Policy, purpose, and constitutional direction
- The decree implements the constitutional policy to establish and maintain a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to national development.
- The decree furthers the constitutional direction that educational institutions aim to develop scientific, technological, and vocational efficiency.
- The decree aligns with the government policy under Presidential Decree No. 6-A (the Educational Decree of 1972) to re-orient education toward accelerated national economic growth and meaningful social development.
- The decree integrates and converts existing higher-learning institutions in the Province of Isabela into a single state university to maximize limited resources and promote effective and efficient development of Region II, particularly Isabela.
- The decree establishes the university as an instrument for rapid development of natural and manpower resources through professional and technical training in arts, science, humanities, and technology and through scientific research and technological studies.
Merger and university establishment
- Section 1 merges the Isabela State College of Agriculture (in Echague, Isabela) and the Cagayan Valley Institute of Technology (in Cabagan, Isabela) into a state university.
- The merged institution is known as Isabela State University (the University).
- The main campus and administrative site of the University are in Echague, Isabela.
- Section 1 transfers the college level courses of the following institutions into the University:
- Isabela School of Arts and Trades (Ilagan, Isabela)
- Jones Rural School (Jones, Isabela)
- Roxas Memorial Agricultural and Industrial School (Roxas, Isabela)
- San Mateo Vocational and Industrial School (San Mateo, Isabela)
Academic purpose and advanced instruction
- Section 2 requires the University to provide advanced instruction in:
- the arts
- agricultural and natural sciences
- technological and professional fields
Governance: Board of Regents composition
- Section 3 vests governance in a Board of Regents.
- The Board of Regents is composed of:
- the Secretary of Education and Culture as Chairman
- the President of the University as Vice Chairman
- a representative of the National Economic Development Authority
- six (6) prominent citizens appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of Education and Culture
- In the absence of the Secretary of Education and Culture, the Secretary may designate a representative to sit in Board meetings.
- The first six (6) appointive regents serve staggered terms:
- two serve for two years
- two serve for three years
- two serve for four years
- After the first group, appointees hold office for a term of four years.
- In case of permanent vacancy, the appointee serves only for the unexpired term.
Governance: quorum, meetings, and responsibility
- Section 4 sets quorum as a majority of all members holding office at the time of the meeting.
- Section 4 directs that processes against the University are served on the President of the University or the President’s duly authorized representative.
Board of Regents compensation and expenses
- Section 5 provides that Board of Regents members shall not receive compensation.
- Members are reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred:
- in attendance of Board meetings, or
- in other official business authorized by the Board.
Board powers and duties
- Section 6 grants the Board of Regents powers and duties in addition to its general powers of administration and corporate powers under Section Thirteen of Act No. 1459, as amended (the Corporation Law).
- The Board must:
- prescribe rules for its own government and enact University rules and regulations not contrary to law
- receive and appropriate sums for University support as may be provided by law
- receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations (real and personal property) for University benefit, for a department, or for aid to students according to donor instructions
- administer trust donations for the benefit of the University or its department, or for aid to students, and provide that in default of donor directions the Board determines the manner in its discretion
- Tax treatment of donations: all such donations are exempt from all taxes and are treated as deductible items from the income tax of the donors.
- The Board must approve:
- curricula and rules of discipline drawn by the College Council
- The Board must perform degree functions:
- confer degrees upon successful graduation candidates
- award honorary degrees for learning, public service, statesmanship, or eminence in fields of specialization
- authorize the President to award certificates for completion of non-degree programs
- The Board must manage personnel appointment authority and conditions:
- appoint, on recommendation of the President, provosts, vice presidents, deans, directors, registrars, heads of departments, professors, and other officials and employees
- fix their compensation, hours of service, and other duties and conditions in accordance with pertinent budget and cooperative laws, rules, and regulations
- The Board may establish academic support:
- establish chairs
- provide fellowships for qualified faculty members and other scholarships for deserving students
- The Board must set fees and reversion to the General Fund:
- fix tuition fees, matriculation fees, graduation fees, laboratory fees, and such special fees and charges it deems proper
- require that such fees and charges, including other University income, revert to the General Fund in accordance with P.D. No. 711
- The Board may authorize construction/repair:
- authorize the University to undertake construction and/or repair of buildings, machinery, equipment, and other facilities
- require that the funds come from the University’s appropriation.
Student admission and non-discrimination
- Section 7 prohibits denying admission to any student by reason of:
- sex
- nationality
- religion
- political belief
University President: appointment, term, and functions
- Section 8 names the head of the University as the President of the University.
- The President is appointed for a term of six (6) years by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of Education and Culture after consultation with Board of Regents members.
- Section 8 provides that, in addition to powers and duties specifically provided, the President’s powers and duties are those usually pertaining to the office of a university president.
Administrative and academic councils
- Section 10 creates an Administrative Council composed of:
- the President of the University as Chairman
- the Vice Presidents and Provosts as Members
- Section 10 requires the Administrative Council to prepare and promulgate general policies on:
- personnel
- financial management
- development planning
- subject to Board of Regents approval.
- Section 11 creates a College Council in each college or unit.
- Each College Council is composed of:
- the Provost as Chairman
- all faculty of the college or unit as members
- The faculty structure for each college includes instructors, assistant professors, associate professors, and professors.
- Curricula, rules, and discipline: Section 11 empowers each College Council to prescribe curricula and rules and discipline, subject to Board of Regents approval.
- Admissions and graduation requirements: Section 11 requires each College Council to fix admission and graduation requirements and the conferring of degrees, subject to Board of Regents review.
- Recommendations for degrees: Section 11 provides that the College Council alone recommends students or others as recipients of degrees.
- Disciplinary power: Section 11 grants the College Council disciplinary power over its students through the President of the University or a duly authorized committee, within limits prescribed by rules of discipline approved by the Board of Regents.
Faculty service rules and religious limitations
- Section 12 exempts members of the faculty from civil service examinations or regulation as a requisite to appointment.
- Section 12 prohibits applying any religious test in appointing faculty members.
- Section 12 prohibits inquiring into religious opinions or affiliations in faculty appointments.
- Section 12 prohibits a faculty member from teaching for or against any particular church or religious sect.
Advisory councils at college/unit level
- Section 13 establishes an Advisory Council for each college or unit, headed by the Provost of that college or unit.
- Section 13 requires each Advisory Council to provide advice and counsel to the Provost on general policy concerning affairs of the college or unit.
- Composition continuity: existing members of the Board of Regents or trustees of integrated institutions continue as members of the Advisory Council for their respective institution, except the Chairman of the Board of Regents or trustees.
- Such continuing members serve for a term of four (4) years.
- Thereafter, Advisory Council members are appointed by the Board of Regents upon recommendation of the President.
Treasurer and audit
- Section 14 makes the Treasurer of the Philippines the ex-officio treasurer of the University.
- Section 14 requires all University accounts and expenses to be audited by the Commission on Audit or its duly authorized representative.
Transfer of personnel, assets, and appropriations
- Section 15 transfers to the University all personnel, assets, records, and appropriations of the institutions of higher learning integrated in the decree.
- Section 15 excepts appropriations to:
- Isabela School of Arts and Trades
- Jones Rural School
- Roxas Memorial Agricultural and Industrial School
- Angadanan Vocational and Industrial School
- San Mateo Vocational and Industrial School
Loan/transfer of government apparatus and secondment of employees
- Section 16 authorizes heads of bureaus and offices of the national government and provincial or city governments in Region II to loan or transfer, upon request of the President of the University:
- apparatus
- equipment
- supplies needed by the University
- Section 16 authorizes such heads to detail employees to the University for duty where the head judges that the employee can be spared without serious detriment to public service.
- Section 16 requires detailed employees to perform duties under the detail.
- Section 16 provides that time employed under such detail counts as part of the employee’s regular official service.
Implementation steps and annual progress reporting
- Section 17 directs the Secretary of Education and Culture to take steps necessary for immediate implementation.
- Section 17 authorizes the Secretary to create a technical committee to advise the Board of Regents on proper establishment, development, and expansion of University programs.
- Section 18 requires the Board of Regents, on or before the 15th day of the second month after the opening of regular classes each year, to file with the Office of the President of the Philippines through the Secretary of Education and Culture a detailed report on:
- progress
- conditions
- needs of the University.
Funding and appropriation
- Section 19 authorizes an additional appropriation of ONE MILLION PESOS (P1,000,000) to carry out the decree’s purpose.
- Section 19 requires that thereafter, funds needed for the University’s maintenance and continued operation be included in the Annual Appropriation Act.
Repeal and effect of other laws
- Section 20 repeals or amends Republic Act Nos. 6507 and 3442, and repeals or amends all other laws, acts, decrees, or executive orders that are contrary to or inconsistent with the decree.
Transitory arrangements for incumbent leadership
- Section 9 provides that incumbent presidents of the institutions of higher learning integrated by the decree continue to serve as Provosts of their respective colleges or units until the Board of Regents determines terms of office and other conditions of service of Provosts and other officials and employees.
Definitions
- No definitions are expressly established beyond the decree’s use of the term “University” to refer to Isabela State University.