Section 7December 26, 1991, Sec./Art. 7

The Board shall have the following specific powers and duties in addition to its general powers of administration and the exercise of all the powers granted to the Board of Directors of a corporation under existing laws:

a) To enact rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the University;

b) To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support of the University in the manner it may, in its discretion, determine to carry out the purposes and functions of the University;

c) To import duty-free essential commodities, materials and equipment for educational or technological programs as an exception to existing laws, provided such commodities, materials and equipment are not available locally;

d) To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds and to administer and dispose the same when necessary for the benefit of the University and subject to the limitations, directions and instructions of the donor, if any. Such donations shall be exempt from all taxes and shall be considered as deductible items from the income tax of the donor;

e) To fix tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as but not limited to matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to impose. Such fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the University, constituted special trust funds and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank. Any and all interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the University.

Any provisions of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, incomes generated by the University, may at the discretion of the Board be disbursed for the professional growth and development, health, welfare and other similar benefits of the faculty members and personnel, for the acquisition, construction, maintenance and repair of urgently needed instructional and auxiliary facilities, equipment, buildings and other infrastructures and for expenses necessary for the attainment of its purposes under this Act.

If for any reason, the University shall not be able to pursue any project for which funds have been appropriated for reasons beyond control allocated under its approved program of expenditures, the Board may authorized 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 University;

f) To authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machines, equipment and other facilities and the purchase and acquisition of real and personal properties, including necessary supplies, materials and equipment. Purchases and other transactions entered into by the University through the Board shall be exempt from all taxes and duties;

g) To confirm appointments of vice presidents, deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty members and other officials and employees of the University made by the President of the University;

h) To fix and adjust salaries of faculty members and administrative officials and employees;

i) To approve the curricula, institutional programs and rules of discipline drawn by the Administrative and Academic Councils as herein provided;

j) To confer degrees upon successful candidates for graduation, to award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of outstanding contribution in the field of education, or in any field of specialization;

k) To establish branches in the cities and provinces if and when it becomes essential and necessary where there is no existing school offering similar programs or courses to promote and carry out equal access to education opportunities as mandated by the Constitution;

l) To establish chairs in the University and to provide fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students.