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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

PROPOSAL TO REVISE THE STFAP AND STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES OF UP


PUBLIC CONSULTATION SESSION
12 February 2013 UP Manila

Overview of Public Consultation Session


Project background STFAP Reform Proposal
Vision Principles Strategies

Summary Open forum

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Overview of Public Consultation Session


STFAP reform strategies
STFAP brackets STFAP benefits Bracket assignment process Internal controls Support system Revisions in other financial assistance programs

Project background
Public Consultation Session 12 February 2013

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

UP Financial Assistance Programs


Program Administrators
Office of Scholarships and Student Services (OSSS)
UP Diliman UP System

Office of Student Affairs (OSAs)


UP Baguio UP Cebu UP Los Baos UP Manila UP Mindanao UP Visayas

UP Financial Assistance Programs


Program Administrators
University Committee on Scholarships and Financial Assistance (UCSFA) Local/CU Committee on Scholarships and Financial Assistance

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

UP Financial Assistance Programs


Program Administrators
University Committee on Scholarships and Financial Assistance (UCSFA)
Vice-President for Academic Affairs Student Regent OSSS and OSA directors Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs USC representatives

UP Financial Assistance Programs


Program Administrators
Local/CU Committee on Scholarships and Financial Assistance
Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs (for UP Diliman only) OSSS/OSA director USC chair Registrar Faculty representatives

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

UP Financial Assistance Programs


Program Components
Programs that provide additional subsidy for tuition and school fees at the start of the semester Programs that provide living allowance on a monthly, or per semester basis Programs that defer cash payments to different periods during the semester

UP Financial Assistance Programs


OSSS/OSA Tuition and other fees STFAP Scholarships Living allowance STFAP Scholarships SA/GA Special Programs Deferred cash payment Student loans

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

History of STFAP
Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP)
part of UPs effort to democratize access and admission to its academic programs and promote fairness and social justice in the University, benefiting its status as a State-supported institution of higher learning. 1216th BOR meeting

History of STFAP
Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP)
Awarded tuition discounts and a range of subsidies for miscellaneous fees, living and book allowances. Assigned UP students to brackets
Numeric Bracketing System (NBS) from 1989 to present Alphabetic Bracketing System (ABS) from 2006 to present

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

History of STFAP
STFAP as the Iskolar ng Bayan Program
Socialized Tuition based on the students financial need and their capacity to pay Scholarships based on both financial need and academic performance; Student Assistantships Supplemental subsidies for the most needy students

STFAP Bracketing System


Numeric
NBS assigned benefits to students to nine (9) brackets Additional subsidy given based on Income and GWA

Alphabetic
ABS assigned benefits to students in six (6) brackets Criteria for additional subsidy Individual or family characteristics related to income Various assets owned that may substantiate information given about income, or possibly give hints to unreported income

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

BRACKETS
BAOS

FEES AND BENEFITS


UP DILIMAN, MANILA, LOS UP PAMPANGA, BAGUIO, VISAYAS, CEBU, MINDANAO P1,000/unit plus P2,000

P1,500/unit plus P2,000

miscellaneous and laboratory fees miscellaneous and laboratory fees

P1,000/unit plus P2,000

P600/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous

miscellaneous and laboratory fees and laboratory fees

P600/unit plus P2,000

P400/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous

miscellaneous and laboratory fees and laboratory fees

P300/unit plus P2,000

P200/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous

miscellaneous and laboratory fees and laboratory fees

E1

Free tuition, miscellaneous and laboratory fees

Free tuition, miscellaneous and laboratory fees Free tuition, miscellaneous and laboratory fees plus P2,400 monthly stipend

E2

Free tuition, miscellaneous and laboratory fees plus P2,400 monthly stipend

Alphabetic Bracketing System: Issues and Problems


Problems identified made significant impact on students decision on whether or not to enroll under the STFAP Issues and problems were identified from
Experiences of OSSS and OSA personnel Consultations made by members of UCSFA Findings from various research initiatives

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Alphabetic Bracketing System: Issues


Long and tedious application process Lack of awareness of the STFAP processes and the related financial assistance programs

Alphabetic Bracketing System: Issues


Questionable STFAP bracket assignments
Perceived mismatch between indicators and the actual financial need of the students

Limited benefits from STFAP and complementing financial assistance programs


Benefits are inadequate to support living and academic requirements necessary to finish a degree in the University

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Alphabetic Bracketing System: Problems


Problems stem from the following:
Intensive verification and correction during the early stages of STFAP processes which delay the granting of benefits Centralized processing of STFAP and scholarship requirements which further delays the granting of benefits

Alphabetic Bracketing System: Problems


Problems stem from the following:
STFAP requirements, which are relatively costly and challenging to obtain, that discourage financially needy students from applying in the program;

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Alphabetic Bracketing System: Problems


Problems stem from the following:
Limited capacity of the OSSS and OSAs to efficiently and effectively administer these programs due to limited personnel, infrastructure, and budget Absence of an effective information system to allow OSSS and OSAs to properly assess student performance and needs and to adequately advise financially challenged UP students

Alphabetic Bracketing System: Problems


Problems stem from the following:
Ineffective STFAP bracket assignments brought about by current assignment parameters which do not necessarily capture the students capacity to afford the cost of University education;

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Alphabetic Bracketing System: Problems


Problems stem from the following:
Benefits which are not made to address differences in cost of living in different campuses. The benefits must consider the following
Cost of goods and other supplies, which may be cheaper in the provinces compared to urban areas, Access to student housing, which are easy in to obtain in some campuses but are lacking in others, and Capacity of students families to send their children to school, which vary among a wide range of demographic attributes; and

Alphabetic Bracketing System: Problems


Problems stem from the following:
Limited network of donors, colleges, and UP units that limits the capacity of OSSS and OSAs to encourage investment in scholarship programs and to disseminate the relevant information on financial assistance to students.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

UP as a National Model
CHED has laid out the Roadmap for Public Higher Education for 2011-2016
Program includes the implementation of a socialized tuition fee scheme

Model to be adopted by CHED may likely be similar to the scheme currently implemented by UP.

UP as a National Model
Present STFAP scheme needs to be revisited and further improved prior to the planned mainstreaming by CHED
Avoid the same issues that the University currently faces

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Reform Proposal


Public Consultation Session 12 February 2013

Reform Vision
Change the way financial assistance programs are viewed in UP
All UP students will not be charged in full or in part based on their income class but based on their means to pursue and finish their chosen degree programs.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Reform Vision
Change the way financial assistance programs are viewed in UP
STFAP processes will be designed to effectively and promptly determine the required student financial assistance

Reform Vision
Change the way financial assistance programs are viewed in UP
Complementary financial assistance programs shall be made available to encourage UP students to go beyond just graduating and realize their role in national development.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Reform Vision
Change the way financial assistance programs are viewed in UP
The UP student financial assistance system shall be transparent, efficient, reliable, and decentralized to make it a feasible model for SUCs, and an instrument to provide Filipino students better access to college education.

Reform Principles
Guidelines in preparing the reform strategies and to ensure that all identified issues may be adequately addressed

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Reform Principles
Transactions and processes must be quick, simple, and easy to understand; The installed system should be reliable and transparent; Processes must be cost-effective;

Reform Principles
Local capacity in the different CUs must be increased; and Student accountability will be considered a significant component of the student financial assistance system.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Overview of Reform Strategies


STFAP brackets STFAP benefits Bracket assignment process Internal control Support system Revisions in other financial assistance programs

STFAP Brackets
Public Consultation Session 12 February 2013

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Brackets
Number of brackets under the NBS was reduced in the ABS to simplify the administration of the STFAP

STFAP Brackets
Verification process made the STFAP very taxing due to the large amount of data required to establish brackets.
Utilizes an income function that requires a number of verifiable data about their household Requires declared income as stated in the ITR and other documents Utilizes special indicators that support a students capacity to pay

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Brackets
ABS is expected to take one (1) month to finish so that students can receive their brackets prior to enrollment in the 1st semester of the academic year.

STFAP Brackets
The actual bracket assignment process is completed in middle of the 2nd semester of the same academic year due to following:
the large volume of applications, the length of time to actually verify submitted information, the processing time to obtain bracket assignments, and the difficulty of obtaining supporting documents

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Brackets: Proposed Amendments


Use alphabetic brackets (Brackets A, B, C, D, E) that will classify students based on their means to afford the costs of pursuing their chosen UP degree programs.

STFAP Brackets: Proposed Amendments


Utilize an alternative bracketing scheme based on the new Socio-economic Classification (SEC) method to facilitate quick, simple and reliable bracket assignments.
Different bracket determinant that will require less data and shorter processing time

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Brackets: Proposed Amendments


The proposed bracketing scheme will primarily be based on the new Philippine Socio-economic Classification (SEC) endorsed by the Marketing and Opinion Research Society of the Philippines (MORES).

STFAP Brackets: Proposed Amendments


SEC-MORES approach
Features clusters based on aggregate expenditures of Philippine households.
Households that spend in more or less the same way each year were bundled together.

Approach features a survey instrument which is executable under 15 minutes

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Brackets: Proposed Amendments


SEC MORES clusters are determined by the following:
Quality of consumers in the household (i.e. number of employed members, level of education); Number of selected energy-using facilities owned (e.g. TV, microwave oven, computers); Urban and regional membership; Transport type ownership; Water source type;

STFAP Brackets: Proposed Amendments


SEC MORES clusters are determined by the following:
Connectivity (or number of phones); Living space assets (e.g. number of sala sets); Living Shell (i.e. type of wall and type of roof); and Tenure of Home (i.e. whether house is owned or rented)

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Brackets: Proposed Amendments

Source: MORES & NSO (2012)

STFAP Brackets: Proposed Amendments


STFAP Brackets UP Baguio 9 8 7 5, 6 1, 2, 3, 4 SEC Clusters UP Cebu 9 8 7 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 UP Visayas 9 7, 8 5, 6 1, 2, 3, 4 UP Los Baos 9 7, 8 6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

A B C D E

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Brackets: Proposed Amendments


The proposed system recognizes the need to consider the dynamic nature of the bracketing system
To keep the bracket assignment relevant, an annual report to test the accuracy of the bracket assignment shall be conducted prior to the release of the UPCAT results for incoming freshmen. Changing socio-economic indications of the capacity to afford college education.

STFAP Benefits
Public Consultation Session 12 February 2013

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Benefits
STFAP provided benefits to qualified students by
granting additional tuition subsidies, waiving of laboratory and miscellaneous fees, and providing for living and book subsidies

STFAP Benefits: NBS


BRACKETS SOCIALIZED TUITION SCHOLARS HIP Tuition Lab and Misc. Fees Bracket 1 Free Free Book subsidy P500/sem. GWA 1.0 2.0 GWA GWA LIVING SUBSIDY

2.01 2.5 2.51 3.0

P1,250/m P1,000/m P750/mo. o. o. P750/mo. P500/mo. P250/mo. None None None None None P550/mo. P350/mo. P200/mo. None None None None None

Bracket 2 Bracket 3 Bracket 4 Bracket 5 Bracket 6 Bracket 7 Bracket 8 Bracket 9

Free Free Free Free 75% disc. 50% disc. 25% disc. Full cost

Free Free Free At cost At cost At cost At cost At cost

P500/sem. P500/sem. P500/sem. None None None None None

P950/mo. P600/mo. P300/mo. None None None None None

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Benefits: ABS


BRACKETS FEES AND BENEFITS
UP DILIMAN, MANILA, LOS BAOS UP PAMPANGA, BAGUIO, VISAYAS, CEBU, MINDANAO Bracket A P1,500/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous and laboratory fees Bracket B P1,000/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous and laboratory fees Bracket C P600/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous and laboratory fees Bracket D P300/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous and laboratory fees Bracket E1 Free tuition, miscellaneous and laboratory fees Bracket E2 Free tuition, miscellaneous and laboratory fees plus P2,400 monthly stipend P1,000/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous and laboratory fees P600/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous and laboratory fees P400/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous and laboratory fees P200/unit plus P2,000 miscellaneous and laboratory fees Free tuition, miscellaneous and laboratory fees Free tuition, miscellaneous and laboratory fees plus P2,400 monthly stipend

STFAP Benefits
ABS was expected to offer relevant benefits as the value of allowances had been adjusted while maintaining a simplified classification scheme

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Benefits
OSSS and OSAs have reported that there are students assigned to higher brackets who also need financial support to cover their costs of living
Some of these needs can be addressed by granting monthly allowances to cover their daily meals and lodging fees so they can live near the UP campus to help their families save on cost.

STFAP Benefits
To prevent the serious problems caused by inflation, it was also stipulated that stipends are to be adjusted annually based on the current inflation rate
However, the adjustment in monthly stipends was never implemented by the UP administration.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Benefits: Proposed Amendments


The STFAP benefit structure needs to be modified to update the value of the benefits and provide allowances that can give the students the means to continue studying in UP.

STFAP Benefits: Proposed Amendments


The STFAP benefit structure shall grant
Socialized tuition Academic allowance Living allowance

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Benefits: Proposed Amendments


BRACKET

SOCIALIZED TUITION
Tuition Campus A Campus B Lab & Misc. Fee

LIVING ALLOWANCE
Mo. Allow. Lodging Allow. UP Dorm Res. Others

ACADEMIC ALLOWANCE
Book Allow. GWA based Allow.

Bracket A

P1,500/ u.

P1,000/u.

At cost

None

None

None

None

None

Bracket B

P1,000/ u.

P600/ u.

At cost

None

None

None

None

None

Bracket C Bracket D Bracket E

P600/ u. P300/ u. Free

P400/ u. P200/ u. Free

At cost At cost Free

None P2,000/m P4,000/m

Free Free Free

P2,500/m

None

None None

P2,500/m P4,000/s.

P2,500/m P4,000/s. P1,250/s..

STFAP Benefits: Proposed Amendments


The STFAP benefit structure shall include an authorization to the UCSFA
to regularly monitor the benefit rates and to propose adjustments to the BOR at the end of every academic year.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Bracket Assignment Process


Public Consultation Session 12 February 2013

Bracket Assignment Process


Student submits information about his/her INCOME prior to enrollment. If a student is not satisfied with his/her initial bracket assignment, he/she need to accomplish STFAP APPLICATION FORM. If a student is not satisfied with the assigned brackets, he/she must submit a letter of APPEAL. If the local CSFA wishes to recommend the appellant to a bracket outside the authority granted to the committee, the case is sent to the UCSFA

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Bracket Assignment Process


Units involved in the STFAP bracket assignment process
OSSS & OSAs
Data gathering, and verification

UP Computer Center
Encoding

OVPAA Technical Working Group


Initial bracket assignment

Local CSFA
Deliberation of appeals

UCSFA
Final deliberation

Bracket Assignment Process


The long period to finally assign brackets is brought about by problems attributed to the centralized processing of STFAP applications and appeals.
The UP Computer Center can finish processing of STFAP application forms between one (1) to four (4) months. The UCSFA usually meets three (3) times every academic year, usually during the months of October, February, and May.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Bracket Assignment Process


The long period to finally assign brackets is brought about by problems attributed to the centralized processing of STFAP applications and appeals.
This means that appellants who wish to be assigned to brackets E1 and E2 may have to wait until the end of the 1st semester to complete the process and hopefully be assigned to these brackets

Bracket Assignment Process: Proposed Amendments


PRESENT Process
Declare INCOME before enrollment

PROPOSED Process
Submit data required by SEC MORES before enrollment

Accomplish STFAP APPLICATION FORM

Submit appeal to DCSFA

Submit appeal to DCSFA

Submit appeal to UCSFA

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Bracket Assignment Process: Proposed Amendments


Units involved in PRESENT process Units involved in PROPOSED process

Data gathering and verification


OSSS & OSAs

Data gathering and verification


OSSS & OSAs

Encoding
UP Computer Center

Encoding
Student

Initial bracket assignment


OVPAA TWG

Initial bracket assignment


OSSS & OSAs

Deliberation of appeals
DCSFA UCSFA

Deliberation of appeals
DCSFA

Reporting and monitoring


UCSFA

Bracket Assignment Process: Proposed Amendments


STFAP data will be obtained during UPCAT application using the SEC MORES instrument.
Facilitated by integrating the data gathering activities and initial bracket assignment process in the eUP SAIS.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Internal Control
Public Consultation Session 12 February 2013

Internal Control
Internal controls are needed to provide reasonable assurance that objectives are accomplished
Effectiveness and efficiency of operations Reliability of financial reporting Compliance with applicable laws and regulations

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Internal Control
Internal controls in the context of financial assistance programs
Program activities must be efficient to be reliable Programs must be consistent with regulations to establish integrity

Internal Control
Outcome of programs need to be monitored
Changes in financial assistance policies may change the way students pay their tuition May have significant impact on the overall financial health of the University.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Internal Control
Processes that constitute the internal controls of the present STFAP
Home Visits (HVs) to test the veracity of information about the students STFAP application; Reporting of appeal cases to the UCSFA for possible courses of action; and STFAP and student financial assistance statistics as needed by the UP Administration.

Internal Control
Some observations about the system
Instances where brackets do not reflect a students actual capacity to pay
Model used do not capture actual conditions Undeclared information

Bottlenecks that delay the process


Verification Unavailable financial resources

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Internal Control: Proposed Amendments


Internal controls need to be installed that can efficiently generate reliable data to support policy changes in STFAP
Enable adequate reporting of the OVERALL performance of STFAP and other programs Provide reasonable assurance that student financial assistance policies are properly implemented through audit procedures

Internal Control: Proposed Amendments


Information from STFAP reports
Approximate the capacity of students to shoulder the cost of UP education. Capacity of STFAP processes to address the financial needs of students. Relevance of benefits from the STFAP and other UP financial benefits

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Internal Control: Proposed Amendments


Information from STFAP reports
Payment behavior of UP students. Integrity of the operating procedures and the assessment of overall operating performance of the financial assistance system o.

Internal Control: Proposed Amendments


Operational audit needed to establish reasonable assurance on the reliability of reporting processes and procedures
Risky due to steps to shorten the STFAP bracket assignment process.
Proposed application process allows the students to solely encode the data needed even without submitting supporting documents

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Internal Control: Proposed Amendments


Operational audit to be conducted by OSSS and OSAs
1.

2.

A systematic sampling procedure will be implemented to come up with a sample of students who will be part of the audit. Students belonging to the sample shall undergo the documentation, office interviews, and HV.

Internal Control: Proposed Amendments


Operational audit to be conducted by OSSS and OSAs
3.

4.

Findings from the audit will be forwarded to the local CSFA as basis for actions. In case irregularities are uncovered, the local CSFA may recommend further investigation by creating an Ad hoc committee. Based on the recommendation of the Ad Hoc committee, the CSFAs will be expected to confirm the original bracket of the student under operational audit or file a case to the SDT.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Internal Control: Proposed Amendments


Operational audit to be conducted by OSSS and OSAs
5.

Members of the UCSFA will be informed regarding the progress of these cases, which they will consider in setting policies to improve the reliability of the STFAP and enhance the integrity of its operating procedure

Support System
Public Consultation Session 12 February 2013

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Support System
OVCSA (UP Diliman) OSA (UP Baguio) OSA (UP Cebu) OVPAA (UP System) OSSS (UP System) OSA (UP Los Banos) OSA (Manila) OSA (UP Mindanao) OSA (UP Visayas) OSSS (UP Diliman)

Support System
CU-level activities
Accepting and processing STFAP and other program applications and appeals. Awarding of benefits. Conduct of office interview and HVs

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Support System
System activities
Implementing decisions of the UCSFA relating to STFAP and other System-wide financial assistance programs; Reporting issues to the UCSFA on STFAP and related financial assistance programs; and Recommending solutions to the OVPAA to resolve issues in the administration of the STFAP and other student financial assistance programs both at the System and CU level.

Support System
OSSS is the only unit that focuses on student financial assistance services. In other CUs, all scholarship and financial assistance functions are rendered by their respective OSAs.
OSAs administer other student support services such as guidance and counseling services, student housing, and university health services.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Support System
No section that explicitly delivers expert advice to students and their parents. No provision to ensure quality of services rendered to students

Support System
The OSSS and the OSAs need a program staff where the people in the office are relatively capable not only to do monotonous office work but to do research and sensible data analysis.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Support System
The strength of the organizational lies in the experience of the personnel assigned to conduct operational and tactical functions of various programs
In spite of their expertise, the assignment and corresponding entitlements of several personnel are no longer appropriate due to the limited plantilla positions assigned to the OSSS and OSAs since 1990s

Support System
Inadequate resources have been a major issue in the delivery of financial assistance services.
Present appropriations are inadequate to support the activities of the OSSS, OSAs and even the OVPAA for student financial assistance. Requests for budget were denied by their respective UP budget office due to insufficient MOOE budget allocated to the OSSS and OSAs.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Support System
Inadequate resources have been a major issue in the delivery of financial assistance services.
In the absence of a physical central office that the OSSS and OSA personnel can utilize, the OSSS always encountered logistical problems when organizing required activities, Non-provision for Capital Outlay, most of the OSAs do not have the resources to purchase the basic equipment

Support System: Proposed Amendments


The current financial assistance system must be restructured to create more a function-based organization Organization will be composed proper staff assignments Must be supported by adequate physical and financial resources

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

STFAP Activities Present STFAP Acceptance of STFAP application Processing and Release of STFAP results Acceptance of appeals Processing of appeals and HVs Release of results of appeals Release of stipends Local CSFA meetings UCSFA meetings Proposed STFAP Acceptance of STFAP application Processing and Release of STFAP results Acceptance of appeals Processing of appeals and HVs Release of results of appeals Operational audit Release of stipends Local CSFA meetings UCSFA meetings

Support System: Proposed Amendments


UP system level administrator is needed
The VPAA may create an Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs position whose responsibility focuses on the implementation and oversight of the STFAP and other financial assistance services at the system-level. The OSSS can serve as its coordinator for matters regarding system-level STFAP and other financial assistance programs.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

Fe br u M ary ar ch Ap ril M ay Ju ne Ju ly Au gu s Se t pt em Oc b to er b No er ve m De be ce r m Ja be nu r ar y

47

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Diliman Scholarship Screening, Awarding and Benefits Programs Scholarship Programs Information and Records management System Scholarship Screening, Awarding and Benefits

Screening, Evaluation and Benefits Programs STFAP Financial Assistance Services Information and Records management Student loans Documentation and Reporting

OSSS Director

Installment payment services Programs Special Financial Assistance Programs Information and Records management Project management services System and Extension Services Promotion and communication System STFAP and Scholarship coordination Administrative services Procurement, Disbursement and other support services Student/Graduate Assistantships Special programs (i.e. Adopt-a-student)

Scholarship Programs

Screening, Awarding and Benefits Screening, Evaluation and Benefits

STFAP Financial Assistance Services Documentation and Reporting

Student loans

OSA Director

Installment payment services Special Financial Assistance Programs Procurement, Disbursement and other support services Administrative services Information and Records Management Other Student Services Special programs (i.e. adopt-a-student) Student/Graduate Assistantships

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

48

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Support System: Proposed Amendments


Basic equipment
One (1) desktop unit for each OSA staff, One (1) printer per OSA, One (1) laptop computer per OSA for System-wide meetings, One (1) LCD projector for CSFA and other meetings, One (1) voice recorder per OSA, and One (1) digital camera for the HV teams

Support System: Proposed Amendments


Central office to house OSSS and OSAs Allocation of budget to finance proposed organizational structure, MOOE, and capital outlay

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

49

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Revisions in Other Programs


Public Consultation Session 12 February 2013

Revisions in other financial assistance programs


Other financial assistance programs of the University must complement STFAP
Scholarship programs funded by donors must be revised in order to encourage academic excellence by giving benefits for good performance.
Scholarship programs may use the STFAP brackets as a means to screen financially needy applicants with the early release of brackets.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

50

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Revisions in other financial assistance programs


Other financial assistance programs of the University must complement STFAP
Student assistantships
Allowances that match the minimum wage may be given in order to give just compensation for hard work and to encourage students to continue studying while also providing working opportunities from the University.

Revisions in other financial assistance programs


Other financial assistance programs of the University must complement STFAP
Student loans
Loan transactions can be automated, eventually turning them into installment payment schemes that can offer more flexible payment options to students.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

51

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Summary of STFAP Reforms


Public Consultation Session 12 February 2013

Summary of STFAP reforms


Reform Vision
All UP students will not be charged in full or in part based on their income class but based on their means to pursue and finish their chosen degree programs.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

52

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Summary of STFAP reforms


Reform Vision
STFAP processes will be designed to effectively and promptly determine the required student financial assistance

Summary of STFAP reforms


Reform Vision
Complementary financial assistance programs shall be made available to encourage UP students to go beyond just graduating and realize their role in national development.

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

53

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Summary of STFAP reforms


Reform Vision
The UP student financial assistance system shall be transparent, efficient, reliable, and decentralized to make it a feasible model for SUCs, and an instrument to provide Filipino students better access to college education.

Summary of STFAP reforms


STFAP brackets
Adoption of SEC MORES to determine STFAP brackets

STFAP benefits
Inclusion of living and academic allowance to current STFAP benefits

Bracket assignment process


Localized and simplified bracket assignment process Integration of bracket assignment process in eUP SAIS

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

54

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

Summary of STFAP reforms


Internal controls
Institution of internal control system
Reporting Operational audit

Support system
Re-organization of OSSS and OSAs Creation of AVPAA office Allocation of budget

Summary of STFAP reforms


Revisions in other financial assistance programs
Linking other financial assistance programs with STFAP

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

55

Proposal to Revise the STFAP and Student Financial Assistance Services of UP

2/13/2013

PROPOSAL TO REVISE THE STFAP AND STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES OF UP


PUBLIC CONSULTATION SESSION
12 February 2013 UP Manila

Prepared by Asst. Prof. Richard Philip A. Gonzalo

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