SCHOLARSHIP grant is “not a matter of right but a mere privilege,” University of the East President Ester Garcia said in answer to students who questioned the revocation of the scholarship of those who received failing marks last semester.

Last week, representatives of student groups expressed dismay over the denial of the renewal of scholarships for 2nd semester of School Year 2020-2021.

The student body said that scholarship should be renewed on a semestral basis given that scholars obtained a general weighted average of 1.60 or higher.

However, Garcia said that scholars must “at all times meet all the conditions” to qualify. Failure to meet one or more of these conditions would lead to the revocation of the scholarship.

“The said terms and conditions are continuing requirements that should be maintained by a scholar in order for him to retain his status, as scholarship grant is not a matter of right but a mere privilege granted to qualified students burdened with conditions that may be set by the grantor,” she said.

Garcia said that scholars must at all times maintain all the qualifications for scholarship including the required general weighted average, academic load of at least 18 units, no failing grade or drop mark in any subject, enrolled in the same degree in which a student was previously registered, and no record of misconduct and misbehavior.

The students said the scholars were not informed of the new policy and the UE administration did not issue any memorandum regarding the matter.

Garcia however said the school is implementing an old policy.

“If there are grantees in the previous semesters who were still granted despite having failing grades, due to mere inadvertence on the part of the University, the latter cannot be precluded much less be stopped in implementing its scholarship guidelines. As regards the student bodies’ imputation that the implementation of the policy was made without notice, the same cannot hold water,” Garcia said.