DLSU-STC students' perceptions on the DLSU & DLSU-STC integration

• Main Author: Guevara, Edna C.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2013
• Subjects: College integration—Philippines; Higher Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/7088
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study described the DLSU-STC students’ perceptions of the De La Salle Canlubang and De La Salle University Manila integration using C. Carney Strange PhD’s four dimensions of campus environments. Specifically, it aimed to identify the perceived elements of the physical structure, human aggregate, organizational structure, and the constructed environment as experiences by the DLSU-STC college students. Using C. Carney Strange PhD and James Banning PhD’s conceptual framework—A hierarchy of learning environment purposes (2001), the researcher sought to understand student perceptions of their “new” campus community. Within the first trimester of academic year 2013-2014, eighty-four (84) college students responded to a questionnaire designed by the researcher-author. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of these respondents had the La Salle Canlubang experience from their previous semesters of stay in the said school before it integrated with DLSU and became the DLSU-STC we know of today. The results revealed that student-respondent had a heightened awareness and became more proud that they are part of La Salle as an academic institution; they were able to express more their being Lasallians by actively participating in more institutional and cross-campus (DLSU-STC to Taft campus) activities; they became more engaged in extra-curricular activities. Thus, their sense of community heightened with the integration of the two campuses. Findings further discuss the challenges and concerns that arose in this period. Recommendations were offered to address these concerns, and to create essential programs and services for the students in the Lasallian community to sustain early efforts of the integration.