Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11586)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 11586 is to convert the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) into a state university known as the Agusan del Sur State University (ADSSU), integrating its satellite campus and appropriating funds for its operation.
The main campus of the Agusan del Sur State University is located in the Municipality of Bunawan, Province of Agusan del Sur.
The University primarily focuses on agriculture, agribusiness management, science and technology, education, forestry, engineering, arts and sciences, nontraditional courses, and other relevant fields of study.
The governing board of the University is the Board of Regents, chaired by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and co-chaired by the President of the University, including other members such as Senate and House Committee Chairpersons, regional directors of NEDA, DA, and DOST, federation presidents of faculty, students and alumni, and two prominent citizens of the private sector.
The Board of Regents has administrative powers including policy promulgation, curricular approval, appointments and removals, fixing salaries and fees, granting scholarships, receiving funds, setting admission policies, awarding honorary degrees, establishing research centers, forging linkages, among others detailed in Section 6 of the Act.
The University must comply with CHED requirements including relevant faculty qualifications, offering comprehensive degree programs, conducting viable research, maintaining learning resources, global research linkages, and conducting outreach activities as specified in Section 20 of the Act.
The University shall enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy pursuant to Section 5, Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
The University President is appointed for a term of four (4) years and is eligible for reappointment. The first president can be the incumbent ASSCAT president if qualified. Appointment is subject to the guidelines, qualifications and standards set by the Board upon recommendation of a Search Committee.
No. Faculty appointments shall not be based on political belief, gender, cultural or community affiliation, religious opinions, or ethnic origin. Appointments are based on qualifications and Board guidelines, and faculty shall not teach for or against any religious sect.
The Board has the power to fix tuition and other fees, which shall form part of the University's special trust funds. Fees and income generated are retained by the University for instruction, research, extension services, or related projects. It can also adopt socialized tuition schemes for poor but deserving students. All fiduciary fees must be disbursed for their specific purposes.