Commencement Exercises

Attendance at general commencement exercises shall be optional. Graduating students who choose not to participate in the general commencement exercises must inform their respective deans or their duly designated representatives at least ten (10) days before the commencement exercises.

Second Degrees

A student who has successfully completed a degree program can pursue another degree within the same level.

Baccalaureate Degree

Only one (1) baccalaureate degree may be conferred at a time. A holder of a bachelor’s degree from the University may earn another bachelor’s degree upon the successful completion of at least 36 additional units prescribed by a discipline, after the previous degree. (For those who earned their bachelor’s degree from another University, see Transfer Admission from other Universities)

Master’s Degree

A student who has earned a master’s degree in the University can earn another master’s degree provided the following requirements are satisfied:

1) Earn in the University at least 18 graduate units in addition to the course requirements common to both degrees; and

2) Complete all the requirements of the second master’s degree.

These additional units are exclusive of the thesis, or of other requirements in lieu of thesis, and shall be in advanced courses in the student’s major field and cognates from other related graduate courses in the University that may strengthen the new area of specialization.

Graduation with Honors

Students who complete their courses with the following ABSOLUTE MINIMUM weighted average grade shall be graduated with honors:

Summa cum laude 1.20

Magna cum laude 1.45

Cum Laude 1.75

Provided, That all the grades in all subjects prescribed in the curriculum, as well as subjects that qualify as electives, shall be included in the computation of the weighted average grade; Provided, further,

That in cases where the electives taken are more than those required in the program, the following procedure shall be used in selecting the electives to be included in the computation of the weighted average grade:

1) For students who did not shift programs, the required number of electives will be considered in chronological order.

2) For students who shifted from one (1) program to another, the electives to be considered shall be selected according to the following order of priority:

a. Electives taken in the program where the student is graduating will be selected in chronological order.

b. Electives taken in the previous program and acceptable as electives in the second program will be selected in chronological order.

c. Prescribed courses taken in the previous program but qualify as electives in the second program will be selected in chronological order.

Students who are candidates for graduation with honors must have completed in the

University 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 (2) years immediately prior to graduation.

In the computation of the final average of students who are candidates for graduation with honors, only resident credit shall be included.

Students found guilty of cheating/dishonesty shall be barred from graduating with honors, even if their weighted average is within the requirement for graduation with honors. Provided, further, that students who have been suspended for one (1) year or more due to conduct as defined in the Rules and Regulations on Student Conduct and Discipline; the Revised Rules and Regulations Governing Fraternities, Sororities and Other Student Organizations, and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 shall be barred from graduating with honors.

Students who are candidates for graduation with honors must have taken during each semester/ trimester not less than 15 units of credit or the normal load prescribed in the curriculum, unless the lighter load was due to justifiable causes such as health reasons, the unavailability of courses needed in the curriculum to complete the full load, or the fact that the candidate is a working student.

To justify underloading under the following conditions, the submission of pertinent documents is required:

1) Health reasons - medical certification from the University Health Service

2) Unavailability of courses - certification by the major adviser and copy of schedule of classes

3) Employment - copy of payroll and appointment papers indicating among others duration of employment

It is the responsibility of the student to establish beyond reasonable doubt the veracity of the cause(s) of his/her light loading. It is required in this connection that documents submitted to establish the cause(s) of the light loading must be sworn to. THESE DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED DURING THE SEMESTER OF UNDERLOADING.

Graduation Requirements

Students must file a formal application as candidates for graduation with the office of the Dean of their respective colleges. They shall be recommended for graduation by the faculty of their respective colleges after having satisfied all academic and other requirements prescribed for graduation.

During the first three (3) weeks after the opening of classes in each semester, each Dean or the duly authorized representative, shall certify to the University Registrar a list of candidates for graduation at the next commencement. The University Registrar, in consultation with the chairs of divisions or departments concerned, shall then inquire into the academic records of the candidates to ascertain whether any candidate in such a list has any deficiency to make up and whether s/he has fulfilled all other requirements to be a candidate for graduation. If there is any question regarding a candidate, her/his name should not be deleted from the list of candidates for graduation, but a footnote to that effect should be made. Ten (10) weeks before the end of a semester, the University Registrar shall publish a complete list of duly qualified candidates for graduation for that semester.

All candidates for graduation must have their deficiencies made up and their records cleared not later than five (5) weeks before the end of their last semester, with the exception of those in academic subjects and work in Physical Education and NSTP, in which the student is currently enrolled.

A candidate for graduation who began studies under a curriculum more than 10 years old shall be governed by the following rules:

1. Those who had completed all the requirements of the curriculum but did not apply for, nor were granted, the corresponding degree or title shall have their graduation approved as of the date they should have originally graduated.

2. Those who had completed all but two (2) or three (3) subjects required by a curriculum shall be made to follow any of the curricula enforced from the time they first attended the University to the present.

No student shall be graduated from the University unless s/he has completed at least one (1) year of residence work which may, however, be extended to a longer period by the proper faculty. The residence work referred to must be done immediately prior to graduation in case of the following:

1. Transferees from schools other than the University of the Philippines. This residence requirement is

in addition to completion of at least 50% of the required units for the course.

2. Students who have been readmitted after being absent without official leave

No student shall be conferred any title or degree who fails to pay the required graduation fee within the specified period set by the University Registrar. Such student may, however, upon request and payment of the necessary fees, be given a certified copy of his/her credentials without specifying his/her completion of the requirements toward any title or degree.

Honorable Dismissal

Honorable dismissal is voluntary withdrawal from the University with the consent of the University

Registrar.

A student in good standing who desires to sever connection with the University shall present a written petition to this effect to the University Registrar, signed by his/her parent or guardian. If the petition is granted, the student shall be given honorable dismissal. Without such petition and favorable action, no record of honorable dismissal shall be made.

All indebtedness to the University must be settled before a statement of honorable dismissal will be issued. The statement indicates that the student withdrew in good standing as far as character and conduct are concerned. If the student has been dropped from the rolls on account of poor scholarship, a statement to that effect may be added to the honorable dismissal.

A student who leaves the University by reason of expulsion due to disciplinary action shall not be entitled to honorable dismissal. However, s/he is allowed to obtain her/his academic transcript of record without reference to dishonorable dismissal, provided:

1. The student writes an application;

2. Not less than one (1) school year, beginning the school year immediately following the effectivity of the expulsion decision, has elapsed;

3. The party concerned, during the period of expulsion, has not been involved in any untoward incident affecting the University, or been charged in court after the fiscal’s investigation; and

4. All such applications are subject to BOR action.

Section 5 Rule VII of the Revised Rules and Regulations Governing Fraternities, Sororities and Other

Organizations, however, provides that the University Registrar shall make a permanent entry in the transcript of records of the student the fact of his/her having been expelled or suspended under the said rules. The student may not apply to have such entries deleted.