LS Graduate Level Academic Policies for Second Semester SY 2022-2023

__________________________________________________________________

Academic policies for graduate education continue to be guided by the university’s vision and pedagogical mission that supports students in engaging the increasingly complex needs of society through rigorous but meaningful research.  

In the second semester, we remain committed to providing our students with a teaching and learning environment that is inclusive, outcomes-based, and technologically enhanced.  

Please find below some reminders for graduate level courses, in addition to the guidelines issued last 19 July 2022 and 06 August 2022:

1. AISIS and Canvas are two online platforms that enable students to maximize their learning.  In addition to course schedule and administrative matters, AISIS facilitates students’ submission of their thesis, dissertation and capstone project manuscript and other documents as a requirement for graduation. On the other hand, Canvas supports the delivery of learning as a platform where various kinds of content and collaboration are facilitated and enhanced both at the course-level and program-level (i.e., Comprehensive Exam). This year, we also started providing Canvas course shell to Thesis, Dissertation and Capstone Project to facilitate a more efficient and seamless mentoring experience.  Therefore, it is important that students are officially enrolled in order for them to have access to AISIS and Canvas.

2. Learning hours for a 3-unit course are equivalent to 90 hours.  Out of the 90 hours, contact hours should total at least 24 hours but not exceed 45 hours (refer to VPLS Memo, 17 Sept 2022). Students are expected to participate in at least 20% of the minimum total contact hours per course. A grade of W will be given to those who are unable to do so.  Therefore it is important that schedules for synchronous sessions are indicated in the syllabus to give the students ample time to make the necessary arrangements.

3. Schedules for final course assessments, comprehensive exam, oral defense and other academic and research-related activities should follow the deadlines indicated in Academic Calendar for SY 2022-2023. These must be indicated in the course syllabus. 

4. In order to maximize the learning experience of students with special needs, kindly be guided by the existing notification protocols issued by the Office of the Guidance and Counseling (for psychological conditions) or the Office of Health Services (for physical/medical conditions).   

5. Students’ final grades are a reflection of the extent of their fulfillment of the courses’ learning outcomes. While attendance does not form part of the students’ final grades for a course (2019 Graduate Student Handbook, page 38), their performance of course assessments (whether formative or summative) during synchronous sessions is. It is the students' obligation to make sure that they complete all their course requirements. Kindly follow the LS Graduate Grading System (2019 Graduate Student Handbook, page 39).

As a Jesuit University, we remain guided by cura personalis as a way of fostering meaningful interactions among faculty, graduate students, non-teaching staff and administrators. Therefore, we are all encouraged to contribute to an inclusive, ethical, professional, and respectful climate that promotes the academic success of our graduate students.  The last two years taught us many valuable lessons including the ability to embrace uncertainty. But it has also transformed us in profound ways and made us even more mindful of our purpose as a community and as a higher education institution.  

Thank you very much.