𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | Academic Council convenes for Deliberation of Candidates for Graduation, Honors, Special Awards, and Commencement Proceedings

Date Posted: May. 18, 2026

The Academic Council convened on Thursday, May 14, for the official Graduation Deliberation Session to determine and approve the candidates for graduation, recipients of academic, co-curricular, and special awards, as well as matters pertaining to the 27th Commencement Exercises.

At the conclusion of the deliberation, a resolution covering all approved matters and recommendations was set to be crafted for endorsement to the Board of Trustees during its formal session.

The opening prayer was led by Ms. Julie Diaz, Faculty Club President and faculty representative to the Academic Council, while the introductory statement was delivered by LPC President Dr. Elmer De Leon, who presided over the session.

In his words, Dr. De Leon reiterated the protocols, implementing rules, and standard criteria governing the conduct of the deliberation proceedings, including the policies stated in the Student Handbook regarding the selection and approval of candidates for graduation, honors, awards, and citations.

Ms. Marites Pacquing, College Registrar and Chairperson of the Committee on Graduates and Awards, presented the official list of candidates for graduation and academic awardees following a thorough review and counter-validation process conducted by the respective department heads, who also read to the Body the said lists.

The validation covered students’ academic standing, final grades in all course subjects, and completion of requirements in thesis, internship, and course audit areas.

Meanwhile, Ms. Jesica Marata, Officer of Student Affairs, Discipline, and Services (OSADS), reported the recommended recipients of co-curricular and special awards based on endorsements from organization advisers and the Supreme Student Council, which were subsequently validated and affirmed by the department heads.

The proposed awardees were supported by documentary requirements and evaluation results using approved criteria and rubrics.

In the absence of the designated presenter, the report on research and extension awardees was read by Ms. April Cruz, Director of Academic Affairs and Head of the Teacher Education Department. Ms. Cruz also presented the proposed recipients of the Outstanding Student-Teacher Awards for both elementary and secondary education programs.

Dr. John Levy Rueda, Head of the Business and Accountancy Department, and Ms. Cheyser Charrese Gatchula, Head of Information Technology Education, likewise enumerated the proposed recipients of the Corporate Internship Awards based on verified early employment obtained during the first and second quarters of their internship period.

Supporting employment certificates and appointment documents were presented during the deliberation. The Council clarified that notices of hiring only after graduation provided by the cooperating companies were excluded from consideration, as these were deemed non-evidential and already beyond the prescribed internship period under institutional policy.

All proposed awardees carried certifications, endorsements, and recommendations from their respective partner companies and cooperating schools.
During the proceedings, Ms. Diaz moved for the inclusion of the Rover Scout Service Award and the incipient Specialization Area Award, which the Council approved upon proper motion and seconding.

The Rover Scout Service Award recognizes the invaluable service and contributions rendered by members of the Rover Scout organization.

Meanwhile, although already stipulated in the revised Student Handbook, the Specialization Area Award is accorded to students who demonstrated excellence in professional, specialization, and allied general education fields but may have missed the required qualifying grade in certain minor or general education subjects that disqualify them from the academic Latin award list based on standards.

The Council, however, agreed on stricter standards for the said award, allowing only a maximum grade deficiency of 2.25 in one subject for baccalaureate degree programs and up to three subjects for non-baccalaureate programs. The minimum grade requirement was also agreed to apply to minor and non-credit courses.

Dr. De Leon emphasized the importance of maintaining credibility, accuracy, fairness, and objectivity in the deliberation process to uphold LPC’s academic quality standards and institutional integrity.

“Let us be reminded that any award conferred by the institution must be hard-earned, deserving, credible, and representational, and that every recipient shall uphold the LPCian Dangal Philosophy and Quality Principle even beyond graduation and outside institution,” Dr. De Leon stressed.

The awards deliberated upon included academic honors, specialization area distinctions, research and extension recognitions, co-curricular achievements, and awards for excellence in arts, athletics, leadership, journalism, and Rover Scout service. This upholds the philosophy of holistic development and inclusivity that provides equal opportunity even along non-academic student potentials being included in the principle of multiple intelligence.

To note, a total of 382 candidates, representing a 98% graduate cohort, are set to be conferred their respective academic degrees during the 27th Commencement Exercises. This includes 38 graduates from the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) program with a 100% cohort completion rate; 98 from the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) program with a 98% cohort rate; 179 from the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) program with a 97% cohort rate; 29 from the Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) program with a 97% cohort rate; and 38 from the Associate in Computer Technology (ACT) program, likewise posting a 97% cohort rate.

Accordingly, only nine students, equivalent to 2% of the total cohort, were unable to qualify for graduation due to valid reasons, such as withdrawal, non-completion of requirements, and non-compliance with academic deficiencies, despite the institution’s provision of intervention measures, including conferences, monitoring, remediation, make-up class arrangements, and reassessment as their premium second chance.

Notably, a total of five (5) distinguished Latin honor awardees are expected this year, consisting of one (1) magna cum laude and four (4) cum laude graduates, all from the Teacher Education Department. They will receive the Dangal ng Bayan Medallion of Academic Leadership and Service Excellence and shall automatically qualify for Civil Service Examination exemption privileges.

Moreover, two awardees who obtained the highest honors in the BSE and BEED programs will be conferred the PAFTE Medallion of Academic Excellence. To note further, the magna cum laude graduate has become a bona fide recipient of a scholarship grant accorded by the said national professional organization for teachers and educators, as endorsed by the College President, pursuant to his conferment of the PAFTE School Leadership Award.

In terms of commencement preparations, the Council noted that while traditional commencement protocols shall still be observed during the 27th Commencement Exercises, several innovations are likewise being introduced.

Among these is the launching of a newly composed graduation song written by Mr. John Rudolph Barbin, Media Communication and Public Information Officer, which reflects the academic journey, experiences, struggles, and triumphs of LPCians. The composition is set to be officially introduced during the commencement ceremonies.

The identity of the 27th Commencement Speaker, meanwhile, is yet to be formally confirmed.

All matters and concerns included in the agenda were approved by the Academic Council and shall form part of the official minutes and resolution before the session’s adjournment.

Immediately after the deliberation, the official oral pronouncement of graduating students was conducted by the respective department heads, while the official list of candidates for graduation was posted at the Registrar’s Bulletin Board.

Parents and guardians shall likewise be formally notified through advisory letters regarding the official candidates for graduation and award recipients. In addition, commendation letters for awardees shall be sent to their former high schools in line with LPC’s continuing partnership and recognition initiatives with feeder senior high school institutions. The names of all awardees will be posted and published the soonest. #

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