NEARLY one of four Architecture sophomores will not be admitted in June following a stricter grade cut-off as well as a “no failure” policy.
A total of 130 students out of 525 were debarred from the College of Architecture after failing to meet a general weighted average (GWA) of 2.32. As a result, 12 sections will be cut to eight.
“There are students who already failed their general education and major subjects during the first semester, and there are those who just did not meet the cut-off,” College secretary Warren Maneja said in an interview. “Some of the students even dropped their courses despite good grades.”
In his Facebook status last April 4, Architecture Dean John Joseph Fernandez clarified that the cut-off had been adjusted several times.
“If the college [were] to enforce the true cut-off score, it [would] be at 2.21. It was lowered twice—at 2.25, and eventually at 2.32—without any failing grade,” he explained.
The college also plans to include physical education and the National Service Training Program in the no-failure policy next school year.
“The GWA cut-off and no-failure policy are designed to promote a very competitive yet a very nurturing kind of Architecture [program],” Maneja said. “We’re trying to let the students understand that college is already to be taken seriously.”
A cut-off and no-failure policy was also introduced to prevent a shortage of classrooms and teachers. Changes in the cut-off were due to appeals filed by parents, he said.
Students were properly informed of the policies through waiver forms—which required parents’ signatures—room-to-room orientations, and a meeting with parents, he added.
An Architecture student who was unable to meet the cut-off said the measure is “unreasonable.”
“I just hope they give us another chance like attending summer classes. They should have called the attention of affected students who did not qualify and laid down some options for us,” she said.
But Bea Sy who met the cut-off but had one failing grade, said the policy would be effective.
“I am in favor [of the cut-off grade] and I think it is one way of assuring [everyone] that the college will produce more competent students,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tania Lachica, who passed all subjects but did not reach the cut-off, said there were advantages and disadvantages.
“Its advantage is that once you become aware of the college’s policy, you will really strive hard to study well and survive. The disadvantage comes when you fail—the ‘what now’ and ‘where to shift’ confusion. [There’s a loss] of direction, in other [words],” she said.
