Philippine Normal College conversion to state university

Academic offerings and degree authority

The University must offer undergraduate and graduate courses in the fields of education and other degree courses that the Board of Regents deems necessary to carry out the University’s objectives.
The University, through the Board of Regents, may confer degrees upon successful candidates for graduation and award honorary degrees to persons in recognition of outstanding contribution in education or a field of specialization.
The Academic Council prescribes curricular offerings subject to Board of Regents approval, and it fixes the requirements for admission, graduation, and the conferment of degrees, subject to review and/or approval by the Board through the President of the University.
The Board of Regents may establish branches in cities and provinces when essential and necessary where there is no existing school offering similar programs or courses, to promote equal access to education opportunities mandated by the Constitution.
The Board of Regents may establish chairs and provide fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students.

Governance: Board of Regents structure

The governing body of the University is the Board of Regents, which consists of the following members:
- Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports — Chairman
- President of the University — Vice Chairman
- Chairman of the Committee on Education of the Senate — Member
- Chairman of the Committee on Education of the House of Representatives — Member
- Representative of the National Economic and Development Authority — Member
- President of the Federation of Faculty Associations of the University — Member
- President of the Federation of Supreme Student Councils of the University — Member
The Board may appoint additional members when deemed necessary:
- President of the Federation of Employees Associations of the University
- Two (2) prominent citizens distinguished in the fields of specialization of the University
The presidents of the Federation of Alumni Associations and the Federation of Employees Associations, and the two (2) prominent citizens appointed by the Board, have the same powers, authority, and privileges as regular members.
Members serving terms are governed as follows:
- The Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports, the President of the University, the Education Committee Chairmen of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the NEDA representative have an ex officio term.
- The presidents of the Federation of Faculty Associations, the Federation of Student Councils, and, when necessary, the presidents of the Federation of Alumni Associations and the Federation of Employees Associations serve for one (1) year.
- The two (2) prominent citizens serve for four (4) years and two (2) years, respectively, when likewise necessary.
Faculty, alumni, employees, and students in each campus must organize their respective federations for purposes of these Board seats.

Board of Regents powers, duties, and finances

The Board must promulgate and implement policies consistent with declared state policies on education and relevant constitutional provisions on education, arts, culture, and sports.
The Board holds specific powers and duties in addition to its general powers of administration and corporate powers:
- Enact rules and regulations not contrary to law to carry out the University’s purposes and functions.
- Receive and appropriate all sums provided for support of the University, in the Board’s discretion, to carry out University purposes and functions.
- Import duty-free essential commodities, materials, and equipment for educational or technological programs as an exception to existing laws, provided such items are not available locally.
- Receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal properties and administer and dispose of them when necessary for the University’s benefit, subject to limitations, directions, and instructions of the donor (if any).
- Ensure that donations under this trust arrangement are exempt from all taxes and are considered deductible items from the income tax of the donor.
- Fix tuition fees and other necessary school charges (including but not limited to matriculation fees, graduation fees, and laboratory fees) as the Board deems proper.
- Treat tuition fees and other school charges, including government subsidies and other University income, as special trust funds deposited in any authorized government depository bank.
- Use interests accruing from these trust funds as part of the same funds for University use.
- Allow, at the Board’s discretion, University-generated incomes to be disbursed for:
  - professional growth and development of faculty members and personnel,
  - health, welfare, and similar benefits,
  - acquisition, construction, maintenance, and repair of urgently needed instructional and auxiliary facilities, equipment, buildings, and other infrastructures,
  - expenses necessary for attaining the objectives and goals of the University.
- Permit use of appropriated project funds for any reasonable and urgent purpose necessary to attain University objectives when the University cannot pursue an approved project for reasons beyond its control.
- Authorize construction or repair of buildings, machineries, equipment, and other facilities, and purchase and acquisition of real and personal properties, including necessary supplies, materials, and equipment.
- Make purchases and other University transactions entered into through the Board exempt from all taxes and duties.
- Confirm appointments of vice presidents, deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty members, and other University officials and employees made by the President.
- Fix and adjust salaries of faculty and administrative officials and employees.
- Approve curricula, institutional programs, and rules of discipline drawn by the Administrative Council and Academic Council.
- Establish chairs and provide fellowships and scholarships as part of the University’s academic support systems.

Board meetings, quorum, and member compensation

A quorum of the Board consists of a majority of all members holding office at the time of the meeting.
Attendance requirements require that, among those present, either:
- the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports (Chairman) is present, or
- the President of the University acts as presiding officer in the Chairman’s absence.
The Board must convene regularly once every two (2) months, and the Chairman may call special meetings whenever necessary.
Board members must not receive salary but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses for attendance in Board meetings or other official business authorized by Board resolution, subject to existing laws on honoraria and allowances.

University President and key officers

The University is headed by a President appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Board.
The President’s term is six (6) years without reappointment unless the President reaches retirement age, or is earlier removed for cause, or incapacitated to discharge the duties.
If the President’s office becomes vacant due to death, resignation, incapacity, or removal for cause, the Board must designate an officer-in-charge pending appointment of a successor.
The new President holds office for the unexpired term, but in no case more than six (6) years, consistent with the general term rules.
The President’s powers and duties include those usually pertaining to the Office of the President of the University, in addition to those specifically provided in the Act.
The Board fixes the President’s salary, comparable to that received by presidents of similar educational institutions of like enrollment and standing.
The President is entitled to full retirement benefits under existing laws.
The University includes an Administrative Council chaired by the President, composed of vice presidents, deans, directors, and officials of equal rank; it implements Board-approved policies on administration, management, and development planning.
The University includes an Academic Council chaired by the President and composed of instructional staff with rank not lower than assistant professor; it prescribes curricular offerings and sets academic and disciplinary rules within Board-prescribed limits.
The University has a Secretary appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the President, who also serves as Secretary of the Board and keeps records as determined by the Board.
The Treasurer of the Philippines serves as the ex officio treasurer of the University.
The incumbent head of the Philippine Normal College who is qualified under Department of Education, Culture and Sports rules serves as officer-in-charge pending appointment of the President.

Faculty, student rights, admissions, and academic freedom

Faculty members of the University are exempt from any civil service examination or regulation as a prerequisite for appointment.
No religious opinion or affiliation may be inquired into for appointment of faculty members.
No faculty member may teach for or against any particular church or religious sect.
The President, vice presidents, deans, professors, all faculty members, and other personnel are exempt from the rules and regulations of the Office of Compensation and Position Classification and the Civil Service Commission.
No student may be denied admission by reason of sex, nationality, religion, or political affiliation.
The University enjoys academic freedom.

Accountability, reporting, and government support

The Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representative must audit all University accounts and expenses.
On or before the fifteenth day of the second month after the opening of regular classes each year, the Board must file a detailed report with the Office of the President of the Philippines through the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports, and with both Houses of Congress, covering the University’s progress, conditions, and needs.
Heads of bureaus and offices of the National Government may, upon request of the University President, loan or transfer apparatus, equipment, supplies, and detail employees to the University when such items and services can be spared without serious detriment to public service.
Detailed employees must perform duties required by the President of the University, and their time in such service counts as part of their official service.

Assets transfer, tenure protection, and integration

The University must receive all assets—fixed and movable—personnel, and records of the Philippine Normal College in Manila and all its branches, as well as liabilities or obligations, subject to personnel protections.
Personnel under existing laws prior to absorption must not have positions, rights, and security of tenure impaired.
Incumbent position holders retain the same status until otherwise provided for by the Board.
Government parcels of land occupied by the Philippine Normal College in Manila and its existing branches become the property of the Philippine Normal University and must be titled under the University’s name.
If the University ceases to exist or is abolished, or if the parcels of land are no longer needed by the University, the parcels revert to the provinces, municipalities, or cities where they are located.
The University accepts affiliation and/or integration of existing national schools whose programs contribute effectively to achieving the University objectives.
When integration occurs, the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports determines and approves the specific existing national schools to be integrated.
In integration cases, all funds, properties, other assets, and obligations of the integrated schools are transferred to the University.
Appropriations for the Philippine Normal College and its branches are transferred to the University, and amounts necessary for continued operation and maintenance must be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Repeal and effectivity

All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the Act are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
The Act takes effect upon approval: December 26, 1991.