The University of the Philippines announced its resumption of ‘old normal’ guidelines, which will be implemented at the start of the first semester in all UP constituent universities including UP Mindanao (UPMin).
The Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) released Memorandum 2022-127 last August 29, 2022, reinstating the University Policies that were suspended in the Second Semester of Academic Year 2019-2022 due to the pandemic.
The President’s Advisory Council (PAC) – chaired by the UP President and composed of the CU Chancellors, Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs, Planning and Finance, Administration, Development, Public Affairs, and Legal Affairs, and the Secretary of the University as members – approved the policies for the First Semester of AY 2022-2023.
The faculty are now allowed to give warning, probation, dismissal, and permanent disqualification to delinquent students.
Maximum Residency Rule (MRR) will now apply during the First Semester of AY 2022-2023.
The university rules of course prerequisites are now reinstated.
The memo also lifted the suspension of the deadline for dropping and Leave of Absence (LOA).
The updated grading system will now allow the issuance of grades “4” (conditional failure) and ”5” (failed) following the removal of the ‘No Fail Policy.’
The faculty may now adopt attendance requirements in their courses considering their student’s lack of or poor internet access, COVID-19 infection, and other pandemic- or disaster-related concerns.
The memo also advised the faculty to follow course implementation feedback to ensure that students receive timely feedback on their examinations and other course requirements.
The minimum course load for undergraduate students also reverted to the regular 15 units from the load of 12 units prescribed by the OVPAA Memorandum 2020-143.
Meanwhile, the University retained some policies.
Reading and health breaks will still prohibit deadlines for course requirements and other academic activities during the set date.
Class sizes for undergraduate and graduate courses will be 25 and 15, respectively.
The memo allowed the cross-registration of students to other CUs and universities.
The memo also retained the suspension on the capped number of units taught and faculty members who can go on study leave.
The PAC affirmed its position that as the national university, “UP is committed to exerting every effort to ensure that its Iskolar [s] ng Bayan — the country’s future leaders in different branches of knowledge and agencies— possess the competence, grit, and agility to overcome adversities, thrive, and lead in the complex world while giving due consideration to the difficult circumstances of individual students on a case-to-case basis as practiced in the ‘old normal.” (James Edward Pangan/UPMin PRO)
