Section 5Sec./Art. 5

Powers and Duties of the Board. In addition to its general powers of administration and the powers granted to the board of directors of a corporation under existing laws, the Board shall have the following specific powers and duties:

(a)Promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies on education, other pertinent provisions of the Constitution on education, agriculture, science and technology, and the policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the Higher Education Act of 1994;

(b)Approve the curricula, instructional programs, and rules on student discipline drawn by Administrative and Academic Councils as herein provided;

(c) Appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of the SUNN, the vice presidents, deans, directors, heads of the campuses, faculty members, and other officials and employees of the SUNN;

(d)Fix and adjust the salaries of faculty members, administrative officials and employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System and other pertinent budget and compensation laws governing hours of service, and such other duties and conditions as it may deem proper; grant them, at its discretion, leaves of absence under such regulations as it may promulgate, any provision of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding; and remove them for cause in accordance with the requirements of due process of law;

(e) Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to impose, after due consultation with the concerned sectors. The fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the SUNN, shall constitute its special trust funds, and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank. All interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the SUNN;

Any provision of existing laws, rules or regulations to the contrary notwithstanding any income generated by the SUNN from tuition fees and other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and land grants, shall be retained by the SUNN and may be disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension services or other programs and projects of the SUNN:Provided,That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for which these are collected:Provided, however,That if, for reasons beyond its control, the SUNN shall not be able to pursue any project for which the funds have been appropriated and allocated under its approved program of expenditures, the Board may authorize the use of said funds for any reasonable purpose which, in its discretion, may be necessary and urgent for the attainment of the objectives and goals of the SUNN;

(f) Adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees for greater access of poor but deserving students in accordance with Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act;

(g)Establish professorial chairs in the SUNN and provide fellowships for qualified faculty members, and scholarships to deserving students;

(h)Receive and appropriate sums as may be provided by law for the support of the SUNN, and all other sums in the manner it may, in its discretion, determine to carry out the purpose and functions of the SUNN;

(i) Set the policies on admission and graduation of students;

(j)Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and technology, agriculture or any field of specialization within the academic competency of the SUNN, and authorize the awarding of certification of completion of nondegree and nontraditional courses;

(k) Establish research and extension centers to promote the development of the SUNN;

(l)Develop academic arrangements for institutional capability building with appropriate institutions and agencies, whether public, private, local or foreign, and appoint experts or specialists as consultants, part-time, visiting or exchange professors, scholars or researchers, as the case may be;

(m) Adopt modern and innovative modes of transmitting knowledge for the promotion of greater access to education such as the use of information technology, dual training system, open distance learning, and community laboratory;

(n) Collaborate with the governing bodies of other state universities and colleges with the Province of Negros Occidental and Region VI, under the supervision of the CHED and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in restructuring the SUNN to make it more efficient, relevant, productive and competitive;

(o) Absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the Province of Negros Occidental and Region VI as branches, extension or external centers, in coordination with the CHED and in consultation with the DBM, and offer therein programs or courses to carry out the constitutional mandate of providing equal access to educational opportunities;

(p)Authorize an external management audit of the SUNN, to be financed by the CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit, and institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis of the audit results and recommendations;

(q) Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local government units (LGUs), as well as public, private, local or foreign institutions and agencies, in the furtherance of the purpose and objectives of the SUNN;

(r)Import economic, technical and cultural books and publications;

(s) Enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable development and economic assets, the proceeds of which shall be used for the development and strengthening of the SUNN;

(t)Receive in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds and administer and dispose of the same, when necessary, for the benefit of the SUNN and subject to the limitations, directions and instructions of the donor, if any;

(u) Extend the terms of the President of the SUNN beyond the age of retirement, but not beyond the age of seventy (70), based in the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by the Board:Provided,That the Presidents performance has been rated by the Board as outstanding and a unanimous recommendation for such extension has been decided upon by the search committee;

(v)Delegate any of its powers and duties provided to the President and other officials of the SUNN, as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the SUNN;

(w) Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative and transparent decision-making within the SUNN;

(x)Where most advantageous to the SUNN, privatize the management of nonacademic services such as health, food, building or grounds or property maintenance, and such other similar activities;

(y) Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, including the necessary supplies, materials and equipment; and

(z)Promulgate rules and regulations, as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes and functions of the SUNN.