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Academics

Academic Regulations

Academic Load

  • The maximum number of units is based on the approved curriculum. For exceptional cases, graduating students are allowed to carry a load which is more than the maximum units load.

PE, ROTC, NSTP and Euthenics are not included in the computation of the maximum number of academic units allowed.

Number of Units

  • One unit of credit is one-hour lecture or recitation or three hours laboratory, drafting or shop work, for each week within a period of complete semester. Pre-requisite subjects should be satisfied first before taking a subject of a higher level.

Petitioned Subjects

  • A petitioned subject is one which is not a regular offering of the semester when it is requested, but the students need it for one reason or another. On the other hand, a regular subject offering is one which is listed under a particular semester in a curricular year of the approved program of studies. The offering of a petitioned subject is allowed when the students requesting the same are graduating that particular semester or to regularize the load of students who are graduating the following semester. Petitioned courses are subject to the viability guidelines of the university.

Dropping/Changing/Adding of Subjects

  • Dropping, changing and adding of subjects is allowed within the first five days of the semester/term and within the first two days during the summer term. A fee shall be charged for every subject dropped or substituted.

Attendance

  • Classroom attendance of students is closely monitored. In consonance with the provisions of the Manual of Regulations for Private Schools, a student who incurs absences of more than twenty (20) percent of the prescribed number of lecture/laboratory class hours shall be dropped and not be given credit for the course or subject.

Examination

  • There are three (3) major examinations which every student must take during a semester: the preliminary, midterm and final examinations. During the summer term, only midterm and final examinations are administered.
  • An examination permit authenticated by the Finance Officer must be presented before a student is allowed to take any examination. The teacher/proctor must check and sign the examination permit of the student and put it in record accordingly. The schedule for administering examination should be strictly followed.
  • A special examination may be given to students who fail to take the examination on the scheduled date provided the reason is meritorious as determined by the Dean. Special examinations should be conducted within the week succeeding the regular schedule of examinations. Schedule of examination will be initiated by the concerned faculty and duly approved by the Dean concerned. Special examinations taken without the approval or consent of the dean concerned or scheduled outside the approved schedule will not be considered official and valid.

Computerized Grading System

  • The grades of college students in all programs are computerized. The Center for Information and Communication Technology (CICT) through its Electronic Data Processing (EDP) component located at the Office of the Registrar provides the service.

Grading System

  • Standard formula in computing grades is as follows:
    – Preliminary Grade (60% Class Standing + 40% Major Exam)
    – Midterm Grade (60% Class Standing + 40% Major Exam)
    – Endterm Grade (60% Class Standing + 40% Major Exam)
    – Final Grade = (Prelim Grade + Midterm Grade + Endterm Grade)  / 3
  • The Class Standing is the sum total of the evaluation of the students recitations, quizzes/tests, homework, seatwork, themes, experiments, laboratory exercises, class report, projects and the like.
    Lecture and laboratory grades are computed into one grade only, the proportion of which depends upon the policy of the college concerned.

Rating System

  • The University has adopted the numerical, 5-point, system for the graduate and undergraduate level with the following grade equivalent description:
    1.00 98 – 100 Superior
    1.25 95 – 97
    1.50 92 – 94
    1.75 89 – 91 Above average
    2.00 86 – 88
    2.25 83 – 85 Average
    2.50 80 – 82
    2.75 77 – 79
    3.00 75 – 76
    5.00 / 4.00 70 – 74 * Conditional Failure/Incomplete
  • *This requires a removal examination which should be taken within ten (10) days after the last day of examination for that particular semester/summer term. The highest grade that can be obtained is a grade of 3.0. Failure to take and pass the same is equivalent to a grade of 5.0.

Incomplete, Officially Dropped and Dropped Notations

The following marks may appear on the students scholastic records:

  1. Incomplete (INC) – This is a mark given to a student who fails to take the Final Examination or fails to submit the requirements of a course or subject and who, otherwise, would have a passing grade. To be given such mark, the student must have a passing grade in the prelims and midterm An Incomplete Grade that is given as a result of failure to take the final examination must be completed through a special examination taken before the opening of the next semester immediately following the semester when the failure to take the final examination was incurred. However when the Incomplete Grade is a result of the failure to submit a requirement of the course, it can be completed within one year from the date it is incurred. In both cases, failure to meet the requirements within the time frame allotted, the INC will automatically become a failing grade. Moreover, graduating students must remove any INC mark on or before the prelim examination during the semester of graduation by properly accomplishing the Completion Form (NWU-Reg-006,006.1). In all the above situations, the Completion Form (NWU-Reg-006) should be duly accomplished. A Removal Examination is given to students who incur a doubtful passing grade (70-74 average) to obtain a passing grade. However, taking the removal exam is not an assurance to get a passing grade. This is given within ten (10) days after the last day of examination during the particular semester. The 70-74 grade shall not be reflected in the grading sheet but recorded in the teachers class record. A removal grade should not be higher than a grade of 3.0. Moreover, test booklet should be marked as Removal and submitted with other examination booklets.
  2. Officially Dropped (OD) – This mark is given to a student who officially withdraws his enrollment from the course/subject(s), provided the withdrawal is made before midterm examination. The student who is withdrawing from the course should be advised to accomplish the Dropping Withdrawing Form (NWU-AM-002).
  3. Dropped (UD) – This mark is given to a student who has incurred absences which is more than twenty percent (20%) of the prescribed number of lecture/laboratory hours in a subject, provided that such absences incurred before the midterm examination. Otherwise, the student shall be given a failing grade of 5.0.

Retention
Any student who incurs failures in 50 percent or more of his total units during the last semester he was enrolled at the University may be readmitted in the same program only under the following conditions:

  1. The student will sign a written statement that he will improve on his academic performance, duly signed by the academic dean and approved by the VP for Admission.
  2. The Dean may reduce the students maximum load as he deems fit.
  3. The student will be referred to the Guidance Center for guidance and counseling.
  • A student who incurred failures in 75 percent or more of his total units will be advised to shift to another course.