The Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Law issued an additional memo outlining COVID-19 related academic policies. [1] Classes will be held online for at least a week after resuming and health protocols like masks and distancing will be mandatory on campus. [2] Midterm exams are cancelled and grading will now be based only on class standing and final exams. [3] The deadline to drop classes is extended and prerequisites will be relaxed for summer courses.
The Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Law issued an additional memo outlining COVID-19 related academic policies. [1] Classes will be held online for at least a week after resuming and health protocols like masks and distancing will be mandatory on campus. [2] Midterm exams are cancelled and grading will now be based only on class standing and final exams. [3] The deadline to drop classes is extended and prerequisites will be relaxed for summer courses.
The Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Law issued an additional memo outlining COVID-19 related academic policies. [1] Classes will be held online for at least a week after resuming and health protocols like masks and distancing will be mandatory on campus. [2] Midterm exams are cancelled and grading will now be based only on class standing and final exams. [3] The deadline to drop classes is extended and prerequisites will be relaxed for summer courses.
The Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Law issued an additional memo outlining COVID-19 related academic policies. [1] Classes will be held online for at least a week after resuming and health protocols like masks and distancing will be mandatory on campus. [2] Midterm exams are cancelled and grading will now be based only on class standing and final exams. [3] The deadline to drop classes is extended and prerequisites will be relaxed for summer courses.
FROM: The Dean and the Associate Dean of the College of Law
RE: Additional COVID-19-related Academic Policies
DATE: April 20, 2020
We hope everyone is safe, sane, and healthy inside our respective homes.
In case you missed it, we have issued three revised guidelines since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown. These guidelines were issued under the expectation that we could return soon to our “normal” lives after the lifting of the lockdown on April 30, 2020. However, it looks like we are not going back to "normal" even if offices were to resume on May 4, or anytime soon. Understandably, some members of our community may be anxious to return to school. Please be assured that with your safety and well-being in mind, we are constantly monitoring the situation and discussing ways how we can better adapt to our “new normal” so to speak. To address some of our concerns, kindly note the following additional policies to be implemented once the government orders the resumption of classes:
1. No Immediate Face-to-face Class Interaction
For at least a week after the declaration of resumption of classes, students and faculty members will not yet be required to return to the classroom. Only the administrative staff will return to supervise the general clean-up and disinfection of the school premises and to perform other necessary health protocols.
With the help of our Law Executive Council, we will first perform a general assessment and monitoring of all our students. For this purpose, we hope that the students have properly filled up the Student Data Sheets with correct contact details and addresses.
2. Implementation of Health/ Safety Protocols
To reduce the risks of COVID-19 infection, wearing of face masks and social distancing inside the school shall be mandatory. We shall also adopt other DOH protocols designed to fight COVID-19.
3. Scrapping of Mid-Term Examinations
Mid-term examinations shall not be administered for the current semester. Except for professors who have already given their mid-term examinations, the mid-term examination will no longer be part of the grading system for the current semester. Professors are advised to revise their grading system in accordance with paragraph 4 below.
4. Change in the Grading System
1 With the scrapping of mid-term examinations, student grades will now be computed based only on his/her Class Standing (CS) and his/her Final Examination (FE) grade, with the following breakdown: CS will be sixty percent (60%) and FE will be forty percent (40%) of the Final Grade. CS is the average of the grades for recitations, quizzes, case digests, and other academic requirements that the student may have earned before and after the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
We will retain the numerical grading system (60% to 100%); and therefore will not adopt a pass/fail grading system. Passing threshold shall remain at 75%. However, in case a student fails to obtain a grade of 75% or higher, the student will not receive a failing mark, and will only be considered “Dropped” from the roll.
Final Examinations will be administered on campus. For writing classes and other non- core subjects1, professors may opt to conduct their final examination/submission of other requirements online. The schedule of Final Examinations will be announced after the official resumption of classes.
5. Extension of Period for Dropping of Subjects
The deadline for dropping of subjects will be moved to the week before the Final Examinations.
6. Suspension of Two-Flunk Rule
We will suspend the implementation of the two-flunk rule applicable to Seniors.
7. Waiving of Pre-requisites Subjects
We will relax the pre-requisite subject requirement for purposes of enrolling for the Summer Term, and possibly the 1st Term of AY2020-2021.
8. Alternative Classes
To reiterate, the holding of alternative synchronous online classes during the effectivity of the ECQ is optional, and the participation of students therein will not be graded. The student’s failure to participate during such alternative synchronous online classes will not be taken against the student. However, the professor’s requirement for submission of case digests and other homework must be complied with and will be graded accordingly.
While we encourage professors to conduct asynchronous and self-paced arrangement for
online learning during the ECQ, professors are requested to prepare for synchronous online delivery of their subject’s content via Zoom, Google Classroom and the like when classes resume. These alternative synchronous online teaching modalities will be tested and evaluated when classes resume for this current semester, for possible adoption for the 1st Semester of Academic Year 2020-2021.
9. Graduation Ceremony
Graduation ceremonies will be indefinitely postponed given the continuing restriction on
mass gathering.
The implementation of the foregoing policies is limited to the current semester only. These are subject to change depending on quarantine conditions. We will review these guidelines from time
1 Philosophy of Law, Statutory Construction, Legal Research & Thesis Writing, Introduction to Study of Law, Legal Technique & Logic, Legal Writing, SSC-R Seminar II, Advanced Legal Writing, Legal Forms, Practice Court 1, J.D. Thesis.
2 to time, and will make the necessary adjustments as necessary. For any concerns and/or suggestions, please send us an email at law@sscrmnl.edu.ph.
