QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 10595)
RA 10595 converts the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) in the City of Iloilo, including its campuses, into a state university to be known as the Iloilo Science and Technology University.
The main campus is located in the City of Iloilo.
Don Jose Sustiguer Monfort Memorial National College (Barotac Nuevo), Purificacion D. Monfort College (Dumangas), Leon National College of Agriculture (Leon), and Southern Iloilo Polytechnic College (Miag-ao), all in the Province of Iloilo.
The University primarily provides advanced education, higher technological/professional instruction and training in specified fields, promotes and undertakes research, extension services and production activities supporting socioeconomic development of Iloilo, and provides leadership in its specialization areas.
It grants the University academic freedom and institutional autonomy pursuant to paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution.
It shall offer undergraduate and graduate studies in areas such as arts and sciences, philosophy, teacher education, agriculture and forestry, engineering and architecture, maritime education, industrial and technological education, ICT, hotel and restaurant technology, trades, nontraditional courses, and other degrees within its specialization and capabilities.
Yes. The University must maintain and operate a reasonably-sized laboratory school under its College of Education in the main campus.
Members include: CHED Chairperson (Chair), University President (Vice Chair), Senate Education Arts & Culture Committee Chair, House Higher and Technical Education Committee Chair, NEDA Regional Director, DOST Regional Director, presidents of faculty association, student councils, and alumni associations, and two prominent private-sector citizens appointed from a list of qualified persons.
They are appointed by the Board from at least five qualified persons in the Province and City of Iloilo recommended by a search committee constituted by the University President, in consultation with the CHED Chairperson and other Board members.
The President has a four (4)-year term and may be reappointed for another term. The incumbent President of WVCST serves as the first President of the University for smooth transition; the Board must constitute the Search Committee for the Presidency within six (6) months before the term expires.
The Board designates an Officer-in-Charge within six (6) months from the date of vacancy, pending appointment of a new President; the successor/OIC serves only the unexpired portion of the term.
The Board regularly convenes once every three (3) months. Special meetings may be called as provided with notice. Quorum is majority of all members holding office at the time of meeting, and the Chairperson or the University President must be present.
The Academic Council reviews and recommends curricular offerings and rules of discipline (subject to Board approval), fixes requirements for admission and graduation and conferment of degrees (subject to Board approval through the President), and has disciplinary power over students, formulating academic policies on discipline subject to Board approval.
No political beliefs, gender preference, cultural/community affiliation, ethnic origin, or religious opinion/affiliation may be a matter of inquiry in faculty appointment. Appointments are subject to Board-set guidelines/qualifications, and faculty cannot be compelled to teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.
The Board may fix tuition and other charges. Government subsidies and income generated by the University from tuition and other charges, as well as auxiliary services and land grants, constitute special trust funds deposited in an authorized government depository bank; interests form part of the funds. Such income is retained by the University for Board-authorized use, with fiduciary fees disbursed for their specific purposes.
The University must provide a scholarship program and other affirmative action programs for poor but deserving students who qualify for admission, and no student may be denied admission due to gender, religion, cultural/community affiliation, or ethnic origin.
All assets, real and personal, personnel and records of WVCST and the named colleges, as well as liabilities/obligations, are transferred to the University. Existing faculty and personnel’s positions, rights, and security of tenure under prior laws are respected, and government land parcels occupied by these institutions are declared property of the University to be titled under its name (with reversion to the concerned LGU if the University ceases or land is no longer needed).
Conversion becomes effective only upon CHED determination and declaration (based on recommendation of a panel of experts) that the institution complied with requirements for university status. Operational requirements include specified accreditation levels for programs, faculty-to-student ratio, adequate library and laboratories, R&D output, linkages/outreach, and academic policies/systems/processes; if not yet met, status prior to effectivity remains unless compliance is achieved within a period not exceeding January 1, 2016.