Interdisciplinary Studies Association (ISA)
The IS Department's Student Organization
It was in June 2020 that Dr. Nikki Carsi Cruz, on her first day as the new Chair of the Department, received an email from an IS student, Virgil Ramos who inquired about the possibility of creating a student organization for IS and Humanities majors. It had been years since the IS Department last had a student org and with the pandemic lockdown in place, and the transition to full online-mode underway, it seemed like a great idea to have a student organization that can create a support system for students and the IS Department alike. IS and Humanities students got together and elected the officers of the first ISA Executive Board and Central Board and ISA officially became the Student Arm of the IS Department.
ISA played a vital role in fostering a sense of community in an online setting by organizing batch "kumustahans" and co-organizing co-curricular events with the IS Department, such as "Meet the Mentors" sessions for Senior Seminar students who wished to find out more about thesis mentors; "Track Talks" for first-year students who were deciding what tracks to select, as well as the "Open House" for prospective students, and the "ISAliksik: The Annual Student Conference", a showcase of outstanding student research works for the schoolyear which was also aimed to give Juniors an idea of what to expect for their Senior Year. Outside of these co-curricular activities, ISA fostered a sense of community through various campaigns: "ISAng Tinig" which captured the journeys of IS and Humanities students, as well as "Sprout Sessions" which offered space for students to bond. By the end of the schoolyear, ISA lodged an application to LIONS (League of Independent Organizations), a first step in the journey towards becoming an accredited organization in the future.
Now on its 4th year, ISA is a thriving and vibrant independent student organization that continues to serve the needs of its members, liaise and collaborate with the IS Department, and promote the value of interdisciplinarity in diverse contexts, in the pursuit of being a force for good.
IMAGE GALLERY:
Officers of ISA from SY 2020-21 to present
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SY 2021-2022 |
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SY 2021-2022 |
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SY 2022-2023 |
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SY 2023-2024 |
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Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
Horacio dela Costa Hall
Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Heights campus
Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights
1108 Quezon City
Philippines
Telephone +63 2 8426 6001 local 5340, 5341
is.soh@ateneo.edu