POLICIES, RULES AND

PROCEDURES
FOR GRADUATE STUDIES IN
BICOL UNIVERSITY

2021

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 MESSAGE FROM THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

It is with great joy that we welcome you to Bicol University Graduate School. Pursuing graduate
studies at the premiere state university in the region is no easy feat, but we assure you that we will
be with you every step of the way, beginning with this Graduate Student Handbook.

At BUGS, we understand your trepidation as you embark on this new learning journey. It is in this
spirit that we provide you with this handbook which will serve as your roadmap to the procedures,
policies, programs and practices that inform graduate education at Bicol University. This handbook
contains the revised and updated policies and procedures relevant to the latest memoranda and
circulars issued by the Commission on Higher Education and other agencies.

It is our hope that as you flip through its pages, you will be more convinced that you made the right
choice in choosing to spend your learning journey with us. May your years in BUGS be engaging and
enriching as you embody the University’s core values of Scholarship, Leadership, Character, and
Service in our mission to produce leaders and change agents for social transformation and
development.

(Sgd.) ARNULFO M. MASCARIÑAS

SUC President IV
Bicol University

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD 2

CHAPTER 1- Policy Statements 4

CHAPTER 2 – Organization 4

CHAPTER 3 – Officers of the Graduate School 5

Section 1. Dean of the Graduate School 5
Section 2. Secretary of the Graduate School 6
Section 3. Dean of Host College 6
Section 4. Department Chair 7
Section 5. Program Adviser 7
Section 6. Graduate Program Coordinator 7

CHAPTER 4 - Graduate Programs 8

Section 1. Program Levels 8
Section 2. Program Types in the Doctorate Level 8
Section 3. Program Types in the Master’s Level 9
Section 4. Research and Creative Work (RCW) Degrees 10

CHAPTER 5 – Standing Committees 10

Section 1. Graduate Admissions Committee 10
Section 2. Student Records Evaluation Committee 10
Section 3. Curriculum Review Committee 11

CHAPTER 6 – Graduate Administrative Advisory Council 11

CHAPTER 7 – Graduate Academic Council 12

CHAPTER 8 – Graduate Faculty 12

Section 1. Composition 12
Section 2. Appointment 13
Section 3. Duties and Functions 14

CHAPTER 9 – General Rules and Procedures 14

Section 1. Admission 14
Section 2. Registration 16
Section 3. Advanced or Transfer Credit 16
Section 4. Residence Requirement and Time Limit 17
Section 5. Leave of Absence 17
Section 6. Course Work Requirement 18
Section 7. Student Advisory Committee 19
Section 8. Qualifying Examination for Doctoral Programs 20
Section 9. Grading System 21
Section 10. Comprehensive Examination 21
Section 11. Thesis/Dissertation 22
Section 12. Work in Absentia 23
Section 13. Final Oral Examination 24
Section 14. Graduation Requirements 25

CHAPTER 10 – Other Policies, Rules and Procedures 25

Section 1. Changing of Subject/Transferring to other Classes 25
Section 2. Adding and Substituting of Subjects 25
Section 3. Dropping of Subjects 26
Section 4. Student Organization 26
Section 5. Miscellaneous Provision 27

GLOSSARY 28
ANNEXES 30

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 CHAPTER 1
Policy Statements

Article 1. Access to graduate education shall be broadened through the adoption of more
recent types and tracks of graduate programs and the adoption of context-driven
delivery modes such as residential, extension and other non-conventional
modalities, i.e., distance, transnational, and consortium-delivered

Article 2. Excellence and distinction shall be its primary goals, thus, the graduate school will
prioritize cutting-edge, integrative and interrogative teaching and learning contents
and methods, likewise promote higher competencies in knowledge generation,
exchange, and utilization.

Article 3. Relevance and responsiveness shall be guaranteed by developing graduate

programs that will help sustain scientific, technological, environmental, agro-
industrial, and economic growth; impel innovative leadership, good governance
and keen nationalism; and, encourage cultural, artistic and religious diversity.

Article 4. Vertical articulation shall be assured through an efficient decentralization process,

thus, graduate programs shall be organized by field of specialization and managed
by the host academic units. Nonetheless, the Graduate School shall respect
various academic disciplinary approaches (intra, inter, cross, multi and trans) and
encourage multidisciplinary programs.

Article 5. Quality in graduate education shall be sustained to meet the requirements of

globalization, regional integration, and internationalization through external
accreditation systems and internal quality assurance mechanisms.

CHAPTER 2
Organization

Article 1. The Graduate School shall be a distinct academic unit of the university mandatedto
offer advanced higher education courses leading to a diploma, master’s or a
doctorate degree. It will operate on a decentralized set-up and utilize a matrix
organizational design.

Article 2. The Graduate School, through its Dean, shall exercise administrative and
academic jurisdiction over all graduate programs of Bicol University. The host
colleges where the graduate programs are based shall implement and supervise
the programs.

Article 3. With the decentralization of graduate programs to the host college or unit and
following the vertical articulation principle, the Graduate School shall perform such
functions as:

a. Administration and coordination of graduate education in the university.

b. Policy formulation and monitoring of policy implementation in consultation with

host colleges

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 c. Resource generation and linkage development in support of the graduate
programs.

d. Assurance of the quality of graduate education according to prescribed

accreditation standards.

e. Provision of the needed support to enhance the capability of graduate faculty

and the offering of graduate programs.

CHAPTER 3
Officers of the Graduate School

Section 1: Dean of the Graduate School

Article 1. The Dean shall be designated to ensure a responsive and efficient governance of
the Graduate School and shall perform both academic and administrative
functions. The Dean shall perform said functions for the duration of the designation
unless revoked in accordance with existing Civil Service rules and regulations.

Article 2. The Dean of the Graduate School shall be a holder of a doctoral degree and has
published works in refereed journals in their discipline.

Article 3 The Dean of the Graduate School shall perform the following duties and functions:

a. Provide overall leadership, direction, advocacy, communication, coordination

and assessment of the host college or unit and its sub-units (departments
and/or programs) in particular, translate such into strategic and operational
plans.

b. Implement the approved graduate programs, facilitate evaluation of the

curricula, and recommend for enhancement or revision as needed.

c. Review and implement policies and guidelines on administrative operations

such as admission, enrolment, record keeping, etc.

d. Manage the fiscal affairs of the Graduate School, particularly the sub-allocation
and disbursement of budget, in coordination with the host colleges.

e. Conduct regular, special or emergency meetings with the teaching (such as

but not limited to Graduate School Academic and Advisory Council) and non-
teaching personnel to foster a cooperative and collegial work climate.

f. Ensure adherence to quality standards and excellence in instruction, research

and extension by taking an active role in accreditation and quality assurance
systems.

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 g. Disseminate information and prepare periodic reports of Graduate School
activities and disseminate information through its official website and social
media platforms.

h. Design and implement a faculty development plan to support capability building

of the graduate school faculty.

i. Establish relevant linkage or network for resource enhancement and

exchange.

j. Perform other related functions that may be assigned by higher authorities.

Section 2. The Secretary of the Graduate School

Article 1. The Secretary of the Graduate School shall have the following roles and functions:

a. Responsible for the upkeep of the minutes of meetings and records of the
Graduate School Advisory and Academic Councils.

b. Assist the Dean in the preparation of reports for submission to appropriate

offices.

c. Assist the Dean in planning and preparing the annual budget and requisitions of
the Graduate School.

d. Assist the Dean in the execution of committee and council decisions.

e. Act as chairperson of the Student Evaluation Committee and supervise the

monitoring of student records and graduation requirements.

f. Perform other tasks that may be assigned by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Section 3. Dean of Host College

Article 1. The Dean of the Host College shall perform the following roles and functions:

a. Consolidate the schedule of classes, faculty workload, and work and financial
plan for approval by the President, through the Graduate School Dean and the
Vice President for Academic Affairs.

b. Recommend to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval by the University
President through the Vice President for Academic Affairs, faculty members for
appointment to the Graduate Faculty;

c. Recommend Graduate Program Coordinators (for programs without established

departments as hosts) and Program Advisers, for approval by the University
President, through the Graduate School Dean and the Vice President for
Academic Affairs.

d. Serve as member of the Graduate Advisory Council.

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 e. Supervise the programs through the Department Chairs/Program Advisers

Section 4. The Department Chair

Article 1. The Department Chair shall perform the following roles and functions:

a. Prepare the schedule of classes and the faculty workload.

b. Initiate review and enhancement of existing curricula and propose new degree
programs in consultation with all concerned.

c. Recommend admission policies and procedures for graduate studies.

d. Supervise the conduct of comprehensive examinations.

e. Recommend to the Dean of the Graduate School the assignment of student

Advisory Committee.

f. Submit activity proposals with budget and periodic reports to the requesting
party.
g. Perform other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Section 5. The Program Adviser

Article 1. The Program Adviser shall perform the following roles and functions:

a. Supervise the program offering and provide academic advising to students

enrolled in the program.

b. Act as Chairperson of the Admission Committee for the program.

c. Chair faculty meetings of the program.

d. Act as member of the Student Evaluation Committee for the program;

e. Coordinate the activities of the graduate faculty and the students in the program.

f. Organize the preparation, administration, evaluation and submission of results

of comprehensive examinations

g. Perform other tasks that may be assigned from time to time.

Section 6. The Graduate Program Coordinator

Article 1. In colleges or units without established departments to host a graduate program,

a Graduate Program Coordinator may be designated. They will perform the same
functions as those of the Department Chair/Program Adviser.

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 CHAPTER 4
Graduate Programs

Section 1. Program Levels

Article 1. Doctorate Level

The doctorate level, the highest level in any field or discipline, shall develop in the
students advanced research qualification or distinguished practical performance
and devotion to scholarship or practice. This level will require from its graduates
highly advanced systematic knowledge and skills in specialized and complex
disciplines; utilization of research, creative work, professional practice or
advancement of learning in multidisciplinary settings; leadership in research and
creative work; and, application of expertise in innovation, research, and
development management.

Article 2. Master’s Level

The master’s level, both in the Sciences (MSc) and in the Arts (MA), shall aim to
provide students with advanced academic and/or professional knowledge and
skills higher than those in the Baccalaureate’s. This level will demand from its
graduates advanced competencies in their professional practice, self-directed
research, life-long learning with substantial degree of independence, and
application of skills in research or creative work.

Article 3. Diploma Level

Diploma Course is a non-thesis post-baccalaureate degree that requires a

minimum of 18 units coursework from the regular Master’s Program and 6 units of
Special Problem.

Section 2. Program Types in the Doctorate Level

Article 1. Doctor of Philosophy: Academic Track

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Thesis Track, consisting of 24-36 units of

coursework and 12 units of dissertation, shall emphasize research and a life of
scholarship in an academic discipline. It shall demand from its graduates the
capacity to produce original contributions to knowledge and the ability to work
independently as well as collaboratively. To graduate, a student must pass the
comprehensive examination, publicly defend a dissertation, and publish at least
one article in a nationally or internationally indexed journal or in a juried creative
work outlet.

Article 2. Doctor of Philosophy: Research Track

The Doctor of Philosophy Research Track shall have seventy-five percent (75%)
of the total units focused on rigorous research-dissertation work and twenty-five
percent (25%) on research method and advanced courses contributive to
dissertation writing. The Advisory Committee shall determine the total unit
requirement which shall be between 24-36 units. To graduate, a student must

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 publicly defend a dissertation, and publish at least three (3) articles in a nationally
or internationally indexed journal or in a juried creative work outlet. No
comprehensive examination is required for this track.

Article 3. Doctorate Degree: Professional Track

The Doctorate Degree Professional Track consists of 24-36 units of coursework

and 12 units of practice-based research shall require mastery of the subject and
techniques of a professional field. However, it will be chiefly directed towards a
distinguished practical performance. Doctor of Education and Doctor of Public
Administration are examples. The track shall prepare students to supervise and
train others in the field or to discover new knowledge of practical professional
applications. To graduate, a student must pass the comprehensive examination
and publicly defend a practice-based dissertation

Article 4. Other Types of Doctorate Degrees

Other types of doctorate programs shall be offered to allow qualified students to

gain multiple expertise for shorter periods such as: Straight Master’s-Doctorate
(SMD) where students earn both degrees at the same time and Dual Doctoral
Degrees (DDD) where students pursue two fields of study simultaneously. These
programs shall have strict admission requirements and retention policies. A
maximum of twenty percent (20%) common coursework shall be allowed. To
graduate, a student must pass the comprehensive examination, publicly defend a
theory-building or practice-based dissertation depending on the track, and submit
an evidence of publication acceptance in a nationally or internationally indexed
journal or in a juried creative work outlet.

Section 3. Program Types in the Master’s Level

Article 1. Master’s Program: Academic Track

The thesis track’s primary purpose shall be the contribution to the generation,
production and advancement of knowledge. The program has at least twenty-four
(24) units of coursework and six (6) units of thesis, and is considered a preparation
for the doctorate level. To graduate, a student must pass a comprehensive
examination, submit a thesis, publish at least one article in a refereed journal or
submit a juried creative work.

Article 2. Master’s Program: Research Track

The research track shall be research-intensive and regarded preparatory to the

doctorate level. All units, at least thirty-six (36), are either by more research and
less coursework divide or all units by research (no coursework). To graduate, a
student must publish at least three (3) articles in a refereed journal or in juried
creative work outlets. No comprehensive examination is required for this track.

Article 3. Master’s Program: Professional Track

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 The non-thesis track’s primary purpose shall be the application of knowledge in
the professional practice. It may be terminal or geared to a doctorate degree in the
same track. The track consists of at least thirty (30) units of coursework in
advanced studies in a professional or vocational field and three (3) units of
capstone course. To graduate, a student must pass the comprehensive
examination and complete a capstone or practice-based project.

Article 4. Other Types of Master’s Programs

To address the need for multiple expertise gained in shorter periods, these
program types shall be offered: Straight Bachelor’s-Master’s (SBM) program to
provide students the opportunity to earn both degrees at the same time; Dual
Master’s Degrees (DMD), to allow students to pursue two fields simultaneously,
and; Dual Doctor of Medicine-Master’s Degree (MDMD) to award students both
degrees. A maximum of twenty percent (20%) common coursework shall be
allowed. These types shall have strict requirements and designed as honors
programs. To graduate, a student must pass the comprehensive examination,
submit a theory-building or practice-based thesis depending on the track, and
publish in a refereed journal or in a juried creative work outlet.

Section 4. Research and Creative Work (RCW) Degrees

The Graduate School shall encourage appropriate Host Colleges to offer

RCW degrees for the promotion of research culture in the field, as well as for
increased production of creative works. Such degree programs shall require
statement or outline of RCW purpose; supervision by a senior adviser and
designated RCW panel; monitoring of progress of work; record of progression of
RCW skills and experiences; rigorous internal and external reviews and results;
thesis/dissertation defense; and, publication in a refereed journal or juried creative
work.

CHAPTER 5
Standing Committees

Section 1. The Graduate Admissions Committee

Article 1. There shall be an Admissions Committee that will screen applicants for each graduate
program composed of at least three members, namely, the Program Adviser as
chairperson and at least two regular faculty members of the program as members.
The Committee shall endorse its recommendation or decision to admit an applicant
as regular or probationary student directly to the Dean of the Graduate School,
who shall then issue an official notification to the applicant.

Section 2. Student Records Evaluation Committee

Article 1. The Student Records Evaluation Committee shall be composed of the Secretary
of the Graduate School as Chairperson, the Graduate School Guidance

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 Coordinator and Program Adviser as members. The Committee shall monitor and
evaluate the academic records of the graduate students. It shall also recommend
actions on the academic performance of students to the Dean of the Graduate
School.

Section 3. Curriculum Review Committee

Article 1. A Curriculum Review Committee for each clustered discipline (sciences and
mathematics; arts and letters; social sciences; business, economics and
management; technology and engineering; agriculture and forestry; health;
education, etc.) shall be created to regularly review, revise, and enhance existing
curricula, as well as propose new curricular programs to meet present
development thrusts.

Article 2. The Curriculum Review Committee for each clustered discipline shall be
composed of a Chairperson and two members from the Graduate School faculty
recommended by the Dean of the Graduate School and approved by the University
President.

Article 3. Proposals for new curricula, for revisions and for enhancement submitted to or
prepared by the Committee shall be forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate School
for review before their presentation to the Graduate Academic Council, University
Curriculum Committee, Clearinghouse of the Academic Council and, finally, to the
University Academic Council. The Department Chair/Program Adviser may also
take the initiative in proposing or revising a curriculum by submitting a proposal to
the committee.

CHAPTER 6
Graduate Administrative Advisory Council

Article 1. The Graduate Administrative Advisory Council shall be composed of the

Deans/Directors of the colleges/academic units where the graduate programs are
based and the Secretary of the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate
School is the ex-officio Chair of the council.

Article 2. The Graduate Administrative Advisory Council shall perform the following
functions:

a. Formulate and recommend policies and guidelines governing the

administration of the graduate programs and operations of the BU Graduate
School

b. Advise the University President on the challenges, innovations, and new

directions in graduate education and suggest administrative measures for the
implementation, coordination, direction, and further development of the
graduate programs in the University.

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 CHAPTER 7
Graduate Academic Council

Article 1. There shall be a Graduate School Academic Council with the Graduate School Dean
as chairperson, and all the faculty with authority to teach in the Graduate School
as members. The composition of the academic council shall be in accordance with
existing laws, rules and regulations.

Article 2. The Dean of the Graduate School shall be the Presiding Officer of the Graduate
School Academic Council, or in his absence, the College Secretary.

Article 3. The Graduate School Academic Council shall have the power to recommend students
for graduation.

Article 4. The Council shall have a minimum of one (1) but not more than two (2) regular
meetings per semester. A special meeting, however, may be called by the
Graduate School Dean, or when it is requested in writing by at least two-thirds of
the members of the Council.

To conduct a valid meeting, either the Graduate School Dean or the College
Secretary, or both, should be present and a simple majority of the Councilmembers
should also be present. A set of house rules shall govern the conduct of meetings
of the Academic Council.

It shall be the duty of every member to attend all Academic Council meetings
except for justifiable reason. The Council may authorize non-members to attend
and participate in its deliberations, but without the right to vote.

Article 5. There shall be standing committees that may be created by the Graduate School
Academic Council in accordance with the functions stipulated in existing laws. The
specific tasks of these committees shall be incorporated in the house rules of the
council.

CHAPTER 8
The Graduate Faculty

Section 1. Composition

Article 1. The Graduate Faculty of the Bicol University is a group of faculty members with
equal rights and privileges in the formulation and implementation of graduate
programs and policies.

Article 2. The graduate faculty members, whose qualifications will be reviewed every three
years, are categorized as:

a. Regular faculty members who occupy a plantilla position in the University and
have been accredited to teach in the Graduate School.

b. Adjunct faculty who are from agencies and institutions other than BU who have
been issued accreditation to teach in the Graduate School. They also include

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 visiting and exchange professors and other recognized experts and
practitioners. Accreditation as adjunct member of the Graduate Faculty shall
be determined by an ad hoc committee formed by the Dean of the Graduate
School together with the concerned Program Adviser, considering such criteria
as educational qualification; proven performance; expertise; relevant work
experience; and regional, national, and international recognition.

c. The Professor Emeritus is an honorary title awarded to a former professor of the

University who has contributed significantly to the accomplishment of the
University’s mission. The granting of professor emeritus shall be based on a
separate University policy.

Section 2. Appointment

Article 1. Recommendations for appointment to the Graduate Faculty shall be initiated by the
Program Adviser/Department Chair and endorsed by the Dean of the host college
or unit to the Dean of the Graduate School, for approval by the UniversityPresident,
thru the Vice-President for Academic Affairs.

Article 2. The accreditation to teach in the Graduate School shall be valid for three years subject
to renewal. This accreditation to teach shall be based on the following criteria:

For master’s programs:

a. Must be a master’s degree holder in the appropriate field

b. Must have taught relevant courses in the undergraduate level for at least two
years

c. Must have published work in internationally or nationally indexed journals, or

have produced publicly recognized creative or technology outputs

For doctoral programs:

a. Must have a doctoral degree in the appropriate field;

b. Must have taught graduate courses in the master’s program for at least two
years

c. Must have published work in internationally or nationally indexed journals, or

have produced publicly recognized creative or technology outputs

The accreditation process shall be based on a university policy.

Article 3. Appointment as adjunct member of the Graduate Faculty shall be determined by an

ad hoc committee formed by the Dean of the Graduate School together with the
concerned Program Adviser, considering such criteria as educational qualification;
proven performance; expertise; relevant work experience; and regional, national,
and international recognition. Appointment shall be issued per term that their
services are required in the Graduate School. The appointment shall specify the

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 period of service and shall automatically terminate at the end of the period, unless
renewed.

Article 4. Appointment as Professor Emeritus in the Graduate School shall be based on approved
policies of the University.

Section 3. Duties and Functions

Article 1. The Graduate Faculty shall have the following duties and functions:

a. Handle graduate courses along his or her field of specialization

b. Serve as part of the advisory committee

c. Conduct research and extension activities

d. Attend meetings and conferences called by the Graduate School

e. Serve as member of various committees in the Graduate School

CHAPTER 9
General Rules and Procedures

Section 1. Admission

Article 1. Applicants for admission to graduate school must be holders of appropriate

degrees. For the (a) master’s degree, must be holders of an appropriate bachelor’s
degree or have completed an appropriate Graduate Diploma Course; (b) doctoral
degree must be graduates of an appropriate master’s degree; (c) Graduate
Diploma Program must be holders of any bachelor’s degree.

Article 2. Admission of a prospective student shall be approved by the Dean of the Graduate
School upon the recommendation of the Admissions Committee based on the
following:

a. A general weighted average of 2.2 or its equivalent for applicants in the master’s
program; 1.7 or its equivalent for applicants in the doctoral program and 2.5 or
its equivalent for the diploma programs

b. Appropriateness of previous degree/s earned as vertically articulated to the

graduate program applied for

c. Relatedness of work experience/s to the graduate program applied for

d. Demonstrated ability to conduct research

e. Other criteria prescribed by the committee (e.g. Entrance Examination for

Masters and Doctoral Applicants and Interview).

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Article 3. Applicants from universities where English is not the medium of instruction and with
TOEFL score below 460 (or IELTS score below 5.0) should take the English
proficiency examination to be administered by the BU Language Center
examination. Those who do not meet the required level of proficiency for graduate
studies in BU may be admitted on Probationary status with the condition that they
should take the Intensive English Course for International Students offered by the
Language Center prior to or during their first semester of residency in the program.

Article 4. Admission in the Graduate School shall be classified either as regular status or
probationary status or denied admission.

a. Regular Admission is offered to an applicant whose academic records and

supporting documents indicate that he/she is qualified to undertake graduate
study in his/her chosen field.

b. Probationary Admission is offered to an applicant whose academic records and

supporting documents indicate deficiencies but show promise of success in
graduate study. Probationary Admission is also offered to international
students whose academic background qualify for admission but who failed to
show proof of English proficiency. An applicant admitted on probationary status
must meet the specific requirements prescribed by the Program Adviser before
his probationary status can be changed to regular status. An applicant who
fails to meet the terms of his probationary admission is automatically
disqualified from pursuing his intended program of study.

c. Applicants who are denied admission due to lacking requirements in the

intended graduate program of study may have their applications reconsidered
only after submission of additional documents not submitted at the time of
original evaluation. Applicants denied admission due to poor academic
credentials are discouraged from reapplying for admission.

d. Re-applying for admission for a graduate program can only be allowed once.

Article 5. Applicants in graduate programs must submit a duly accomplished application form
(BUGS Form 1) together with the following:

a. Original copy of Official Transcript of Records from the institution previously

attended.

b. Photocopy of Special Order (for graduates of private school).

c. Copy of honorable dismissal from school last attended.

d. For international students, certification from the Registrar of the previous higher
education institution attended that English is the medium of Instruction or
English Proficiency Test (TOEFL score of 460 or IELTS score of 5.0).

e. Payment of admission fee (attach official receipt or proof of payment)

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 f. Letters of recommendation preferably from two former professors (BUGS Form
2) directly sent to the BU Graduate School.

g. Photocopy of Birth Certificate.

Article 6. Accomplished application form for admission together with the aforementioned
requirements should be received by the Graduate School on or before May 15 for
first semester admission and October 15 for second semester admission.

Article 7. Upon endorsement by the Chair of Admission Committee, the Dean of the
Graduate School shall issue an official letter of notification to the applicant as to
the status of his/her application.

Article 8. Letter of notification on status of admission shall be sent out beginning July 15 for
first semester admission and December 15 for second semester admission. The
admission process is not complete until applicant acknowledges admission
through letter of acceptance.

Article 9. Deferment of admission for a period not exceeding one year may be granted upon
written request. A student unable to register within one year of admission needs to
re-apply for admission to the Graduate School.

Article 10. A graduate student who opts to shift to another Graduate program will undergo the
same admission process to be admitted in the intended program.

Section 2. Registration

Article 1. Applicants admitted to any of the degree programs will be allowed to register only
upon presentation of the letter of admission issued by the Office of the Dean of the
Graduate School.

Article 2. A student may carry the regular load of 12 units in a semester. Students can enroll
up to six (6) units in midyear. However, a student may be allowed to carry more
than the regular academic load under justifiable circumstances, recommended by
the adviser and approved by the Dean of GS.

Article 3. Students on probationary status may be allowed to register the following term after
completing nine (9) units of course work with a general weighted average of 2.0
and upon submission of an approved change of status from probationary to regular
issued by the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School.

Article 4. Students on probationary status who fails to meet the terms of his probationary
admission is automatically disqualified from pursuing his intended program of
study.

Section 3. Advanced or Transfer Credit

Article 1. A student whose application for admission has already been approved and is duly
matriculated may apply for advanced credits or transfer credits for academic units
earned in another institution upon:

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 a. Presentation of credentials showing that s/he enrolled and passed in the courses
which are fully equivalent to those offered in the Bicol University Graduate
School for which credit is sought; and

b. Passing the validating tests required by the graduate program in instances

where five (5) or more years have lapsed since the last enrolment.

Article 2. Not more than nine (9) units of advanced credit or transfer credit may be granted to
a student for course work, work experiences and training obtained (e.g. EETEAPand
other equivalency system) done towards the graduate degree, unless coursework
is done in another institution of higher learning with prior approval of a duly
constituted advisory committee. Application for advanced credit should be filed
with the Graduate School during the first semester of residence.

Article 3. No credit shall be given for course work that has been credited towards any other
degree.

Section 4. Residence Requirement and Time Limit

Article 1. The student is in residence when he/she is registered for course work in campus, or
work in absentia with due approval in advance by his/her advisory committee. The
period that the student is on approved leave of absence (LOA) is excluded inthe
counting of residency.

Article 2. Maximum of five (5) years and seven (7) years of actual residence from the start
of graduate work shall be allowed for the fulfillment of all requirements for the
Master’s degree and Doctoral degree, respectively.

Section 5. Leave of Absence

Article 1. A leave of absence may be availed by a student who does not intend to enroll in a
semester, or by a student who is currently enrolled and who intends to withdraw
his/her enrolment for the rest of the semester.

Article 2. The application for leave of absence of a student who does not intend to enroll in
a semester shall be filed at least two weeks before the start of the semester while
for students who are currently enrolled and wish to withdraw his/her enrolment,
application for leave should be filed a two weeks before his intended withdrawal
commences.

Article 3. The application shall state the reasons for the leave and shall specify the period,
which in no case shall exceed one (1) academic year, subject to renewal for very
meritorious reasons. Once granted, appropriate notice shall be sent to the
concerned student. Such approved written petition shall be made part of the
student's records.

Article 4. If the student withdraws after three-fourths of the total number of hours prescribed
for the course has already elapsed, his/her professor shall submit a grade of DRP
if class standing is passing or a grade "5.0" if class standing is failing up to the time
of his/her withdrawal.

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Article 5. A student who is in AWOL status for a total of more than two (2) school years for
masters and more than three (3) school years for doctoral will be automatically
terminated from the program. Time spent under an AWOL status will be considered
part of the prescribed period to finish the degree.

Article 6. A student returning from a leave of absence (LOA) shall file in writing a letter to the
Dean of the Graduate School declaring his/her intention to enroll. Similarly the
AWOL status shall be lifted only upon approval by the Dean of a written request
by the student.

Article 7. Total leave time in the degree program must not exceed two (2) years.

Section 6. Coursework Requirement

Article 1. There shall be a prescribed minimum number of units of coursework for each
graduate program in the master’s, doctoral and in the diploma program.

Article 2. A graduate student within his/her first semester of residence must prepare a plan
of coursework considering the prescribed residence period for a degree, in
consultation with his/her Advisory Committee, recommended by the Department
Chair/Program Adviser, endorsed by the College Secretary, for approval by the
Dean of the Graduate School. The Registrar shall be furnished a copy of the
approved plan of coursework.

Article 3. The approved plan of coursework shall become the official program of the degree
and must be completely satisfied. Application for changes in the approved plan of
coursework must be in consultation with his/her Advisory Committee,
recommended by the Department Chair/Program Adviser, endorsed by the
College Secretary, for approval by the Dean of the Graduate School. The Registrar
shall be furnished a copy of the approved plan of coursework.

Article 4. A graduate student who fails to finish his/her master's program may be considered
for a graduate diploma upon application and compliance of all requirements as
prescribed in the diploma program.

Article 5. A student granted with a graduate diploma may be allowed to pursue the master’s
degree (thesis or non-thesis), subject to pertinent policies of the Graduate School
as long as his/her general weighted average is 1.7. Those with general weighted
average lower than 1.7 may pursue additional two (2) subjects as recommended
by the Program Adviser provided they obtain a general weighted average of 1.7 in
these subjects.

Article 6. A student may be allowed to enroll additional subjects outside of the curriculum of
his/her program provided this has been within the approved changes in the
approved plan of coursework. Change in coursework is subject to the approval of
the Advisory Committee.

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 Section 7. Student Advisory Committee

Article 1. The student, in consultation with the Department Chair/Program Adviser, selects
his/her major professor from a pool of qualified advisers provided by the Graduate
School who shall serve as academic and thesis/dissertation adviser. The adviser
must be a doctoral degree holder with completed and ongoing research/creative
work. Within the first semester of enrolment, the student, in consultation with the
adviser, selects other members of the advisory committee from a pool of qualified
faculty provided by the Graduate School. Membership in the advisory committee
shall be with the mutual consent of the individuals selected to serve.

Article 2. The advisory committee shall have among its members content and method
specialists. The advisory committee shall be composed of four members for the
master’s degree and six for the doctoral degree. The advisory committee for
masters shall be composed of thesis adviser (content), committee chair (content)
and two members (content/method) for masters. The advisory committee for
doctoral shall be composed of dissertation adviser (content), committee chair
(content) and four members (content/method).

Article 3. The composition of the advisory committee will be designated upon

recommendation of the Department Chair/Program Adviser, endorsed by the
Secretary of the Graduate School and approved by the Dean of the Graduate
School.

Article 4. The student may select a thesis co-adviser with the recommendation of the adviser
and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Article 5. For designation as Thesis/Dissertation Adviser, a graduate faculty must be a doctoral

degree holder and have satisfied the following qualifications:

a. Must have completed and ongoing research/creative work duly certified by

OVPRDE

b. Must have published work in internationally or nationally indexed journals, or

have produced publicly recognized creative or technology outputs

c. Must have been an adviser of at least three (3) students who have graduated
with an MA or MS degree for doctoral advisers; or five (5) advisees in the
undergraduate thesis for master’s adviser.

Article 6. For designation as Thesis Panel Chair and member for Master’s students, a graduate
faculty must be a master’s degree holder and have satisfied any of the following
qualifications:

a. Must have completed and ongoing research/creative work duly certified by

OVPRDE

b. Must have published a research paper

c. Must have been an adviser of at least three (3) advisees in the undergraduate
thesis

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 For designation as Dissertation Panel Chair and member for Doctoral students, a
graduate faculty must be a doctoral degree holder and have satisfied any of the
following qualifications:

a. Must have completed and ongoing research/creative work duly certified by

OVPRDE

b. Must have published a research paper

c. Must have been an adviser of at least one (1) student who have graduated with
an MA or MS degree

Article 7. In cases where the required expertise is not available from the faculty pool, the
graduate student may be allowed to get an Adviser outside of the Graduate Faculty
of the University subject to the same process of approval by the Dean of the
Graduate School.

Article 8. The Adviser shall be responsible for:

a. Advising the student in the preparation of the thesis/dissertation proposal;

b. Guiding and monitoring his/her thesis/dissertation research;

c. Submitting a yearly evaluation report to the Student Records Committee;

d. Indorsing his/her advisee’s thesis/dissertation for final examination.

e. Mentor/Guide for the preparation of journal article for publication;

f. Facilitate in the preparation and submission of necessary documents for timely

payment of honorarium of the advisory committee

Article 9. The Advisory Committee Chair and Member shall be tasked to:

a. Review the validity and acceptability of the thesis/dissertation work in terms of

its scholarly quality, correctness of the facts and claims contained therein and
completeness as to its basic components;

b. Verify that all suggestions are judiciously incorporated;

c. Evaluate the research report based on the adopted format and criteria; and

d. Be physically present during the oral defense.

Article 10. At all time, the adviser to student ratio is 1 full-time faculty per maximum of 5
students, inclusive of thesis/dissertation for both in and off-campus students.

Section 8. Qualifying Examination for Doctoral Programs

Article 1. The student must take the qualifying examination to be conducted by the advisory
committee before the registration for the second semester of residence. The result

20
 of the examination will be the basis for evaluating the student’s ability to pursue
doctoral study and for determining a suitable program of coursework.

Article 2. The student should submit his/her application for the qualifying examination, duly
recommended by his/her advisory committee and endorsed by the Department
Chair/Program Adviser to the Dean of the Graduate School not later than one
month before the date of examination. The details of the qualifying examination
shall be left to the discretion of the advisory committee.

Article 3. To pass the examination, the student must receive not more than one negative vote
of the committee.

Article 4. If the student fails his/her qualifying examination, no re-examination shall be allowed,
except on the unanimous approval of his/her advisory committee. If the student
fails the reexamination, he/she shall be permanently disqualified from earning the
degree.

Article 5. The adviser shall submit to the Dean of the Graduate School a report on the resultof
the examination within one week after the examination.

Section 9. Grading System

Article 1. The University shall have a uniform grading system using number grades from 1.0to
5.0, where 1.0 is the highest, 3.0 is the lowest passing grade, and 5.0 is failure.A
grade of 4.0 is conditional and can only be given as a mid-term grade. An "INC"
grade indicates incomplete course work. An incomplete (INC) grade obtained from
the previous semester must be completed within a year, otherwise it will be
converted to a failing grade automatically in the online registration system.

Article 2. The passing grade in the Graduate School is 3.0, but a graduate student has to
maintain a general weighted average of 2.0 or better to be allowed to take the
comprehensive examination.

Article 3. A student who incurred a failing mark in his/her course work may be allowed to
retake the course once, subject to the provisions of the approved coursework and
the residence rule.

Section 10. Comprehensive Examination

Article 1. The Comprehensive Examination, which is to be given by the Department offering

the Program, shall test the student’s competence in integrating knowledge in
his/her major and minor fields, and shall be based on all courses prescribed for the
student. This integrative Comprehensive Examination shall be in written form for
the master's level, and in oral and written forms for the doctoral degree.

Article 2. After completing all the academic course requirements with a GWA of “2.00” or
better, the student shall submit his/her application for the Comprehensive
Examination duly signed by the advisory committee, recommended by Department
Chair/Program Adviser and endorsed by the Secretary of the Graduate School for

21
 approval by the Dean of Graduate School not later than two (2) weeks before the
date of examination.

Article 3. The Registrar shall certify that the student obtained a general weighted average of
2.0 or better. No student will be allowed to take the comprehensive examination if
he/she has an “Incomplete (INC)” grade in any courses or a general weighted
average below 2.0. Any INC grade must be completed in the prescribed period
allowed.

Article 4. A student whose general weighted average is lower than 2.0 shall be given the
chance to qualify by allowing him/her to take two additional courses (6 units) upon
the recommendation of the Advisory Committee to obtain the required GWA. If the
student fails to qualify, he/she may avail of the diploma course for the program, if
available.

Article 5. A student who fails the Comprehensive Examination on her/his first attempt shall be
given another chance to take the Comprehensive Examination not earlier than one
month but not later than one year after the first examination. Failure to pass the re-
examination disqualifies the student permanently from earning the degree.

Article 6. The Program Adviser shall submit to the Dean of the Graduate School a report on
the result within two (2) weeks after the examination.

Article 7. To achieve standardized procedure among graduate programs, the Graduate School
shall devise a mechanism on the conduct of comprehensive examination.

Section 11. Thesis/ Dissertation

Article 1. After earning at least 12 units of course work with graduate credit, the student
may be allowed to enroll and work on his/her thesis/dissertation. The student
may enroll a fraction of the thesis/dissertation as follows:

a. Thesis - 2:2:2 or 3:3

b. Dissertation –3:3:3:3 or 4:4:4
A graduate student who registered all the prescribed units for thesis or
dissertation and still unable to finish thesis or dissertation shall enroll in the
succeeding semester/midyear “on residence” subject to the policy on maximum
residence of the program.
Article 2. All students enrolled in thesis/dissertation shall report to their respective advisory
committee for consultation.

Article 3. Thesis or dissertation topics should be in line with the student’s field of
specialization in accordance with the research and development thrusts and
priorities of the University. The Office of the Research and Development and
Extension must be furnished with a copy of the title of proposal and final manuscript

22
 for inventory purposes following prescribed process for ethical and plagiarism
review.

Article 4. The proposed thesis/dissertation work of a student may be in line with an approved
funded research in the university. As such, opportunities for graduate research and
teaching assistantship may be provided. There shall be a transparent and
equitable policy on the research assistantship program including terms of
reference, rates and benefits.

Article 5. Thesis/dissertation students shall follow the thesis/dissertation format prescribed for
the discipline.

Article 6. After passing the comprehensive examination, a student who is ready with his/her
thesis/dissertation proposal will be allowed to defend it before his/her advisory
committee.

Article 7. Application for the thesis/dissertation proposal defense should be made not later
than two (2) weeks before the date of defense.
Article 8. Upon approval of the thesis proposal, the student may then carry out the thesis
research. A certified copy of the approved proposal and a form indorsing the thesis
proposal duly signed by the advisory committee, shall be recommended by
Department Chair/Program Adviser and endorsed by the Secretary of the
Graduate School for approval by the Dean of Graduate School.

Article 9. Should the advisory committee suggest, the student shall engage the services of
a Language Editor. Payment for such services shall be made directly by the
student, the amount of which shall be compensatory to the work done on the
manuscript and service rendered.

Article 10. Change in the composition of advisory committee may be allowed under justifiable
grounds and subject to the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School through
the recommendation of the Department Chair/Program Adviser and endorsed by
the Secretary of the Graduate School for approval by the Dean of Graduate School.
A written waiver from parties concerned shall be obtained and submitted by the
student to the Graduate School.

Section 12. Work in Absentia

Article 1. Whenever applicable, the conduct of thesis/dissertation may be done in absentia

with the approval of the advisory committee if his/her thesis/dissertation is
reasonable to be done outside of Bicol University. In such case, the student must
be duly enrolled for thesis/dissertation with the Graduate School and must
accomplish prescribed forms prior to the commencement of work in absentia.
Article 2. A graduate student working in absentia shall make periodic reports of his/her
progress to his/her adviser.

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 Section 12. Final Examination

Article 1. The purpose of the final examination is to pass judgment on the research of the
candidate.
Article 2. A student may apply for final oral examination upon completion of his/her
thesis/dissertation and in a form acceptable to his/her adviser who recommends
the approval of the application for Final Examination.

Article 3. The application form for final examination duly signed by the advisory committee,
recommended by Department Chair/Program Adviser and endorsed by the
Secretary of the Graduate School for approval by the Dean of Graduate School
together with copies of the final draft of the research output shall be submitted to
the Dean of the Graduate School not later than two (2) weeks before the scheduled
final examination. Copies of the final draft of the thesis/dissertation manuscript
must also be submitted to the members of the Advisory committee.

Article 4. A duly approved application for Final Examination of a thesis/dissertation is

required for the final research report presentation which needs to be publicly
presented and defended to the Advisory Committee. In cases where the result of
the study involves classified information, the attendees will be asked to sign non-
disclosure agreements.

Article 5. The venue of the proposal defense and final examination shall be strictly within the
University campus.

Article 6. There shall be three (3) ratings for the final examination:
a. To “Pass”, all members of the advisory committee approve the result of the
final examination;
b. For “Provisional Pass,” the advisory committee agrees that minor revisions
are required. All members of the panel must agree on the recommended
revisions, which must be specified in writing and attached to the final report.
A second rating sheet shall be signed only after the student incorporates the
revisions and the advisory committee certifies that the revisions were made;
c. “Re-defense” means substantial revisions are required by 3 out the 4
members of the advisory committee for masters; and 4 out of the 6 members
of advisory committee for doctoral. The reason(s) for the "re-defense" must
be specified in writing, a copy of which shall be attached to the report of the
panel.

If the student passes the examination, his /her thesis /dissertation shall be
considered approved. If the student is rated "re-defense", s/he may be given
second thesis/dissertation defense not later than one (1) year after the first
examination, upon unanimous approval of the advisory committee. Failure to pass
the second examination disqualifies the student from her/his current graduate
program.

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Article 7. The result of the final examination must be reported by the adviser to the Secretary
of the Graduate School within the first (1) week after the examination using the
prescribed form.

Section 13. Graduation Requirements

Article 1. A graduate student in either the master’s or doctoral program is recommended for
graduation after satisfying the following:

a. Completion of all academic courses towards the degree;

b. Passing the written/oral comprehensive examination;

c. Passing the final oral examination;

d. Submission of the approved three (3) bound copies of the manuscript to the
Dean of the Graduate School through the Department Chair/Program Adviser,
and an electronic copy to the University Librarian;

e. copy of published journal article or juried creative work

f. Payment of graduation and other fees; and

g. Presentation of the corresponding University

clearance

Article 2. Students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma course shall be recommended for
graduation after satisfying the academic requirements of the course and complying
with all the graduation requirements of the program.

CHAPTER 10
Other Policies, Rules and Procedures

Section 1. Changing of Subject/Transferring to other Classes

Article 1. Changing of subjects or transferring to other classes shall be allowed only for valid
reasons duly stated in writing and endorsed by the Program Adviser and advisory
committee to the Graduate School Dean for approval.

Article 2. Changing of subject shall be allowed within a week after the close of registration
upon the recommendation of the program adviser subject to the approval of the
graduate school dean upon payment of the corresponding fee.

Section 2. Adding and Substituting of Subjects

Article 1. Subjects added to one’s academic load unofficially or without prior approval by the
Dean of the Graduate School shall not be credited.

25
Article 2. Adding of subject(s) for valid reasons shall be done in writing for approval by the
Dean of the Graduate School upon consultation with the advisory committee and
the recommendation of the Department Chairman/Program Adviser. This shall be
made within one week after the close of registration. The total load, however, shall
not exceed the allowed maximum academic load or that which is prescribed for the
curriculum year during the semester.

Article 3. Substitution of subjects may be allowed upon the recommendation of the

Department Chairman/program adviser and advisory committee and must be
approved by the graduate school dean. No substitution shall be allowed for any
change in subject prescribed in the curriculum where the student has a failing mark
except when the subject is no longer offered.

Section 3. Dropping of Subjects

Article 1. A student may, with the consent of the professor and approved by the Graduate
School Dean, drop a subject by filling out the prescribed form before the midterm
examination in a given school term. Beyond this period, a student may be allowed
to drop a course by reasons of illness duly certified by a physician, or for other
valid reasons. A student, however, may be automatically dropped by the
concerned faculty member after incurring three (3) consecutive unexcused
absences

Article 2. A student who fails to officially drop his/her subject(s) after obtaining a mid-term
grade shall be given a grade of 5.0 by the professor in the particular subject(s) at
the end of the term.

Section 4. Student Organization

Article 1. Student organization in the Graduate School shall be under the supervision of the
Dean of the Graduate.

Article 2. A Graduate School Student Affairs Coordinator will be designated from among the
members of the regular graduate faculty to coordinate all student organizations
and activities.

Article 3. A student organization can choose an adviser who shall be a regular faculty member
of the Graduate School, provided that, during its organization, the Graduate School
Dean will designate an ad interim faculty adviser who will serve as such, provided
finally, that no faculty member may become adviser of more than two
organizations.

Article 4. A student organization shall only be recognized by the Graduate School once it has
secured accreditation from the Student Organization Accreditation Committee
headed by the Graduate School Student Affairs Coordinator.

Article 5. The graduate school may constitute a student council through an election which
coincides with the university student council (USC) election. The process of
election should be in accordance with the rules and regulations set by the Office

26
 of Student Affairs and Services. Elected officers shall serve for a period of one year
or until the next set of officers are duly elected. The management of the council
shall be governed by an approved constitution and by-laws. The Presidentof the
Graduate School Student Council shall serve as representative/member to the
USC Executive Council.

Article 6. The graduate school may constitute and recognize an official student paper. Creation
of such should be in writing and approved by the dean of the graduate school.
They shall be governed by their own editorial policies, with the supervision of a
technical adviser chosen by the students and approved by the dean of the graduate
school.

Article 7. The rules and regulations imposed by the Office of Student Affairs and Services of
the University shall apply on matters relative to student organizations not explicitly
mentioned in this section.

Section 5. Miscellaneous Provisions

Article 1. All pertinent rules and policies governing graduate programs that are henceforth
approved by the Board of Regents shall automatically form part of these policies,
rules and procedures

Articles 2. All existing Graduate School policies that are inconsistent with these policies are
hereby revoked.

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 GLOSSARY

Admission is the final step of the process whereby applicants to the Graduate School, accept in
writing the official notification of application result. Such admission may be classified as regular,
probationary, or denied.
Regular admission is offered to applicants whose academic records and supporting
documents indicate that they are qualified to undertake graduate studies in their chosen
field.
Probationary admission is offered to an applicant whose academic records and
supporting documents indicate deficiencies but show promise of success in graduate
study. Probationary Admission is also offered to international students whose academic
background qualify for admission but who failed to show proof of English proficiency.
Denied admission is handed to applicants due to lack of preparatory or fundamental
courses required for the degree program applied for. Reapplication can only be allowed
once.
Academic and Thesis/Dissertation Adviser is the head of the Student Advisory Committee
tasked to provide thorough academic advising to every graduate student, especially advising on
thesis/dissertation matters.
Additional courses are those outside of the curriculum that a graduate student, with the approval
of the Student Advisory Committee, opts to include in the study plan for whatever purpose it may
serve.
Co-Adviser is a content specialist chosen by the student, whenever necessary, to work with the
principal adviser on thesis/dissertation concerns only. The selection of a co-adviser is done in
consultation with the Student Advisory Committee. Designation is recommended by the Adviser
and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.
Comprehensive Examination is a test given by the department hosting the program to evaluate
the graduate student’s ability to integrate knowledge in all the major and minor fields. It is a written
examination for students in the Master’s and oral and written for those in the Doctorate level.
Plan of Coursework is the intended study timetable which indicates the courses for enrollment
in every term, the number of units, and other academic requirements, such as English Proficiency
Test, Comprehensive Examination (oral or written), Proposal Defense, Thesis Writing, Additional
courses, etc., which the graduate student aims to undertake considering the prescribed residence
period. The approved plan of coursework shall become the official program of the degree and
must be completely satisfied.
Dean of the Graduate School is the designated executive officer who exercises academic and
administrative functions to ensure responsive and efficient governance of the unit.
Dean of the Host Unit/College is the designated executive officer of the unit/college where the
graduate program is hosted.
Decentralization refers to the distribution of administrative and fiscal authority to appropriate
units for efficiency in the performance of functions. Thus, specific Graduate School concerns pass
through the host college’s organizational hierarchy as specified in AO 582, series of 2017 legally

28
based on BOR Resolution 131, series of 2016.

29
Diploma Course is a non-thesis post-baccalaureate degree that requires a minimum course
requirement of 18-24 units taken from the regular course offering in a Master’s Program, basic or
bridging courses, and cognates.
Final examination, more commonly known as the final oral defense, is intended to pass judgment
on the research of the candidate. There shall be three applicable descriptive ratings: Pass,
Provisional Pass, and Re-defense.
Graduate School is a distinct academic unit of the university mandated to offer advanced higher
education courses leading to a diploma, master’s, or a doctorate degree. It will operate on a
decentralized set-up and utilize a matrix organizational design.
Graduate School Faculty is a group of faculty members with equal rights and privileges in the
formulation and implementation of graduate programs and policies. Categorizations include
regular members, adjuncts, and professors emeriti who are qualified to teach in the Graduate
School in accordance with approved policies and guidelines.
Regular members are those who occupy plantilla positions in the university, preferably
from the college hosting the graduate programs.
Adjuncts are those from agencies and institutions other than BU who have been issued
authority to teach in the Graduate School. They also include visiting and exchange
professors and other experts and practitioners.
Professors Emeriti are former professors of BU who contributed significantly to the
accomplishment of the university’s mission and are thus conferred the honorary title
Professor Emeritus.
Matrix organizational design is a structure that deviates from strict vertical units, instead allows
a cross-functional scheme. It means that individuals may report to more than one supervisor for
purposes of utilizing a wide-range of talents and strengths. The design is useful when skills and
resources need to be shared across departments.
Qualifying Examination for Doctoral Programs is a test meant to evaluate the student’s ability
to pursue doctoral study or to determine a suitable program of coursework. The examination is
conducted by the Student Advisory Committee before the student’s registration for the second
semester of residence.
Student Advisory Committee is a panel of especially designated graduate faculty members,
assigned to every student within the semester of admission, for purposes of individualized
academic advising such as course enrollment, degree requirements, as well as other intellectual
and professional concerns. The academic adviser, who is also the thesis/dissertation adviser,
heads the committee. The same committee will also compose the student’s thesis/dissertation
panel of evaluators.
Work in Absentia refers to the conduct of research outside of Bicol University for a considerable
duration, such as those but not limited to, research conducted abroad in collaboration with partner
institutions and laboratories, fellowships or short term scholarships, etc.

30
 Annex 1. Summary Matrix of Graduate Programs

The Graduate School shall offer the following programs, with their corresponding admission
requirements, number of units and major requirements or output.

Types of Graduate Minimum Number of Units Major Requirements

Program Admission
Requirement
1. Doctor of Relevant Master’s 24-36 units 1. Qualifying Examination
Philosophy: Degree 2. Comprehensive Examination
Academic Track 3. Public defense of a theory-building
dissertation
4. Publication in a nationally or
internationally indexed journal or in a
juried creative work outlet

2. Doctor of Relevant Master’s 24-36 units 1. Qualifying Examination

Philosophy: Degree 2. Public defense of a theory-building
Research Track 75% on research dissertation
Research aptitude and 25% on research and 3. Three (3) publications in nationally
skills related courses or internationally indexed journals or
in juried creative work outlets
Or: All units by
research
3. Doctorate Degree: Relevant Master’s 24-36 units 1. Qualifying Examination
Professional Track Degree 2. Comprehensive Examination
3. Public defense of practice-
Five (5) years of based dissertation
related professional
work experience
4. Other Doctorate Exceptional 1. Qualifying Examination
Program Types performance and 20% of common 2. Comprehensive Examination
qualifications coursework max 3. Public defense of a theory-building
or practice-based dissertation
depending on program track
4. Publications in nationally or
internationally indexed journals or in
juried creative work outlets
5. Master’s Program: Relevant Bachelor’s 24 units of coursework 1. Comprehensive Examination
Academic Track Degree 2. Thesis
6 units of thesis 3. Publication in a refereed journal or in
juried creative work outlet
6. Master’s Program: Relevant Bachelor’s 36 units with more
Research Track Degree research than 1. Three (3) publications in refereed
coursework journals or in juried creative work
outlets
Or: All units by research
(no coursework)
3. Master’s Program: Relevant Bachelor’s 30 units of coursework 1. Comprehensive Examination
Professional Track Degree 2. Capstone Project
3 units of capstone or
practice-based project
4. Other Master’s Exceptional 20% of common 1. Comprehensive Examination
Program Types performance in the coursework max 2. Thesis or capstone depending on
Secondary level program track
3. Publications in refereed journals or
in juried creative work outlets
9. Diploma Courses Relevant Bachelor’s 18 units of coursework 1. Special Problem
Degree and 6 units of special
problem

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32