THE UST Faculty Union (USTFU) clarified that the letter requesting that the University shift classes online to ease the effects of rising fuel costs triggered by the Middle East tensions does not reflect the stance of all its members.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Thursday, March 12, USTFU clarified that the proposal, which had cited the conflict’s “negative economic impact” on students and teaching staff, has not been discussed among its board of officers and directors.
“To date, this matter has not been formally discussed or deliberated upon by the USTFU Board of Officers and Directors. As such, the proposal does not yet represent the official collective position of the Union,” the statement read.
It noted that the letter was only sent to the UST administration by union president Asst. Prof. Emerito Gonzales.
“We remain committed to ensuring that all major decisions affecting our members undergo the proper consultative and administrative processes,” the union added.
Gonzales previously recommended that course lectures be held online and that only high-stakes assessments be conducted onsite for the rest of the semester, in a letter addressed to UST Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl Peralta.
READ: UST Faculty Union head calls for online classes as fuel prices surge
“To mitigate the negative economic impact on both the students and the academic staff of the soaring fuel prices brought about by the armed conflict in the Middle East, I humbly suggest that most academic sources be delivered online and their respective high-stakes assessments be conducted online, for the rest of the semester, after the scheduled preliminary exams,” the letter, dated March 11, read.
The union chief expressed willingness to discuss the proposal and other suggestions with the University administration.
In a separate interview, Gonzales said he would conduct a poll on the issue at the upcoming USTFU general assembly on Friday, March 13.
“As USTFU [president], I shall conduct a survey among all the academic staff via Google Form after the USTFU March 13 event. I pray they all answer to voice out their suggestions too, on the current issue,” he told The Flame.
According to Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, fuel prices are expected to rise as much as P24 per liter this week due to the conflict in the Middle East.
The Department of Energy has also urged the public to conserve energy and brace for additional hikes in the coming weeks as the global market faces uncertainties. F
