Two alumni of the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) program of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), Ms. Patricia Martillano and Mr. James Daryl Alcaraz, presented a redesigned version of the BAMS Planner on  9 May 2025, via Zoom. The project was part of their MMS 200 Special Project/Capstone, completed under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Diego S. Maranan.

The presentation was initiated by Dr. Maranan to explore the potential adoption of the redesigned planner as the official academic planning tool for BAMS students moving forward. The event was attended by individuals who either currently use, benefit from, or may potentially manage the BAMS Planner. These included BAMS Program Chair Dr. Benigno Agapito; FICS Faculty Secretary Asst. Prof. Joyce Mae Vega, who also serves on the Honors and Awards Committee; and ICTDO Project Development Associate Asst. Prof. Lei Kristoffer Lactuan, whose office may oversee the tool if officially adopted. Program support staff Mr. Jerome Suplemento (AADDA and ASIT) and Ms. Maria Paula Bautista (BAMS), who are responsible for managing the backend of the existing planner and reviewing students’ Plans of Study, were also present.

The redesigned planner addresses key issues encountered by students and program support staff in using and revising the existing BAMS Planner. The initiative aims to enhance academic planning through a more user-friendly and flexible interface. It is designed to help students efficiently map out their courses, particularly when deviating from their original Plans of Study.

In addition, the tool streamlines the review process for program support staff by incorporating updates in course offerings and academic policies. It also produces structured outputs that assist the Honors and Awards Committee in evaluating eligibility for Latin honors.

The redesigned planner was well-received and is set to undergo further evaluation for possible adoption as the official academic planning tool for BAMS students.

Written by: Maria Paula Bautista

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