Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- State promotes accessible quality education.
- Establishes and supports integrated education system relevant to societal needs.
- Bulacan State University (BulSU) strengthened to enhance educational capabilities.
- Expanded curricular offerings and governing board composition.
- Encourages specialization, instructional innovation, and academic leadership.
University Campuses and Units
- BulSU includes campuses in Malolos, San Jose del Monte, San Rafael, Bustos, Bulakan, Hagonoy.
- Includes constituent units, regular and extension campuses, academic and nonacademic units.
- Main campus remains in Malolos, Bulacan.
General Mandate
- Provides advanced education, technological and professional courses.
- Fields: engineering, technology, arts, sciences, education, agriculture, accountancy, business, medicine, tourism, aeronautics, AI and robotics, law, research, extension services.
- Supports socioeconomic development of Bulacan and Central Luzon.
Curricular Offerings
- Offers undergraduate, graduate, advanced professional and technical courses.
- Fields include natural sciences, commerce, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, law, medicine, architecture, AI, etc.
- Must comply with CHED policies and standards.
- May open new branches or extension campuses in consortium with other institutions.
- Maintains laboratory junior and senior high school supervised by College of Education.
Administration
- BulSU has general corporate powers under Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines.
- Corporate powers exercised exclusively by Board of Regents and BulSU President.
Governing Board Composition
- Board of Regents chaired by CHED Chairperson and co-chaired by BulSU President.
- Members include Senate and House Education Committee Chairs, Regional Directors of NEDA, Agriculture, Science & Technology, Federation Presidents (faculty, student, alumni, nonteaching personnel), and two prominent private sector citizens.
- Private citizens appointed from Bulacan, serve two-year terms.
- Federation presidents serve coterminous with their office terms.
Powers and Duties of the Board
- Promulgate educational policies aligned with State and CHED policies.
- Approve curricula, student discipline rules.
- Appoint key university officials upon President’s recommendation.
- Prescribe salaries subject to Salary Standardization Law and civil service rules.
- Fix tuition and school charges after consultation; revenues used exclusively for university functions.
- Adopt socialized tuition schemes per Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
- Establish professorial chairs, scholarships, research and extension centers.
- Enter partnerships, joint ventures with public and private entities.
- Manage university assets and authorise construction, acquisition of property.
- Extend President’s term up to age 70 under specific conditions.
- Delegate powers, outsource nonacademic services.
- Conduct external audits and implement reforms based on results.
Meetings of the Board
- Regular meetings every three months; special meetings as needed.
- Quorum requires majority including CHED Chairperson or designate and BulSU President.
- Board members receive no salary; entitled to expense reimbursements.
University President
- Appointed by Board on search committee recommendation.
- Serves full-time, term of four years with possible reappointment.
- Manages university operations; assisted by several vice presidents.
- Salary follows Salary Standardization Law.
- Officer-in-Charge appointed in case of vacancy pending new President.
Secretary and Treasurer
- Secretary appointed by Board; keeps meeting records and sends notices.
- Treasurer of the Philippines serves as ex officio Treasurer of BulSU.
Administrative and Academic Councils
- Administrative Council reviews and recommends policies; composed of President, vice presidents, deans, directors.
- Academic Council formulates academic policies; composed of President and academic staff.
- Academic Council fixes admissions, graduation requirements, student discipline rules subject to Board approval.
Heads of University Campuses
- Constituent units clustered under two Chancellors serving three-year terms.
- Each campus headed by Campus Director serving two-year terms.
- Appointments made by Board based on search committee and BulSU President recommendations.
Faculty Rights and Appointment
- No discrimination based on political belief, sex, gender, cultural or religious affiliation.
- Faculty appointments subject to Board-set qualifications and standards.
- Faculty prohibited from promoting religious denominations in teaching.
Faculty Sabbatical Leave
- Grants sabbaticals for research or community engagement (3 months to 1 year).
- Faculty on sabbatical relieved from teaching; required to submit published research.
Academic Freedom and Autonomy
- BulSU enjoys academic freedom and institutional autonomy under the Constitution.
Scholarship and Admission
- Provides scholarships and affirmative action for poor but deserving students.
- Admission free from discrimination on various grounds.
Loan or Transfer of Government Supplies and Personnel
- National government may loan or transfer supplies and detail personnel to BulSU upon request.
- Personnel duties counted as regular service time.
Assets, Liabilities, and Personnel
- All BulSU assets, records, liabilities remain under its name.
- Faculty and personnel rights and tenures respected.
- Land declared property of BulSU; reverts to government if no longer needed.
Duty and Tax Exemptions
- Importation of educational materials exempt from customs duties upon CHED certification.
- Educational grants and donations exempt from donor’s tax and deductible from donor’s gross income.
Development Plan and Management Audit
- BulSU shall submit a 5-year development plan and program budget.
- Establish organizational and academic structure.
- Undergo management audit with CHED coordination.
Annual Reporting
- Board must file detailed report on BulSU progress and needs with the President and Congress annually.
Supplimentary Application
- Republic Act No. 8292 (Higher Education Modernization Act) applies suppletorily.
Parity Clause
- All existing powers and limitations under laws remain valid and applicable.
Appropriations
- Initial funding from BulSU’s current year appropriations.
- Continued funding included in future General Appropriations Acts.
Rules and Regulations
- Board shall formulate implementing rules within 90 days of Act’s effectivity.
Separability Clause
- Invalid provisions do not affect the validity of remaining provisions.
Repealing Clause
- Repeals or amends inconsistent laws, including Republic Act No. 7665.
Effectivity
- Act takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation.