by Katherine Santillan and Neerah Garcia | July 31, 2023
Psychology students voiced out concerns, as the Holy Angel University - Psychology Society (HAU PsychSoc) released a memorandum online last Friday, July 28, declaring automatic membership to all bona fide Psychology students and a mandatory collection of 150 pesos fee every semester. HAU PsychSoc addressed the concerns.
Students reached out to the College Student Council - School of Arts and Sciences (CSC-SAS) to address their concerns about the sudden information through grievances. According to reports, they were not informed beforehand of a mandatory membership fee collection, and 150 pesos is “too much” for a single student. Another student expressed that, “requiring all Psychology students of SAS to pay a 300-peso annual membership fee [is] unacceptable” and that “it has not been a part of a transparent campaign.”
Gabriel Oraye, SAS Senator, reached out to The Nexus to point out three errors from the memorandum through a meeting call with the CSC-SAS.
Vague tabulation of transparency
The memorandum highlighted, “collected membership fee will be exclusively allocated to organize the organization’s future events.” It also mentioned that the organization’s finance committee will maintain transparency in fund utilization by releasing a transparency board at the end of every semester.
“I’m not against with the idea of membership fee pero it must be voluntary–or gusto nila [student members].” Oraye commented, “...or if they [PsychSoc] will actually publicize what are the benefits for the students.”
There were no listed plans and future activities in the given memorandum.
Improper Announcement
As mentioned, HAU PsychSoc instructed the class representatives to send the memo through respective class group chats on Messenger instead of posting a public announcement on their official Facebook page.
Discussions in the meeting added that the students should be given prior notice during enrollment or the general assembly regarding the collection of fees and automatic membership for proper awareness and consultation.
Lack of signatories
There were no signatories from the OSA, Dean, and program chairperson in the memorandum despite the nature of the request. Signatures present were only the organization’s bursar, assessor, chancellor, and primary mentor.
July 28, starting at 9:40 PM, circulated copies of the memorandum were removed by the class representatives as instructed.
PsychSoc raised addressed concerns
Today, July 31, The Nexus interviewed the chancellor of HAU PsychSoc, Cheanne Lapuz, to hear the organization’s side
In the interview, Lapuz clarified that the “memorandum” is a “circulatory letter” containing the specific contents, which is the collection of fees, included in the organization’s Constitution and By-Laws (CBL) then apologized for the confusion it brought to the students.
The chancellor admitted that the dissemination of the letter has its lapses, with its original intention being to prepare the students for the upcoming General Assembly wherein the contents are slated to be thoroughly discussed.
Payment and Purpose of Fees
The Membership fees to be collected will fund the organization’s events such as Psychology days, conventions, and the upcoming pinning ceremony. Lapuz added that members will receive a card with a corresponding ID that they will present upon registration and transaction for benefits.
Listed benefits were free admission to their workshops with tokens and HAU PsychSoc merch which they can buy at a discounted price.
“We are planning to widen the option to cater all students,” Lapuz said regarding students’ concerns about payment of membership fees. The following options are to be considered:
a. One-time payment of 150 pesos;
b. Payment of 30 pesos per month (accumulating 150 pesos after 5 months);
c. Voluntary payment wherein students will opt to pay an admission fee to events instead; and
d. Consult the class representatives regarding struggling students, and the organization is obliged to answer their membership fee after thorough screening.
The deadline for payment stated in the letter will not be retained and is open for adjustment depending on student concerns.
Signatories from Dean and OSA
“No, we haven’t consulted other offices [yet] (OSA and Dean).” Lapuz answered.
She mentioned that the organization had already consulted its primary mentor and the program chairperson during the planning of the membership fee which received approval.
Lapuz assured the students that HAU PsychSoc is in the process of sending the circulatory letter to be approved by the Dean and the OSA.
“Nakita naman ng students yung kayang gawin ng PsychSoc last year, [and] that was without membership fee,” Lapuz said, “our intention is to always help them [the students] it is for their own benefit kaya nga walang na-exclude from pagbabayad even officers. Mga sinabi ko kaninang plans was to cater the students, though wala pang final with regards sa pagko-collect at pag-babayad. I-gagather muna namin yung concerns ng students.”
The mandatory collection of fees was supposed to re-launch last year. However, due to the hybrid class setup, PsychSoc opted to initiate said collection this academic year instead.
HAU PsychSoc will be open to more concerns as they will release a survey on their official Facebook Page within the week.
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