by Glen Andrea Omandam
The Silliman University (SU) Board of Trustees (BOT) officially adopted a university-wide zero-based grading system beginning academic year 2026-2027, replacing the varying grading systems previously used by different colleges.
The new grading policy aims to unify grading practices across all academic units.
The policy was approved via BOT action on Aug. 27, 2025, and was discussed during the Deans’ Conference last Nov. 26, 2025.
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research (VPAAR) Dr. Lily Ann Bautista said, “The grading policy has been under discussion for many years because of the varying grading definitions and practices adopted across different departments. This has consistently been identified by accrediting bodies as an area for improvement.”
She said there should be a single, institution-wide grading policy that is applied consistently across all academic units rather than different grading systems at the departmental level.
The shift comes after SU allegedly recorded around 2,000 incomplete (INC) grades in the last academic year, raising questions about whether the new grading policy was intended to address the issue.
Bautista clarified that the new grading system is separate from university regulations for INC grades.
“With the new grading policy, students will have higher GPA ratings, and it should be a welcome change,” she said.
Under the revised policy, students begin with zero points and accumulate scores through coursework and assessments throughout the term, with no points carried over or assumed at the start.
In addition, SU’s retention policy remains unchanged as student requirements for advancement are aligned with the new grading scale.
The university will continue monitoring student advancement and dropout rates through existing institutional tracking mechanisms to evaluate the policy’s effectiveness.
The Institute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences Dean Dr. Teodora Cubelo said the revised system is fair, and allows students to earn grades entirely through demonstrated performance.
“As educators, our responsibility is not only to help students complete the program, but to ensure that they are truly prepared for clinical practice, licensure examinations, and the responsibilities of being healthcare professionals,” Cubelo said.
Cubelo said that the competency requirement ensures SU Medical Technology students attain sufficient mastery before advancing to higher-level courses, clinical internship, and licensure examinations.
“The 75-percent competency requirement is not meant to discourage students; it is meant to protect their future success,” she said.
Cubelo added that the policy does not aim to increase the number of students placed on probation, but to identify learning gaps early.
The revised grading system is now implemented across SU, with colleges directed to include the policy in student orientations and updated handbooks.
