*Letter from Central*
September 8, 2008
Dear Centralians and Friends,
Greetings from the campus!
We are very much grateful for your concern to our University and to its many
programs, particularly the Work Student Study Program. We are providing you
with information given by the Management Committee. This will give you an
idea of how the Program – which is the centerpiece program of the University
– is managed.
*Work Student Study Program*
(as of August 22, 2008)
*Management Committee*
Engr. Alfredo H. Mombay
Dr. Agustin A. Pulido - Chairperson
Dr. Andresito A. Millamena
1. At latest count, there are 697 work students distributed as follows:
Library Assistants 172
Clerical Assistants 183
Service / Laboratory Assistants 235
Janitorial Services Assistants *119*
*709*
Less 12 who have not reported for *- 12*
work after Typhoon Frank
Total *697
Note: 10 more are being requested by the Library as of 8-22-08
*2. Workloads and study loads of work students.*
The present work load of work students ranges from 17-23 hours/ week with
the mode at 20 hrs./week, or about 4 hours/day, 5 days/week. Extra hours of
work are given regularly as need arises. The work students are credited
Php22 per hour of work.
The mode in study load is presently 18 units/semester, equivalent to about 6
hours of classroom and laboratory work daily and enables a work student to
finish a 4-year course also in 4 years, together with regular students.
The work load of 20 hours/week earns a work student about Php8,800
credits/'semester. The study load of 18 units/semester will cost a work
student about Php12,000/semester. At the outset, a work student has to
finance from other sources about Php 3,200/semester to complete payment for
his tuition and other fees aside from his board and lodging expenses. This
situation leaves the work students with growing account balances at the end
of every semester.
To earn more credits for their tuition and fees, there is always a request
from work students to be given extra hours of work. The regular daily 4-hour
work plus the extra work hours and a 6-hour daily study load especially in
janitorial services leave a work student exhausted and in many instances
he/she slows down work, sleeps, or just marks time without working.
*3. Account Balances*
In spite of their account balances, the work students are allowed to enroll
in a succeeding semester by executing promissory notes. At the end of FY
2007-2008, accounts receivable for the back accounts of work students stood
at about Php 9,347,000.
During the 1st semester of SY 2008-2009, the VPFE, in consultation with the
Management Committee, addressed the growing amounts of accounts receivable
from work students. Enrolling work students were required to pay whatever
amount they could to reduce their back accounts. Many work students paid
some amounts; those who could not pay any amount were advised to sign
promissory notes and no work student was denied enrollment for non-payment
of their back accounts.
The accounts receivable from work students as of August 2008 has been
reduced to about Php 6,467,000.
*4. Alternative Courses of Action:*
a. With the present practices and levels of productivity that have prevailed
through the past years, fund approximately Php 2,262,400/ semester to
increase the hourly rate of work students by Php8/hour, from Php22/hour to
Php30/hour. This will earn them enough Php credits at their present work
load of 20-hours/week to completely pay the cost of their present study load
of 18 units/semester. Successful and loyal work student alumni can help in
raising funds.
Calculations:
707 work students x 20 hours/week x 20weeks/semester x Php22/hour
= Php 6, 221,600 credits / semester
707 work students x Php 3, 200 */semester credits deficit
= Php 2,262,400 credit deficits/semester
- Php 8,484,000 – approximate total tuition and fees of
707 work students / semester
*Php 2,262,400 credit deficits/semester = Php8/hour needed to cover
deficit *
*707 work students x 20 hours/week x 20 weeks/semester *
* * Tuition and other fees/semester Php12,000 approximate
Php22/hour x 20 hours/week x 20 weeks / semester 8,800
Deficiency/ semester Php 3,200 approximate*
b. Establish policies, procedures and work standards, practice discipline,
and increase productivity of work students by giving incentives to those who
surpass standards or who initiate and implement work improvement/cost
reduction projects. This will improve work student morale.
With increased productivity, reduce the number of the present 707 work
students. Apply savings from the resultant reduction of numbers of work
students to increase their Php hourly rate accordingly. (Refer to
productivity improvement calculations and Table of Incremental Productivity
Increases)
c. Balance the work load and study load of work students. A 25-hour
work-load/week @ Php22/hour can cover the costs of a 15-unit study
load/semester. A work student can finish a 4-year course in 5 years without
incurring back accounts.
*Productivity Improvement Calculations:
Present number of work student hours required to perform present volume of
work by work students:
707 students x 20 hours/week x 20 weeks/ semester = 282,800 work student
hours/semester
If productivity is improved by 25%:
Needed work student hours = 0.75 (282,800) = 212,100 work student hours
Resultant number of students needed/semester:
212,100 work student hours = 530 work students
20 hours/week x 20 weeks/semester
Resultant rate / hour: 530 x new rate = 707 x Php22/hour
New Rate = 707 x Php22/hour = Php29.35/hour or about Php 30/ hour
530*
TABLE OF INCREMENTAL PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
No. of Work No. of Reduction % increase in Resultant
Students (Cum) Productivity Php rate
/ hour
707 0 (0) 0 % Php
22
672 - 35 (-35) 5 % Php
23
636 - 36 (-71) 10% Php 24
601 - 35 (-106) 15 % Php 26
566 - 35 (-141) 20 % Php 28
530 - 36 (-177) 25 % Php 30
May God continually bless us all!
Sincerely,
Rinand Caipang Escuban
Director
Francis Neil Gico Jalando-on
Public Relations Officer