THE MARIANO Marcos State University will hold limited face-to-face classes for medical and health allied programs beginning February 7.

University President Dr. Shirley Argupis said the school received a Certification of Authority from the Commission on Higher Education after complying with the guidelines and health protocols.

“With our protocols in place and with the collaboration of all stakeholders, unwavering support of the provincial government, component local government units, the City of Batac in particular, MMSU was granted authority to conduct limited face-to-face classes in health sciences and medicine,” Argupis said.

She gave assurances that students will be safe because of the school’s high vaccination rate.

“(MMSU) has one of the highest vaccination rates among students, faculty, and staff – 99.5 percent of our employees have been vaccinated while 99.0 percent of our students have also been inoculated,” the school official said.

“Moreover, MMSU contributed to the vaccination program of the government by being a vaccination center, with faculty and students serving as volunteers,” she added.

Agrupis said that more degree programs will be allowed once the health situation improves.

“Soon, slowly but surely, we will again be able to do the things we missed in the past two years – things that we may have somehow taken a little for granted before but will now deeply cherish because of what we have all gone through,” she said.

“Once we go full speed, we will do even better, such as in research, where our productivity is unhampered,” she added.