Shifting from a fully online to a blended set-up, Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) introduced the Hybrid Implementation Strategy using a FLEXible modality (HISFlex) strategy and the Return to Campus Protocols for the upcoming academic year.

Through the SAMAHAN’s town hall discussion entitled, “Gearing Up For the New Normal: #SAMAHANTownHall,” Academic Vice President (AVP) Gina Montalan, Ph.D. discussed the HISFlex set-up, academic policies, and the schedule of classes while External Vice President (EVP) Jeremy Eliab explained the Return to Campus guidelines.

AVP Montalan stated that their blended learning mechanism for instruction gears students for the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world, preparing them to be “independent and continuing learners.”

However, contrary to Montalan’s statement in the previous town hall discussion about blended learning, not all programs are given equal footing in this new setting due to the classification of courses into fully online and blended (complementation of online and face-to-face).

“To identify the classification of the courses, the course learning outcomes were reviewed by the teachers. The learning outcomes are found in each course’s OIDP,” she said.

The AVP added that the blended modality policy is designed to cater to students inside and outside the campus premises.

“This HisFlex classroom allows students to learn online or onsite. It has a sensitive microphone, a camera susceptible to motion, and a document camera that is utilized to present to online students.”

She added that in-person classes would follow a one-to-three-week cycle where the first three weeks will be held online, while the fourth and fifth weeks will be held onsite. 

The teachers will be given complete discretion on how they will arrange the entry of students for their respective in-campus classes, considering the 20-person limit per classroom.

“The required on-campus class is at least once a month (but not limited to). The teacher will decide what needs to be done during that meeting,” Montalan explained, referring to the minimum requirement for conducting face-to-face classes.

For the health guidelines and protocols for the in-person classes, EVP Eliab detailed that it will follow the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 01, series of 2022.

In the memorandum, students must wear face masks and be fully vaccinated (first and second doses), and schools are only allowed to conduct face-to-face classes under Alert Level 3.

The EVP clarified that the reopening of campuses is at the university’s discretion rather than a mandatory ordinance of CHED, and students do not need to acquire a permit from CHED.

“Do not go to school if you have a cold, cough, or fever. Quarantine yourself for the next seven days if you have flu-like symptoms,” he said.

Eliab confirmed that co-curricular and extra-curricular events are permitted but still subject to the approval of Local Government Units (LGUs).

The school facilities, such as the libraries and gazebo, will also be open even for students who do not have any classes in-campus as long as they are vaccinated. For the library, there will be a one-hour time limit for each student to accommodate other students, but their duration of usage can be extended if fewer students want to stay at the library.

AdDU has also created a Crisis Management Committee, including SAMAHAN President Sam Cayona, to monitor the adherence to health protocols of onsite classes.