Criteria and Implementing Guidelines for the Identification, Support and Development of Centers of Excellence (COEs) and Centers of Development (CODs) for Criminology Program

November 3, 2006

CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 048-06

 

In accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994", the CHED's policies and standards on the Centers of Excellence project, by virtue of the 285th Commission en banc Resolution No. 693-2006 dated October 9, 2006 and for the purpose of establishing Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development (COEs/CODs) that will serve as potent catalysts towards the development of a world-class program in Criminology, the following criteria and implementing guidelines for the identification, support and development of COEs and CODs for the Criminology program are hereby adopted and promulgated by the Commission, thus: cDTCIA

I. Rationale and Background

The implementation of the COE/COD project is pursuant to Section 8 (f) of Republic Act No. 7722, which provides that CHED shall "identify, support and develop potential centers of excellence in program areas needed for the development of world-class scholarship, nation building and national development". Thus, it became the policy of the Commission to promote quality and excellence in higher education by identifying, supporting and/or developing COEs and CODs for specific programs in higher education institutions (HEIs).

Consequently, the Criminology program is therefore recognized as a program area needed for the development of world-class scholarship, nation building and national development.

The project aims to strengthen and further improve the quality of higher education degree programs in the country. The identified COEs/CODs are expected to become a resource to strengthen other schools in their localities and are envisioned to become centers of graduate education and research in the particular field of specialization.

The identification of COEs and CODs for Criminology is expected to facilitate the attainment and fulfillment of the program's mission of providing professionally competent and morally upright criminology graduates who can deliver efficient and effective services in crime prevention, crime detection and investigation, and law enforcement, among others.

More importantly, it will help stimulate and expedite the utmost development of world-class, relevant and responsive Criminology program under the Criminal Justice Education. Identified COEs and CODs for Criminology program are also expected to take the lead in strengthening other non-COE/COD Criminology program.

II. Center of Excellence and Center of Development

Center of Excellence (COE) refers to a criminology program under a college or department within a higher education institution, which continuously demonstrates excellent performance in the areas of instruction, research and publication, extension and linkages and institutional qualifications. To be a Center of Excellence, the criminology program should have earned at least a total of 90 points in the evaluation. IcSHTA

Center of Development (COD) refers to a criminology program under a college or department within a higher education institution, which demonstrates the potential to become a Center of Excellence in the future. To be a Center of Development, the criminology program should have earned at least a total of 80 to 89 points in the evaluation.

The status of being a Center of Excellence or a Center of Development in Criminology should not be misconstrued that such status applies to other programs offered by an institution.

III. Criteria

The Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development for the Criminology program shall be selected in accordance with the following criteria:

	Criteria	Weight
I.	Instructional Quality (45.00%)
	A.	Program Administration	5.00%
	B.	Faculty	11.00%
	C.	Curriculum	1.00%
	D.	Laboratory, Facilities and Equipment	3.00%
	E.	Library	1.00%
	F.	I.T. Capability	1.00%
	G.	Student Support System	2.00%
	H.	Performance in Licensure Examinations	8.00%
	I.	Accreditation	10.00%
	J.	Graduate Profile	1.00%
	K.	Graduate Tracer Study/Employment of Graduates	2.00%
			––––––––
		Total	45.00%
			======
II.	Research and Publications (30.00%)
	A.	Research Unit and Facilities	7.00%
	B.	Pool of Qualified Faculty	5.00%
	C.	Research Policy	3.00%
	D.	Research Agenda	3.00%
	E.	Publication and Presentation in Conferences	7.00%
	F.	Research Budget	5.00%
			––––––––
		Total	30.00%
			======
III.	Extension and Linkages (20.00%)
	A.	Industry-Academe Linkages	8.00%
	B.	Academic Linkages, Consortia	6.00%
	C.	Outreach Programs	6.00%
			––––––––
		Total	20.00%
			======
IV.	Institutional Qualifications (5.00%)
	A.	Mission/Vision/Goals/Objectives	2.00%
	B.	National/International Recognition	1.5%
	C.	IT-Enabled Processes	1.5%
			––––––––
		Total	5.00%
			––––––––
		Grand Total	100.00%
			======

 

The details of the criteria and other guidelines are contained in "Annex A" hereof.

IV. Process of Selection and Identification

The Commission shall identify COE and COD for the Criminology program upon recommendation of the Technical Panel for Criminal Justice Education (TPCJE) based on the foregoing criteria. Higher education institutions offering the Criminology program that have the intention and/or the potential of becoming a COE or COD for the program must submit application together with the pertinent documents through the CHED Regional Offices (CHEDROs) not later than April 30, 2007. Applications submitted beyond the prescribed date shall not be considered.

A. Application Phase

1. Application for COE/COD in Criminology shall be considered open upon issuance of these implementing guidelines.

2. The Commission will conduct zonal orientations, after which, will issue a Memorandum with attached application form, informing higher education institutions (HEIs) offering the Criminology program, that it is now accepting applications for potential COEs and CODs. CTaSEI

3. Interested HEIs shall submit to the CHED Regional Office (CHEDRO) concerned a letter of intent together with the pertinent documents to support the application. The supporting documents must exhibit evidence of compliance with the selection criteria.

4. The CHEDRO then assesses the completeness of the documents submitted by the applicant HEIs and recommends those applications with complete and correct documents for evaluation by the OPS. Applications with incomplete and/or incorrect supporting documents shall be returned to the applicant HEIs by the CHEDRO.

5. The following shall form part of the application and shall be submitted by the applicant HEIs to the CHEDRO:

a. Letter of application addressed to the Commission through the CHEDRO Director;

b. Accomplished application form;

c. Required supporting documents as indicated in "Annex A" hereof.

6. The CHEDRO shall forward all applications with complete and correct documents to the OPS within 15 days after the deadline for the filing of application as specified herein.

7. The Secretariat of the Technical Panel for Criminal Justice Education (TPCJE) shall consolidate all applications forwarded by the CHEDRO and submits the same to the Technical Panel for evaluation and short-listing.

B. Initial Paper Evaluation

The TPCJE shall conduct the initial paper evaluation of all COE/COD applications. Once all applications have been completely evaluated, the Technical Panel prepares and submits the short-list to the OPS of the potential COEs/CODs, together with the proposed schedules of ocular inspection.

C. Ocular Inspection

The OPS shall create inspection teams composed of at least two (2) members of the TPCJE, OPS Director-in-charge and two (2) members of the TPCJE Secretariat. The teams will evaluate/validate the documents submitted by the applicant HEIs. HIAEaC

D. Identification

1. The Technical Panel shall submit the result of evaluation to the Commission through the OPS within thirty (30) days after the completion of ocular inspection of all applicant HEIs.

2. The Technical Panel shall recommend an HEI to be a COE for Criminology if it attains an over-all rating of 90 points and above in the evaluation.

3. The Technical Panel shall recommend an HEI to be a COD for Criminology if it attains an over-all rating of 80 to 89 points in the evaluation.

4. Upon approval by the Commission, the list of identified COEs and CODs for Criminology shall be released through the issuance of a CMO.

V. Grants and Benefits

Identified COEs/CODs for the Criminology program are entitled to the following grants and benefits:

1. Priority in the selection of CHED institutional partners with regards to CHED developmental projects;

2. Entitlement to other non-monetary subsidies and awards such as:

a. faculty scholarships for graduate studies;

b. priority for CHED research grants;

c. consideration for conversion to University Status; identification as autonomous or deregulated status.

3. Financial assistance —

 COEs and CODs that would like to avail of financial assistance/support from CHED must submit project proposals. The CHED will evaluate the proposals and based on the evaluation, decides on whether or not financial assistance will be granted. TEAcCD

VI. Roles and Responsibilities of Identified COEs and CODs

Identified COEs/CODs for the Criminology program shall have the following roles and responsibilities:

For Identified COEs:

1. Act as role models/leaders in criminology education program;

2. Sustain and enhance research capabilities and upgrade professional or research graduate programs in Criminology;

3. Provide assistance to agencies/institutions within its geographical area of coverage;

4. Undertake activities/projects necessary in developing quality Criminology education program;

5. Accelerate the development of the Criminology program through strategic developmental agenda and projects;

6. Develop quality instructional program through faculty development and upgrading of facilities and library holdings; 

7. Undertake basic and applied research activities on emerging trends and developments in the field of Criminology; and

8. Undertake extension and linkages through consortia and industry-academe collaborations.

For Identified CODs:

1. Accelerate the development of the Criminology program through strategic developmental agenda and projects;

2. Develop quality instructional program through faculty development and upgrading of facilities and library holdings;

3. Undertake basic and applied research on emerging trends and developments in the field of Criminology;

4. Undertake extension and linkages through consortia and industry-academe collaborations; and ACcHIa

5. Establish linkages with COEs in Criminology to further improve instructional and research capabilities to undertake research in the said program.

VII. Duration of the Status as COEs/CODs

The designation as COEs/CODs for Criminology shall be for a period of three (3) years. If at any point based on the monitoring by CHED, the COE/COD is found not fulfilling its functions/responsibilities and/or not maintaining compliance with the criteria as COE/COD, the designation shall be revoked.

VIII. Effectivity

This order shall take effect immediately.

Issued this 3rd day of November 2006.

(SGD.) CARLITO S. PUNO, DPAChairmanCommission on Higher Education