Amid concerns brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and logistical challenges, the university councils of the University of the Philippines (UP) are currently deliberating on the possible suspension of the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) for Academic Year (AY) 2023-2024.
As posted on the UP website on Friday, Aug. 12, it was announced that a special meeting was held on Aug. 3 where the members of the President’s Advisory Council (PAC) of the University of the Philippines (UP) --- which includes the Chancellors of UP’s eight constituent universities --- “agreed to discuss” in their respective University Council meetings the proposal of the Office of Admissions to suspend the administration of the UPCAT for first-year admission in AY 2023-2024.
Citing Office of Admissions Director Francisco De Los Reyes, UP said that the proposal to suspend UPCAT for this year is “in light of concerns about the public health situation.”
“In addition, the University is facing the logistical challenges of ensuring the safety and well-being of the more than 100,000 applicants and around 1,600 personnel who will administer the test nationwide,” UP said.
Aside from the Chancellors, the UP President’s Advisory Council members include the UP President and Vice Presidents of the UP System, the Secretary of the University and the Board of Regents, the Director of the UP Philippine General Hospital, and the Executive Director of the UP Bonifacio Global City Campus.
The University Council, meanwhile, is the highest policy-making body of each UP constituent university within the UP System.
It comprises the Chancellor, professors, associate professors, and assistant professors of each UP constituent unit.
UP noted that deliberations on the suspension of the UPCAT for this year are ongoing in the eight UP constituent units—Baguio, Cebu, Diliman, Los Baños, Manila, Mindanao, Open University, and the Visayas.
“The University will make further UPCAT-related announcements after the UC discussions,” UP explained.