Vice Chancellor of Academics Dr. Robert Roleda faced the Lasallian community last April 11 in a Facebook Live forum titled #AskAdmin, organized by Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon. Through the online event, Roleda hoped to clear up issues raised by student sectors on the University’s academic guidelines amid the COVID-19 outbreak and enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures.
According to a Help Desk Announcement last April 6, the Academics Council decided to end Term 2 by May 9 on “online mode”. Additional activities and requirements will not be allowed after April 20, as April 21 to May 9 will be allocated for students to catch up. Final grades will be submitted on May 18, and an online grade consultation will follow on May 19.
Term 2 explained
In the forum, Roleda explained the University’s rationale for its recently announced policies, noting that giving students options had been the objective of DLSU’s policy. “With all these varying conditions, we have to provide options for people. And that’s what De La Salle did,” he said.
Roleda, through a Help Desk Announcement last April 7, clarified that because Term 2 will follow the standard numerical system, a grade of W (Withdrawn) will be used instead of 0.0 for students “who are unable to meet the standards for the course.” This grade will not be included in the grade point average.
Students that cannot accomplish all requirements by the end of the term will temporarily be given a deferred grade, which they can change by completing the remaining course deliverables in the one-year grace period. The one-year period given for the completion of requirements can be extended “if necessary,” with faculty members required to provide “completion plans” and aid their students in fulfilling requirements. Students are also given the option to drop courses if they prefer to do so.
Questioned on why a numerical grading system was retained, Roleda responded that the Academics Council had considered the progress already made in Term 2, “there [is already] a good number of work already submitted that could form a good basis for a numeric grade system.” Avowedly, Roleda himself had originally proposed a pass or fail grading system to the council.
The Vice Chancellor explained that University faculty had already started preparing online materials prior to the outbreak, given the Taal Volcano eruption that occurred earlier this year. Nevertheless, the University, he admitted, was “caught by surprise by the suddenness” of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We will continue, as we’ve always done, the way we teach, now taking into consideration our online platform as a tool,” he said, adding that blended learning—a combination of face-to-face and online classes—had been one of the University’s goals before the ECQ.
Roleda clarified, however, that online learning under quarantine conditions is not mandatory. “We are not forcing online learning. We want you to take a break, adjust better to the pandemic, the ECQ,” he added. Roleda further reiterated that the objective in the end is that no one will be put in a “permanent disadvantage.”
Other adjustments
Measures pursued by other universities were brought up, in particular, those taken by Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU). In a memo released last April 7, ADMU notably announced that it will give pass marks for eligible students as they “have not been given the benefit of a full semester to improve their performance.” Students were also promoted to the next level.
Roleda pointed out, however, that DLSU’s trimestral calendar differs from ADMU, which runs on a semestral basis. “[ADMU] and DLSU are in different [stages] of their semester, trimester, when [the ECQ started]. [ADMU] [was] halfway through their semester. [DLSU] is completing our trimester,” he explained. Roleda added that ADMU did not “abruptly” halt their semester, which is currently scheduled to end on May 8.
Roleda explained that ending the term on May 9 was preferred over suspension. “Suspending the term and coming back to it later is problematic because we don’t know when we can come back,” he said.
Regarding on-the-job training and practicum requirements, Roleda said that DLSU is still working out new arrangements due to restrictions brought about by physical distancing measures. “We are adjusting our OJT requirements because no companies are going to get recruits right now—social distancing and all. The best thing to do is to seek advice from your college whether it is doable or not,” he advised.
Roleda assured graduating students that the University will prioritize the completion of their degree programs “so that they will not be delayed.” He also instructed them to communicate with their professors so that “plans can be arranged correspondingly.”
Fees, academic calendar concerns
Also raised were ADMU’s tuition discounts, which are deductible from outstanding balances or from tuition fees for the following semester. In response, Roleda assured that the University administration has already agreed on lowering fees for Term 3, although the exact amount remains to be finalized.
The Vice Chancellor relayed that lower fees could be based on reduced operational costs, as opposed to cutting faculty and staff salaries, since the upcoming term might be “heavily…even [fully] online” to observe physical distancing measures should the threat of the pandemic persist until July. According to Roleda, operational costs amount for about 30 percent of tuition costs, while salaries comprise the remaining 70 percent, following Commission on Higher Education guidelines.
One month before the scheduled opening of Term 3 may be allocated for enrollment and possible face-to-face sessions, he explained. Should the allotted time still be insufficient to complete requirements, corrective and remedial classes may be held on Fridays and Saturdays in Term 3 to lighten the load from deferred classes. However, Roleda assured that these remedial classes do not come at an additional cost, saying, “[Deferred students] won’t have to pay, even for laboratory classes.”
Regardless, the effect of COVID-19 outbreak on the calendar will persist beyond the current academic year and might take “one to two years” to normalize, Roleda estimated.
During this challenging period, Lasallians have to “latch on to our faith, service, and communion values, and to demonstrate great leniency and agility,” Roleda expressed. He reassured that the Academics Council will continue to hold discussions on the current policies. “In the end, we will make the right decision,” he affirmed.
The University Student Government will conduct another online town hall session with Roleda on Monday, April 13, at 2:30 pm.
