Section 7Sec./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 College;

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

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 of the same when necessary for the benefit of the College 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. Income generated by the College shall constitute 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 College.

Any provision of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, income generated by the College 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 infrastructure and for expenses necessary for the attainment of its purposes under this Act.

If for any reason the College shall not be able to pursue any project for which funds have been appropriated for reasons beyond its control 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 College;

f. To authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machineries, 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 College 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 College made by the President of the College;

h. To fix and adjust salaries of the 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 their outstanding contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and technology, or in any field of specialization; and to authorize the award of certificates for completion of non-degree and nontraditional courses;

k. To establish branches in the Province of Aklan, 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 educational opportunities as mandated by the Constitution; and

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