PCU: Alleged violations of CHED policies have no bases

The Philippine Christian University (PCU) said there were no bases for the offenses it allegedly committed that prompted the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to issue a show cause order against the institution.

PCU issued the statement in light of the order of CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III for the university to “immediately cease and desist” from offering and implementing programs that do not have a permit to conduct transnational higher education, distance education, and fully online classes.

“In connection with the current legal concern raised against Philippine Christian University (PCU) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), we wish to inform the public and all concerned parties that there are no bases for the alleged violation or infringement of CHED Policies, Rules and Regulations by PCU,” PCU said in a statement dated August 23.

The PCU maintained that it “adheres to the highest level of service and self-criticism to continuously improve the integrity and quality” of its under-graduate and graduate programs in whichever form, location, and modality.

The university also said that it uses “the most advanced educational technologies to accelerate and enrich the learning of its students.”

“This is why the enrollment of PCU grew from less than 6,000 to 26,000 students in just 9 years,” it added.

In issuing the show cause order, CHED said that PCU allegedly committed the following offenses:

• Offering transnational higher education (TNHE) programs without the requisite government permit, in violation of Republic Act No. 11448, its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), and CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 6, s. 2023;
• Failure to provide relevant data on its international institutional partners, i.e., notarized MOAs, accomplished activities, among others, in violation of RA 11448, its IRR, and CMO No. 6, s. 2023;
• Non-compliance with the prescribed faculty to student ratio for its Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management program;
• Posting public announcements about TNHE programs without the proper CHED authorization in violation of RA 11448 and its IRR;
• Partnering with institutions that are not recognized by their respective governments as quality higher education providers nor accredited by recognized accrediting body(ies) in its country of origin, in violation of RA 11448 and its IRR; and
• Offering shortened graduate programs through extension classes via distance education and online modalities without authority, in violation of CMO No. 27, s. 2005.

—Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA Integrated News