Law Summary
Formulation of Development Plans
- Development plans must align with regional and national manpower goals.
- Institutions must identify areas of specialization within their chartered objectives.
- Considerations include faculty qualifications, infrastructure, and educational offerings of nearby institutions.
- Aims to avoid duplicate course offerings across public and private schools.
Physical Development and Campus Management
- Physical development plans should respond to long-term manpower needs.
- Institutions should minimize duplication of resources such as land, buildings, and equipment.
- Preference given to upgrading the main campus and reducing the number of satellite campuses.
- Establishment of new branches or absorption of existing schools is prohibited unless authorized by law.
Role in Manpower and Technological Development
- State universities and colleges should lead in manpower and technology areas not served by private institutions.
- They should cooperate with private schools and the public school system.
- New degree offerings must be consistent with institutional objectives and development plans.
- Minimum standards for faculty, equipment, and facilities set by the Ministry apply equally to these institutions.
Accreditation and Program Standards
- Institutions are required to seek accreditation from the Federation of Accrediting Associations of the Philippines (FAAP) or equivalent.
- Accreditation serves as a mechanism for improving quality and impacts budget recommendations by the Office of Budget and Management.
Participation in Government and Community Programs
- Active participation in programs related to agriculture, reforestation, industrial development, and community self-reliance.
- Mechanisms to ensure rightful retention and distribution of income from such activities to the institution and individuals involved.
Criteria for Upgrading Colleges to University Status
- Colleges aspiring for university status must meet accreditation and other standards required by the Ministry.
Financial Evaluation and Fiscal Autonomy
- Schools should evaluate finances aiming for rational budgetary contributions and increased fiscal autonomy.
- Efforts to increase income sources such as land grants, business concessions, alumni fundraising, and philanthropy.
- Target is for government budgetary support to not exceed approximately 60% of total costs.
- The Minister of the Budget to explore autonomy over school expenditures within given constraints.
Scholarship and Access to Education
- Maximization of funds allocated for student and faculty scholarships.
- Support for construction of student dormitories to facilitate access.
- Avoid proliferation of multiple campuses to maintain focus and efficiency.
Restriction on Secondary and Elementary Education Programs
- Focus remains on tertiary education.
- Gradual reduction of secondary and elementary programs to essential minimums.
- No expansion of secondary or elementary programs, whether by enrollment increases or absorption.
Adoption of a University or College Code
- Boards of Regents to adopt a University or College Code addressing academic and administrative policies.
- The code development should consider the experience of established institutions like the University of the Philippines and Mindanao State University.
- Collaboration through PASUC to achieve policy consistency among institutions of similar size and category.