Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11585)
The BISCAST was converted into a state university to be known as the Southeast Asian University of Technology.
The main campus of the Southeast Asian University of Technology is located in Naga City, Province of Camarines Sur.
The university shall provide advanced education, higher technological, professional, technical, and vocational instruction and training in the sciences, arts, education, entrepreneurship, engineering, and other related courses.
The Board of Regents and the President of the University shall have the general administrative and corporate powers.
The Board consists of the Chairperson of CHED (as Chair), the University President (as Co-Chair), the Chairpersons of the Senate and House Committees on Higher and Technical Education, Regional Directors of NEDA, DOST, DA, TESDA, Presidents of the faculty, student, and alumni federations, and two prominent private sector citizens from Camarines Sur.
The Board promulgates policies, approves curricula, appoints officials, fixes salaries and tuition fees, adopts socialized tuition schemes, establishes professional chairs, manages funds, sets admission and graduation policies, awards honorary degrees, establishes research centers, authorizes audits, enters into joint ventures, and promulgates rules for the university.
The Board regularly convenes once every three months. A quorum consists of the majority of all members holding office with the CHED Chairperson or the University President present in the meeting.
The President is appointed for a four-year term, renewable for another four years. The incumbent BISCAST President serves for a two-year transitional period and is eligible for one full term. The President must meet Board-set qualifications and guidelines.
No inquiry shall be made into political belief, gender preference, cultural or community affiliation, ethnic origin, or religion in faculty appointments, and faculty shall not teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.
The University enjoys academic freedom and institutional autonomy as guaranteed under Paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Philippine Constitution.
The University must provide scholarships and affirmative action programs for poor but deserving students. No student shall be denied admission based on gender, religion, cultural affiliation, physical disability, or ethnic origin.
All assets, personnel, records, liabilities, and obligations are transferred to the University, with positions and tenure rights respected. Lands occupied by BISCAST shall be titled under the University name.
Yes. Grants, donations, and contributions actually used by the University are exempt from donor's tax and deductible from donors' gross income. Importation of economic, technical, and cultural books is exempt from customs duties upon CHED certification.
Republic Act No. 8292, the Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997, is a supplantory law and forms part of the University's governing charter.