SU undergoes CHED, DOH inspection for limited face-to-face classes
Silliman University (SU) welcomed representatives of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Health (DOH) who inspected the facilities and assessed the readiness of SU’s health sciences programs to gradually reopen for limited face-to-face classes, April 15, 2021.
CHED and DOH inspectors, led by Dr. Jogi Rivamonte, education supervisor II and CHED 7 coordinator on health-related profession programs, visited the College of Nursing, Medical School, Insitute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and Institute of Rehabilitative Sciences.
Dr. Theorose Bustillo of the Silliman University (SU) College of Nursing guides the sanitation inspectors of the Department of Health (DOH) during the ocular inspection of the College’s facilities.
CHED and DOH inspected the facilities to be used for limited face-to-face classes to ensure that they have been retrofitted according to the health and safety protocols stated in the CHED-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2021-001, “Guidelines on the Gradual Reopening of Campuses of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for Limited Face-to-Face Classes during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Dr. Jogi Rivamonte (leftmost), education supervisor II and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 7 coordinator on health-related profession programs, and Jennifer Remollo (middle), DOH 7 development management officer IV, inspect the isolation room of SU College of Nursing.
The retrofitted facilities now include safety barriers, traffic signages, signages about health and safety protocols, and rearranged rooms for physical distancing, among others.
A sanitation inspector of DOH assesses a room retrofitted for limited face-to-face classes.
“The faculty really worked hard to design the (face-to-face) rotations including making sure that their students and parents were informed of the requirements and the expectations. The paramount motivation is to allow the students to have hands-on experience to equip them for their respective professions,” said Dr. Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope, SU vice president for academic affairs.
Signages for and about health and safety protocols are up in the facilities of SU’s health sciences programs.
Under the CHED-DOH JMC, health-related degree programs such as Medicine, Nursing, Medical Technology, and Physical Therapy are identified as priority programs for the limited face-to-face classes because they are “regarded as vital in providing additional manpower support in the health system during the pandemic.”
Dr. Betty Cernol McCann (right), SU president, welcomes Dr. Rivamonte during the pre-inspection conference at the Silliman Hall.
“Each program [received] specific recommendations [after the inspection] but the more substantial are the signages and specifications for the footpaths and washing area. There is also a recommendation for improvements in the faculty lounge and other minor things. I hope, overall, we will be allowed to reopen to a limited F2F once we can comply,” Cleope said.
Dr. Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope (left), delivers a message during the pre-inspection conference.
During the conference before the inspection, Rivamonte said that holding limited face-to-face classes in HEIs is voluntary, hence the need to apply for the permit from CHED and DOH.
The pre-inspection conference was attended by two representatives from the College of Nursing, Medical School, Insitute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and Institute of Rehabilitative Sciences; and representatives from CHED and DOH.
