Office of Counseling and Psychological Services

History

The Guidance and Counseling Office does not claim to be as old as the university. It was initiated only in the early 50's when PUP was then the old PCC with a small enrollment. While the code identified its functions, the Office did not have any well-defined structure and program. Faculty members assigned to the Office of Student Affairs acted as counselors but lacked the training and skills necessary for the job. Much of the work they performed concerned problems on discipline, student failures and the issuance of re-admission slips for absences. Upon the declaration of Martial Law, PCC, a hotbed of student activism, was ordered closed by President Ferdinand E, Marcos. A series of seminars were conducted for the faculty and staff of the college to orient them on the thrust of the New Society and after three months, the school was allowed to re-open. The Guidance Office remained closed and the faculty counselors were put on full time teaching. Dr. Pablo T. Mateo was named Officer-in-Charge of PCC. The Guidance Office was revived with only two counselors, one of whom was assigned to the newly acquired Sta. Mesa, Campus. The head of the student affairs was concurrently designated as Chairman of the Department of Arts and Sciences. Reorganization started and the Guidance Office was placed under the Registrar's Office.

In 1974, the individual problems of the students regarding guidance and counseling became the responsibility of their respective department heads. This was the result of the administration's restructuring of the College organization set-up. When Isabelo T. Crisostomo was appointed Acting President in that same year, the Guidance and Counseling Office began to play a more significant role. The Office acted as adviser on student needs and problems when it was re-organized into a center directly under the Office of the President. It was when the Chief of Guidance became the Director of Guidance and Counseling that the Guidance Office gained its own identity and stood on its own ground. New counselors with the degree in psychology were designated to help the Director implement its program. This was the time that the College Entrance Test was constructed to screen an ever-growing number of freshmen applicants. New departments were created to offer relevant courses and new buildings sprouted in the Sta. Mesa Campus.

In 1977, Dr. Pablo T. Mateo replaced President Isabelo T. Crisostomo. This did not change the status of the Office, which continued its functions and extended its services to the services to the PUP Laboratory High School. It was during Dr. Mateo's term that the PCC was converted into a University. The Guidance Office was once more placed under the Dean of Student Services.

In 1986, Dr. Nemesio E. Prudente was reinstated as PUP President after the EDSA I Revolution. His all-out support to the Guidance and Counseling Office in the University paved the way for the full existence and development of the Office. The University Guidance and Counseling Office at the Unyon ng Mag-aaral Building developed into a very significant part of the University supporting the President's thrust to coordinate with other units and departments toward the total development of the students and the redirection of their outlook in life. The office started to organize the peer facilitators group which served as the extension arm of the guidance counselors in assisting the students in the solution of their problems.

Before Dr. Prudente's term ended, the University Guidance and Counseling Office transferred to its new home at the South Wing's 5th Floor. The Office also started to extend its testing services to other government agencies for the hiring of the rank-and-file and the promotion of supervisory applicants. These testing services were made possible under Memorandum of Agreements between the Bagong katipunan Foundation and government agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Dairy Authority, Philippine Carabao under the Department of Agriculture and Philippine Retirement Authority. The latest addition to the list of government agencies is the Commission on Higher Education (2004).

Upon the retirement of Dr. Prudente in 1992, former Pres. Corazon C. Aquino appointed Dr. Jaime Gellor as Acting University President. Dr. Gellor appointed new sets of university officials including the chief of the Guidance and Counseling Office. However, the appointment of the Chief lasted for fiteen (15) days only due to the community protests against the appointment of Dr. Gellor.

Dr. Gellor was immediately succeeded by Dr. Zenaida A. Olonan. The then Chief of the Guidance and Counseling Office requested that the Office be transferred to the Ground Floor of North Wing facing the interfaith Chapel to reach out to more students and thus make the program available to them. The continuously promoted the different services available through Guidance Awareness Week, orientation programs, bulletin board displays and distribution of its office brochures.

The retirement of Dr. Olonan in 1998 led to the appointment of Dr. Ofelia M. Carague as the University President. It was during her term that the Guidance and Counseling Office was transferred to the 2nd Floor of the Student Development Center (Formerly Unyon ng Mag-aaral Building). The Guidance Counselors with degrees in Counseling Psychology or have earned units in guidance were hired. To enhance and update their knowledge in the field of guidance and counseling, the Guidance Counselors attend seminars, workshops, convocations and training programs sponsored by different professional organizations. As part of its student services, the Guidance and Counseling also conducts and co-sponsors seminars, workshops and training programs.

As the University celebrated its centenary, Acting President Samuel M. Salvador's administration gave more attention and ample support to most of the projects of the Office. Likewise, under the newly installed Officer-In-Charge of PUP, Dr. Dante G. Guevarra, the Guidance and Counseling Office continues to serve not only the students, but the PUP community as a whole. The Office offers the students effective guidance and counseling by providing them a channel for expressing their difficulties and assisting them as they look for solutions to their problems. In this manner, students now find PUP a very conductive place for growth and development. It was November 2, 2006 when Dr. Dante S. Guevarra became Acting President. The Guidance and Counseling Office submitted and proposed to add the guidance fee on the miscellaneous. The said guidance fee was approved last April 19, 2007 Board Meeting held at Sulo Hotel Quezon City. This will signal the full implementation of the different guidance programs.