Section 7Sec./Art. 7

In addition to its general powers of administration and corporate powers set forth in the Corporation Law, the Board shall have the following specific powers and duties:

(a)To enact rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose and functions of the State College;

(b)To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided to carry out the powers and functions of the State College;

(c)To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations, real and personal properties and to administer and dispose the same for the benefit of the College. Such donations shall be exempt from all taxes and shall be considered as deductible item from the income tax of the donor;

(d)To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, as the Board may deem proper to impose, after due consultations with involved sectors.

Such fees and charges, including government subsidies and other income generated by the State College, shall constitute special trust funds and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank, and all interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the State College.

Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, any income generated by the State College from tuition fees and other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services and land grants, shall be retained by the State College, and may be disbursed by the Board for instruction, research, extension, or other programs/projects of the State College: Provided, That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purpose for which they are collected.

If, for reason beyond its control, the State College shall not be able to pursue any of the projects for which 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 State College;

(e)To adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and school fees for greater access to poor but deserving students;

(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 State College through the Board shall be exempt from all taxes and duties;

(g)To appoint, upon recommendation of the president of the State College, vice presidents, deans, directors, and heads of departments and the appointments of faculty members and other officials and employees of the State College and its extension campuses or branches;

(h)To fix and adjust salaries of faculty members and 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; to grant them, at its discretion, leaves of absence under such regulations as it may promulgate, any provisions of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding; and to remove them for cause in accordance with the requirements of due process of law;

(i)To approve the curricula, institutional programs and rules of discipline drawn by the administrative and academic councils as herein provided;

(j)To set policies on admission and graduation of students;

(k)To award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of outstanding contribution in the field of agriculture or any field of specialization within the academic competence of the State College and to authorize the award of certificate of completion of non-degree and non-traditional courses;

(l)To establish and absorb tertiary institutions within the Province of Negros Occidental as branches, centers, stations, etc., in coordination with the CHED and in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and to offer therein programs or courses, to promote and carry out equal access to educational opportunities mandated by the Constitution;

(m)To establish research and extension centers of the State College where such will promote the development of the latter;

(n)To establish chairs in the State College and to provide fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students;

(o)To delegate any of its powers and duties provided for hereinabove to the president and/or other officials of the State College as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the administration of the affairs of the State College;

(p)To authorize an external management audit of the institution to be financed by the CHED and to institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, on the basis of audit results and recommendations;

(q)To enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable development and management of the economic assets of the State College, the proceeds from which shall be used for the development and strengthening of the same;

(r)To set up the adoption of modern and innovative modes of transmitting knowledge such as the use of information technology, the dual system, open learning, community laboratory, etc., for the promotion of greater access to higher education; and

(s)To extend the term of the president of the State College beyond the age of retirement but not later than the age of seventy (70) whose performance has been unanimously rated as outstanding and upon unanimous recommendation by the search committee;