Student Guidelines

Students are responsible for fulfilling all requirements of the curriculum in which they are enrolled. They should consult with their adviser, College Secretary or University Registrar in planning their course work.

A student must be officially registered in order to receive credit for course work. The official registration form (UPLB Form 5), which is a record of classes in which the student has enrolled, is filed in the Office of the College Secretary and in the University Registrar’s Office (OUR).

A prerequisite is a course which a student needs to take before taking a higher course. The prerequisite course gives the necessary background for the higher course. For instance, MATH 11 is the prerequisite of MATH 14.

If a student registers a course without taking its prerequisite, he will automatically be dropped from the course.

If the student took the prerequisite but failed it, he can still take the prerequisite and the higher course at the same time. He can apply for waiver of prerequisite if the instructor certifies that he have fully attended the prerequisite course.

On the other hand, the student can apply for a waiver of prerequisite even if he had not fully attended the course, only if he is graduating within a year from the time of his application for the waiver. Also, his request will be approved only if there is a high probability that he would pass both courses, based on his grades.

If the student is applying for a waiver of prerequisite for the course that he would take next semester, he should file his application on the last day of submission of final grades for the current semester.

Any student who, for unavoidable cause, absents himself from class must obtain an excuse slip from the College Secretary. The slip must be presented to the instructor not later than the second class session following the student’s return. In addition, a certificate must be secured from the UPLB Health Service in case the absent is due to illness.

Excuses are for time missed only. All work covered by the class during the absence shall be made up for to the satisfaction of the instructor within a reasonable time from the date of absence.

When the number of hours lost by the absence reaches 20% of the hours of recitation, lecture, laboratory or any other scheduled work in one subject, he shall be dropped from the subject. However, a faculty member may prescribe a longer attendance requirement to meet special needs.

If the majority of the absences are excused, the student shall not be given a grade of 5.0 upon being dropped; otherwise, he shall be given a grade of 5.0. Time lost by late enrollment shall be considered as time lost by absence.

The performance of the students shall be rated at the end of each semester in accordance with the following grading system:

• 1 —     Excellent
• 1.5 —  Very Good
• 2 —     Good
• 2.5 —  Satisfactory
• 3 —     Passed
• 4 —     Conditional Failure
• 5 —     Failed
• Inc. — Incomplete
• Drp — Dropped

Grades 1.25, 1.75, 2.25, and 2.75 may also be given.

For courses not requiring numerical grades:

• S —  Satisfactory
• U — Unsatisfactory

University Scholarship

Any undergraduate or graduate student who obtains at the end of the semester a weighted average (GWA) of 1.45 or better, or 1.25 or better, is given this honorific scholarship.The student will be included in the Chancellor’s List of Scholars.

College Scholarship

Any undergraduate or graduate student who obtains at the end of the semester a weighted average of 1.75 or better, or 1.5 or better, is given this honorific scholarship. The student will be included in the Dean’s List of Scholars.

In addition to the general weighted average prescribed, a student:

1. 1. must have taken at least 15 units or the normal load prescribed during the previous semester;
2. 2. must be up-to-date with all the non-academic requirements (PE and NSTP courses); and
3. 3. must have no grade below 3.0 in any academic or non-academic subject.

NOTE: Honorific scholarships do not entitle the holders to any tuition fee waiver, either partial or full.

Warning

• Any student, who, at the end of the semester, obtains final grades below 3.0 in 25% to 49% of the total number of academic units for which he is registered will a receive a warning from the Dean to improve his work.

Probation

• Any student, who, at the end of the semester, obtains final grades below 3.0 in 50% to 75% of the total number of academic units for which he has final grades shall be placed on probation for the succeeding semester and his load shall be limited to 15 units only. Probation may be removed by passing with grades of 3.0 or better in 50% of the units in which he has final grades in the succeeding semester.

Dismissal

• Any student, who, at the end of the semester, obtains final grades below 3.0 in more than 75% but less than 100% of the total number of academic units in which he receives final grades shall be dropped from the rolls of the college.
•  Any student on probation who again fails in 50% or more of the total number of units in which he receives final grades shall be dropped from the rolls of the college, subject to the provisions of the following article.
• Any student dropped from one college shall not ordinarily be admitted to another unit of the University unless, in the opinion of the Director of Student Affairs, his natural aptitude and interest may qualify him in another field of study in which case he may be allowed to enroll in the proper college or department.

Permanent Disqualification

• Any student who, at the end of the semester, obtains final grades below 3.0 in 100% of the academic unit in which he is given final grades shall be permanently barred from readmission to any college or school of the University.
• Any student who was dropped in accordance with Item 3 above of the rules on Dismissal and again fails so that it becomes necessary to drop him again, shall not be eligible for readmission to any college of the University.
• Permanent disqualification does not apply to cases where, on recommendations of the instructors concerned, the faculty certifies that the grade of 5.0 were due to the student’s unauthorized dropping of the subjects and not to poor scholarship.

A student must finish the course within a period of actual residence equivalent to 1.5 times the normal length prescribed for the course. For example, if the student is taking a four-year course, he is allowed 6 years to finish the course.

If the student went on leave of absence (LOA) for one semester, it will not be included in his actual residency. On the other hand, if the student was on absence without leave (AWOL) for one semester, it will be included in the actual residency.

If the student transferred to another college, the semesters he spent in the previous college will be included in his residency in his new college.

A leave of absence (LOA) should be requested in a written petition to the Dean. The petition should state the reason for which the leave is desired and should specify the period of the leave. The leave should not exceed one year but may be renewed for at most another year. When not taken in two (2) successive years, the aggregate LOA should not exceed two (2) years.

A student who needs to go on leave of absence (LOA) beyond the allowable period of two years should be advised to apply for an honorable dismissal without prejudice to readmission.

For leave of absence availed of during the second half of the semester, the faculty members concerned shall be required to indicate the class standing of the student (passing or failing) at the time of application of the leave. No application for the leave of absence shall be approved without indicating the student’s class standing by the instructors concerned. This, however, should not be entered in the official Report of Grades.

If the student withdraws after 3/4 of the total number of hours prescribed for the coursehas already elapsed, his instructor may give him a grade of 5.0 if his class standing up to the time of his withdrawal was below 3.0.

A student who withdraws from the college without formal leave of absence shall have his registration privileges curtailed or entirely withdrawn.

Take note: A student cannot remove grades of 4.0 or Inc. while on LOA.

The student should pay student loan, if any, before going on LOA. Students who have Student Disciplinary Tribunal cases or are suspended from the University are not allowed to go on LOA.

A student in good standing who desires to sever his connection with the University shall present a written petition to this effect to the University Registrar, signed by his parent or guardian. If the petition is granted, the student shall be given honorable dismissal.

All the indebtedness to the University must be settled before a statement of honorable dismissal will be issued.

A student who leaves the University for reason of suspension, dropping, or expulsion due to disciplinary action shall not be entitled to honorable dismissal. Should he be permitted to receive his transcript of record or the certification of his academic status in the University, it shall contain a statement of the disciplinary action rendered against him.

The student should satisfy all the academic and non-academic requirements of the course, pay the graduation fee, and file a formal application to the College Secretary as a candidate for graduation. The student’s graduation should also have to be approved by the College Faculty, the University Council, and the UP Board of Regents.

Students who have completed all requirements for graduation on or before the deadline set are listed as candidates for graduation as of the end of the semester.

Graduation with Honors

Students who completed their courses with the following absolute minimum weighted average grade shall graduate with honors:

• Summa cum laude — 1.20
• Magna cum laude — 1.45
• Cum laude — 1.75

Additional Requirements for Candidates for Graduation

They must have completed at least 75% of the total number of academic units or hours for graduation and must have been in residence therein for at least two years immediately prior to graduation. They have must taken each semester not less than 15 units of credit or normal load prescribed in the curriculum.