MANILA - All students of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) will receive "pass" marks for the semester after classes were halted due to the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

PLM President Emmanuel Leyco made the announcement Wednesday on his Facebook page, saying the university recognized "the extremely serious impact of COVID-19 on the academic life of students, faculty and the academic community as a whole."

Based on a memorandum signed Tuesday by Leyco, all students officially enrolled at the university will receive a pass mark for the second semester of Academic Year 2019-2020.

Under the memorandum, graduating undergraduate students will be given pass marks if their final thesis was approved by their advisers.

Meanwhile, students enrolled in internships, on-the-job training and practicum courses must first complete alternative activities assigned by the college.

The pass mark shall not be included in the student's general weighted average (GWA) and shall not be used for scholarships, retention or academic honors, the memorandum read.

The cumulative GWA for graduation honors for the academic year shall be computed "only using grades until the 1st semester/ trimester," according to the memorandum.

Students who still have incomplete marks from the second semester or trimester of Academic Year 2018 to 2019 may complete their requirements until the last day of the first semester for Academic Year 2020-2021.

Graduate students with thesis or dissertation writing who have not defended their papers will be given an extension of one academic year to complete their requirements, including panel defense, based on the memorandum.

The academic calendar year will still end on May 23, said Leyco.