic, TAU celebrated its foundation anniversary with the theme “TAU@75: Celebrating Hallmarks of Tradition, Transition, and Transformation.” Chairperson De Vera delivered his speech focusing on the essence of celebrating traditions and customs as well as the duty of the academic sector to address the inevitable changes in society.

He added that the TAU has now achieved greater heights as it successfully forged its name in the region and even on the global academic map as a result of its internationalization efforts, innovation in research and instruction and community development projects.

TAU launches virtual international exchange program amid pandemic

To collaboratively address the global challenges in higher learning amid pandemic, the Tarlac Agricultural University and six partner universities in Indonesia foregrounded their internationalization efforts by launching a virtual student exchange program via a Zoom meeting last March 8, 2021.

Director Christine N. Ferrer of TAU-External Linkages and International Affairs reiterated that strengthening academic partnerships with premier universities abroad is imperative to students’ global future. Despite the diverse needs of the students, Dr. Ferrer stressed the benefits of harmonizing the curriculum through global cooperation, providing the students their prospective careers, and expose them to varying cultures.

Consequently, TAU President Max P. Guillermo welcomed the rectors and the deans from the six Indonesian universities who participated in this virtual student exchange program. Dr. Guillermo added that the essence of the international exchange program is to initiate the sharing of the best practices with global partners. He also hopes that this program would continue to expand the University’s network in providing quality education, research productions, and community development services.  

The participating Indonesian universities in this virtual student exchange program are the Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), the Universitas Pancasakti Tegal (UPS), the Universitas Islam Malang (UNISMA), the Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta (UPNVY), the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), and the Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA).

Tarlac farmers seek aid from TAU experts

A group of eggplant farmers in Sta. Maria, Camiling, Tarlac sought technical assistance from TAU experts about the wilting of their crops last March.

When TAU President Dr. Max P. Guillermo and a team of experts visited the infested crops of the farmers, they found out that an estimate of one (1) hectare of farmers’ land has been infested, and this infestation may spread to other nearby farms if not prevented.