Mass promotion in UP

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The University of the Philippines board of regents approved on Friday the promotion of more than half of UP’s faculty members nationwide.

In a statement, the university’s Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs announced that 2,228 out of 3,974, or 56 percent of UP faculty members, have been promoted.

The state university’s officials said P205 million will be used to fund the promotions and monetary awards—the highest amount the university has ever allocated for such a purpose.

“I am happy that the promise I made during my investiture in 2011—to reward meritocracy and excellent performance—has finally been fulfilled,” UP President and board cochairperson Alfredo Pascual said, in the statement.

The promotion process started in July, when Pascual issued a call for promotions at UP Diliman, UP Los Banos, UP Manila, UP Baguio, UP Visayas, UP Cebu, UP Mindanao and even the Open University. The promotions are retroactive.

Under the recent round of promotions, the number of faculty members designated as “full professors,” the highest academic rank possible in the university, increased from 344 to 588.

Meanwhile, 74 percent or 5,850 of the 6,560 administrative staff of the university will also benefit from the approved promotions and additional compensations, the university said.

Pascual said another round of merit promotions will be given in 2016, as soon as funds are released by the Department of Budget and Management.