2024 REVISIONS TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

(Based on the context of face-to-face classes)

GENERAL REGULATIONS
 to secure the good order necessary for the effective pursuit of learning, to help the students
attain the level of quality work required of them, and to ensure proper deportment of the entire
student body
 An undergraduate student’s registration is an expression of willingness to abide by all the rules
and regulations prevailing in the University. Every student, therefore, is committed to the
observance of these rules
 Students are in college primarily to achieve academic excellence and develop their total selves
to be persons for, and with, others. The standard set before each student presupposes maturity,
responsibility, and judicious use of the opportunities made available to them
 The University provides enrolled undergraduate students access to physical and virtual facilities
and services through the issuance of a student identification number and official student email
account. Students are expected to use these resources responsibly
 Digital communication by the University to students is through the official announcements,
memorandums and the like. Students are expected to regularly monitor them.
 A student whose parents do not reside in Metro Manila should have a guardian in Metro Manila
who is duly authorized by the parents, and is indicated in the official records the student, to
represent them and with whom the University is to coordinate for matters relating to the
student
 Students are enjoined to utilize support services and resources, e.g. use the library resources
and facilities, engage teachers in academic consultation, and whenever necessary, consult with
health personnel, guidance counselors, career counselors, student affairs personnel, and
campus ministers to support optimal personal development and wellbeing
 The University seeks to maintain safe spaces, free of sexual or gender-based violence,
discrimination, and harassment. All students are enjoined to abide by policies, standards, and
procedures which facilitate the promotion of a gender-inclusive, gender-responsive, and gender-
safe University.
 Students are encouraged to develop a deep Christian faith by regular participation in the
religious exercises and services of the University.
 Students, as individuals or groups, may not use the name and/or seal of the University without
authorization. This applies to printed programs, invitations, announcements, tickets, and similar
materials.
 The regulations governing the payment of tuition and other fees are issued by the admission
department and finance.

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
 Upon joining the Iglesia Ni Cristo School for Ministers, students assume the rights,
responsibilities and obligations as a student.
 Because they are serving a period of intellectual apprenticeship, students are expected to
perform their academic duties according to the proper standards provided by this institution.
They are committed to serious study, the results of which are gauged by the grades they receive.

SECTION I. ENROLMENT REGULATIONS

SECTION II. TRANSFER OF CREDIT AND VALIDATION OF COURSES
SECTION III. ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS (including LOA)
SECTION IV. CO-CURRICULUM COURSES -National Student Training Program (NSTP), Physical
Education (PE)
SECTION V. GRADING SYSTEM (release of grades, transparency of grades, no examination, eligibility
for graduation)
SECTION VI. HONORS AND AWARDS
SECTION VII. OTHER REGULATIONS (transfer credentials, re-admission, etc)

THE 2019 MAGNA CARTA OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ RIGHTS

INTRODUCTION
The state is responsible to nurture and protect the interest of the youth. The state must see to it that
the youth rightfully receive quality education, in order for them to grow into intelligent, conscientious,
civic-minded individuals who will be the foundation of this nation’s future. The Filipino youth is a
thinking youth and the state must ensure that educational institutions will encourage that and not
suppress it.

The school administrations have powerful authority with regard to disallowing students from exercising
their right to organize, and enforcing harsh disciplinary action against students who dare speak their
mind. It has become the prerogative of schools to enact their own rules and regulations, at times
without fully considering the basic rights of their students.

Students who want to involved themselves in demonstrations or organized protests should be given the
freedom to do so and not be subjugated by administration policies and regulations. The Magna Carta for
students ensures and protects the rights and freedoms of students in campuses all over the country.

ARTICLE I. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

 Education is a right of every Filipino - It is the principal institutional mechanism for imparting
knowledge and developing talents and skills so it is given priority by the government.
 It is the responsibility of the State to provide quality and accessible education for all Filipinos at
all levels.
 Student associations and or organizations are venues for the youth to train themselves by
participating in various activities.
 The rights of students to organize and free speech shall be protected. Student organizations
shall not subject any rules and regulations that hamper or infringe their basic rights to organize
and express their opinions.
 The State shall protect and promote campus journalism in every university, facilitate in
establishing student publication in schools where there is none and uphold and protect the
freedom of the press at the campus level.

ARTICLE II. ADMISSION, NON-DISCRIMINATION AND QUALITY EDUCATION

Section I. Right to admission and non-discrimination – No student shall be denied admission to

any school after complying with reasonable and equitable admission requirement. No student shall be
denied admission on account of his/her physical handicap, socio-economic status, political or religious
belief, sexual orientation or membership in student organizations. Pregnant students, certified reformed
drug users, and those suffering from the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome will not be
discriminated against.

Section II. Right to Choose field of Study – A student shall have the right to freely choose
his/her field of study subject to existing curricula and to continue his/her course up to graduation except
in cases of academic deficiency or violation of disciplinary regulations, which do not infringe the exercise
of student rights.

Section III. Right to Competent Instruction and Relevant Quality Education – Every student
shall have the right to competent instruction and quality education relevant to his/her chosen field of
study and his/her personal growth. To aid this goal, schools and educational institutions are required to
conduct reasonable and equitable evaluation of performance of teachers at the end of every
semester/trimester.
There shall be one (1) student representative in the body or committee which screens
incoming faculty members. The student representative should be an elected Student Council officially
endorsed by the majority members of the Councilor a duly appointed student endorsed by the Student
Council.

Section IV. Right to Adequate Welfare Services and Academic Facilities – it shall be the
responsibility of the School Administration to provide adequate Welfare Services and Academic
Facilities. These services and facilities shall include:
(a) Adequate laboratory, library, recreation and physical education facilities;
(b) Free annual physical check-up;
 (c) Counseling;
(d) Communication system to ensure prompt notification of letters and relevant
Information;
(e) Safe and clean student housing such as dormitories. In cases that schools do
Not have dormitories and housing facilities, the school administration and the
student council shall be required to accredit out-of-campus student housing
Facilities such as boarding houses; and
(f) Legal assistance in cases involving the exercise and enjoyment of rights and
Freedoms stipulated in this act.

ARTICLE III. RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

Section I. Right to Organize and to Associate - The right of Students to form, join, actively
participate in any campus organization, association, alliance or federation for their physical, intellectual,
moral, cultural, civic, spiritual and political interests shall not be curtailed, suppressed nor abridged.
Such student formations shall be treated as independent from school or any of its departments, and as
separate and distinct judicial entities.
Pursuant thereto, the practice of making the students sign waiver documents which
state that they are not members of and will not join a specified organization before being allowed to
enroll is hereby prohibited.
Section II. Accreditation of Student Organization - No student organization or association shall
be denied accreditation after fulfilling a reasonable and equitable accreditation requirement unless the
same is created for purposes contrary to law in accordance with the 1987 Philippine Constitution. There
shall be an Accreditation Board on Campus Organizations that shall take charge of the accreditation of
all student organizations in the school campus. It shall be composed of:
(a) Two (2) representatives from the student organizations duly elected by the heads of
all accredited student organizations in the school.
(b) Representative from the Student Council/Government
(c) Representative from the Student Affairs Office
(d) Representative form the school Faculty selected by their association.

Section III. Right to hold Activities- Student organizations and associations shall have the right
to conduct activities inside and outside campus. Any Student activity for purposes not contrary to law
shall not be abridged. The school administration shall not discriminate in the assignment of school
facilities and the granting of other privileges to student organizations. The school administration shall
provide, free of charge, a space, hall or building to house the offices of the different student
organizations within the school campus.
Excessive fees or unreasonable charges for the use of school facilities such as function
rooms shall be prohibited. Whenever possible, the school administration shall allow
organizations to use school facilities free of charge.

Section IV. Prohibited Acts of restraints – Acts that impair the rights of students to organize are
prohibited such as:
(a) Signing of waivers or similar documents that use membership to any organization as
a basis for admission to or expulsion from schools, including the imposition of disciplinary
actions;
(b) Imposition of unreasonable requirements on student organizations seeking
recognition such as but not limited to: imposition of minimum size of membership and in the
imposition of unreasonable community service duties;
(c) Discriminatory policies in the assignment of school facilities and in granting
other privileges to student organizations;
(d) Imposing any user fees and other charges for the use of school facilities on the
basis that such facilities are already being paid for through tuition and other fees;
(e) Imposition of requirements for admission and continued membership to a
student organization that are contrary to law.

Section V. Right to establish a Student Councilor Government - There shall be one university
student councilor government for each school, college or university campus that shall be recognized by
the schools, colleges, and universities concerned. It shall have its own set of officers elected in an annual
popular election; Provided, That the previous practices in choosing student council or government
officers, except in cases of appointment by school administration, prior to the effectivity of this Act shall
be recognized. Although, for these schools whose student council is appointed by the school
administration, a student council election should be held immediately to choose student representatives
among themselves.

Section VI. The Student Council Constitution - There shall be a constitution or a charter of the
student council or government crafted by the heads or representatives of all accredited student
organizations ratified by a simple majority (50% plus 1) of the students who cast their votes in a
ratification that shall lay down the rights, privileges, functions and responsibilities of the student
councilor government. To protect the right of unaffiliated students, the student council shall devise a
mechanism to ensure their representation and participation in the crafting of the constitution.

For schools with existing charters and/or constitution for student councils or government that
have been previously ratified by the students, it will remain in effect even after the implementation of
this Act.
Section VII. Student Council Faculty Advisor - The appointment of a faculty advisor shall not be
a requisite to the establishment and recognition of student council. Should the students, through the
student council constitution or charter, decide to have a faculty advisor, the student council shall have
the right to choose the person to hold such position from among the school faculty, whose functions
shall be limited to technical assistance. The approval of the faculty advisor shall not be a precondition to
the execution of any student council activity.

ARTICLE IV. RIGHT TO EXPRESSION AND FREE SPEECH

Section I. Right to Freedom of Expression - Students shall have the right to freely exercise their
constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and free speech and expression or petition the school
authorities for redress or any grievances. No school regulation shall be imposed violating or abridging
any of the above-mentioned rights. No student may be subjected to any disciplinary action solely on the
basis of any of the above-mentioned rights unless it is outside the confines of freedom of expression.

Section II. Proportionality of offense and sanction - If the exercise of any such constitutional
rights is determined to be outside the confines of freedom of expression upon compliance of due
process, the concept of proportionality between the offense committed and the sanction imposed shall
be followed, provided that the penalty of expulsion, exclusion or forced transfer and the like shall not be
imposed for any infraction or improper conduct that may arise by reason of exercise of any of such
constitutional rights.

Section III. Student Publication Advisor - The editorial board shall have the discretion whether
or not they will appoint a faculty advisor. In case the student publication decides to appoint a faculty
advisor, the editorial board shall have the power to choose its advisor, whose functions shall be limited
merely to technical assistance. The approval of the faculty advisor shall not be a precondition to
publication of written material or photographs.

Section IV. Independence of Student Journalists and Freedom of Threat - Members of the
student publication shall not be suspended, expelled or punished with administrative sanctions solely on
the basis of the articles he/she has written except when such articles constitute a violation of the law. A
student journalist's academic performance as a student shall not be used as basis for his or her dismissal
from the student publication.

ARTICLE V. RIGHT TO INFORMATION

Section I. Right to be informed. -The right of students to information on matters directly or

indirectly affecting their welfare shall be reorganized. Access to official records and other pertinent
documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions shall be afforded the students
subject only to reasonable regulations.

ARTICLE VI. RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS IN DISIPLINARY PROCEDURES

Section I. Right to Due Process - The right to due process of students subjected to disciplinary
proceedings shall be observed and respected.

(a) He shall have the right to defend himself, to be heard and to present evidence on his
behalf before an impartial body.
(b)There shall be an independent Student Disciplinary Board (SDB) to be composed of
one (1) representative from the school administration, two (2) faculty members, two (2) students to
conduct investigation into and decide on cases of student violations of disciplinary standards. For the
purpose of impartiality, members of the SDB shall be chosen from the list of nominees submitted by the
student councilor government from its ranks, the same process will apply for both the school
administration and the faculty.
(c)The blacklisting, expulsion, suspension and other disciplinary sanction that may be
taken against a student shall not be valid unless the following rights have been observed and accorded a
student:

1. The right to be informed in writing of the nature and cause of accusation

against him/her;

2. The right to confront witnesses against him/her and full access to the
evidence in the case;
3. The right to defend himself/herself and to be defended by a representative
or counsel of his/her choice, adequate time being given for the preparation
of his/her defense;
4. The right to a hearing before the Student Disciplinary Board;
5. The right against self-incrimination; and
6. The right to appeal adverse decisions of the Disciplinary Board to the
governing board and ultimately to appropriate agencies of the government.

(d ) The decision in any disciplinary proceeding must be rendered on the basis of

relevant and substantial evidence presented at the hearing, or at least contained in the record and
disclosed to the student affected. The deciding body must act on its own independent consideration of
the facts of the case. The body, shall, in all controversial questions render its decisions in such a manner
that the issue involved and the reason for any decision are made clear to the student.

(e) Disciplinary actions shall be corrective rather than punitive or penal in nature. The
gravity of disciplinary sanctions must be proportionate to the seriousness of the violation committed.

(f) No preventive suspension shall be imposed upon a student by reason on the exercise
of his constitutional rights; provided, that in the cases where preventive suspension may be imposed,
the same shall not be beyond five (5) days.

(g ) The Office of the Guidance Counselor or any office dealing with student discipline of
the respective schools shall publish on a periodic basis acts which are deemed violative of school rules
and regulations and the corresponding disciplinary sanctions. Provided, that such rules and regulations
do not violate the rights guaranteed here and under the Constitution.

(h) In cases where the school administration decides to file any case in court, criminal or
civil, against a student, it may do so only after the Student Disciplinary Board or Tribunal has determined
that the student concerned has committed the same; Provided, However, should the student be found
guilty therefore by the Student Disciplinary Board or Tribunal decide to appeal the decision thereof to
the governing board of the school, DepEd, CHED, or TESDA, the school administration cannot file the
criminal or civil case based on the doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies.

ARTICLE VII. OTHER RIGHTS

 Section I. Rights Against Illegal Searches and Seizures - Any form of unlawful and unreasonable
search and seizures shall be illegal. Articles seized in violation of the herein above right shall be
inadmissible in evidence against the student in disciplinary action that may be brought against him/her.

Section II. Right of Entry - In case of violations of "No ID, No Entry" or uniform policies, the
student concerned shall not be denied entry; Provided, That he/she sufficiently provides proof that
he/she is a bona fide student of the school. Provided however that repetitive violations of campus
regulation on "no ID, no Entry" shall be subject to disciplinary actions by the school governing board.

Section III. Access to School Records and Issuance of Certificates - Subject to the provision of
the following section, every student shall have access to his/her own school records, the confidentiality
of which the school shall maintain. He/she shall have the right to be issued official certificates, diplomas,
transcript of records, grades, transfer credentials and other similar documents within thirty (30) days
from the filing of request and accomplishment of all pertinent requirements

Section IV. Unpaid tuition Fees and Examinations - Student with delinquent fees shall have the
right to take an examination. No student shall be prohibited from taking a periodic or final examination
because of unpaid tuition and other school fees. Nevertheless, such students shall be subject to the right
of the school concerned to withhold the release or issuance of their school clearance prior to the end of
the academic year.