To : THE LST FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY
From : VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Peace!

In alignment with the Academic Break declared by the Ateneo Loyola Schools, LST will observe an academic break for 4 days at the start of the second half of the semester. However, we are keeping the scheduled end-of-the-semester intact.

Mark these dates of the mid-semester academic break in your calendars:

Tuesday, 2 November to Friday, 5 November 2021.

This academic break is an opportunity for both students and instructors to recharge and attend to more personal matters. During these days, let us remember in prayer in particular faculty, students, and family of LST who have gone ahead of us to eternal life.

What to expect

We will follow the guidelines for the break by the Ateneo for the break, namely:

1. Since we are not extending the semester, we would like to enjoin instructors and students for each class to negotiate syllabi matter scheduled for those days of the academic break. When the adjustments have been negotiated, it is important to provide, per class, a documentation of this agreement that will reflect the changes in the syllabi resulting from the break.
2. During this academic break, there will be no synchronous or asynchronous activities or assessments. Students can, of course, still do academic work on their own if they want to but no academic requirements should be imposed or submitted during the break.
3. Neither should any be scheduled immediately after the break because that could mean having students spend their academic break doing work to fulfill their requirements. In other words, the deadline for requirements should not fall on Saturday, 6 November. A deadline for the following week is acceptable. We would like to reiterate strongly the suggestion to space out or stagger assessment deadlines throughout the semester.
4. Graduate students may proceed with their scheduled thesis, dissertation, or capstone project defense or special comprehensive exams on any of the days during the academic break provided that all parties concerned have agreed on these arrangements.
5. For instructors, this academic break is also a time for them to be freed of any regular, scheduled, or mandated class engagements and consultations.

In the Second Semester, we are also going to have a similar academic break. The dates will be announced in time for the preparation of the course syllabi for that semester.

I hope all will be able to profit much from this break and come back with renewed energies needed for the last 5 weeks of the semester.

In Christ,
Fr. Rogel Anecito L. Abais, S.J.