03/09/2024
๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ | ๐๐ด๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ณ๐น๐ฎ๐ด-๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐, ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐จโ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
By Rejenlei Karyl M. Fabro
Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis presided over her final flag-raising ceremony as university president on September 2 at the MMSU gymnatorium, prior to officially assuming her new role as Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
In her address, Agrupis highlighted the โfruitful and successfulโ achievements of the university for 7 years during her term. Among these were how MMSU propelled its way to success as one of the only two 4Qs stars of the state university and colleges in the country; its notable Times Higher Education impact rank; its ISO certification; its international recognition; and how it has produced board exam top notchers and competent professionals.
She also noted how MMSUโs research culture has strengthened through the development of research centers, enhancement of support to researchers, and diversification of the universityโs extension and technology transfer approach.
โ[I wanted to highlight] how we developed a sustainable student development [and] sports and cultural program that produced not only regional and national champions in sports and multimedia, but also international winners in research, in business teaching, choral competition, culinary exhibitions, among others,โ Agrupis remarked on MMSUโs success across various fields.
โLastly, I wanted to highlight how we boosted the morale of our people through distributed leadership. Such that when talking about MMSU achievements, not only President Agrupis but everyoneโs achievement because you are part of the DNA of the MMSU activity team. From [the] administrative council, to the different offices and the whole studentry,โ Agrupis added.
Reflecting on her appointment as CHED Commissioner, Agrupis stated that her new role is a continuation of her commitment to the university on a larger stage. She pledged to uphold MMSUโs core values and welfare through her new position with fairness and integrity in her duties while keeping MMSU close to her heart.
The ceremony was attended by students from different colleges, members of the board of regents, faculty and staff, chiefs of office, department chairpersons, administrative council members, and other university officials.
According to Agrupis, this last flag ceremony is different from all the flag ceremonies as it is conducted in the nearly-completed gymnatorium, which her administration has โliterally spent years and sweat to construct.โ The construction of the building is expected to be finished by next year.
โIt is still incomplete, but it has come a long way since we started fighting for it in 2017 as one of our priority infrastructure projects of my administration. This is the biggest and with [a] novel purpose because I wanted to house student activities and other big gatherings in this very special infrastructure. It symbolizes the big dreams that we have for MMSU, dreams that take years to fulfill, but [with] our tenacity we can surely achieve them,โ Agrupis added.
Agrupis officially took oath as CHED commissioner at the CHED head office in Quezon City today.
