Student Discipline Office

In its efforts to live up to the University’s vision and mission which is to improve man as man, the Student Discipline Office was created to address primarily the issues on discipline.

It is strongly believed that any academic institution can only achieve its optimum success not only through academic excellence but also through good attitudes and excellent values.  SDO exists to create an environment conducive to learning and ensure the safety of the students. Once these goals are achieved, everybody in the academic community would have satisfying experience that would eventually lead to more positive outlook in life.

MISSION & VISION

To commit ourselves in providing a structured climate which is safe and orderly and enables students to learn at an optimum level specifically in developing positive attitudes that will help them achieve their academic goals while maturing as an individual.

To become the center for consistently enforcing good conduct in the institution that will ensure the achievement of the university’s own mission which is “to improve man as man.”

DEPARTMENT’S LOCATION PER CAMPUS

Valenzuela City Campus

3rd Floor, Rm 309 CAS Building
293-2703 to 06 Loc. 864

Quezon City Campus

Ground Floor, CAS Building
419-1291

Antipolo City Campus

Second Floor, Juliet Santos Building

San Fernando, Pampanga Campus

Ground Floor, Saint Jacinta Bldg
4551216 loc 105

SDO SERVICES

Contact an SDO Service

To ascertain direct and effective communication with members of the Fatima community, the SDO launched a “Contact an SDO Service” where all members of the Fatima community may report any discipline-related incident or concern for SDO’s immediate action. These contact numbers are 2932703-06 loc. 864. Or they may also email at olfu_studentdisciplineoffice@yahoo.com

Behavioral Modification Program

This is a behavioral formative approach of dealing with students with discipline problems. The Student Discipline Office together with the Guidance and Counseling Center work together to provide students referred for disciplinary action with opportunities for their own individual growth and development by exposing them to a series of activities on behavioral formation. These activities may include psycho-spiritual seminars, reading life and values related articles, and also watching life inspiring movies.

Dialogue with Students’ Parents or Guardians

In order to effectively handle student discipline cases, the SDO also develop a program which is to establish a close partnership between the parents of students who commit more than two (2) minor offenses. In such cases, the SDO personnel invites the parents or guardians for a dialogue with him/her where they are informed of the discipline record of their children as well as of the SDO’s  decision regarding the second or succeeding minor offense. After taking into consideration the students’ explanation as well as the parent’s point of view, both the SDO and the student’s parent/guardian take an active role in guiding and reminding the students to comply with University rules and regulations.

Partnership with Other Units for Discipline-Related Assistance

SDO has roving Discipline Officers, assigned to monitor the university areas for assistance of discipline-related concerns. The officers may observe a certain branch/satellite of the university every day depending on the agreed schedules or the urgency of the situation.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE

The following Disciplinary Procedure is designed to preserve the Mission of Our Lady of Fatima University:

Notification of Student Violation: Students as well as parents are called for a conference. Preliminary investigations will be done with the presence of all concerned individuals.

Consequences: The SDO reserves the right both to define the severity of the violation and to choose the appropriate consequences. Typically, community service hours, in-school suspension and out-of-school suspension are issued to students who violate school policies but for more serious violations, students may be excluded or even expelled and for such cases, an Ad Hoc Committee on Discipline is being convened to evaluate and deliberate on the matter.

Partnership with the Guidance Center: The SDO, after supervising the penalty, endorses to the Guidance Center the student-offender to undergo the Behavior Modification Counseling Program.

Filing of Complaint / Response

1. A written complaint or report must be submitted to the SDO. A prescriptive period of the complaint may be required depending upon the discretion of the SDO Head and SDO staffs for valid reasons. The discipline officer will clarify to the complainant about the case/complaint and will set a preliminary action regarding the matter.
2. Upon receipt of the written complaint or report, the SDO officers shall send a notice to the concerned student or the respondent.  Upon the respondent’s receipt of notice, he/she may submit a written response that contains his/her explanation about the complaint. The discipline officer will clarify to the respondent about the case/complaint and will inform the respondent regarding the preliminary action that must be taken.
3. Upon hearing the sides of the complainant and the respondent, the SDO Head and the discipline officer assigned will investigate and evaluate the case. Depending on the facts and evidences gathered, they may decide on the case, dismiss the complaint or convene the case to the AD Hoc Committee on Discipline.