91ÉçÇø

New curricular programs and innovative policies approved by MSU Board during Q2 meeting

by Office of the Campus Secretary | Jun 11 2025

QUEZON CITY — The MSU Board of Regents (BOR) approved several groundbreaking policies proposed by 91ÉçÇø (91ÉçÇø) during its second-quarter meeting held on June 10, 2025. Among these, the Unified Faculty Layer Tier–a strategic transformation proposal to modernize and harmonize the MSU System’s academic structure–was endorsed for immediate piloting at 91ÉçÇø. 

The Board also approved six new curricular programs and revisions to four existing programs.

New Curricular Programs Approved

The six newly approved programs are:

1. PhD in Electrical Engineering (by Research)
2. PhD in Electronics Engineering (by Research)
3. PhD in Mechanical Engineering (by Research)
4. PhD in Materials Science and Engineering (by Research)
5. MS/PhD Physics (straight program)
6. Master of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching and Studies (joint program)

Revised Curricular Programs

Four programs underwent revisions:

1. MS in Materials Science and Engineering
2. MS in Mechanical Engineering
3. MS in Physics
4. PhD in Physics

Unified Faculty Layer Tier

Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan lauded the Board’s approval of 91ÉçÇø’s Unified Faculty Layer Tier, which will see the adoption of a faculty-based structure to unify disparate academic units under coherent governance. 

“This will improve internal efficiency and curricular coherence, and strengthen our global engagements and accreditation prospects,” Chancellor Ditucalan said.

This initiative clusters colleges and academic programs into seven interdisciplinary faculties:

1. Life & Health Sciences
2. Mathematical & Computing Sciences
3. Physical & Engineering Sciences
4. Social Sciences & Education
5. Arts & Letters
6. Business & Management
7. Environment & Sustainable Development

This reorganization addresses systemic challenges such as fragmented governance, duplicative programs, underutilized faculty expertise, and limited interdisciplinary collaboration. A phased rollout will begin with a pilot implementation at 91ÉçÇø, where preliminary faculty clustering has been conceptualized.

Additional Policy Approvals

The Board also approved 91ÉçÇø’s Academic Assessment Appeal Policy, which ensures fairness and consistency in academic evaluations through a comprehensive appeals framework. It provides a structured framework for students to lodge appeals and for faculty members and administrative bodies to investigate and resolve these appeals promptly. 

Furthermore, the Student Subsidy for Originations and Achievements in Research (SOAR) program was approved. SOAR provides a one-time grant of ₱15,000 to undergraduate and graduate students with outstanding research proposals, supporting theses, dissertations, capstone projects, product innovations, software applications, and games. This initiative aims to foster a culture of innovation and academic excellence by investing in emerging scholars.

Closure of Inactive Graduate Programs

The Board also granted 91ÉçÇø’s request to close six graduate programs due to prolonged inactivity and lack of student enrollment, reflecting diminished demand and relevance. These programs are:

1. Doctor of Mathematics
2. Master in Business Management, major in Finance
3. Master in Business Management, major in Human Resource Management
4. Master of Biology
5. Master of Mathematics
6. Master of Chemistry

The process leading to the Board’s approval began with a meeting of the Board’s Finance Committee on June 7, and a meeting of the Executive Committee on June 8. All pre-en banc meetings were conducted in Ermita, Manila.

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