Enhancement of Thesis Completion Rates: Implementation of a
Research Timeline Adherence System (ReTAS) in the College of
Nursing at Our Lady of Fatima University-Nueva Ecija
A Project Proposal
Presented to the College of Nursing of
Our Lady of Fatima University-Nueva Ecija
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement in the Subject
Course – Nursing Leadership and Management (NCMB 419)
A.Y. 2024-2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Profile of Our Lady of Fatima University-Nueva Ecija
Name of the Organization
Historical Background
Administrators
The Number of Support Staff
Number of Beneficiaries
Digital Presentation of the Organization
Building
Physical Resources
Facilities
Services
Location of Our Lady of Fatima University-Nueva Ecija
Proposed Research Program for OLFU-NE, CON
Objectives
Rationale
The Project
Background
Needs Assessment
Issues and Concerns that are Needed to be Addressed
Proposed Plan of Action and Strategies
Suggestions and Recommendations
Future Plan to Sustain the Proposed Project
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3. University Façade
Figure 4. Admissions Office
Figure 5. Registrar’s Office
Figure 6. Student Finance Services
Figure 7. Learning Resource Center
Figure 8. University Clinic
Figure 9. Computer Laboratory
Figure 10. Gymnasium
Figure 11. Auditorium
Figure 10. Nursing Department
Figure 11. Simulation Laboratory 1
Figure 12. Simulation Laboratory 2
Enhancement of Thesis Completion Rates: Implementation of a
Research Timeline Adherence System (ReTAS) in the College of
Nursing at Our Lady of Fatima University-Nueva Ecija
Historical Background
In 1967, Chemistry professor and entrepreneur Jose C. Olivares, together
with his son-in-law, physician Dr. Vicente M. Santos, founded the Our Lady of
Fatima Hospital in Valenzuela, then part of Bulacan. The hospital soon became
the primary healthcare provider for the local community. Mr. Olivares, also a
professor at Ateneo de Manila University, envisioned the hospital as a training
hub for healthcare professionals, which led to the establishment of the Our Lady
of Fatima College of Nursing in 1973. By 1976, its first Nursing graduates
achieved a 100% passing rate in the Nursing Board exams.
Rapid enrollment growth in the 1970s spurred expansion, culminating in
the founding of the Fatima College of Medicine in 1979 by Dr. Santos and his
wife, Mrs. Juliet Olivares Santos. The college gained renown for producing top-
performing and highly skilled physicians.
In 2015, Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) expanded to Northern
Luzon by acquiring the Nueva Ecija Doctors’ Colleges, Inc. (NEDCI), now the
OLFU - Nueva Ecija Campus, located along Maharlika Highway in Cabanatuan
City. Founded in 1970, NEDCI provided a strong foundation for growth. OLFU
introduced new programs, upgraded facilities, and added amenities like a
modern multi-purpose gymnasium, a three-story classroom building, and
advanced laboratory equipment.
Vision
A premier inclusive university of choice aspiring to improve man as man by
developing individuals through a legacy of excellent education and
compassionate value formation.
Mission
The Our Lady of Fatima University, together with Fatima Medical Science
Foundation, Inc., is dedicated to the improvement of man as man through the
holistic formation of individuals imbued with knowledge, skills, and virtues.
OLFU Core Values
R – Respect
I – Integrity
S – Service
E – Excellence
OLFU Graduate Attributes
A – Aspirational
C – Compassionate
H – Honorable
I – Inspiring
E – Ethical
V – Visionary
E – Efficient
R – ResponsibleCollege of Nursing Vision
The College of Nursing envisions itself as the foremost provider of quality
Philippine nursing education and service in 2020.
College of Nursing Mission
The college of Nursing is committed to develop professionally competent and
goal- driven nurse practitioners who will lead as role models in the healthcare
society.
Administrators
The College of Nursing's organizational structure begins with the Vice
President for Academic Affairs, who oversees all academic programs and
projects to ensure they are aligned the goals of the university. The Campus
Administrator is in charge of managing operational issues while maintaining
academic standards in the campus. The Program Head of the College of Nursing
is responsible for specialized nursing programs, with a focus on curriculum
development and accrediting compliance. The Clinical Coordinator supports the
Program Head by scheduling clinical rotations and for nursing students.
The organization chart also consists of twenty (20) faculty members, each
specialized in a different nursing subject. They provide instruction, mentorship,
and professional development opportunities, most specifically in nursing
lectures, serving as the foundation of the student’s knowledge.
The Support Staff
The staff in a nursing school play a vital role in creating a supportive and
effective learning environment for future healthcare professionals. From
administrators to faculty and support staff, each member plays a crucial part in
creating a supportive and effective learning environment to the school's mission
of excellence in nursing education. Together, the staff fosters a nurturing
environment that prepares students for success in their nursing journey.
The College of Nursing has a total of four (4) support staffs.
Figure 1. College of Nursing Organizational Chart
Figure 2. College of Nursing Support Staff
Number of Beneficiaries
Virtual Presentation of Our Lady of Fatima University-Nueva Ecija
Figure 1. University Façade
Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) – Nueva Ecija is a university in
Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija that offers a comprehensive and modern educational
environment aimed at meeting the academic demands of students.
Figure 2. Admissions Office
D The Admissions Office is an educational consulting firm that offers
individualized counseling, academic enrichment, and attends to correspondence
and inquiries pertinent to foregoing functions.
Figure 3. Registrar’s Office
The Registrar's Office plays a vital role in the administration of student
matters, including the management of student records.
Figure 4. Student Finance Services
The Student Finance Services contributes significantly to the university's
well-being and support. By offering necessary services and keeping precise
financial records.
Figure 5. Learning Resource Center
The Learning Resource Center is a valuable academic resource for both
students and faculty. The essential resources that are accessible to support the
university's mission of enhancing each student's educational experience.
Figure 6. University Clinic
This is the University Clinic that improve students’ health and well-being
by providing convenient access to healthcare services.
Figure 7. Computer Laboratory
The Computer laboratory serves as the center for teaching in equipping
students with essential skills for the modern world.
Figure 8. OLFU Gymnasium
OLFU Gymnasium is an air-conditioned facility that provides an inviting
atmosphere for a range of sports and activities.
Figure 9. Auditorium
This auditorium is a multipurpose venue with full air conditioning that can
accommodate a range of activities, such as student meetings and academic
presentations.
*****
Figure 10. Nursing Department
Figure 11. Simulation Laboratory 1
This laboratory has various equipment utilized by nursing students
during return demonstrations. It can additionally function as a lecture hall
owing to its large space.
Figure 12. Simulation Laboratory 2
The second nursing laboratory is newly constructed at the second floor of
building. It is more spacious than the first laboratory, where three rooms are
interconnected to each other. It can also be used as lecture rooms.
Services
The Our Lady of Fatima University-Nueva Ecija Campus offers Bachelor’s
degree in: Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacy, Psychology,
Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, Business Administration,
Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Criminology. The university also
offers all tracks in Senior High School which includes Accountancy, Business and
Management (ABM), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM),
Humanities and Social Services (HUMSS), and General Academic Strand (GAS).
In addition to academic offerings, OLFU-Nueva Ecija provides a variety of
student services, which include career support, financial assistance programs,
and scholarships to help mitigate the costs of education. Furthermore, the
institution embraces inclusivity by allowing easy enrollment processes, with no
entrance exams required for prospective students.
Location of Our Lady of Fatima University-Nueva Ecija
Figure 13. OLFU-NE Location within Cabanatuan City
Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) has expanded its scope by
establishing a fifth campus in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. Located at
Maharlika Highway, alongside Nueva Ecija Doctor's Hospital. This branch
considerably improves the university's accessibility to students in Central Luzon,
the Philippines. The Nueva Ecija campus symbolizes OLFU's strategic initiative to
give quality education to a larger population.
Proposed Research Program for OLFU-Nueva Ecija, College of
Nursing
Objectives
1. To ensure the quality of the research paper, follow academic standards,
and efficiently manage the students’ time to meet the deadlines.
2. Ensure hands-on guidance and clear communication among the teacher
and students.
3. Minimize the delay of enrollment due to incomplete grades by submitting
all required data as soon as possible.
Rationale
1. Nursing students have a hectic schedule and having a research paper is
really time consuming, and failing to comply with the strict deadlines can
result in lower grades and penalties such as INC or FAILED grades.
Therefore, time management guarantees that students can be flexible
and organized while maintaining the high quality of the research paper.
2. Hands-on assistance and clear communication provide a collaborative
learning environment in which students may improve their critical
thinking, analysis, and academic writing skills. Direct instruction enables
professors to give constructive critique that improves the quality of the
research paper, while also allowing students to approach academic writing
with confidence and competence under the teacher's supervision.
3. Submitting and finishing the task on time will ensure that the paper can
be processed in a timely manner and that the students can start classes
without any unnecessary delays and reducing the academic scholarship
problems such as applying for the Dean’s List
The Project:
Enhancement of Thesis Completion Rates: Implementation of a Research
Timeline Adherence System (ReTAS) in the College of Nursing at Our Lady of
Fatima University-Nueva Ecija
Background
The Research Timeline Adherence System (ReTAS) is a standardized
checklist that includes the key milestones weekly of the students. It is a
structured monitoring system that helps students track their progress, manage
their time effectively, avoid last-minute cramming, delays and ensure that they
meet the deadline with all requirements fulfilled. The ReTAS will facilitate the
necessary tasks and will also ensure a strict adherence for the students and
research professors to the management requirements that must be completed
each week. This will lead to a consistent approach since the completion of a
research paper is a time-consuming process. Ensuring time compliance is a key
solution to preventing potential delays.
Needs Assessment
The College of Nursing in Our Lady of Fatima University is in the process
of enhancing and ensuring the proper completion rates of research studies. The
department's management system aims to provide a clear structured checklist
of task breakdowns and ensure the effective management of research tasks,
thereby fostering a timely task completion
Issues and Concerns Needed to be Addressed
Nursing Research 1 and 2 are mandatory course requirements for third-
year nursing students, and they must be completed as part of the degree’s
requirements.
Procrastination in the accomplishment of tasks is an issue in students that
affects the quality of research and the timely completion of the study. It typically
arises from poor time management, where students fail to break down tasks into
manageable ones, especially during the start of research phases where it
generally is time consuming and requires more attention to check the details
thoroughly. Students often underestimate the time required for each phase of
the task resulting in rushed time during the last phases of research such as
during data collection and data analysis where they might overlook patterns,
errors, and incomplete interpretation of data which may affect the reliability and
validity of results and which also results in insufficient time for revisions,
proofreading, missed deadlines and incomplete submissions.
The absence of timely, regular consultation with research advisers
regarding the progress of the paper also results to delays. This also result from
the lack of advisers handling all groups was is an issue due to large number of
students per block. This is challenging for students as they struggle to find the
professor's availability for consultations causing limited time for individualized
attention to each research group and students may feel unsupported and unsure
about their research progress. Without consistent feedback, students are
uncertain about completing tasks on schedule leaving them unsure of refining
their research questions and other adjustments in their approach that affect the
overall research timeline due to stagnation.
The delay of enrollment for upcoming fourth-year nursing students also
occurs as a consequence of failing to adhere to the proper timeline for research
activities. These delays are further magnified by the lack of availability of
panelists from the College of Nursing, whose conflicting schedules hinder the
advancements in students’ research completion. The situation highlights the
need for improved scheduling and panel allocation to mitigate these issues and
support students in achieving their academic goals.
Proposed Plan of Actions and Strategies
The Research Timeline Adherence System (ReTAS) will implement the
following expanded and refined approach to enhance the completion rates of
theses:
1. A standardized checklist for the weekly milestone will be implemented.
Students should be able to more effectively monitor their progress by
dividing each milestone into smaller steps that are clearly outlined. In
order to guarantee constructive consultation, advisers should sign the
checklist for each task completed and actively evaluate the student's
progress with targeted feedback. Regular checkpoints will prevent last-
minute rushing and cramming.
2. Signed checklists will be required for term exams, not only for enrollment.
This document serves as a permit and must be presented to the
designated proctor prior to the term examination under the subject
course, Nursing Research. The final grade should be tied to a portion of
the completed checklist, which can serve as a motivator for students to
take the timeline seriously, rather than solely for formality.
3. Adequate advisers and panelists should be allocated to facilitate
the research progress. In order to preserve a manageable adviser-to-
student ratio, it is essential that the number of available research advisors
be increased. It should be allowed to collaborate with experienced
external or secondary advisers. It is important to have panels that are
qualified for research defenses who have control of their own schedules to
avoid delays. This might involve the invitation of external research panels
from other universities or faculty. In addition to the ability to manage their
schedules, they could provide fresh perspectives to enhance the content
of the research study.
Suggestions and Recommendations
1. The students recommend the hiring of more research teachers to hold the
promise of research projects meeting deadlines, delivering the standard
expected, and giving students the practical direction required for their
academic achievement. Greater time management, more effective
mentoring and a better chance for research projects to stay on track are
guaranteed with a more active, involvement-filled faculty.
2. Time management training and practical research advice should be part
of a systematic onboarding process for new hires. This can involve
utilizing resources, establishing standards for interactions between
teachers and students, and knowing how to efficiently track students'
development
Future Plan to Sustain the Proposed Project
1. Regular and thorough evaluation of the effectiveness of the Research
Timeline Adherence System (RETAS) is conducted every semester,
ensuring that the system consistently meets its objectives and adapts to
evolving research needs that standardized checklist including student’s
weekly milestone, each milestone should have specific deliverables and
deadlines associated with it. This continuous process ensures that RETAS
remains aligned with its intended goals, identifies areas for improvement,
and adapts to the dynamic needs of researchers, promoting enhanced
productivity and research outcomes.
2. Prior to the onset of each semester, it is essential that all Nursing
Research students are adequately informed about the importance of the
checklist and its significance for each term exam. This will enable them to
organize their work and adhere to deadlines, rather than regard it as a
burden.
3. Continuous collaborations to credible research panelists outside the
university for a wider range of choices and better availability in schedules
to address the lack of professor-to-student ratio that involves taking a
strategic approach to improving the quality of education especially in
nursing research, fostering better learning environments, and ensuring
more personalized attention for students.