QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 11319)
The Apayao Institute of Science and Technology (AIST) in Conner, Province of Apayao, and its Conner Extension High School are converted into a chartered state college known as the Apayao State College.
It primarily provides higher professional and technical programs, promotes research and extension services, and offers advanced studies and progressive leadership in areas such as agriculture, industry, environment, forestry, industrial technologies, education, arts and sciences, and other relevant fields.
They are transferred to the jurisdiction and supervision of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (now DepEd), except that the State College may operate a reasonably-sized laboratory school if it has a college of education.
It may offer undergraduate, graduate, and short-term technical courses within its area of specialization, as determined by its Board of Trustees to meet provincial needs.
The State College has the general powers of a corporation; administration and corporate powers are vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees and the president insofar as authorized by the Board.
Members include the CHED Chairman (chairman), the State College president (vice chairman), chairs of two congressional education committees, the NEDA Director-General, the presidents of the faculty association, supreme student council, and alumni association, and at least two prominent citizens from Apayao chosen from a qualified list. The CHED Chairman is the chairman.
Board-affiliated presidents of the faculty association, alumni association, and student council serve coterminous with their respective terms. The two prominent citizens serve for terms of four (4) and two (2) years. Vacancies: the officer-in-charge designated by the Board serves only the unexpired term for certain board positions. The State College president has a 4-year term, eligible for one reappointment, unless earlier removed for cause, becomes incapacitated, or reaches retirement age.
Policies in accordance with declared education policies and constitutional education/science/arts/culture/sports provisions, as well as CHED policies under RA 7722.
Key powers include enacting implementing rules; receiving and allocating funds; importing duty-free essential educational/technological items if not locally available at comparable price; receiving in trust legacies/gifts (with tax treatment); fixing tuition and school charges; treating tuition and certain incomes/fees and government subsidies as special trust funds deposited in authorized government depositories; retaining and disbursing income for authorized institutional purposes (including function fees for specific purposes); authorizing construction/repair and acquisition of property; appointing officials and faculty; fixing salaries under the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System; approving curricula and discipline rules; conferring degrees/honorary degrees and certificates; establishing branches/chairs; delegating powers; authorizing external management audit; collaborating for restructuring; entering joint ventures; and setting up modern knowledge-transmission modes.
The Board convenes at least once every two months; special meetings may be called with 3 days’ prior written notice. Quorum is a majority of all members holding office at the time, but the CHED Chairman (who is the Board chairman) or the State College president must be present. If the CHED Chairman is absent, a designated CHED commissioner may represent him with full rights; if NEDA Director-General is absent, the regional director represents him.
The president is appointed by the Board upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee for a term of four (4) years, eligible for reappointment for another term only, subject to retirement age, removal for cause, or incapacity.
Administrative council: chaired by the president, with vice presidents, deans, directors, and other officials of equal rank; implements Board-approved policies on administration, management, and development planning. Academic council: chaired by the president, with instructional staff of at least assistant professor rank; prescribes curricular offerings (subject to Board approval), fixes requirements for admission and graduation (reviewed/approved by the Board through the president), and exercises disciplinary power within Board-prescribed limits.
No religious opinion or affiliation may be inquired into for faculty appointment. However, no faculty member may teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.
No student may be denied admission to the State College because of sex, nationality, religion, or political affiliation.
Academic freedom is expressly granted to the State College (Section 16). The college may operate a reasonably-sized laboratory school if it has a college of education (Section 2 proviso).
Assets, fixed and movable property, personnel records, facilities, and liabilities/obligations of the AIST main and its Conner extension high school are transferred, except those extension high schools in Luna, Calanasan, Sta. Marcela, Kabugao, and Pudtol. Personnel rights and security of tenure under existing laws prior to absorption are not impaired; qualified incumbents retain their status until otherwise provided by the Board. Government-occupied parcels of land for the AIST main and Conner extension become property of the State College and are to be titled under its name, with reversion to the Province of Apayao if the State College ceases to exist or the land is no longer needed.
On or before the 15th day of the second month after the opening of regular classes each year, the Board must file the report with the Office of the President of the Philippines through the chairman of CHED, and with both Houses of Congress.
They are audited by the Commission on Audit (COA) or its duly authorized representative.