Office of General Education and Mission
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY PLEDGE
I, ____________________, affirm that I have read and understood the
provisions below on course policies regarding course materials, course outputs,
course behavior & concerns, and course correspondence upon enrolling in this course.
To ensure that the objectives of the course are achieved and the utilization of the learning
management system is maximized, the class shall be bound by the following provisions on course and
classroom policies. Each student is expected to abide by these rules at all times to foster academic
integrity throughout the term.
A. Course Materials
In the conduct of the course, the students are expected to uphold honesty
and integrity at all times. The study materials are composed of the academic
properties of the course instructor and the authors of the copyrighted materials. As
such, no part of these materials shall be copied in any manner and no part of the
synchronous discussions shall be recorded without the written permission of the
instructor and/or the author concerned, nor shall these be distributed, and/or sold to
a third person.
All course materials are strictly for the students’ personal education and
study. Unauthorized use of the course materials shall be treated as a violation of the
university policy on honesty and an infringement of copyright laws.
General Education courses generally utilizes and requires students to use the
prescribed text/workbook crafted by USC professors who have designed the course
that is suited to the needs of Carolinians. Students are expected to acquire their
personal copies from the university’s Textbook Section. Additional discussion inputs
may be provided by the respective learning facilitators on the Learning Management
System of the course. Also, with the myriad of scholarly platforms subscribed to by
the university for the benefit of the entire student population and made available via
the ISMIS accounts, as well as the availability of numerous resource materials online
and in the university library, students are expected to maximize the use of these
sites.
B. Course Outputs & Submissions
All outputs, including examinations and short activities, submitted by the
students should be original works, unless specified in the instructions to be a
collection of existing samples from various sources. In any case, attribution to
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authors using APA format must be made at all times, unless the chosen journal for
the final output requires a different citation format.
Cheating and plagiarism are strictly prohibited. Outputs and conduct in
examinations that violate this provision shall automatically be discredited and the
professor shall have the option to fail the student on the basis of such offense. Any
instance of cheating or any work that is plagiarized by the student shall be dealt with
accordingly and, if necessary, legally. The university policy on honesty as well as the
provisions of the copyright laws, when applicable, shall be considered in addressing
the matter.
Any work required from the students should be submitted on or before the
date and time set. Instructions for activities shall be available within at least a week
prior to submission deadline to give students ample time to work, unless the nature
of the task requires short notice.
For online submissions via Canvas, the system will however automatically
restrict the viewing and submission of the output beyond the date and time set as
deadline. Late submissions may be accepted when the reason is deemed legitimate
as indicated in a (1) formal letter signed by the student and duly noted by the
parent/guardian together with the (2) applicable valid documentary proof. When
accepted due to valid reason/s, a minimum of three-point deduction, for every ten
days beyond deadline, shall be made from the score obtained, in the absence of an
agreement approved by the class at the beginning of the term.
C. Student Behavior
Respect is vested in each and everyone in class. The professor and the
students are expected to speak with tact and act with kindness and empathy
throughout the term. During on-site classes, everyone’s opinion and voices shall be
heard for the purpose of intellectual discussion, provided appropriate language is
used. Disrespectful language and behavior shall not be tolerated. The interactive
nature of the course coupled with the exchanges of ideas and opinions shall not be
taken as a license to disrespect others.
With the current set up of blended learning, incorporating both onsite and
online classes, everyone should be mindful of and practice proper online etiquette or
netiquette when interacting with anybody in the platform. Responsible use of online
platforms is necessary at all times. The Learning Management System of the class as
well as other platforms utilized by the students cannot be used to advance hate and
violence toward others. Violations shall be dealt with accordingly, and legally, if
necessary.
D. Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes in accordance with the schedules
set by the university, the department, and the professor. With the resumption of prepandemic policies in the university, rules on attendance and tardiness shall be
reimplemented. A fifteen-minute grace period is granted to everyone before being
marked late. Arriving beyond the first 30 minutes of the class hours shall be deemed
an absence from the session. Attendance cards are handed over during face-to-face
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sessions and students must be able to affix their signatures. Failure to do so shall be
taken against the student concerned.
In addition, for every three cumulative absences incurred, whether
consecutive or non-consecutive, in all face-to-face and online synchronous sessions
combined, a student shall be required to secure a re-admission slip from the
respective department Chair and Dean. Once duly processed, the student shall
present the slip together with a commitment letter to attend sessions regularly.
Commitment letters must be duly signed by him/her and the parent/guardian. Only
upon full compliance shall the student be re-admitted to classes. Compliance of all
missed activities shall be subject to the rules on excused absences. Any student who
incurs a total of seven absences for MW or TTh classes or a total of ten absences for
MWF classes shall be automatically dropped from the class list and shall receive a 5.0
as final grade.
Absences from sessions are highly discouraged. In the event that a student
cannot make it to class due to a (1) school activity, (2) medical condition, (3) filial
responsibilities, and (4) emergency situations that may or may not fall under the
three aforementioned cases, shall only be considered excused upon the submission
via email of a (1) formal letter signed by the student and duly noted by the
parent/guardian together with the (2) applicable valid documentary proof depending
on the reason. Only after such compliance may a student be allowed to comply with
the requirement missed due to the absence.
Furthermore, it shall be the responsibility of the student to know what
transpired during the session and comply with any activity missed.
E. Course Correspondences & Concerns
The official platform for correspondence shall be e-mail. Only official USC email addresses shall be allowed and entertained, unless it is highly impossible due to
circumstances beyond the parties’ control. However, the parties may agree on
additional platforms to be used subject to the same rules provided in this pledge.
Unless the circumstances warrant or otherwise agreed by the parties, correspondences
must be made during school and office hours only.
When communicating your concerns or interacting via the agreed platform/s,
conciseness and concreteness of messages are to be observed. Always use appropriate
professional language only and refrain from using profanity, online jargons, politically
incorrect remarks, and other similar words. Constructive criticisms are encouraged
while sarcasm and distasteful jokes are prohibited.
All class-related concerns, such as, but not limited to, questions, clarifications,
complaints, violent reactions, and others must be coursed through the class
representative only, unless it is very personal and confidential that it must be directly
addressed to the learning facilitator only. Correspondence may be done through the
provided contact details only. It is highly advised that communication shall only be
done through the proper channels and during class hours, unless the circumstance
warrants.
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Students are highly discouraged from automatically posting rants about the
course, the instructor, and the class in general without clarifying the matter first with
the teacher. While freedom of speech and expression is respected, any form of
irresponsible use of digital platforms shall make students liable for any malicious
imputations posted online, regardless if there is the presence or absence of any such
malicious intent.
F. Grading System
For all class activities, whether minor or major tasks and outputs, the cut-off
score is 50% of the total number of points set. Every student shall be graded
according to Class Standing activities and Major Outputs/Exams required. Depending
on the nature of the course, major written exams may not be administered and task
incorporating all topics discussed shall instead be given.
The students’ grades shall be objectively scored. Rubrics for specific activities
shall be provided on Canvas or in person to guide the students. Grades shall always
be based on the following components:
o Class




Standing (CS)
Written & Oral Exercises/Seatworks
Session Activities
Assignments/Research Drafts
Objective Quizzes
o Major Exams (ME)
 Revised Drafts
 Final Research Article
 Published or Submitted/Acknowledged Article
Computation of grades shall be done in the manner indicated in this pledge.
Any deviations, if favorable to the students, may be imposed by the learning
facilitator, provided that the students be made aware beforehand of such
computation prior to implementation. Students shall be allowed to compute their
grades based on the scores provided on their Canvas accounts and/or through the
preparation of a compilation of graded tasks before the submission of the midterm
and final grades. In case of disparity between their computation and that of the
learning facilitator, it shall be the right of the student to complain about the matter
via agreed correspondence platforms while observing proper decorum.
o Midterm Grade (MG):
2/3 CS + 1/3 ME
o Tentative-Final Grade (TFG): 2/3 CS + 1/3 ME
o Semi-Final Grade (SFG):
1/2 MG + 1/2 TFG
o Final Grade:
SFG – Incentives*
*Incentives: 0.1 deduction for perfect attendance from the start
of the implementation of pledge
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G. Other Matters
The blended learning modality implemented shall mean that student learning
shall be through onsite and online. Subject to existing laws and directives from the
government, the university, the school, and/or the department, students are highly
expected to attend all sessions. Only in highly exceptional circumstances, proven and
warranted by the situation, shall exceptions be allowed. For these arrangements, the
learning facilitator and the respective department shall be informed of the situation.
For online classes, the university’s Learning Management System (LMS) shall
be utilized at all times unless the use of external applications are specified and
announced to optimize learning. The platform is utilized for academic purposes only.
Any illegal or obscene activities practiced or generated through the platform is
absolutely disallowed. Sale of any product or service, unrelated to the course, shall
not be tolerated. All other inappropriate practices and content proliferated in the
platform, not covered by any of the foregoing provisions, shall not be tolerated.
Proper sanctions shall be meted to any violations of the student handbook
and the course policies. Students must be aware that anything posted online shall
forever remain on the web, regardless if such has been posted on the platforms
concerned. Thus, students are expected to always think before they click to avoid
unfavorable repercussions.
Furthermore, matters concerning course assessment learning and grading,
attendance, class participation, expected tasks and outputs, and other similar topics
are discussed and clarified during the class orientation at the beginning of the term.
Anything discussed and agreed during such session shall bind everyone in class,
regardless if the student was absent or has not yet been enrolled at the time the
session was conducted.
Any and all instruction/s discussed and/or presented during on-site and online sessions as well
as those posted through the official Learning Management System that functions as a class policy
after this Academic Integrity Pledge is signed, shall also bind the students. Provided however, that
such instruction/s shall have been properly explained either orally or in writing for easy understanding
of the students. Provided further, that such instruction/s do not run counter to any of the provisions
stipulated in this Academic Integrity Pledge, unless such instruction/s is adaptive to the changing
times or in accordance with new institutional and/or governmental policies implemented within the
semester.
Finally, accomplishing the Academic Integrity Pledge at the beginning of the term is necessary
before the student is allowed to continue with the tasks and activities that will be required in class
throughout the term. As this document contains all the general course and classroom policies to be
observed this semester, this shall then be considered as a class contract that binds the student to all
stipulations. Additionally, this document may be used in any forum, when warranted by the situation,
such as, but not limited to, complaints and legal actions among others.
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CONFORME
By affixing my signature below and on the left margin of every page that
precedes this sheet, I am also conscious of the consequences of any form of violation
to the provisions herein stipulated, and hereby fully and unconditionally agree and
bind myself to the class policies and the rules and regulations as stated within.
Furthermore, I attest that all entries I have provided in this Academic Integrity
Pledge are true and correct. Any misrepresentations I have made can be used against
me in any forum and may be taken into consideration in looking into my standing in
this class/course. In case of discrepancies, the original copy of the pledge as uploaded
on Canvas by the professor shall prevail and not the student’s signed copy.
Recent Photo:
2x2
(5.08 cm x 5.08 cm)
Mobile Number:
______________________________
USC E-mail Address: ______________________________
Personal E-mail Address: ___________________________
Present Address:
______________________________
Parent’s / Guardian’s Name: ______________________________
Parent’s / Guardian/s Contact Number: _____________________
______________________________
Signature over Printed Name
______________________________
Degree Program & Year Level
______________________________
Date Signed
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