San Beda College Alabang law dean Ulpiano Sarmiento III expressed concern after a student in an online class was found to have used a recorded video of herself that automatically replays to make it appear that she was continuously present in her online class.
In a memorandum, Sarmiento called on the faculty to be vigilant and discerning in their classes.
“Such conduct is profoundly disturbing and entirely contrary to our highest standards of honesty, integrity, and honor that must govern our academic community,” Sarmiento said.
He warned that such conduct might be imitated if left unchecked, which is why it has to be reported promptly and addressed fairly, swiftly, and in accordance with due process.
“We must protect not merely the integrity of our attendance records, but the integrity of the School itself. For a law school cannot faithfully teach justice while permitting dishonesty to flourish within its own walls,” he said.
The student caught using the recorded video faced a one-week suspension and automatic failure after due process, he said.
Sarmiento also called on the faculty to be stricter in granting requests for absences or to keep the camera off during online classes, unless there are extraordinary circumstances.
He said students who chose the pure online program are reasonably expected to secure a stable connection.
The SBCA School of Law Government, in a Facebook post sharing Sarmiento’s memorandum, also stressed that it takes integrity seriously and reminded fellow students that they must be honest and accountable.
“As future lawyers, we are expected to uphold integrity at all times, whether in the classroom, online, or beyond the School,” it said.