DO 18, s. 1994 – Guidelines for Offsetting Inadequate Class Days Or Lack of Final Examinations Due to Actions Taken by Protesting Students

March 16, 1994
DO 18, s. 1994
Guidelines for Offsetting Inadequate Class Days Or Lack of Final Examinations Due to Actions Taken by Protesting Students

To: Bureau Directors, Regional Directors and Schools Superintendents
Presidents of Slate Colleges and Universities
Heads of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities
Vocational School Superintendents/Administrators

  1. This Office expresses its concern over a series of recent student protest actions which have affected certain public and private colleges and universities in various regions of the country.
  2. While the right to express student grievances is recognized by this Office, it is also important to stress that such right may not be exercised in order to prevent freedom of access into and exit from the premises of the school by other students, especially those attending classes. The act of putting up, manning or maintaining a barricade by any stud¬ent or group of students in order to prevent entry or exit to or from the school premises shall be considered a serious infraction of school discipline for which disciplinary adminis¬trative sanctions ranging from suspension to exclusion may be imposed, at the discretion of the school concerned and in accordance with its existing rules and regulations.
  3. Also in connection with such protest actions, the head of any private school, col¬lege or university affected by student protest actions and which have prevented the holding of classes is authorized (a) to allow absences even beyond twenty (20%) percent of the pre¬scribed number of class or laboratory periods prescribed in the DECS Manual of Regula¬tions for Private Schools, especially if alternative schemes to enable completion of minimum class requirements are not possible, and (b) to grant final grades based upon individual student performances prior to final examinations, again, should it not prove possible lo hold final examinations, and provided no mass promotions are involved. In either case, the appropriate DECS Regional Office should be so notified.
  4. State colleges and universities may adopt the above policies through appropriate action by their respective Boards of Regents, if such policies are not already reflected in their official rules and regulations.
  5. For immediate dissemination.

References: DECS Orders: Nos. 35, s. 1993 and 92, s.1992
Allotment: 1-2-3-4—(M.O.1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:

CLASSES
SCHOOLS
POLICY
STUDENTS

DO_s1994_018