Legal basis and policy declaration
- The rules are promulgated pursuant to Section 8, paragraphs (h) and (n) of Republic Act No. 7722 (Higher Education Act of 1994). (Preliminary Title)
- The State must give priority to education, science and technology, arts, and culture. (Section 1)
- The State policy is to protect, foster, and promote the right of all citizens to affordable quality education at the tertiary level, and to promote continuing intellectual growth, advancement of learning and research, development of responsible leadership, and enrichment of historical and cultural heritage. (Section 1)
- The State policy is to rationalize the location and program offerings of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and CHED-supervised higher education institutions, including city and community colleges, in pursuit of quality higher education. (Section 2)
Purpose and establishment objectives
- The general objective of the rules is to prescribe the procedures and guidelines for:
- the creation of new SUCs, and
- the conversion or elevation of public schools into institutions of higher learning, including city and community educational institutions. (Section 3)
- The rules set specific objectives to:
- establish only one state university per region; (Section 4.1)
- establish only one state college per province; (Section 4.2)
- ensure state colleges in each province do not duplicate existing program offerings; (Section 4.3)
- require each state college to offer programs needed for the development of the province/region. (Section 4.4)
Establishment and feasibility standards
- The establishment of a state college/university must be pursuant to law. (Section 5)
- The establishment of a state college requires the favorable recommendation from CHED subject to the listed guidelines and conditions. (Section 6)
- A state college/university may be established in provinces/regions without existing higher education institutions, government, or private institutions. (Section 6(a))
- A state college shall not be established in provinces with existing private colleges within a radius of fifty (50) kilometers, depending on the projected student population. (Section 6(b))
- The degree/non-degree courses offered must:
- meet the specific needs of the community,
- not duplicate curricular offerings of a private/public institution within the same area, and
- be courses within the capability of the school to be established. (Section 6(c))
- Enrollment requirements for a course/degree must be not less than 100. (Section 6(d))
- Total enrollment thresholds must be observed:
- a University must have not less than 2,500 tertiary students, and
- a College must have not less than 1,500 tertiary students. (Section 6(d))
- A proposed SUC must have a feasibility study that is reflective of and responsive to the needs of the designated service area, in accord with Title III. (Section 7)
Conversion and elevation requirements
- Conversion to a state college requires satisfaction of factors/considerations before conversion may be allowed: (a) Institutional Capability, (b) School Faculty, (c) Library, (d) Buildings/Student/Office Space, and (e) other CHED requirements. (Section 8)
- For conversion from high school to college, institutional capability requires:
- an overall average rating of graduates in the National Secondary Admission Test (NSAT) over the past three (3) years of at least 75%; (Section 8(a)(1))
- the school head to be an earned doctorate holder from a Level II institution certified by FAAP or an equivalent agency recognized by CHED, with proven track record and leadership potential, at least 5–10 years teaching experience, and at least 3 years administrative experience; (Section 8(a)(2))
- department heads to be master’s degree holders, preferably from a Level II institution certified by FAAP or an equivalent agency recognized by CHED. (Section 8(a)(3))
- For conversion from high school to college, faculty requirements require:
- at least 50% of faculty to be master’s degree holders, and at least 5% to be doctorate degree holders; (Section 8(b)(1))
- compliance with other minimum requirements on faculty and staff under relevant CHED rules and regulations. (Section 8(b)(2))
- For conversion from high school to college, library resources must be adequate in quality and quantity, including at least 5,000 non-duplicating book titles with editions not later than 5 years, and seating capacity equal to 25% of the total population of the institution. (Section 8(c)(1))
- For conversion from high school to college, the school must have adequate site, space, buildings, and other facilities to house students, personnel, faculty, officials, and other required services. (Section 8(d))
- For conversion from high school to college, all other requirements mandated by CHED must be complied with. (Section 8(e))
- Conversion from college to university requires compliance with criteria/requirements before conversion may be allowed, covering Institutional Capability, University Faculty, Library, Buildings/Student/Office Space, and other CHED stipulations. (Section 9)
- For conversion from college to university, institutional capability requires:
- admission requirements and policies; (Section 9(a)(1))
- average passing percentage in licensure examinations for relevant courses/programs to be higher than the national passing average over the last five (5) years; (Section 9(a)(2))
- the head of the state college being converted/elevated to a university to hold an earned doctorate degree from a Level III institution certified by FAAP or an equivalent agency recognized by CHED; (Section 9(a)(3))
- the head of the state university to hold an earned doctorate degree from a Level III institution certified by FAAP, demonstrate proven track record in school administration and potential to become an effective and efficient educator/administrator, with at least 5 years teaching experience and at least 5 years administrative experience; (Section 9(a)(4))
- the Dean of the College to hold at least a master’s degree, demonstrate administrative potential, with at least 5 years teaching experience and at least three (3) years administrative experience. (Section 9(a)(5))
- For conversion from college to university, faculty requirements require:
- at least 50% of faculty to hold master’s degrees and 25% to hold doctoral degrees; (Section 9(b)(1))
- compliance with other minimum requirements/standards on faculty qualifications set by CHED. (Section 9(b)(2))
- For conversion from college to university, library requirements require:
- at least 8,000 non-duplicating book titles with editions not later than 5 years;
- at least 10,000 volumes not later than 5 years; and
- seating capacity equal to 30% of the total population for a university. (Section 9(c)(1))
- For conversion from college to university, the school must have adequate site, space, buildings, and other facilities to house students, personnel, faculty, officials, and other required services. (Section 9(d))
- For conversion from college to university, all other requirements stipulated under relevant CHED orders and issuances must be complied with. (Section 9(e))
Plan of action and networking linkages
- A proposed SUC must align its feasibility study with the needs of its designated service area and the requirements governing establishment. (Section 7)
- A college/university must develop a system of networking and other forms of linkages with other institutions in the province/region to enhance efficiency and complementation. (Section 12)
Budget rules for newly established SUCs
- The proposed budget of a newly established SUC must comply with approved programs and be based on factors determined by CHED. (Section 10)
- The budget of the new institution must not exceed the budget of the existing institution(s). (Section 11)
- Any proposed budget increase must be based on considerations including:
- expected student population;
- proposed curricular offering(s) based on Sec. 2, Art. III of the rules;
- proposed new teaching and non-teaching plantilla position(s);
- proposed new buildings and equipments; and
- other factors determined by CHED. (Section 11)
Implementing regulation, repeals, separability
- CHED must formulate appropriate guidelines necessary for efficient and effective implementation of these Omnibus Rules and Regulations, in consultation with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) and other appropriate bodies. (Section 13)
- All orders, rules, regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with these Omnibus Rules and Regulations are repealed or modified accordingly. (Section 14)
- If any part or provision of these rules is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions continue in full force and effect. (Section 15)