ISR welcomes new and international students to the “Tulay” program

UPLB’s new and international students received a warm welcome as they geared up for student life in UPLB with information they should know regarding documents to file, university and academic policies, and relevant offices they would most often transact with during their stay.

The event, entitled “Tulay: Building Bridges across Cultures,” was held on August 30, 2024, at the Makiling Ballroom Hall, Student Union Building for new and international students who enrolled in the first semester of Academic Year 2024-2025.

“Tulay” focused on topics that help students understand the immigration processes, visa document processing, study permits, and university student policies.

It also gave an orientation on the International Student Association, the services of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the International Student Relations (ISR), and the UPLB-Graduate School (UPLB-GS).

“Tulay” was spearheaded by ISR with its head, Gonzalo H. Amante, Jr., giving the welcoming remarks and Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Marcelina Carandang-Miranda delivering the inspirational message on behalf of Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr.

Benzon D. Subijano, ISR administrative officer, discussed the student visa processing from conversion to the downgrading of student visas. These pieces of information are essential for international students to know so that they can avoid penalties.

Kathleen Marie V. Paguio, ISR senior office assistant, gave a walkthrough of the study permit application process. A study permit is one of the requirements that every UPLB international student must acquire at the start of every semester.

The services provided by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) were introduced through a video presentation. Lawyer Jorge Davide, chair of the Student Disciplinary Tribunal, discussed the university policies based on the 2024 student handbook.

In the afternoon session, Paguio presented the ISR auxiliary service through I-aSsistance followed by a presentation from ISA represented by the organization president, Jeremie Simisi, who explained the benefits and responsibilities of being an ISA member. 

Following this was a presentation by UPLB-GS Dean Jomar F. Rabajante on the GS academic policies, which gave international GS students a chance to raise questions and clarify their concerns.