Republic Act No. 4449

The Ilocos Sur School of Arts and Trades in the Municipality of Vigan, Province of Ilocos Sur, is hereby converted into a university which shall be known as the University of Northern Philippines, hereinafter referred to as University, the same being organized as a corporation under that name.

The University shall primarily give technical and professional training, advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences and arts, besides providing for the promotion of scientific and technological researches.

The following are the powers of the University:

Governing board; compensation, manner of appointment; compensation; meetings; performance of functions. The government of the University is vested in a Board of Regents. The Board of Regents shall be composed of the President of the University, who shall be ex-officio chairman of the Board, and, as members, the Executive Vice-President, the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, the Vice-President for External Affairs, the President of the Alumni Association, and three other persons to be appointed by the President of the Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. Of the three additional members first appointed, one shall serve for one year, one for three years, and one for five years. Thereafter, persons appointed to succeed such members shall hold office for a term of five years and until their successors are duly qualified. In case of a vacancy among the three additional members of the Board of Regents, such vacancy shall be filed by appointment by the President of the Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, and such appointee shall hold office for the unexpired term only. All members of the Board of Regents shall be residents of the Philippines: Provided, That no person in the employ of the University or of any other educational institution in any capacity whatsoever, whether as dean, professor, instructor, lecturer, or otherwise, shall be eligible for appointment by the President of the Philippines to the positions of the three members of the Board of Regents.

The President of the Philippines, in the selection of the three members of the Board of Regents, shall give preference of residents of the Province of Ilocos Sur.

In case of vacancy in the office of the President of the University, the Executive Vice-President shall act as chairman until one is regularly elected in accordance with this Act.

Members of the Board of Regents who are officers of the University shall serve without compensation, but they shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred either in attendance of meetings of the Board or in the other official business authorized by resolution of the Board: Provided, That members of the Board who are not employed in the University shall be entitled to per diems not exceeding twenty-five pesos per actual attendance of board meetings: Provided, further, That the Board of Regents shall have one general meeting and such number of special meetings a month as may be necessary in the interest of the University.

The Board of Regents shall have the following specific powers and duties:

The powers and duties of the President of the University, in addition to those usually pertaining to the office of the president of a university which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, are the following:

No student shall be denied admission to the University by reason of age, sex, nationality, religious belief, or political affiliation.

A quorum of the Board of Regents shall consist of a majority of all the members holding office at the time the meeting of the Board is called. All processes against the Board of Regents shall be served on the President of the University or the Secretary thereof.

On or before the fifteenth day of August of each year the Board of Regents shall file with the President of the Philippines a detailed report setting forth the progress, condition, and needs of the University.

There shall be a University Council, consisting of the President of the University and of all instructors in the University holding the rank of professor, associate professor, and assistant professor. The Council alone shall have the power to recommend students or others to be receipt of degrees. Through its president or committees it shall have disciplinary power over the students within the limits prescribed by the rules of discipline approved by the Board of Regents.

The body of instructors of each college or school shall constitute its faculty, and as presiding officer of each faculty, there shall be a dean elected from the members of such faculty by the Board of Regents on nomination by the President of the University. In the appointment of professors or other instructors of the University, no religious opinions or affiliations of the instructors of the University shall be made a matter of examination or inquiry: Provided, However, That no instructor in the University shall inculcate sectarian tenets in any of the teachings nor attempt, either directly or indirectly, under penalty of dismissal by the Board of Regents, to influence students or attendants at the University for or against any particular church or religious sect.

Professors and other regular instructors in the University shall be exempt as such from any civil service examination or regulation as a requisite to appointment.

There shall be a secretary of the University appointed by the Board of Regents. He shall be the secretary of such Board and also of the University, and shall keep such records of the University as may be designated by the Board.

The Treasurer of the Philippines or his representative shall be ex-officio treasurer of the University, and all accounts and expenses thereof shall be audited by the Auditor General or his representative and all disbursements shall be made in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by them.

The President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall constitute a Board of Visitors of the University, whose duty it shall be to attend the commencement exercises of the University, and to make visits at such other times as they may deem proper, to examine the property, course of study, discipline, the state of finances of the University, to inspect all books and accounts of the institution, and to make a report to Congress of the Philippines upon the same, with such recommendations as they favor.

The Ilocos Sur School of Arts and Trades is hereby abolished and all its personnel, unexpended appropriations, real and personal properties, and other assets are transferred to the University.

The university reservation shall henceforth be known as the University Town, Ilocos Sur, with a ruling body composed of school officials and employees who shall be selected in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the President of the University.

The sum of one million pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the conversion, maintenance and operation of the said university during the fiscal year nineteen hundred sixty-six, in addition to the present appropriation for the Ilocos Sur School of Arts and Trades. Thereafter, the sum of one million pesos shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act as aid to the university, to be expended at the discretion of the Board of Regents for the establishment of a college or colleges as authorized by this Act and for other legitimate purposes in accordance with this Act: Provided, That the sum of one hundred thousand pesos shall be utilized for fellowships and scholarships as hereinbefore provided.

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.