LS Graduate Level Academic Policies for SY 2023-2024 (OADGP Memo)

24 April 2023

LS Graduate education continues to respond to the Ateneo de Manila University’s commitment to the education of the whole person, by providing students a broad range of teaching and learning experiences, research and service opportunities.

While we acknowledge that our graduate programs are officially residential programs (i.e., delivered on-site), we take stock of our greater appreciation of the technologies and pedagogies that have advanced our ways of delivering graduate courses across different spaces, whether disciplinal or physical.

1. Teaching and Learning

   In order to achieve our teaching goal of providing our students with learning opportunities that are in-depth,  experiential and collaborative across spaces, we acknowledge the following:  

   A. Learning hours refer to the total time a student devotes to fulfilling the learning outcomes of the course.  This is roughly equivalent to at least twice the number of contact hours per course. 

   B. There is a need to assign a minimum number of onsite contact hours per credit unit not only to fulfill residential program regulatory requirements but most importantly to maximize in-person collaborative learning experience. 

   C. Students are expected to attend at least 80% of the total contact hours per course. A grade of W will be given to those who are unable to do so.  

   For every 1 credit unit:

   Total Learning Hours	30
   Total Contact Hours	15
   Minimum In-person Contact Hours	8
   Minimum Expected Attendance Hours	12

   Note:  In-person contact hours may be subject to change depending on changes in CHED regulatory requirements.

   We reiterate that effective instructional methods (i.e., onsite classes, small group work, supervised field work, online activities, live casts, or independent research work) are those that are designed with the intention of helping students achieve the course’s learning outcomes.  We leave it to the course instructors and course coordinators (whenever applicable) to develop the instructional materials, activities and assessments that are aligned with the course’s instructional goals and pedagogical philosophy. We continue to encourage everyone to use available technologies to support and enhance onsite sessions, not only for online work.  

2. Graduate Student Research Mentoring – Thesis, Dissertation and Capstone Project

   Research is an integral part of all graduate degree programs. Over the years, we have updated policies,  established guidelines,  automated key processes and incorporated the use of technology such as Zoom and Canvas in order to facilitate a more inclusive and efficient experience for both mentors and mentees. We will continue to do so this year, with the caveat that technology is used meaningfully, not only to facilitate Thesis, Dissertation and Capstone Project advising and oral presentations but also to impart lifelong learning skills and cultivate professional relationships. 

3. Comprehensive Exam and Other Program-level Assessments

   In the last three years, we learned valuable lessons in conducting online and hybrid assessments.  While many continue to deliver the comprehensive exam online, some departments have already successfully delivered onsite exams this Second Semester, SY 2022-2023.  

   We strongly believe that departments and programs are well equipped to decide and implement what is the best mode to deliver their respective comprehensive exams.  We encourage that departments and programs review their internal protocols based on feedback from stakeholders, with the end goal of maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the Comprehensive Exam as a program-level assessment.  ​​​

While we will maintain a certain degree of decentralization in governing our graduate programs,  schedules for final course assessments, comprehensive exam, oral defense and other academic and research-related activities should follow the deadlines indicated in the Academic Calendar for SY 2023-2024 that will be released by the Registrar’s Office. These must be indicated in the course syllabus and uploaded in the Canvas course shells provided for course work, comprehensive exam and TDCP Advising so students can make the necessary preparations early. 

Cura personalis is not an easy task. Therefore, we remain thankful to the Department Chairs, Program Directors and Graduate Program Coordinators who continue to oversee the achievement of our graduate degree programs’ learning outcomes. We look forward to a new school year that may still be unpredictable, but more empowering and humbling.