The UP Department of Geodetic Engineering officially welcomed 70 new first-year students—54 onsite and 16 online through the 2025 New First-Year Students Orientation held on July 7 at the Engineering Theater and via Zoom. Organized by the Undergraduate Student Affairs Committee, the orientation aimed to help students transition smoothly into the academic and community life of UP.

The morning session opened with welcome remarks from Assoc. Prof. Ayin M. Tamondong, PhD, chair of the department. Icebreaker activities, including expectation-sharing and a human bingo game, helped ease the students into their new environment and fostered initial connections with their fellow BS GE batchmates.

Asst. Prof. Bienvenido G. Carcellar III, introduced the department’s faculty, administrative staff, and various facilities including instructional and research laboratories. To provide clarity on the path ahead, Asst. Prof. Jennieveive B. Babaan-Mabaquiao, Head of the Undergraduate Academic Programs Committee, walked the students through the BS Geodetic Engineering curriculum. She detailed its 158-unit structure, composed of general education, engineering sciences, and major subjects in surveying, geodesy, cartography, remote sensing and photogrammetry, land valuation, and geospatial computations.

Building on the academic foundation, student life was spotlighted by GE ESC Representative Maja Marem Jilzam B. Pagadora, together with heads from the UP Geodetic Engineering Club and the UP Society of Geodetic Engineering Majors. They showcased their events and the role of organizations in fostering engagement, leadership, and academic support within the department. After this, Asst. Prof. Jommer M. Medina discussed the registration and advising processes, introducing the DGE Study Plan Template used by both students and advisers to monitor progress and plan course loads. He emphasized pre-advising, post-advising, and online enlistment procedures, as well as the importance of consulting one’s registration adviser and accessing student resources via the DGE Info Hub.

The session also addressed the safety and logistical requirements for Academic Field Activities (AFAs), particularly for GE 10 which will they take during the 1st semester, as explained by Asst. Prof. Erica Erin E. Elazegui. She outlined protocols for field attire, health precautions, PPE requirements, and environmental and safety guidelines essential for both on-campus and off-campus activities. Highlighting that the academic journey is never one taken alone, Asst. Prof. Karl Adrian P. Vergara, Assistant College Secretary, presented the wide array of student support services available—from academic resources and peer mentoring to scholarships, psychosocial support, student housing, discipline mechanisms, and health services. These resources, he emphasized, are designed to ensure that each student can thrive holistically.

The program concluded with closing remarks from Assoc. Prof. Alexis Richard C. Claridades, PhD, Assistant Chair for Academic Affairs, who reminded students that the road ahead, while challenging, will be rewarding with curiosity, discipline, and support from the UPDGE community.

In the afternoon, students proceeded with their pre-advising session, where they were assigned temporary registration advisers. With guidance from the department’s faculty, they were oriented on the specific courses they needed to enroll in. This session served as vital preparation for Advance Registration with the Office of the University Registrar the following day for them to complete their enrollment and officially begin their journey as Iskolar ng Bayan.

Through both orientation and pre-advising, UP DGE ensured that its newest students are not only informed but also empowered, equipped with knowledge, grounded by structure, and uplifted by community as they take their first steps into university life.