We share news published today by The Mercury y La Tercera on the current financial status of the 30 institutions that make up the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), which have reduced their income by more than $140 billion pesos, in addition to incurring costs that exceed $16.556 million pesos to implement measures that allow the teaching process to be adapted to the health emergency situation due to COVID-19.

This Tuesday, April 21, the CRUCH presented to the Education Commission of the Chamber of Deputies a report that gives an account of the requirements of continuing the training processes, exposes the financial status of the institutions, and formulates five proposals to overcome the difficulties and limitations that arise from these financial statements.

Furthermore, we share the IReport of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities - Draft Law on Higher Education Fees (April 21, 2020).

The Council of Rectors estimates the reduction in campus income this year at more than $140 billion (La Tercera)

Universities estimate losses due to contingency at $79 billion (El Mercurio)

Report of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities

Dear ULS Community:

Along with greeting, we inform you that, based on the mandate of the Honorable Board of Directors, formalized by Agreement No. 1-2020 of Ordinary Session No. 2 of April 17, 2020 of this collegiate body; and within the framework of the important health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has undoubtedly generated relevant effects in our institution, it has been decided to establish a series of economic measures whose contextual background we report.

Background

The Vice-Rector for Economic and Administrative Affairs requested the Directorate of Finance on April 07, 2020, in its capacity as operational unit and responsible for institutional budget execution, to prepare a study regarding the financial impact resulting from the global COVID pandemic. -19, which meant the declaration of a State of Catastrophe on March 18 of the present. The above with the objective of weighing the impact that this situation would have had on our University of La Serena.

The aforementioned study, due to its impact, was referred to the Academic Vice-Rector, as information to be shared among the higher authorities in charge of the Academic and Non-Academic Macrounits. This report was replicated in the Academic Affairs Committee and in the Extraordinary Session of the Academic Council on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

Subsequently, the same document was presented to the Honorable Board of Directors in its Ordinary Session No. 2-2020, an organization that after learning about it and expressing its concern about the decrease in income, due to resignations, postponements and suspensions of students' studies, added to the reduction in the institutional item “other income”, from which the salaries of the staff working in the Casino, Kindergarten and Dental Clinics, among others, are financed (as they are self-financed units), it was agreed by this collegiate body to adopt a series of provisional measures.

It should be noted that the aforementioned measures do not consider the possible catastrophic impact that the approval of the bill would have that would allow not to pay fees or registration fees, with students being able to re-agree on these, up to 24 installments, after the State of Constitutional Exception has ended.

Consequently, considering its function and attribution to ensure institutional assets and financial balance, in addition to the strong concern for the job stability of academic and non-academic officials, the Board of Directors ordered the Rector to apply a similar manner at the University of La Serena, which is stated in Official Letter No. 15 of April 9, 2020, from the Ministry of Finance, in relation to austerity and efficiency measures in the use of resources in public institutions, as well as, centralizing expenses to so that these are carried out exclusively in accordance with the new needs arising from the remote operational modality and commitments already previously acquired in the payment process. The latter, controlled by maintaining the closure of the Financial Platform in its Purchases Section.

It is important to note that the annually budgeted income is received throughout the year, and if what is budgeted is not received during the year, an imbalance is generated that affects the financial balance.

Based on this context, and agreement No. 1-2020 of the Board of Directors of the University of La Serena, the following measures were in force for the 2020 period:

1. Regarding the centralization of budgets

The Purchasing Platform (attached to the Financial Platform) will remain closed and can only be opened by express instruction of the Vice-Rector for Economic and Administrative Affairs, for operations related to remote teaching and expenses derived from it, and pending commitments in the planning stage. pay.

2. Regarding hiring

to. Contracts charged to assigned budgets:

Contracts charged to the unit budgets will not be authorized for the payment of assignments or contracting fees for the provision of new services.

b. Contracts charged to projects with a self-financing system:

Projects with a self-financing system may incur contracting expenses or fees to the extent that they actually have the money received. In this context, those in charge of the responsibility centers must ensure the expected cash flows, if budgeted expenses are required to be made, including the acquisition of goods and services.

For self-financed projects, the hiring of personnel will only be allowed to be carried out for periods of 30 days, to ensure constant monitoring of effective income by those responsible for the management codes.

c. Hiring of professors, hour associated with electives, number of coordinations, whether theory or laboratory, and those associated with teaching activities that cannot be carried out remotely, such as practices and others.

Considering only that the remote modality presents capacity and delivery conditions that are different from the face-to-face modality, hiring of professors associated with electives, the number of coordinations, whether theory or laboratory, beyond those necessary, and those referring to teaching activities will not be permitted. that cannot be done remotely such as practices and others.

The above finds legal support in the principle of efficiency and effectiveness of the administrative statute for the use of public resources. Matter audited with certain periodicity by the Comptroller General's Office through its Coquimbo Regional service.

3. Regarding replacements

The incorporation of new officials is suspended, as of the date of this communication, to make use of positions that have become vacant as a result of personnel who have retired.

Likewise, the hiring of personnel to replace officials who are unable to perform their duties for a period of more than thirty consecutive days is suspended, except in very justified cases in which the functions being performed are interrupted, affecting the current work. of the institution.

4. Regarding overtime expenses

Overtime worked by staff, previously authorized in accordance with current regulations, may only be compensated with additional rest time.

5. Regarding trips abroad

As of this date, all trips abroad that incur expenses charged to the budgets assigned to the Macrounits and Budgetary Units are suspended.

6. Regarding national travel expenses

Service commissions and/or official duties must be adjusted to the minimum necessary, and must be thoroughly substantiated, and prior to processing, they must have the approval of the director or head of unit and their superior.

7. Regarding expenses on Consumer Goods and Services

Measures must be taken to save resources in Consumer Goods and Services, such as those derived from department maintenance, subscriptions, stationery and brochures, generating a higher degree of permanent efficiency.

8. Regarding purchases of non-financial assets

Purchases of non-financial assets should be reduced to a minimum, limiting these to the payment of licenses and towing contracts with obligatory payments.

9. Regarding purchases of computers, equipment and cell phone services

As of this date, authorizations to acquire all types of computer equipment, mobile telephone or mobile broadband equipment and services, unrelated to remote teaching, are suspended, limited only to those strictly necessary to face teaching and connectivity, since those essential for the functioning of the institution.

10. Regarding the Allocation of Fuel Vouchers

As of this date, deliveries of fuel vouchers to budgetary units are suspended in accordance with the provisions of Resolution No. 4.007/10 dated June 23, 2010, limiting these to only those essential for the operation of the service.

11. Regarding Transfers for eventual aid from academic units

As of this date, budget transfers for eventual aid from the Macrounits and Academic Units are suspended. Except those carried out by the DGAE, with its budgets.

12. Regarding requests for budget overdrafts

As of this date, all requests for budget overdrafts requested by the responsibility centers are suspended.

13. Regarding maintenance and repair expenses

As of this date, all projects related to maintenance and repair of properties managed by the Services Directorate are suspended, authorizing only what is strictly necessary and relevant, and the pertinent justifications must exist and these must have prior approval. of the Vice-Rector for Economic and Administrative Affairs.

14. Validity

These measures and instructions will remain in force as long as necessary and will not be replaced by the issuance of another circular.

Finally, it is necessary to emphasize that the greatest adherence to the measures indicated above is required, extending the invitation to reflect on the possible consequences that this external economic crisis could have that impacts the institutional financial situation and also the members of our community. . In this sense, we request greater understanding, since every economic measure implemented is aimed at generating adequate conditions to maintain itself during the time of the pandemic.

Sincerely,

Dr. Armando Mansilla Sunkel

Vice Chancellor for Economic and Administrative Affairs

This third conference will take place on April 23 and will be led by academic María Emilia Tijoux.

The Department of Education and the Interdisciplinary Center for Latin American Studies of the University of La Serena, continue with their online conference cycle “Philosophical Quarantine”, generating a virtual meeting space in which they are invited to reflect on the social and political changes resulting from of the spread of COVID-19.

On this occasion, the conference will be led by an academic from the University of Chile, Dr. María Emilia Tijoux, who will give the talk “Bodies that matter: Migrants as subjects of life”, next Thursday, April 23 at 19 p.m. :00 hrs.

This is the third conference that will be held, of a total of nine, which are open to the community and are held every Thursday at the same time through the Zoom application.

To be part of this third conference, you must enter the link https://reuna.zoom.us/j/92788727593 and then the meeting ID: 927 8872 7593.

Other online presentations

In addition, these conferences can be viewed through the YouTube “CIEL University of La Serena”, where the following presentations are found:

“The refuge of our caves: inhabiting a world in crisis”, by José Alejandro Tasat:  

“The face-to-face educational crisis: a new way of understanding the classroom and the student body?” Monica Fernandez Braga: 

Written by Tomás Rodríguez, DirCom

 

The academic from the ULS Department of Psychology provides advice so that couples can manage their relationship well during quarantine, and thus avoid conflicts resulting from confinement at home.

With the arrival of COVID19 and the beginning of quarantines, changes have been generated in the daily lives of people, especially those who live in the same home, since it has meant sharing 24 hours a day for several days, a situation that can often generate different problems and discussions as a result of the stress and tensions that are generated in a situation of isolation like the one we are currently experiencing.

Faced with this, and with the aim of reducing the different roughness that this situation can generate in couples, the psychologist and academic of the Department of Psychology of the University of La Serena, Mg. Claudio de la Fuente, shares some tips to cope well with this period of isolation.

For the psychologist, these types of situations, where people are isolated for a long time, can be complicated for a couple, but knowing how to handle the situation in a good way, they should not go through major problems. “The fact of being in a situation of confinement or physical isolation could mean a scenario that is not the usual one, since they are not the behaviors that one normally performs and, in that scenario, it is possible that emotions associated with the situation begin to arise. boredom, boredom, uncertainty about the future, as well as having emotions related to having less tolerance. When one can understand this context, it is important that the members of a couple, one or both, depending on the moments that the couple may experience, have an attitude of emotional containment, where they can listen to each other about what is happening to the other and talk about it. the concerns that are being experienced today”He says.

Along with this, the academic indicates that the most important thing to avoid possible problems within the couple is to be able to reach mutual agreements regarding tasks within the quarantine. “In daily life, each couple has their rules of behavior regarding different issues that the couple's world involves, and in the current scenario in which we are, of quarantine, it is important to be able to generate new ways of bonding with the other person. , that is, necessarily establish agreements, consensus on different issues that are involved in the world of the couple, since if the same way of organizing life as a couple is maintained as when there was no condition of confinement, the probability that conflicts are generated.”

In this sense, the expert adds that it is important to coordinate the different activities carried out within the home between the couple, in order to avoid conflicts. “Among the consensuses that must be established is how household chores will be carried out, as well as establishing the spaces in the house to develop, for example, teleworking and leisure time to share. The important thing is that both parties reach an agreement on how to carry out these activities.”

Finally, the ULS psychologist highlights that it is important to respect the couple's agreements, to avoid generating differences or problems between them. “It is also important to consider that the first person with whom agreements should be established is with the partner, that is, if someone wants to do something, but I already have a prior commitment with my partner, the idea is to respect this commitment and , based on that, plan new activities, since to the extent that the person does not respect these agreements, it can cause problems.”

Written by Tomás Rodríguez, DirCom.

The measure was informed to higher education institutions on Friday, April 17, in a rule change derived from the COVID-19 budget decrease. In practice, the measure will affect students who have not enrolled as of April 24, 2020.

On Friday, April 17, at 9 am in the morning, the University of La Serena received via email - like all Chilean higher education institutions - the news of the revocation, since May 2020, of the retroactive payment of the BAES Scholarships , even though it was a benefit that had been promised.

The official communication from Junaeb indicates that “as of May 2020, no retroactive payment of the BAES Scholarship will be made to any new student as a renewal. Therefore, the retroactive payments made in March and April will be the only ones that will be generated throughout the year 2020.”

The Junaeb decision would have been due to budgetary reasons associated with the reduction measures associated with the Covid-19 plan and leaves the almost 5 thousand BAES beneficiaries of the University of La Serena in the tension of making their registration effective before April 24 13 p.m. To avoid monthly benefit suspensions.

The Junaeb decision was discussed by the university authorities in the Academic Council yesterday, April 20, and led to the decision to appeal institutionally to Junaeb for flexibility, understanding that for ULS renewal students, enrollment begins this April 21, with only 2 days and a half to make it effective in order to obtain the BAES benefit for the month of May.

With the understanding that the response may be late, the University, through its Student Welfare Department, urges renewing BAES students to enroll before April 24 at 13:2020 p.m., the only action that ensures the assignment for the month of May XNUMX.

 

The Program has accompanied five generations of students in the area of ​​secondary education and four in Higher Education, who have entered via PACE Quota to the University of La Serena

The Accompaniment and Access to Higher Education Program (PACE) of the Ministry of Education, implemented by the University of La Serena from 2015 to the present, has accompanied more than 1.600 students during their secondary education training and more than 400 students in their university training process, in addition to working with 12 educational establishments in the area.

This program seeks to allow access to Higher Education to outstanding students in secondary education who come from vulnerable contexts, which requires carrying out permanent preparation and support actions, which are assumed by the Secondary Education Accompaniment Component (PEM); team that currently works with 12 educational communities, distributed among the 3 provinces of the Coquimbo Region.

In relation to the work carried out in secondary education, the PEM Coordinator, Jovanna González Cortés, stated: “I believe that the program is a contribution to the great work carried out by the different educational establishments, since it allows students to get to know the university reality and, in addition, contributes to their vocational orientation, expanding their post-secondary expectations.”

Along with this, the PACE Program ensures additional places to the regular academic offer and accompanies qualified students, who enter through a PACE place or another route to enter the University. This work is assumed by the Higher Education Accompaniment Component (AES). In this regard, Mg. Claudia Toledo, AES Coordinator, specified that “we have already received four generations of students, the first had 83, the second with 99, the third with 116 and the last with 137; reaching a total of more than 400 students. As a team we are in charge of the design and implementation of support actions in tertiary education, in their first two years of training to facilitate their progress, permanence and qualification."

This year, the program had to modify its face-to-face actions and move to a remote work method, through the institutional platform Moodle, thus being able to carry out the diagnosis and characterization of the 2020 generation, which includes the areas of biology, chemistry, English and music.

The student of the Pedagogy in English degree, Cristian Rojas, expressed: “My experience with the PACE ULS Program has been very pleasant and very important within my educational development, not only at the University, but from the accompaniment of PEM, which that helped me resolve doubts, vocational crises and make decisions regarding what I wanted to do after leaving fourth grade. “I am very grateful for the accompaniment and support they constantly give us.”

In this same context, Berta Segovia, a student majoring in Auditing, commented: “I never thought that entering the University would be such a long and complex process, regarding the academic and emotional burden. Many times when I had problems, the PACE program team helped me through tutoring and everything they could. The program opens up a giant possibility of being able to learn, grow as a person and face the University with fewer complexes and more joy. If I could repeat my experience with Pace I would never doubt it, the entire team deserves a seven.”

Written by Daniel Aguayo, APRENDE Programs - PACE ULS