SEMINARY EXPECTATIONS FROM THE FACULTY AND STAFF

Faculty and Staff Conduct Guide In View of Seminary Formation

            The St. Joseph Seminary College Faculty and Staff members are the Priest-formators’ partners in the formation of future Priests for the DIOCESE OF DUMAGUETE.  Hence, they carry with them a distinctive and definitive special role in view of Seminary formation in general.  The following list of expectations acts as guidelines which St. Joseph Seminary College formation outlines for its Faculty and Staff:

1. The Seminary Teacher or Staff member is expected to be a devout/practicing Catholic who is deeply in touch with his/her faith and can relate with it in his/her life;
2. He/She is expected to teach and live as a witness (to live as a model to the seminarians and to others) the teachings of the Church and should possess, at least, a general knowledge about them;
3. In this regard, he/she is expected to be prudent in his/her language and modest and decent in his/her actions and way of dressing;
4. He/She is expected to submit a syllabus of his/her assigned subject/subjects at the start of each semester to the Dean’s Office
5. He/She is expected to follow the standard absolute cumulative computation of grades followed by the Seminary Academic office;
6. He/she is expected to submit the grades of his/her students at the scheduled/determined date at the end of each semester;
7. He/She is expected to use the English language as medium of classroom instruction except for academic subjects like Filipino, Spanish, Latin, and the like;
8. He/She is expected to teach the seminarians the ways of discipline by implementing the basic policy of classroom formation: basic courtesy, standing up when reciting or answering a question, asking the permission of the Teacher if there is a need to leave the room, wearing of proper uniform, never bring mineral water bottles inside the classroom and or drink on them, never eat inside the classroom, to use the English language when communicating, cleaning the classroom at the end of each class, presenting the class card at the beginning of each semester, etc.(please see attached page);
9. All faculty members are expected to incorporate in classroom discussions Christian values as integral part of the spiritual development of seminarians. 
10. He/She is expected to wear the Faculty uniform when reporting to class (optional for part-timers; no maong pants).
11. He/She is expected to be punctual…to report to the classroom on time…and to dismiss the class on time or as scheduled; Note: regular/full time Faculty and Staff members have their DTR at the Dean’s Office.
12. He/She is expected to check the attendance of the class at the beginning of each class and keeps a record of them. He/She must ask an excuse letter from seminarians who wish to miss a class for a valid reason. He/She must ask their permit slips during examinations and must respect the Seminary’s NO PERMIT NO EXAM policy.
13. Each Seminary Faculty member has the privilege to be fetched or be brought to and from his/her point of origin by the Seminary driver for his/her class.  However, a special permission must be sought when the Seminary car will be used for another purpose by any Faculty/Staff member from the Seminary Rector, or any Priest-formator in his absence.  In the same way, any Teacher/Staff member must seek the permission of the Seminary Rector, or any Priest-formator in his absence, when he/she asks the Seminary driver, or any other Seminary employee, to serve another job other than his/her Seminary assignment within work time.
14. Except on days when there are institutional activities, the Seminary will serve the morning and afternoon snacks and Lunch for the Seminary Faculty and Staff members.  However, to avoid the lack or excess of food prepared, prior arrangements have to be made in cases when any Teacher or Staff member intends to take his/her Breakfast or Supper in the Seminary;
15. If a Teacher wishes to conduct an educational trip with his/her class, a permission must be sought from the Seminary Rector and the Academic Dean.  A waiver duly signed by the seminarians’ Parents must also be submitted to the Dean’s office a week before the scheduled outing.  The Teacher must take responsibility over the seminarians during the entire trip.  A chaperon is also expected.
16. For the seminarians to serve the purpose of building up a bond with their respective families and a time to serve in their respective parishes, outings with the seminarians during Summer, Semestral, or Christmas breaks are strongly discouraged.
17. In the course of building up a trusting relationship among Seminary personnel, wholesome conversations are commended during table fellowships.  Confidential matters are better dealt with in private with the persons concerned and never to be brought out during meal times to spare everyone from gossip and to promote the atmosphere of trust and confidence.  On the other hand, green jokes are strongly discouraged in any conversation.
18. The Seminary Faculty and staff members have consultative and recommendatory roles.  Thus, all decisions concerning the Seminary proceed from the Seminary formators and stand accountable over them. Some decisions are, however, left for the Bishop’s approval.
19. The Seminary Faculty and staff members are expected to join the Midday Prayer with the seminarians in the Seminary Chapel before taking their Lunch on class days except on occasions that require their presence somewhere.
20. A direct permission must be sought from the Dean when any Faculty member wishes to conduct make-up classes for missed schedules.  In the same way, the same Faculty member must inform the Dean if he/she wishes to be absent from class on particular dates.
21. Faculty members are encouraged to use books which are found in the Seminary Library, and should encourage the seminarians to do so, or make a request to buy certain books for his/her class or course.
22. Faculty members must report to the Rector or Dean any action by a seminarian or seminarians inside the classroom that is/are alarming and need/s disciplinary measures else he/she gives the commensurate penalty to the seminarian/s.
23. Faculty and staff members are asked to attend the regular Faculty recollection, Retreat, and all Seminary activities that require their presence as scheduled in the Seminary calendar of activities.
24. All faculty and staff members are encouraged to attend the monthly Faculty and Staff meeting every last Friday of the month.
25. Class advisers are expected to attend their advisory class meetings and other activities and stand responsible over the performance of their respective advisory classes.