THE POLYTECHNIC University of the Philippines will ease academic workload and implement a new grading system for the 2nd semester of Academic Year 2020-2021 under which students will not be given a failing grade.

The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs said faculty members should refrain from giving assignments such as oral reports, graded recitations, and interactive discussions.

Instead, the teachers were instructed to develop students’ self confidence and communication skills during synchronous sessions.

The university said the decision was due to the “limitations” of distance learning.

“Amidst the dire problems and ubiquitous challenges our academic institution and systems have been facing since the onset of Covid19 pandemic and its current deadlier surge, the PUP Executive Committee, through the OVPAA, is enacting an easing of academic requirements and a new grading system within the pandemic period,” Vice President for Academic Affairs Emanuel De Guzman said.

He instructed teachers to give reasonable number of graded exercises or activities in skill-based/board courses such as architecture, engineering, accountancy, I.T., mathematics, and statistics.

Because of possible technological errors, faculty members were told to set a minimum of two announced quizzes for the semester. Learners must be given sufficient time to answer the exams.

De Guzman said that teachers must only require final examination/project as a major assessment.

Under the new grading system, De Guzman said students in both online and correspondence mode shall not be given a failing grade.

If a student fails to submit academic requirements or attend online classes regularly, they shall only be given an Incomplete remark.

“The completion period is now extended to two years, instead of just one year, from the issuance of the INC. Those who failed to submit course requirements within the new 2-year completion period shall be given a Withdrawn remark instead of 5.0,” he said.