THE Office of Student Affairs (OSA) held the first Student Development Committee Meeting last Sept. 18 at the Board Room of the St. Bede Building to roll out campus-wide initiatives regarding recent concerns on mental health, campus security, student welfare policies, and community outreach.

The meeting, led by Mr. Carl Michael Dela Cruz, Dean of Student Affairs, brought together key representatives, including Ms. Norie Gesmundo (Counseling and Career Development Services), Mr. Kurt Genesis Morilla and Mr. Erwin Gabion (Campus Ministry), Clinics Coordinator Ms. Aileen De Ocampo, Head of Security and Motor Pool Mr. Alger Ferrer, Head of the Community Extension Office Mr. Don Magnaye, Prefect of Student Activities Dr. Precy Baluarte, Prefect of Student Discipline and Formation Engr. Dexter Umil, and student bodies to coordinate programs and initiatives for the academic period.

Student Programs

The Counseling and Career Development Department announced "Guidance Month and Well-Being Empowerment," set to launch on Oct. 7 and run through November. Student organizations such as the Bedan PEERS, Rovers, and Silakbo will help facilitate the scheduled student activities. 

Key events include "Coffee and Conversation" for faculty and staff, which will be held from Nov. 16 to 21. Student competitions such as "Flourish and Frame" a video production contest, "Flourish and Visual" an infographics contest, and a week-long event named "Pista sa Baryo Tipunan," featuring traditional Filipino games for students.

To help students manage their academic standing, two "Gabay" sessions were conducted for students on probationary status last Sept. 7 and Sept. 14. The program offers academic mentoring, personal counseling, and support to assist them in meeting institutional requirements and managing their standing.

The department’s counseling services will focus on mental health and academic concerns, backed by a Memorandum of Agreement with external mental health providers to offer discounted rates for students. 

Meanwhile, the Center for Campus Ministry finalized its calendar for the spiritual formation program and arranged coordination plans with OSA, with upcoming activities scheduled for Oct. 30.

The Tertiary Student Executive Council announced the "Bedan Market," a student market showcasing products from student organizations and independent businesses, with a planned date of Oct. 7.

Health Services and Security

Health Services is preparing annual physical examinations for new students, with plans to integrate the program into PE and PEP subjects. The department also noted upcoming tri-semester adjustments for the Integrated Basic Education Department (IBED) and reported compliance requirements for CHED.

Moreover, the Security Office aims to enforce additional security measures including the ongoing installation of X-ray machines, targeting completion by year-end, strict vehicle sticker enforcement, and overall campus security.

Community Extension

The Community Extension Office highlighted recent outreach initiatives, including an August book donation turnover to partner schools, including Itaas Elementary in Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City, and Victoria Homes Elementary School along Daang Reyna in Barangay Tunasan, Muntinlupa City. The books were provided by the office of the Integrated K-12 Basic Education Schools Vice Principal for Primary School, Ms. Geraldine Magbanua.

Both schools expressed openness to upcoming outreach efforts, with proposed educational programs focusing on functional literacy in Math, Science, and English.

Furthermore, following an Aug. 17 visit with SBCA Rector-President Fr. Gerardo Ma. De Villa, OSB, from the Philippine Navy, the office aims to formalize a partnership with the national government agency.   

Addressing organizational concerns, the office clarified that transportation costs for outreach projects are capped at a 20 percent budget allocation. Activities include participating in the Department of Social Welfare and Development Nayon Kabataan 58th founding anniversary on Sept. 30, planning wellness interventions, bloodletting drives, and disaster relief projects, alongside securing a membership with the Philippine Association of Extension Program Implementers, Inc. to strengthen community engagement initiatives.

Institutional Policies, CHED Mandates, and Community Safety

Beyond departmental updates, the committee reviewed broader administrative policies and official mandates. Discussions covered CHED regulations regarding student-athlete protection and anti-hazing compliance. The meeting also outlined quality assurance plans, guidelines on the responsible use of Generative AI in student services, and emergency protocols for handling gender-based online sexual harassment cases.

To address rising cases of gender-based online sexual harassment affecting members of the Bedan community both within and beyond campus grounds, the committee established institutional guidelines drawing from interdisciplinary insights. Psychology Department Program Chair Ms. Mitch Macahilig, MSP, RPm, RPsy, explained the underlying drivers of perpetrators and the psychological impact on victims, while Information Technology Office representative Engr. Rosmond Ramirez outlined response measures for handling the situation: "understand the pattern, protect the person, and preserve the facts" through proper evidence collection.

The action outline centers on understanding behavioral patterns, prioritizing victim protection, and standardizing procedures to properly secure and preserve digital evidence. The administration plans to issue public awareness materials detailing step-by-step reporting procedures and proper evidence collection.