January 18, 2019

Admissions and Examinations Board

School of Law
Saint Louis University

Esteemed members of the Board:

Greetings of peace!

It is with heavy heart that we are writing this letter to you, because it means that we failed
to meet the standards expected of us as students in our distinguished School of Law. We
know that we could have done better, but failed to do so. We know that we were not the only
ones who failed, but disappointed you, as well- our professors, mentors, and parents in the
School of Law. And for this, please accept our apology.

While these times can be so frustrating, we are writing this letter to you to seek for
clarification on some issues which are unclear. As Justice Marvic Leonen said, you will have
no answers if you dare not ask the questions. Hence, here we are taking every ounce of
courage to raise these concerns and at the same time, hoping that you will hear and grant
our humble prayers.

May we please ask your indulgence in enlightening us in the following:

1. Retroactive Application of the Academic Quality Assurance Measures and Standards

- While we understand that there should be measures and standards to maintain

our good standing in the legal education community, we were taught in the
formative years in the study of law that laws should always be prospective in
nature. Students who obtained failing grades prior to the conception of the new
policy were carried over and considered that merited them a stern final warning.
 2. Role of the Board in the Reduction of Units that can be Enrolled

- We understand that the purpose of the creation of the Board is to administer

admission or re-admission and standardize the conduct of examinations.
However, it was not conveyed that the Board has also the power to decide on the
number of units that can be enrolled by a student. We are aware that there is a
University policy that no subject can be enrolled if a pre-requisite subject was not
completed successfully. The addition of another mechanism is similar to double
jeopardy where we are burdened twice for the same failure.

3. Transparency on the Evaluation and Deliberation of the Board

- Per notice, the Board shall evaluate and deliberate the re-admission of a student.
We wish to seek transparency on the manner of deliberation and arrival at the
decision and learn the ratio decidendi behind it so as to afford due process.

4. Compliance with the “Journal System”

- During the presentation of the introduction of the Board and the new policy early
last semester, it was emphasized that there would be a journal system that
requires students to safekeep their academic requirements in cases of any
contestation that may arise. However, no requirements can be kept by a student
if no requirement was returned by a professor. As much as diligence is required
among students, it should also be observed by the faculty so as to have a
transparent standing in class.

As we intend to be clarified on these matters, we also ask that you hear and grant our
prayers:

1. We pray the application of the new policy prospectively and not consider the previous
failing grades since the policy in question has only effected last semester;

2. We pray that there be no reduction of units determined by the Board and allow
students to enroll all subjects which are not dependent on a failed pre-requisite
subject;
 3. We pray that each student be furnished with a copy of the memorandum creating the
Admissions and Examinations Board, especially its Academic Quality Assurance
Measures and Standards; and,

4. We pray that there is a timely compliance of the journal system so as to develop a

culture of transparency.

All these we sincerely ask in our fervent desire to finish our law degrees in the Saint Louis
University School of Law, on time.

Like children who once lost their way but found their way back, we ask you, our parents, to
look into us with your compassionate eyes and accept us again with your benevolent hearts.

Thank you and we are hoping for your reconsideration and grant our prayers.

Respectfully,

Concerned students of the School of Law