MEMO FOR: San Sebastian Law Community

FROM: The Dean and the Associate Dean of the College of Law

RE: Consolidated Academic Policies for 2nd Semester A.Y. 2019-2020

DATE: May 16, 2020

Malacañang recently announced that Metro Manila will shift to a modified lockdown until May
31, 2020. Under a modified lockdown, movement of people will be limited to essential services,
and the resumption of physical classes is still not allowed. So far, this is the third extension and
revision in the scope of the lockdown since it was declared on March 17, 2020.

As you may have observed, we have revised our guidelines in every lockdown extension with
the hope that we could return soon to our “normal” lives after the lifting of the lockdown. With
the fluidity of our situation, we may all agree that we will not be under normal times anytime
soon. However, we cannot also put our academic semester on hold indefinitely. Thus, we have
decided to adopt schedules and policies which are no longer contingent to the lifting of
lockdown. Having this fixed schedule and policies will allow us to put closure to the current
semester; give our graduating students more review period for the 2021 Bar Exams; and
provide us ample time to prepare for a possible shift to a blended type of online-onsite learning
in the next semester.

Moving forward, the following consolidated policies shall be adopted for the remainder of 2nd
Semester A.Y. 2019-2020. Prior announcements which are inconsistent with these guidelines are
deemed modified accordingly.

1. Revised Academic Calendar – End of Semester on July 31, 2020

Our 2nd Semester, AY 2019-2020, shall end on July 31, 2020. Schedule of Final Exams and
submission of grades are as follows:

Final Exams for graduating students – July 20-25, 2020

Submission of grades for graduating students- August 8, 2020

Final Exams for other students- July 25-31, 2020

Submission of grades- August 15, 2020

However, Professors who have already completed the delivery of their subject contents
may conduct their Final Examinations on an earlier date mutually agreed upon by the
professors and the students.

2. Shift to Online Learning starting May 25, 2020

Earlier, we announced that the holding of alternative online classes during the effectivity
of the ECQ is optional, and the participation of students therein will not be graded. This
is in recognition of the possible limited online access and other peculiar circumstances of

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 our students during this pandemic. However, with the circumstances that we are in, it
becomes inevitable for us to shift to online learning, at least for now. We request our
professors to be ready for online delivery of their subject’s content, and to conduct
synchronous lectures via Zoom, Google Classroom, Google Meet and the like starting on
May 25, 2020. There is a possibility that this synchronous online teaching modality will be
adopted for the 1st Semester of Academic Year 2020-2021. We are currently discussing
with a potential supplier the procurement of necessary applications and software for us to
have a uniform platform for online classes.

For classes that have earlier conducted alternative synchronous online classes, please note
that a student’s failure to participate therein must not be taken against the student.
However, the professor’s requirement for submission of case digests and other homework
must be complied with and will be graded accordingly.

3. Final Examinations

If possible, Final Examinations will be administered on campus. However, if the

circumstances and health regulations will still not permit us to do so, faculty members are
requested to prepare online examination for their students. Faculty members will also be
given freedom to use alternative modes of administering their class requirements which is
not limited to, or in lieu of, holding an online Final Examination.

For writing classes and other non-core subjects1, professors are encouraged to conduct
their final examination/submission of other requirements online.

4. Scrapping of Mid-Term Examinations

Mid-term examinations shall not be administered for the current semester. Except for
professors who have already given their mid-term examinations, the mid-term
examination will no longer be part of the grading system for the current semester.
Professors are advised to revise their grading system in accordance with paragraph 5
below.

5. Change in the Grading System

As previously announced, we will NOT adopt an All Pass policy this semester. Grading
system will still be merit-based. We will also retain the numerical grading system (60% to
100%); and therefore will not adopt a pass/fail grading system. Passing threshold shall
remain at 75%.

With the scrapping of mid-term examinations, student grades will now be computed
based only on his/her Class Standing (CS) and his/her Final Examination (FE) grade,
with the following breakdown: CS will be sixty percent (60%) and FE will be forty percent
(40%) of the Final Grade. CS is the average of the grades for recitations, quizzes, case
digests, and other academic requirements that the student may have earned before and
after the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

However, in case a student fails to obtain a grade of 75% or higher, the student will not
receive a failing mark, and will only be considered “Dropped” from the roll. In addition,
students who would be unable to take the Final Exam, or comply with class requirements
for whatever reason, will automatically receive an incomplete (INC) grade. In accordance
with our existing rules, the student may complete his requirement and/or take the Final
Exam within the succeeding two semesters.

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Philosophy of Law, Statutory Construction, Legal Research & Thesis Writing, Introduction to Study of Law, Legal
Technique & Logic, Legal Writing, SSC-R Seminar II, Advanced Legal Writing, Legal Forms, Practice Court 1, J.D.
Thesis.

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 6. Extension of Period for Dropping of Subjects

The deadline for dropping of subjects will be moved to the week before the Final
Examinations.

7. Suspension of Two-Flunk Rule

We will suspend the implementation of the two-flunk rule applicable to Seniors.

8. Waiving of Pre-requisites Subjects

We will relax the pre-requisite subject requirement for purposes of enrolling for the 1st
Semester of Academic Year 2020-2021. However, subjects will continue to be taken in the
sequence prescribed by the Legal Education Board.

9. No Summer Classes

Under the circumstances, we will have no Summer Class offering for this academic year.

10. Graduation Ceremony

Graduation ceremonies will be indefinitely postponed given the continuing restriction on

mass gathering.

We hope that these revised guidelines will allow everyone to move forward. We know that these
adjustments may bring additional burden to our professor and students. We could only hope that
this will help ease such burden, especially those heavily affected by these trying times.

For any concerns and/or suggestions, please send us an email at law@sscrmnl.edu.ph.

Thank you. Stay safe everyone.