Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10585)
Republic Act No. 10585 converts the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College into a state university to be known as the Cotabato State University and appropriates funds for it.
The main campus of the Cotabato State University is located in Cotabato City.
The University shall primarily provide advanced education, higher technological, and professional instruction and training in arts and sciences, psychology, social work, community development, teacher education, agriculture, forestry, fishery, engineering, industrial technology, information technology, public administration, peace and development, business administration, health sciences, and political science and law.
The University is administered by a Board of Regents which exercises its corporate powers.
The Board consists of the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as Chairperson, University President as Vice Chairperson, Chairpersons of the Education Committees of the Senate and House, Regional Directors of NEDA and DOST, Presidents of faculty, student, and alumni federations, and two prominent citizens from the private sector.
The two prominent citizens appointed to the Board of Regents serve a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment.
The Board of Regents has administrative powers including setting policies according to the Constitution and CHED guidelines, appropriating funds, fixing tuition fees, adopting socialized tuition schemes, appointing officials, setting curricula, awarding honorary degrees, establishing research centers, entering joint ventures, and privatizing nonacademic services, among others.
The Board convenes regularly once every three (3) months and may hold up to two special meetings upon three days' prior notice.
The President is appointed by the Board of Regents upon the recommendation of a search committee, serving a term of four (4) years, with eligibility for reappointment for another term.
The University shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy pursuant to paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines.
Operational requirements include Level III accreditation for specific undergraduate and graduate programs, a qualified full-time faculty-student ratio, adequate library and laboratories, research outputs of practical application, relevant linkages and outreach, and appropriate academic policies and systems.
All assets, personnel, liabilities, and records of the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College are transferred to the University, and security of tenure of existing faculty and personnel is respected.
Donations in any form to the University are exempt from donor's tax and are allowed as deductions from the donor's gross income for income tax purposes.
The University provides scholarships and affirmative action to assist poor but deserving students and does not deny admission based on sex, religion, cultural or ethnic origin.
The University shall have the general powers of a corporation as set forth in Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, known as the Corporation Code of the Philippines.