The constant changing of rules and guidelines of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Wellness Recreation Program (WRP) is nothing new to the FEU community, drawing mixed reactions from Tamaraws. 

Under the leadership of Jayson Cruz as the new department chair, changes were observed in various areas, which raised numerous concerns from students, highlighting the department’s detachment from the realities faced by the students.

1. WRP to PATHFit

When S.Y. 2024-2025 kicked off, WRP was replaced by a new Physical Education (PE) course called ‘Physical Activities Toward Health and Fitness (PATHFit)’ for freshmen, which they will take for four semesters.

Students enrolled in PATHFit do not have a required minimum of 20 credit hours, rather, they are required to attend their twice-a-week classes. 

Based on CHED Memorandum Order No. 39, Series of 2021, college students are only required eight units of PATHFit which is equivalent to two units per semester. Students should also be able to choose the activities to their liking once PATHFit 3 and 4 are effective. 

The WRP policy states that one course is equivalent to 1.5 units per semester, which will be taken up to the fourth or fifth year of college, totalling to 12 to 15 units. 

In an interview with FEU Advocate, first year Nursing student Alleah Marie Ranole expressed her satisfaction with PATHFit when it comes to the schedule and activities it offers while also highlighting her concerns with the grading system based on participation, performance, and attendance.

“As a freshman, with all honesty, I enjoyed PATHFit. The schedule was alright, as for the activities, my favorite so far was the Pulsefit where all freshmen students were gathered to perform. But I do have a love and hate relationship with the grading system. Since we are graded per session according to our participation, performance, and attendance the highest grade you can get when you're present is 100 percent, while the lowest is 0 percent if you are absent, thus one absence can greatly affect our grade,” she expressed.

These changes left upperclassmen students bothered by the effectiveness of WRP, considering double the amount of years is needed to finish the said PE course, especially with inconsistencies with the aforementioned memo. 

2. Schedule and Registration 

From the previous policy, students had the freedom to choose their own schedules and activities based on their availability through registration on Power Apps.

Based on the department’s announcement last August, the booking system will be changed into a regular class schedule in accordance with the aforementioned CHED Memorandum last 2021.

With the new system, students followed a specific class day and time based on their Certificate of Registration or the schedule they selected during enrollment for the entire semester.

This was announced during the day of the enrollment period itself, preventing students from selecting an activity they would attend for the whole semester. According to FEU Central Student Organization, WRP reinstated the continuance of the booking system during one of their meetings last July 31. However, the tables were turned when the department announced the changes a week after.

Last academic year, students were allowed to pick their desired activity if they were able to secure a slot via Power Apps. This change was adopted after students were allowed to book three times a week, with no specific schedule last S.Y. 2022-2023.

The department continued to adopt the policy for students with additional needs (SwAN), as some were concerned that certain students such as persons with disabilities are still required to participate even if they are physically incapable since the activities were not chosen based on their liking.  

Still under the SwAN category, students with on-the-job training were provided other tasks that would fit their schedule and class days.

Meanwhile, second year Communication working student Mariah Denise Villaflores shared that she had to drop her WRP course due to scheduling conflicts, particularly with film class and making up for missed days of classes.

“Bilang working student, napilitan akong magdrop ng WRP dahil hindi nagiging swak ang schedule ko sa pagvi-video o pagbawi sa mga araw na walang pasok ( As a working student, I was forced to drop WRP because my schedule for recording or making up for missed days didn't align), she stressed.

Villaflores was unaware that WRP was offering Swan due to being preoccupied with work and studies, which is why she was not able to be a part of it.

With a similar experience, third-year Studio Arts student and PWD SwAN Darlyn Shane Buenaventura also had to drop WRP for the second time due to delays in processing medical records and frequent changes in the WRP system.

“Bilang isang parte ng SwAN, PWD ako na hindi pwedeng mag-physical activity. Ngayong 2024, napunta saakin ang Volleyball. Sinunod ko ang proseso ng gusto ng WRP Department pagdating sa medical records. Ngunit dahil kada semester nagbabago ang WRP system, mahaba ang proseso ng ospital sa aking records, at ilang linggo nalang ang natitira sa akin, wala na akong choice kundi i-drop ang WRP ko sa pangalawang beses,” she shared. 

3. Grading System

In the new WRP system, the grading system is based on student participation wherein students will not automatically obtain 1.5 credit just by attending the class. 

To obtain full credit, students must actively participate and demonstrate exceptional effort while showing enthusiasm, initiative, and hard work to secure full credits.

Meanwhile, students who engage regularly and put satisfactory effort in most activities will only obtain one credit per hour, 0.5 credits for inconsistent participation and minimal efforts, and no credit for students who seldomly participate in sessions.

The department also continued its implementation of marking students who are not wearing their complete WRP uniform absent.

Moreover, since the booking system has been dismantled, WRP Chairperson Jayson Cruz announced the abolishment of the policy failing students who were absent from class more than three times.

Cruz also mentioned during one of the meetings with student-leaders, that the Power Apps had been a common problem faced by students when grades are encoded. It can be remembered that several students were granted failing marks despite claiming that they have completed the requirements.

The department responded by first linking the failing grades to the negligence of students to synchronize their grades.

“The WRP Department emphasized that announcements were made several times via Canvas and Facebook, and such inquiries were addressed during the last weeks of the semester. The WRP Department also clarified that the primary issue stemmed from students failing to synchronize their credit hours before grade encoding, resulting in course failures," FEU Central Student Organization said in a statement last May.

After a few days, WRP started accepting the petitions of several students who may have felt anxious about their grades, especially  graduating students or those who have dropped the course multiple times.

4. Enrichment Activities

Holidays and activity periods are often anticipated, especially by those whose hours are still lacking. The ‘auto-credit’ policy by the department during special schedules was helpful for the students who needed extra ‘free’ hours. 

In the new WRP system, the auto-credit policy that gives students 1.5 credit hours if their schedule matches activity periods, suspensions, or scheduled holidays was removed. 

As a SwAN, Buenaventura suggested that instead of assigning video tasks during typhoons, the department could consider giving written activities since being physically fit is not always determined on doing physical activities, and to better accommodate PWD students like her.

In its place, enrichment activities were implemented to make up for the missed credits brought by the class interruptions. During holidays and activity periods, students can accomplish enrichment activities, such as exercise routines, prepared by their specialist for two credit hours. 

Meanwhile, in case of sudden suspensions, students can submit their assigned activities through Canvas for 1.5 credit hours. 

5. Additional Units

Alternative activities, such as the Community Dance Fitness (CDF) and the WRP Festival, were the students’ resort to gain additional credit hours. 

Notably, activities such as dance activities and ball games that give students extra hours were limited this semester, with some struggling over compliance on the required number of credit hours needed.

During the midyear term, the department organized a music fest and zumba activities for the students. For the first semester, ‘WRP Xtra’ was launched by the department as the remaining activities for additional hours. 

Unlike last University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 wherein free football tickets were distributed during the second semester, in the recently concluded Season 87, the department did not give out free football tickets now that the games have been moved to the first semester. 

For this semester, the department only distributed free basketball for additional credit hours. Though, long queues and the limitedness of the tickets were still encountered by the students awaiting the free tickets. 

Villaflores was one of the students who lined up early to secure tickets. Although she was able to secure a ticket, she still could not complete her credit hours due to scheduling and activity conflicts.

She also mentioned that WRP’s new system was ineffective, especially the additional units, emphasizing that the university might be the only one requiring physical education classes up to the fourth year, which adds financial burdens and mental stress to the students 

The second year student added that the course is more demanding than the academic subjects students are supposed to prioritize.

6. Facilities 

Maximizing the facilities around campus, WRP activities were conducted on campus grounds, in classrooms, and other designated areas for the activities.

This semester, FEU added Mindfulness and Fitness Rooms located in the Arts Building, aiming to provide a space for introspection with activities such as meditations and mindfulness coloring. 

“The [Mindfulness] room is the University’s response to the importance of prioritizing one’s mental health and well-being in this fast-paced and stressful environment that we navigate daily,” FEU Institute of Education Dean Aisa Arlos SAID in her welcome message during the rooms’ opening last September.

Starting the second semester, the department will add swimming to their list of activities.

Along with the new activity is an additional payment, prescribed swimwear, and medical clearance to be issued by the UHS. 

7. Midterm Consultation 

The heightened worry if one's current hours will be sufficient to reach the required credit hours to pass the course is one of the concerns by the students. 

With a designated specialist throughout the term, midterm consultations were conducted by instructors to keep track of the credit hours fulfilled and hours still needed and if the remaining meetings were enough to reach the 20-hour requirement. 

In an announcement by the FEU Central Student Organization, students would gain 1.5 hours during consultations, dedicating the first half of the meeting for the consultation and the latter part for the activity. 

The students' woes continue to persist amid WRP’s system changes through the terms, indicating that such changes serve as band-aid solution since the concerns of students remain the same and unheard by the department.

- Kasharelle Javier and Julliane Nicole B. Labinghisa
(Layout by Jonathan Carlos B. Ponio/FEU Advocate)