School Policies

The College of Medicine adopts such rules and regulations for discipline as promulgated by the Commission on Higher Education.

The College of Medicine requires the students to attend classes and other official functions of the College in their prescribed uniforms. Wearing the nameplate or identification tag is integral to the uniform. This is necessary not only to identify the students but also as a matter of good conduct and discipline. Failure to be in uniform shall be sufficient cause to ban the student from classes and such other official functions in the College. Such absences shall be considered as unexcused.

Smoking and eating, including drinking alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the classrooms, laboratories, lecture rooms and wards of the Medical Center.

Attendance and Participation in Class

Students are required to attend and participate in class activities beginning the first day of classes. The medium of instruction and communication is English.

All missed work covered by the classes during excused absences shall be made up to the respective instructor and within a reasonable time. When the number of hours incurred by unexcused absences of a student reaches 20 percent of the total number of hours of a course/module, he/she shall be dropped from the course/module.

Time lost by late enrollment shall be considered as time lost by absence, which is unexcused. Exceptions may be decided upon the discretion of the Dean.

If a student is absent from the final examinations, he/she will be given a final grade of X. If his/her absence is justifiable as determined by the faculty in-charge, a special examination may be authorized by the Dean for which a fee shall be charged per subject.

Students who received a grade of X or INC must satisfy all requirements for such a course before the opening of the next academic year. Failure to do so will cause the grade of X or INC to be converted to 5.

In case a student is absent from classes due to illness, a medical certificate from the Infirmary is required so that the absence will be excused.

No other medical certificate shall be entertained. Should the student be bedridden, any member from his/her household can notify the Infirmary immediately. The hospital ambulance with the Infirmary physician can be sent to the students residence for the necessary attention.

Failure to submit the proper medical certificate is cause for the absence to be unexcused.

A first to third year level student, may file a leave of absence from the University on or before the 10th week of classes of each semester, subject to approval by the Dean. Courses that have been completed and graded before the filing date will be considered final; while courses in progress will be considered dropped without credit and therefore not graded.

Similarly, a fourth year student may also file a leave of absence from the University at any time during clerkship or junior internship, subject to approval by the Dean. If the rotations completed and graded comprise 60% of the total rotations, these shall be credited and considered final, while the rotation in progress will be considered dropped without credit and therefore not graded. Otherwise, the clinical clerk shall repeat all the rotations.

Approved leave of absence will be applicable only for that particular school year. The student may request in writing, for an extension of a leave of absence by re-applying for a leave for another year. Leave of absence can only be availed of for two consecutive years.

If a student fails to enroll after the lapse of the approved leave of absence, he/she shall be notified by the registrar, shall be considered Absent Without Leave(AWOL), and shall be dropped from the rolls of the University.

Should a student currently enrolled be absent from classes more than 20% of the attendance, he/she shall be dropped from the rolls due to absences.

Procedures for filing a leave of absence:

1. A student may request for a leave of absence from the college by submitting a request for leave of absence together with a letter of petition indicating the reasons and accompanied by supporting documents to the Dean. This should be accomplished on or before the 10th week of the current semester except in extenuating circumstances like severe illness. In the case of a fourth year student, he/she shall follow the rules of the house staff manual.
2. Once approved, this leave of absence is applicable for one (1) year renewable for a maximum of two (2) years consecutive.
3. When a student returns from a leave of absence, he/she should re-enroll at either the first or second semester in order to take the courses that he/she has not completed in curriculum level when he/she went on LOA.

Honorable dismissal is voluntary withdrawal from the College with the consent of the Dean. All indebtedness to the College must be settled before a statement of honorable dismissal is issued. The statement indicates that the student withdrew in good standing as far as conduct and character are concerned. If a student has been dropped from the roll on account of poor scholarship, a statement to that effect may be added to the dismissal.

A student who withdraws after the first half of the 2nd semester shall be given a grade of 5 in yearly subject where he has unsatisfactory grades. A student who withdraws without completing his deficiency in any subject shall automatically be given a grade of 5.

A student who leaves the College for reason of suspension or expulsion due to disciplinary action shall not be entitled to honorable dismissal. Should he/she be permitted to receive his transcript of records on the certification of his academic status in the university, it shall contain a statement of the disciplinary action rendered against him.

If a student in good standing desires an honorable dismissal, he should present to the Dean a written petition to that effect, signed by his parents or guardian.

A student may get a certified transcript of records upon withdrawal from the College. However, the transcript of records will be forwarded by mail to the school where the student wishes to enroll.

1. A student who receives passing grades in all courses, shall be promoted to the next higher level.
2. A student who receives failing grade in less than 35% of the annual load shall be retained in the same year. He/She may take advanced courses upon the recommendation of the promotion board provided he/she has passed the prerequisite courses. There should be no conflicts in schedule and his/her load shall not exceed 70% of the total annual load.
3. A student who receives failing grade in 35% or more of the annual load shall be dropped from the rolls of the college.
4. A student who fails a course for the second time shall be dropped from the rolls.
5. All courses with a grade of INC must be completed before the opening of the next academic year or at a date set by the Promotion Board.
6. A shall enter clinical clerkship at the start of the semester.

Students will be given their final grades at the end of the semester.Grades will be submitted to the promotions board no later than three (3) weeks after the final examinations for year levels one to three. For fourth year students, final grades for all rotations will be submitted to the Junior Internship Coordinator within two (2) weeks after each rotation.

The faculty will advise students of their class standing in the middle of the semester and at the end of the semester. Incomplete grades and deferred assessment grades should be completed or remediated before the next academic year or school year based on previous rules in the handbook.

• Grades of students from Level I to V are reported as follows:

Number	Percent	Descriptive
1.00	97-100	Excellent
1.25	94-96	Excellent
1.50	91-93	Very Good
1.75	88-90	Very Good
2.00	85-87	Good
2.25	83-84	Good
2.50	80-82	Fair
2.75	77-79	Passed
3.00	75-76	Passed
5.00	Below 75	Failed
IP	In Progress (for the first part of a one year subject)
X	Absent from exam
INC	Incomplete/ Deficient in requirements
W	Dropped without credit
LOA	Leave of Absence
GW	Grade Withheld
FA	Failed due to Absences

1. The grading system (cumulative or averaging) may vary according to the subject and the Instructor (e.g. the basic physical and biological science subjects as compared to general education subjects).
2. There is no grade of “4”. No removal exams are given to 3rd and 4th year students.
3. Final grades depend primarily on class performances, quizzes, practical exams & Prelim, Midterm and Final examinations or other officially sanctioned examinations.
4. In the computation of final grade equivalent, the College follows the standard Arithmetical Guidelines: When the whole number is an odd number, the fraction of 0.50 and above shall be rounded off to the next higher number. When the whole number is an even number the fraction of and above shall be rounded off to that whole number. Fractions to be considered would be up to two decimal points only.
5. EXCEPTION: 74.5 & above can be rounded off into 75. EXAMPLE: 73.70 = 74; 74.70 = 75
6. Parents and guardians shall be informed by mail of the grades of the students after the Final examination of each semester.

1. Schedule for formal examination is posted on bulletin boards. These are also available from the Office of the Dean.
2. Students should be in complete uniform and are required to follow all instructions given during the examination time.
3. A student will be asked to sign his name upon receiving his examination papers and upon submitting the same.
4. During examination, students are not allowed to leave assigned places without the permission of the proctors.
5. The use of cell phones or any electronic device is prohibited during examination time.
6. Cheating during examination is punishable under the Code of Conduct of Students.
7. Anybody who comes late in an examination will be given an examination but he will have to submit the examination paper on the scheduled time.
8. A fee shall be charged for each special examination requested by the students.

For excused absences, a special examination is given upon request by the students.