Law Summary
Educational Mandate and Scope
- Provide higher professional, technical, special instruction.
- Promote technological studies, scientific research, advanced studies, and progressive leadership.
- Fields include education, engineering, science, arts, humanities, and relevant fields.
Academic Programs
- Offer undergraduate programs and short-term courses within specialization.
- Graduate courses offered as deemed necessary by the Board of Trustees.
- Focus on meeting provincial needs.
High School Jurisdiction
- Existing high school transferred to Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS).
- Allowed to operate on campus up to six years or until students accommodated elsewhere.
Powers and Administration
- State College has corporate powers under Corporation Law.
- Administration vested in the Board of Trustees and College President.
Board of Trustees Composition
- Chairman: CHED Chairman.
- Vice Chairman: State College President.
- Members include Senate and House Education Committee Chairmen, regional directors of NEDA and DOST, faculty, student, alumni presidents, and two prominent citizens.
- Terms defined: ex officio members, coterminous terms, and two-year terms for citizen members.
President of the State College
- Full-time service, appointed by Board upon search committee recommendation.
- Four-year term, eligible for one reappointment.
- Assisted by Vice Presidents.
- Vacancy procedures and salary provisions included.
Transitional Administration
- Incumbent heads form transitory body overseeing State College administration until new president appointed.
- Arrangement limited to one year.
Policy Direction
- Board to promulgate policies consistent with Philippine Constitution, CHED policies, and educational laws.
Specific Powers and Duties of Board
- Enact rules and regulations.
- Approve budgets and appropriate funds.
- Set admission and graduation policies.
- Receive/manage donations and gifts.
- Fix tuition and fees; fees form special trust funds.
- Authorize construction, acquisition of properties; exempt from taxes and duties.
- Appoint personnel; fix salaries; grant leaves; remove for cause.
- Approve curricula and confer degrees, awards.
- Absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions.
- Establish chairs, fellowships, scholarships.
- Establish research and extension centers.
- Implement socialized tuition schemes.
- Delegate powers to expedite administration.
- Authorize management audits and reforms.
- Collaborate with other SUCs and entities.
- Enter joint ventures and develop linkages locally and internationally.
- Adopt modern, innovative teaching methods.
- Establish participative decision-making policies.
- Privatize non-academic services when advantageous.
- Extend president’s term beyond retirement age subject to conditions.
Board Meetings and Compensation
- Regular meetings at least every two months; special meetings possible.
- Quorum requires majority including CHED Chairman or representative.
- Members receive per diem but no salary.
- Reimbursement for official expenses allowed.
Academic Council
- Composed of the president (chair), vice presidents, deans, faculty (assistant professor or higher), principals, and department heads.
- Prescribes curricula and discipline rules, subject to Board approval.
- Sets admission and graduation requirements.
- Confers degrees upon recommendation.
- Exercises disciplinary power over students.
- Expands academic programs and organizational structure as needed.
Process Service
- Legal processes against the Board served on the State College President.
Administrative Council
- Composed of president (chair), vice presidents, deans, directors, and officials.
- Implements administrative and management policies.
Treasury and Auditing
- Treasurer of the Republic acts as ex officio treasurer of the State College.
- Accounts audited by Commission on Audit or representative.
Secretary of State College
- Appointed by the Board upon president’s recommendation.
- Acts as secretary of the Board; manages meeting notices and records.
Faculty Appointment and Conduct
- Religious opinions/affiliations not to be considered in appointments.
- Faculty prohibited from promoting ideologies advocating government overthrow; violation leads to dismissal.
Student Admission Rights
- No denial of admission based on sex, ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation.
Loan or Transfer of Government Property and Personnel
- Heads of national bureaus/offices authorized to loan/transfer apparatus, supplies, equipment, buildings, and detail employees when possible.
- Detailed employees' service counted as regular.
Reports to Government
- President to submit detailed annual report to Office of the President, CHED, Senate, and House of Representatives.
Incorporation of Higher Education Modernization Act
- Provisions of RA 8292 integrated and serve as part of this Act’s governing charter.
Transfer of Assets, Personnel, and Records
- Assets, liabilities, personnel of the original schools transferred to State College except those of the high schools.
- Existing personnel rights and tenure preserved.
- Retirement and local preference hiring provisions stated.
- Government land titled to State College; reverts to Province if State College ceases.
Appropriations
- Initial funding charged to existing school appropriations except for high school operations.
- Future funding included in annual General Appropriations Act.
Repeal and Effective Date
- Conflicting laws repealed, amended, or modified.
- Act takes effect upon approval.