Incoming freshmen across colleges of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) were welcomed aboard with a two-day orientation to better understand the benefits and provisions of the Free Higher Education (FHE) Act, held at the Inner Court, from June 23-24.
Said orientation aimed to equip the freshmen students with the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 10931, known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017, a law providing free tuition and other school fees for the students in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), and State-Run Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs).
On its first day, the incoming first-year students from the College of Engineering (COE), College of Technology (COT), and College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), alongside their parents and guardians, were present during the orientation.
Meanwhile, the second-day sessions were attended by the incoming freshmen students from the College of Education (COED), College of Business and Entrepreneurship (COBE), and College of Architecture and Allied Discipline (CAAD).
Moreover, the Director of the Student Affairs and Services Office (SASO), Dr. Sonia T. Enrile, commenced the event with remarks implying the significance of the FHE and the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to the students’ academic life.
In an open forum, officials from SASO were asked questions regarding the enrollment processes, FHE application, and qualifications to avail of the TES scholarship.
The online enrollment procedure was discussed by the head of the Systems Development Office (SDO), Prof. Vienmar Ogrimen, particularly the detailed walkthrough of the student portal.
Subsequently, Scholarship Officer Prof. Jessica V. Pagallaman tackled an in-depth discussion on how the FHE Act will be implemented, specifically choosing between the voluntary contribution and FHE in the student portal.
“Kailangan basahin niyo ‘yun. You need to be careful kung ano dapat i-take ninyo doon. Kung gusto mo yung Free Higher Education, you need to click the right one,” Prof. Pagallaman asserted.
Additionally, Prof. Pagallaman clarified that only students who are officially enrolled under the programs with a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) can avail of the TES scholarship.
“An requirements kasi han CHED is that dapat officially enrolled ka ha naka-COPC an program,” the scholarship officer explained.
She also added that the availability of other scholarship offerings would depend on the funds given to the university.
Meanwhile, Clark Jeff M. Jocson, an incoming freshman from the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE), shared how helpful the orientation was to guide freshmen in understanding the processes and implementations in the university.
“Attending the FHE Orientation helps us, freshmen, to better understand the benefits that come with it. Also, to clarify some inquiries regarding the processes that we will partake upon entering this university,” Jocson said.
The incoming freshmen will now proceed to enrollment in their respective programs and departments for the upcoming Academic Year 2025–2026.
Article by Carl Dotingco, Princess Adona