Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – Dr. Mark Tan, a seasoned Student Affairs and Services practitioner and the VP for SAS of the City College of Cagayan de Oro, proudly represented Mindanao and CCCDO during the 29th National Conference and Training Workshop of the Philippine Association of Practitioners of Student Affairs and Services (PAPSAS) held from April 10–12, 2025, at Costa Palawan Resort, Puerto Princesa City.
With this year’s theme, “Weaving an Integrated SAS Approach Toward a Healthy Learning Environment,” the annual gathering brought together around 180 higher education institutions with over 400 participants across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The goal of the conference was to equip SAS professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to create more efficient and meaningful programs and services for students.
Dr. Tan served as a Panel Speaker, sharing valuable insights and experiences drawn from his nearly 14 years of experience in the field of SAS. His talk highlighted the best practices of CCCDO, especially strategies and approaches that other institutions can adapt to improve their own student support systems.
“This event gave me the opportunity to represent Mindanao and showcase CCCDO’s progress on the national stage,” Dr. Tan shared. “More than that, I also take pride in mentoring younger SAS practitioners, especially those still adjusting to the demanding nature of our work and those helping shape the direction of SAS in their institutions.”
Aside from engaging talks and panel discussions, the event also featured training workshops and collaborative learning sessions focused on creating a holistic and healthy learning environment for students through an integrated SAS approach.
Dr. Tan’s participation in this national conference not only reflected CCCDO’s commitment to quality student services, but also strengthened its position as an emerging institution that actively contributes to shaping best practices in student affairs nationwide.