Divine Word College of Calapan Official Website

Guidance and Counseling Center

The general goal of Guidance and Counseling is to assist the academic community in creating a more humane campus environment that will provide the students with appropriate opportunities for growth by offering a relevant experience in Christian social living. Counselors conduct individual interviews, personal and group crisis counseling, career guidance counseling, and help to improve the students’ interpersonal relationships. They also help students discover their aptitudes, interest, responsibilities, abilities and talents for maximum utilization.

Extension Services

DWCC through the Non-Forma l Education unit offers a functional literacy program which aims to assist an individual to learn to read, write, and understand his own language as to live a good life and to acquire adequate knowledge, his rights and responsibilities, values and culture.

In line with each commitment fostering “an awareness of the socio-economic situation and its improvement, the development of civic and social responsibility and discipline”, the college initiates an integrated program of social action involving the students, faculty and administration. The Extension Services utilize the internal and external resources to assist individuals, groups, and communities to develop their capabilities for participation, self-direction, and integrated efforts to improve the conditions of community life. It also provides the conditions and experiences that will enable them to know the causes and the consequences of poverty to motivate them to act in the true spirit of Christian virtues.

Athletic Center

In the pursuit of the ideal “a sound mind and a sound body”, the Athletic Office, in collaboration with the Physical Education Unit, implements an integrated sports development program for the students. It supervises intramural athletics which aims to develop skills and talents among the lesser-known athletes and introduces lesser-known sports. Participation in varsity sports is open to all students who pass a rigorous tryout. It is also through this center that the college offers scholarship program to deserving athletes with at least average academic standing, who would represent the college in sports competitions.

Medical and Dental Services

Student health services are provided in the college by employing a physician and dental doctor who provide medical and dental health services, free emergency dental and medical treatment to the faculty and non-academic personnel. Students on emergency cases are brought to private hospitals nearby.

Library Services

The library is at the service of the students to help them enhance learning situations. It does not only provide library materials for instructional purposes but also support the academic needs of the curricula of the college. The library services the school offers emanate from the: Circulation Section, Reserve Book Section, Filipiniana Section, Reference Service, Periodical Service, Graduate School Section, Engineering Section, Audio-Visual materials and equipment and Internet.

Security Force

To insure the safety and protection of all members of the college community, the school hires the services of a security agency. In the same manner, the security force shall put into effect whatever policies are stated in this handbook. They are directly under the supervision of the Administrative Officer and monitored by the Student Affairs Office. Whatever violation the students may do in entering and leaving the college must be checked at once at the entrance gate. Security guards will be held liable if they allow unbecoming behavior, carrying of bladed and other deadly weapons, not wearing complete uniform and the like to happen.

College Band

A college band composed of volunteer students shall be maintained to provide music or entertainment in school activities. Tuition fee reduction is granted to the members.

The formation of legitimate student organizations is a healthy sign of growing social awareness and concern. It is also an exercise of the student’s freedom of association for fellowship and constructive purposes. But this freedom also entails certain responsibilities, such as respect for the individual member’s personal rights and for the school’s name and reputation. Care must also be taken that student organizations do not become subservient to the interest of outside groups.

The College recognizes the importance of developing creative and responsible student leaders who will eventually assume the mantle of leadership in their fields of endeavor. For this purpose it seeks to encourage the formation of student groups which pursue clearly endeavors set up along social, cultural, religious, literary, educational or recreational lines.

The Director of Student affairs has the following duties and functions in relation to the student groups:

a. monitor the activities of the student councils and campus organizations, in conjunction with the moderators and student officers, according to the guidelines of the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education.

b. Establish measures and controls that will facilitate the attainment of the objectives set by the student organizations.

c. Promote interaction and cooperation among the various student organization.

d. Provide opportunities for leadership training, like seminars, etc.

e. Evaluate the performance of student leaders and organizations.

Supervision of Student Groups

a. Curricular Groups are under the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs
b. Co-curricular Groups are under the Office of the Director of Student Affairs.
c. Athletic groups are directly supervised by the Athletic Coordinator.

They form each a committee on Student Groups to assist in the effective functioning of their units. The three heads keep one another informed on student activities by furnishing one another copies of scheduled activities.

Any student group must observe the following regulations:

The student must bear in mind that his primary purpose is to achieve Academic Excellence. Academics must never be subordinated to any other pursuit. He will acquire excellence in proportion to his initiative. Therefore, there should be limit in the student’s participation in co-curricular activities if there is a need to devote more time for studies. In joining any group or club, the student must not exceed ten points if his average grade in the last semester is 83% and six points, if his average grade is 80%.

a.Officer of the Student Council - 10 points

b.Officer of the Department - 7 points

c.Officer of Curricular/Co-curricular groups - 5 points

d.Member of any organization - 3 points

e.Member of any athletic group for a semester or year - 3 points

Student Group Application

Student groups may be organized within the college by securing the permission from the designated heads and subject to the approval of the College President. Approval means compliance with the Department Order no. 63 s.1976 of DECS.

Students desiring to establish or join organizations and publications may do so as a right, subject to such reasonable regulations existing in the school or as the school may formulate. It is understood that organizations or student publications that exist or operate within the school shall continue to be governed by law.

Any group of fifteen (15) may apply to the designated heads (curricular or co-curricular) to organize and operate a student group, provided , however, that for the purpose of accreditation of such organization the total membership thereof shall not be less than fifteen (15) students for co-curricular groups and twenty five (25) for curricular at the time of the issuance of its certificate of recognition and provided further that the membership of each organization shall be active in meetings and activity participation.

Membership of such organizations shall be limited to bonafide students of DWCC. The letter of application must be submitted to the Office of the Academic Affairs for curricular groups and the Office of the Student Affairs for the department and co-curricular organizations accompanied by the following:

a. Organization’s goals and objectives
b. Constitution and By-laws
c. Name, year, course and signature of 15 or 25 founder members
d. Proposed projects and activities
e. Organization faculty adviser except a department adviser

Constitution and By-Laws

Each student organization shall have a constitution and by-laws which shall be approved by the College President upon the recommendation of the designated head. No such student organization shall be allowed to function in the school without prior approval herein. This includes also the Student Council.

Certificate of Recognition

The recognition of the student organization shall be effective for one school year excluding summer and may be renewed within thirty (30) days after the start of each school year. The failure of the organization to secure a renewal of its authority to operate as provided herein shall considered sufficient cause of the name of the organization to be deleted from the registry of Student Organization of the college.

Registration

Every accredited or organized student organization shall be registered with Academic Affairs Office for curricular groups, or with the Student Affairs Office for department and co-curricular groups.

For this purpose, the following shall be invariably required:

a. A copy of the approved constitution and by-laws of the organization with the names of the initial set of officers, members and adviser of the organization.

b. A list of new set of officers and members including their respective position, date of assumption to office, and the respective specimen signature.

c. Proposed activities and projects for the school year.

d. All requirements must be submitted on or before the date set by the Academic Affairs Office and Student Affairs Office.

Co-curricular groups are those organizations and clubs that pursue clearly established common objectives and initiate student-directed endeavors that are set up along social, cultural, religious, educational or recreational activities. Among these are the following:

Executives

Aims mainly to develop among the members commitment in the department affairs.

Liberals

Aims to develop among members open mindedness in the observance of the school’s policies and regulations and warm-hearted readiness in participation and involvement in the school’s functions and activities.

Mentors

a. Aims to develop harmonious relationship among its members and to motivate in then the spirit of participation and involvement in strengthening educational leadership.

b. Aims to maintain friendly relationship among administrators, students, and to provide leadership to its members.

Builders

a. Aims to develop friendly relations with other departments and advocate full cooperation in solving problems confronting the studentry.

b. Aims to establish conditions under which respect and responsibility for the obligations arising from every activity and other functions be practiced and maintained.

Comscribes

Aims to broaden the members’ interest in the basic needed skills in the field of oral and written communication and to develop in them the love for public service.

Comptrollers

Aims to develop not only the accounting expertise but also the personality and attitude of individuals in preparation for their entry into the business world.

Experts

Aims to develop both the technical and humane approaches through active participation in school activities.

Other organizations of the same nature like the Teatro Divinista, Association of Student Grantees,etc.

Areas of Responsibility of the Student Council

The following are the areas of responsibility of the Student Council:

a. Acts paving the way to full legal support protection and upholding of the DWCC-SC Constitution and By-laws

b. Matters or acts, which directly affect the student’s interest and welfare, example of which are: the protection and promotion of students rights as human being; the opportunity to become an independent, well-disciplined and truly professional individual.

c. Acts, activities or affairs, which upon mere initiation or improper implementation become obtrusive between all sectors of the college community.

d. Acts or transactions which by nature belong mainly to the Student Council’s authority of administration, for example: calling of student body meeting for purpose of consultations and recommendations through plebiscites or referendums; implementation or execution of the administrative functions of the Student Council Officers.

e. Crucial matters and/or affairs and transactions which need recommendatory actions. These include: the student’s representations to the external or out –of campus happenings; seminars, workshops, or delegation of any type. These affairs should be relayed to the Student Council Office for recommendatory and information purposes.

f. Acts or policies or regulations which are disciplinary in nature and purpose and which directly affect student’s well being in his pursuit to total development. The Student Council shall be represented in the Disciplinary Board.

g. Monitor policies or acts including imposition of fines, charges, dues and fees, wherein the students are involved.

h. The issuance of school clearances of recognized student organizations/club/ societies of their clearances duly signed by the chairman of the SC Auditing Committee. Issuance of clearances to all recognized student organizations/clubs/societies shall be one of the functions of the Student Council Office.

i. In meetings of student organizations, respective faculty advisers must be present or if unavailable must be informed of and must sign the minutes copy furnished to SAO.

j. These areas of responsibility however, must be in accord with the College Policies, and Rules and Regulations.

Rights of the Student Council

The Student Council has the following rights:

a. to determine their policies and programs on student activities, in accordance with the provisions of their recognized charter or constitution and within the mandate of the school policies and rules.

b. Members of the Student Council shall be elected in an annual popular election.

c. SC shall have representation in the determination of school policies, which directly affect students. The SC shall have representation in the policy-making bodies concerned with curriculum review, student discipline and academic standards. They shall have the same right as that of a regular member but their privileges shall be limited to reimbursement for actual expenses in attending meetings.

d. On matters of tuition fees, the SC must have active representation with the administration which shall study and decide on tuition fee increases.

Nature and Purpose

The publication of school organ or journal is a means of promoting journalistic and literary skills among students and of providing a vehicle of expression as well as an instrument for the dissemination of vital issues.

The school administration may assist the student newspaper or publication in its financial matters through the collection of student paper fees from the students. Such funds shall be held in trust to be used in the publication.

It shall be the responsibility of the editorial staff to properly account for the use of such funds and to publish the same to the students.

The student editorial staff shall observe the ethics of professional journalism. It shall be the responsibility of the student editorial staff to ensure that the student paper shall not be used for purposes contrary to law. The editor and staff are fully responsible for consequences arising out of publication of any editorial, comment, article or other material.

Screening Committee

The selection of the chief editor and other members of the staff of the student publications shall be through competitive examinations prepared, conducted and supervised by a committee composed of a representative of the school administration, one faculty member, one mass media practitioner who is acceptable to both (school administration and editorial board) and two past editors to be chosen by the outgoing editorial board. (Campus Journalism Act of 1991)

Security of Tenure

Editors and staff shall enjoy security of tenure, which shall not be terminated before the lapse of the prescribed term except for cause. The editor-in-chief and members of the staff shall have the tenure of office for one year.

The Gazette shall be published regularly, twice a semester.

Student paper shall enjoy campus press freedom but concerned issues do not represent the College or the student body as a whole.

Publication Adviser

The faculty adviser of a student publication shall be selected by the school administration from a list of recommendees submitted by the publication staff. The function of the publication adviser shall be one of technical guidance.

Qualification for Staff Members

Students who wish to become members of the publication staff must have the following qualifications:

a. Must not have failing grades for the past school year.
b. Must have an average grade of at least 83%.
c. Must not have been found guilty of any major offense.
d. Must be a bonafide student of DWCC.
e. Must be a full-time student with at least 18 units load.