Basis of Discipline
23.1 Students shall at all times observe the laws of the land and the rules and regulations
of the college.
23.2 No disciplinary proceedings shall be instituted except for conduct prohibited by law or by the rules and regulations promulgated by duly constituted authority of the college.
23.3 All College personnel are mandated to enforce and supervise overall compliance to this Code in their respective areas of responsibility. For purposes of implementing College policies, rules and regulations and the provisions of this Code, the President, Vice Presidents, College Deans, Directors, Department Chairmen, High school principal, and all members of the faculty and security force are all deemed persons in authority.
Rights of Students
23.4 Among the basic rights appertaining to students as members of the academic community are:
23.4.1 Freedom of inquiry and expression, within the campus, in curricular activities and in extracurricular student affairs to include the right not only to accurate information, but also to hear any opinion on any subject of public or general concern. They may have the right to invite outside speakers, and school authorities may not veto their invitation solely on the basis of the credentials of the speakers;
23.4.2 Procedural fairness in disciplinary proceedings to include right not be punished for acts that were not grounds for disciplinary action when they were committed; right to written notice of the charges and reasonable time to answer them and prepare for their hearing; right to hearing before suspension or expulsion, unless summary suspension is clearly authorized in limited cases; right to an impartial judge; right to be assisted by a counsel; right to confront and question adverse witnesses; right to present defense; right to be informed of the decision and right to appeal the decision to higher authorities where allowed, and thereafter to the courts; and
23.4.3 Participation in the governance of the institution.
Disciplinary Grounds and Penalties
23.5 A student shall be subject to disciplinary action for any of the following acts:
23.5.1 Any form of cheating in examinations or any act of dishonesty in relation to his studies. Specifically the following acts shall constitute cheating and shall be punishable here under:
- Unauthorized possession of notes or any material relative to the examination, particularly when those are actually used;
- Copying from others examination papers or allowing another to copy from one examination paper;
- Having somebody else take the examination for him/her (in which case both shall be liable hereunder);
- Passing as one's own work any assign report, term paper, case analysis, reaction paper, and the like copied from another.
23.5.1.2 Any student found guilty shall be penalized with suspension for not less than fifteen (15) calendar days but not more than thirty (30) calendar days. This means that (a) all cases that involved dishonesty shall be investigated by the department but shall automatically be subjected to review by the College Dean; and (2) any student found guilty of cheating/dishonesty shall be barred from graduating with honors, even if their weighted average grade is within the requirement for the graduation with honors.
23.5.2 Tampering with, falsifying or causing the falsification of any official document like registration cards, transcripts of record, identification cards, certification, and other documents of similar nature or purpose:
23.5.2.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized as follows: (1.) For the first offense, by suspension for a period of not less than one (1) semester, but not more than one (1) year; (2) For the second offense, the penalty shall be Expulsion.
23.5.3 Hazing in all organizations
23.5.3.1 Any student found guilty under Republic Act No. 8049, otherwise known as “An Act Regulating Hazing and Other Forms of Initiation Rites in
Fraternities, Sororities, and Organizations shall be penalized as follows: (1.) For the first offense, by suspension for a period of not less than one (1) semester, but not more than one (1) year; (2) For the second offense, the penalty shall be Expulsion; Provided further that where the hazing committed causes death, the respondent shall be meted with expulsion on the first offense without prejudiced to the filing of appropriate court charges against the respondent
23.5.4 Sexual Harassment
23.5.4.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized as follows: (1.) For the first offense, by suspension for a period of not less than one (1) semester, but not more than one (1) year; (2) For the second offense, the penalty shall be Expulsion.
23.5.5 Rape at any stage of execution
23.5.5.1 Any student found guilty of the offense, the penalty shall be Expulsion and turn over to the proper law enforcing authority.
23.5.6 Gross acts of disrespect, in word or in deed, which tend to put any member of the faculty administration or non-teaching staff in ridicule or contempt:
23.5.6.1 Any student found guilty of above shall be penalized with suspension for not less than thirty (30) calendar days, but not more than one (1) semester;
Provided, that the penalty for the second offense shall be suspended for a year; and provided further, that shall the student assault, strike, or inflict physical violence upon any College official, faculty member or person in authority, the penalty shall be Expulsion.
23.5.7 Carrying of any deadly weapon, such as firearms, explosives, ice picks, knives, and the like within the College premises:
23.5.7.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized as follows: (1) For the first offense, suspension for a period not less than one (1) semester but not more than one (1) year; For the second offense, suspension for a period of not less than thirty (30) calendar days but not more than one (1) semester. For the third offense, the penalty shall be Expulsion; Provided, that shall the deadly weapon be a firearm, the penalty for first offense shall be suspension for not less than thirty (30) calendar days; Provided, that shall the student be found guilty for the fourth time, the penalty shall be Expulsion.
23.5.8 Possession or use of prohibited drugs, such as Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), marijuana, heroin, shabu or opiate of any kind:
23.5.8.1 Any student found guilty above shall be penalized with suspension for not less than fifteen (15) calendar days, but not more than forty-five (45) calendar days; Provided, that shall the student be found guilty for the third time, the penalty shall be Expulsion.
23.5.9 Creating within the college premises disorder, chaos, breach of peace, or serious disturbance:
23.5.9.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized with suspension for not less than fifteen (15) calendar days, but not more than forty-five (45) calendar days;
Provided, that shall the student be found guilty for the third time, the penalty shall be suspended for a year.
23.5.10 Vandalism or damaging college property
23.5.10.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized with suspension for not less than fifteen (15) calendar days, but not more than forty-five (45) calendar days; Provided, that shall the student be found guilty for the third time, the penalty shall be suspended for a year. In addition, the student may also be required to pay for the repair and/or replacement of the damaged property.
23.5.11 unlawfully taking college property
23.5.11.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized with suspension for not less than fifteen (15) calendar days, but not more than forty-five (45) calendar days; Provided, that shall the student be found guilty for the third time, the penalty shall be Expulsion. In addition, the student may also be required to pay for, or replace the stolen property.
23.5.12 drinking of alcoholic beverages within academic and administrative buildings, dormitories, and the immediate premises thereof or drunken behavior within the college premises:
23.5.12.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized with suspension for not less than seven (7) calendar days, but not more than thirty (30) calendar days; Provided, that shall the student be found guilty for the fourth time, the penalty shall be suspended for a year.
23.5.13 Gambling, betting or similar engagement in any game of chance within the college premises:
- Any student found guilty shall be penalized with suspension for not less than seven (7) calendar days, but not more than thirty (30) calendar days;
Provided, that the student be found guilty for the fourth time, the penalty shall be suspended for a year.
23.5.14 Disgraceful or immoral conduct within the college premises:
- Any student found guilty shall be penalized with suspension for not less than seven (7) calendar days, but not more than thirty (30) calendar days.
Provided, that shall the student be found guilty for the third time the penalty shall be suspended for a year.
23.5.15 Smoking is strictly prohibited within the college premises:
23.5.15.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized with suspension for not less than seven (7) calendar days, but not more than thirty (30) calendar days. Provided, that shall the student be found guilty for the third time the penalty shall be suspended for a year.
23.5.16 climbing over the fence
23.5.16.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized with suspension for not less than seven (7) calendar days, but not more than thirty (30) calendar days. Provided, that shall the student be found guilty for the third time the penalty shall be suspended for a year.
23.5. 17 Acts of bribery to gain favor in violation of the standards of instruction:
23.5.17.1 Any student found guilty shall be penalized as follows: (1) For the first offense, suspension for a period not less than seven (7) days but not more than thirty (30) calendar days; For the second offense, suspension for a period of not less than thirty (30) calendar days but not more than one (1) semester. For the third offense, the penalty shall be suspended for a year.
23.5.18 Habitual disregard or willful violation of established policies and regulations, such as wearing of school uniform and the use of the school ID:
- Any student found guilty in the first and subsequent offenses shall be exclusion from classes and be declared absent and non admittance to College offices or facilities.
23.5.19 any other forms of disciplinary grounds.
23.5.19 Any student found guilty of disciplinary grounds not mentioned above may be penalized with the least penalty above or shall be determined by the grievance committee.
23.6 The disciplinary action that may be imposed for violations of the disciplinary grounds above may take the form of expulsion, suspension from the College, withholding of graduation and other privileges, withdrawal of registration privileges, permanent disqualification from enrollment, exclusion from any class, reprimand warning, or expression of apology.
23.7 The gravity of the offense committed and the circumstances attending its commission shall determine the nature of the disciplinary action or penalty to be imposed.
23.8 The College Dean may impose the penalty of suspension for a period not exceeding one (1) semester. If he/she deems suspension for a longer period or expulsion warranted, he/she shall so recommend to the VP for Academic Affairs, who shall refer the case to the President, for final decision.