UP Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students

University of the Philippines Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students UP ALCHEMES
Established	1999
Motto	"Make a Difference. Break Free."
Type	Department-based Organization
Location	2/F West Wing, Melchor Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City
Executive Committee AY 2014-2015	Dan Eric Baterisna President Michael Sean Deang Executive Officer for Academic Affairs Estelle Diane Jose Executive Officer for External Affairs Bianca Christina Alba Executive Officer for Finance Jomari Magadan Executive Officer for Internal Operations Chechen Morales Executive Officer for Membership Jasmine Francisco Executive Officer for Publicity and Creatives Eloisa Janelle Greñas Executive Officer for Secretariat
Website	http://upalchemes.org/

The Organization

Established in 1999, the University of the Philippines Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students (UP ALCHEMES) is a duly recognized organization in the University of the Philippines - Diliman College of Engineering. It is a chemical engineering department-based organization committed to produce highly competent and professional chemical engineers, provide service to the University and the country, and conduct activities with the highest possible professional, academic and socio-civic standards. UP ALCHEMES lives by five core values – genuine Service, distinctive Humility, unparalleled Academics, dignified Professionalism, and soaring Excellence, or SHAPE.

For only fifteen years, the organization has become a home to oblation scholars, honor awardees, and board topnotchers, aside from a number of college and university scholars per semester. The organization spearheads several events annually – Reviews and Tutorials, Blockhandling Activities, the Chemical Engineering LabTour, and the College Entrance Exam Review Series (CEERS) for high school students. It organizes four nationwide events as well – ChEckBoard for graduate ChE students, the Chemical Engineering Students Summit Philippines (ChESS PH) for ChE undergraduates, Research Fair (RF) for high school students, and ChEer UP Pinoy for selected communities nationwide. These events prove the organization’s holistic prowess and goals to give back to society.

Towards the achievement of its goals, the organization has been highly recognized by parties within and beyond the confines of the college and university. In 2012, it has been regarded as a member organization of the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers - Junior Chapter Luzon (PIChE - JCL), and has already been selected as the Best Chapter Organization after two years. It is one of the youngest among the college’s thirty existing organizations that is consistently in the Top 5 in the annual Engineering Organization Excellence Awards (EOEA), and awarded as the Best Engineering Organization in 2010. All these accolades recognize UP ALCHEMES as the best chemical engineering organization in the university, as an organization grounded by humility and professionalism for the achievement of unparalleled academics and genuine service, towards the path of undying excellence.

History

The idea of putting up a Chemical Engineering org was conceived about a year ago. Back then, a number of ChE juniors popped the thought of forming a group that would represent them and their beliefs as chemical engineering students. Incidentally, this group would be the second ChE org in the university. The idea grew and soon many people from the same batch were into it.

Various names for soon-to-be-org were suggested, ranging from the nationalist KIK (Kapisanan ng mga Inhinyero sa Kemika), to the medieval-sounding ALCHEMIST. After numerous and tedious discussions, arguments, chikahan and what have you, most of the founding members decided on ALCHEMES. Rooting from Alchemy, this name bears a more contemporary meaning (two, actually). To some, it is Alliance of Chemical Engineering Students. However, it has been established to Academic League of chemical Engineering Students. Quite deep, isn’t it?

Since last, quite a number of meetings have been held regarding the formation of the organization. Some of these were productive, but there were some whose total number of attendees could hardly fill half of the typical Engineering classroom. After a few more months of obscurity, the group increased in number and the younger batches joined in. But due to the uncertainty of the organization’s recognition, there were some who simply just let their beliefs fade away and wandered to other pastures. But there were those who just wouldn’t give up, who always believed in what a group of brilliant young minds could do, uncertain the future may have seemed. These are the very same people who comprise today’s UP ALCHEMES. As of last count, there are about 60 members, considered the founding members.

Presently, the org is one of the many in the College of Engineering. The road to recognition was not an easy one. Of course there was an opposition to the idea of another ChE org, but after one year of unrelenting effort, here we are. UP ALCHEMES currently has no tambayan to its name, since the college only gives tambayans to orgs after at least a year of probationary status after they’ve proven their worth.

For now, we’re just happy to be recognized. A tambayan is yet another living. (As they say, patience is a virtue.) Next semester, the org will hopefully be accepting applicants. Just keep posted. For the meantime, live life.

Mission and Vision

OUR MISSION

UP ALCHEMES aims to promote academic excellence within and outside the organization, and foster holistic growth and development of its members. Hence, it organizes worthwhile programs and projects that assist in the pursuit of higher scholastic achievements and prepares its members for their professional careers. The organization also serves as a venue for the exchange of ideas and interests, as well as development of camaraderie among chemical engineering majors.

OUR VISION

UP ALCHEMES shall be recognized as among the premier student organizations in the University in terms of academic excellence, holistic growth, and professionalism. As such, UP ALCHEMES shall continuously produce highly competent and professional chemical engineers, provide service to the University and the country, and conduct activities with the highest possible professional, academic and socio-civic standards.

SHAPE: OUR CORE VALUES

SERVICE

“the action of helping or doing work for someone”

HUMILITY

“a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness.”

ACADEMICS

“interested in or excelling at scholarly pursuits and activities”

PROFESSIONALISM

“a person who engages in an activity with great competence”

EXCELLENCE

“an action, characteristic, feature, etc, in which a person excels; the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.”

Committees

The organization is divided into 7 committees, each with its own roles, responsibilities, activities and representation in the Executive Committee.

Academic Affairs

The Academic Affairs Committee is responsible for the formulation, planning, delegation, and supervision of activities and projects designed to help members and people outside the organization to improve and sustain themselves in their academics. This committee also heads the initiative for the acquisition, maintenance, and production of academics-related publications, paraphernalia, and other similar media.

External Affairs

The External Affairs Committee is responsible for all connections and tie-ups to student councils and other parties within and outside the university, in partnership with other committees if applicable. This committee spearheads activities that promote socio-civic awareness among members and the immediate community they serve. They are also responsible for the establishment and maintenance of alumni relations as well as its partner organizations.

Finance

The Finance Committee takes charge of any and all financial matters including but not limited to: collection, transaction, purchasing, marketing and sales. This committee also accounts all funds and donations entering the organization, whether raised by or donated specifically for other committees.

The Finance Committee is composed of two subcommittees:

Marketing Subcommittee. This subcommittee is responsible for searching for possible external funding sources by establishing corporate partnerships and by other means possible. They also create and maintain good relationship with corporate partners through marketing documentation.

Ways & Means Subcommittee. This subcommittee initiates and oversees the organization’s fundraising and income generating projects. They also assist other committees in their own fundraisers, if applicable.

Internal Operations

Membership

Publicity and Creatives

Secretariat

The Secretariat Committee is the safe-keeper of all records of the organization. These records include (but are not restricted to) University and College recognition forms, membership and application forms, minutes of Executive Council meetings and General Assemblies, and event documentations.

In addition, the committee is also responsible for official correspondence to the University and College Administrations, as well as to the University and Engineering Student Councils and the other organizations in the academe. It is also responsible for any official correspondence to other entities (e.g. companies, alumni sponsors) outside of the academe.

See Also

For more information, visit our website here or like our official Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.