13/08/2026
IN PHOTOS |
BONTOC, Southern Leyte โ What happens when a University pauses to listen?
On August 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, the Southern Leyte State University Bontoc held SLSyoUsap Tayo; an event bringing together members of the campus community for a morning of updates, conversation, and open exchange.
The three-hour gathering featured updates from the Universityโs key offices, including Academic Affairs, Administration and Finance, Research, Innovation, Publication and Extension, and Student Engagement and Support Services.
The program also included the Presidentโs Time with University President Jude A. Duarte, DPA, before opening the floor for the Usap Tayo dialogue.
But beyond the presentations and institutional updates, the forum carried a more important message: there must be room within the University for people to speak about what needs to improve.
In his presentation, University President Duarte emphasized the importance of creating an environment where concerns can be raised, insights can be shared, and possible solutions can be discussed openly.
He underscored that expectations must be communicated clearly so that concerns can be addressed collectively rather than left unresolved. โWe need to raise our concerns, share our insights, and offer solutions. We need to be open about our expectations so that we can work on these things together," Dr. Duarte said.
Dr. Duarte also pointed to the need to strike a balance between advancing the interests of the University and recognizing the welfare of the people who comprise it.
โThe interest of the University should be balanced with the interests of our employees," he emphasized.
This balance becomes particularly significant amid concerns surrounding the morale of faculty and staff, as well as the experiences of students within the institution.
For an academic community to move forward, institutional development cannot be separated from the people who make that development possible.
The Usap Tayo forum, therefore, became more than a venue for receiving updates. It provided an avenue for faculty, staff, and students to be heardโand for concerns to become part of the conversation on what the University can do better.
Because improvement does not always begin with a new policy, a new program, or another directive. Sometimes, it begins with a simple invitation: โUsap tayo.โ
