Law Summary
Mandate and Academic Focus
- Primarily offers higher technological, professional, and vocational instruction in science, fishery, forestry, agriculture, engineering, and industrial fields.
- Provides short-term technical or vocational courses.
- Promotes research, advanced studies, extension work, and progressive leadership.
- Existing high school transferred to Department of Education but may temporarily remain within campus.
- May operate a laboratory school if a College of Education exists.
Curricular Offerings and Programs
- Offers undergraduate courses in science, fishery, agriculture, education, forestry, marine biology, engineering, and other fields as deemed necessary.
- Provides short-term technical or vocational courses, nonformal education.
- Undertakes extension and research programs in food production, nutrition, health, and sports development.
Corporate Powers and Administration
- Possesses general corporate powers as prescribed by corporation law.
- Administration and exercise of powers are vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees and the College president.
Composition of the Board of Trustees
- Chairman: CHED chairman.
- Vice chairman: College president.
- Members include: Education committee chairmen of Senate and House, NEDA Director-General, presidents of faculty association, student council, alumni association, and two prominent citizens from Negros Occidental.
- Terms vary: ex officio, coterminous with respective positions, or fixed terms for prominent citizens.
- Officer-in-charge may serve for unexpired presidential term in case of vacancy.
- College president entitled to retirement benefits.
Powers and Responsibilities of the Board
- Enact rules and regulations to fulfill College objectives.
- Approve and appropriate funds.
- Import duty-free essential educational materials if unavailable locally.
- Receive and manage donations, exempt from taxes.
- Fix tuition and fees.
- Authorize construction, repairs, and procurements.
- Confirm high-level appointments and fix salaries.
- Approve curricula, confer degrees and awards.
- Establish chairs, fellowships, scholarships.
- Establish branches in Negros Occidental when necessary.
Meetings and Quorum of the Board
- Regular meetings at least bi-monthly.
- Special meetings may be called with three days' notice.
- Quorum requires majority including CHED chairman or delegate or College president.
- Substitutes allowed for certain members with full rights.
- Members receive honoraria and reimbursements, not salaries.
Appointment and Role of the College President
- Appointed by Board after search committee recommendation.
- Term of 3 years, extendible once unless retired, removed, or incapacitated.
- Officer-in-charge designated during vacancy.
- Duties as typical for presidents of similar institutions.
- Salary according to revised compensation system.
Administrative and Academic Councils
- Administrative Council: President as chairman; includes vice presidents, deans, directors; implements policies.
- Academic Council: President as chairman; faculty with rank assistant professor and above; prescribes curricula; sets admission and graduation requirements; disciplinary authority over students.
Secretary and Treasurer of the College
- Secretary appointed by Board upon president's recommendation; keeps records and serves as Board secretary.
- Treasurer of the Republic is ex officio college treasurer.
Faculty and Student Policies
- No inquiry on religious opinion or affiliation for faculty appointments.
- Faculty prohibited from promoting any church or religious sect.
- No student denied admission due to sex, nationality, religion, or political affiliation.
- Faculty prohibited from influencing students toward ideologies advocating government overthrow under penalty of dismissal.
Appointment of Officer-in-Charge
- Appointed by CHED pending appointment of a College president.
Reporting Requirements
- Annual detailed report on College progress, conditions, and needs to the Office of the President, CHED, and Congress within 2 months after school opening.
Transfer of Assets and Property
- All assets, liabilities, personnel, records of Iloilo State College of Fisheries extension transferred to the new College.
- Personnel rights and tenure preserved.
- Government land occupied declared property of the College.
- Land reverts to Negros Occidental if College is abolished or land no longer needed.
Financial Audit
- All accounts and expenses audited by Commission on Audit or authorized representative.
Support from National Government
- Government agencies authorized to loan or transfer equipment and detail employees to the College with consideration to public service needs.
Policy on Affiliation and Integration
- College may accept integration or affiliation of existing national schools to further its objectives.
Development Assistance
- CHED to provide institutional development assistance, particularly faculty and facility development.
Utilization of Sagay Marine Reserve
- Marine protected areas declared by Proclamation No. 592 may be used for research, experimental, and laboratory purposes by the College.
Funding Provisions
- Initial funding charged against Iloilo State College of Fisheries appropriations except for existing high school operations.
- Future funding included in General Appropriations Act.
Repealing Clause
- Laws and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect upon approval, having lapsed into law on January 9, 1998, without the President's signature as per the Constitution.