Tarlac State University reaffirmed its commitment to advancing criminal justice education in the region as the CHED RQAT "favorably recommends" the proposed graduate program in criminology to be issued a Certificate of Program Compliance.
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice with specialization in Criminology, to be offered by the College of Criminal Justice Education, was reviewed and evaluated by the Commission on Higher Education Regional Quality Assessment Team (CHED RQAT) through an on-site validation today (May 29) at the CCJE Building, Lucinda Campus.
Asian Criminological Society President Dr. Gerry J. Caño, also the Professional Criminologists Association of the Philippines president, stated during the closing program that the university has substantially complied with all the requirements under CMO 47, s. 2006 and CMO 15, s. 2019, with only minor recommendations to comply.
Dr. Caño also highlighted the university's reputation and performance in the Criminology Licensure Examination after consistently ranking among the top-performing schools since 2016.
According to the evaluators, TSU will be the first university in the region to offer the program once the COPC is granted.
"You will be of significant service not only to the people of the Province of Tarlac but also to the entire Region III and neighboring provinces, who may now be given the opportunity to avail of this program at TSU," Dr. Caño said.
Meanwhile, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Agnes M. Macaraeg thanked the team of evaluators and assured them that the TSU CCJE, led by Dean Dr. Roel A. Alviar and Associate Dean Dr. Lian Carla C. Luzong, will maintain and continue what the college started as a top caliber school in criminology.
The evaluators include Dr. Caño; Dr. Marilou L. Gregorio, Education Supervisor II of the CHED Central Office's Office of Programs and Standards Development; and Dr. Roel P. Anicas, Education Supervisor III of CHED Region III's Graduate School Division. They reviewed the college's documents, including its curriculum, faculty qualifications, research publications, accreditation status, library resources, facilities and laboratories, and industry partnerships.
Office of Governance and Quality Management Director and former CCJE Dean Atty. Theodore M. Timpac also assisted Dr. Caño during the ocular inspection of the college's classrooms and laboratories and the library visit to assess physical and digital resources.
The on-site evaluation was organized by the Office of Quality Assurance. /jlm
Photo: Jodie Andrea G. Pangilinan
