Chapter 2 The University and its Objectives

1. (1) The Sponsor shall have the right to establish the University in accordance with the provisions of this Act. (2) An application containing the proposal to establish a University shall be made to the State Government by the Sponsor. (3) The proposal may contain the following particulars, namely: (i). The objects of the University along with the details of the Sponsor; (ii). The extent and status of the University and the availability of land; (iii). The nature and type of programmes, courses of study and research to be undertaken in the University during a period of the next five years; (iv). The nature of faculties, courses of study and research proposed to be started; (v). The campus development plan such as buildings, equipment and structural amenities; (vi). The phased outlays of capital expenditure for a period of the next five years; (vii). The item-wise recurring expenditure, sources of finance and estimated expenditure for each student; (viii). The scheme for mobilizing resources and the cost of capital thereto and the manner of repayments to each source; (ix). The scheme of generation of funds internally through the recovery of fee from students, revenues anticipated from consultancy and other activities relating to the objects of the University, and other anticipated incomes; (x). The details of expenditure on unit cost, the extent of concessions or rebates in fee, freeships and scholarships for students belonging to economically weaker sections, and the fee structure indicating varying rates of fee, if any, that would be levied from non-resident Indians and students of other nationalities; (xi). The history and credentials of the Sponsor including years of experience and expertise in the concerned discipline at the command of the Sponsor as well as its financial resources; (xii). The system for selection of students to the courses of study at the University; (xiii). Nature and types of partnerships and affiliations; (xiv). Such other conditions as may be required by the State Government to be fulfilled before the establishment of the University.

1. (1) Where the State Government, after such inquiry as it may deem necessary, is satisfied that the Sponsor has fulfilled the conditions specified in Sub-Section (2) of Section 3, it may direct the Sponsor to establish an Endowment Fund. (2) After the establishment of the Endowment Fund, the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, accord sanction for establishment of the University. (3) The campuses of the University shall be at any place within the state of Meghalaya with its main campus situated at Thadlaskein, near Jowai in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya; and it may have campuses, regional centres, or study centres anywhere in the state. (4) The Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, members of the Board of Governors, members of the Board of Management and the Academic Council for the time being holding office as such in the University so established, shall constitute a body corporate and can sue and be sued in the name of the University. (5) On the establishment of the University under Sub-section (2), the land and other movable and immovable properties acquired, created, arranged or built by the University for the purpose of the University in the State of Meghalaya shall vest in the University. (6) The land, building and other properties acquired for the University shall not be used for any purpose, other than that for which the same is acquired.

The University shall be self-financing and shall neither make a demand nor shall be entitled to any grant in-aid or any other financial assistance from the State Government or any other body or corporation owned or controlled by the State Government.

The University may have Regional Centres, Off-campus Centres, and Study Centres within the State.

1. (1) The objectives for which the University is established are as follows: (i). To provide instruction, teaching, training and research in various branches and specialized fields of Physical Sciences, Applied Sciences, Life Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, BioTechnology, Information Technology, Engineering, Management, Commerce, Communication, Law, Humanities, Languages, Performing Arts and other allied areas, and to make provisions for vocational education, skill development, advancement and dissemination of knowledge; (ii). To establish academic departments, centers, faculties and institutions of excellence to train professionals of high competence and commitment; (iii). To set up university centers and campuses for interactive, distance, online and other modes of blended learning in a networked system of learning centres, using information and communication technologies within the State; (iv). To collaborate with universities, colleges, educational and healthcare institutions, research institutions, industry and professional associations, government and voluntary organizations, in India or abroad to conceptualize, design and develop various specialized educational and research programmes, training programmes, twinning programmes and exchange programmes for students, faculty members and others which may be offered at its campus, regional centres, off campus centres and study centres within the State; (v). To disseminate, knowledge through seminars, conferences, executive education programmes, community development programmes, publications and training programmes; (vi). To undertake programmes for the training and development of faculty members and teachers of the University. (vii). To impart instruction on a course or programme of study through one or more modes which may include distance, continuing, blended and regular modes of teaching and learning; (viii). To undertake collaborative research with any organization in India and abroad; (ix). To create higher levels of intellectual abilities; (x). To provide consultancy to industry, Government, public and private organizations; (xi). To create industry-academia partnerships; (xii). To provide education and healthcare for underdeveloped regions, especially tribal areas and their people; (xiii). To advocate the need for and contribution of higher education as a valuable means to individual and societal development; (xiv). To assist students and graduates in planning, preparing and placing them in their careers; (xv). To develop innovative concepts and programmes in higher education; (xvi). To develop educational programmes that are flexible and responsive to changes in society; (xvii). To contribute to the development of a knowledgebased society; (xviii). To do all the things which are necessary or expedient to promote the above objectives; (xix). To pursue any other objectives as may be prescribed by the State Government or Sponsor.

1. (1) The University shall have the following powers, namely: (i). To establish, administer, maintain, manage the University, Regional Centres, Study Centres, Offcampus Centres, and Institutes of Research within the State as are considered necessary for the furtherance of the objects of the University within the regulations as prescribed by the UGC from time to time; (ii). To make provisions to enable the University , Regional Centres, and Study Centres, to undertake specialization of studies and to organize common laboratories, libraries and other equipment for research work, and to develop patterns of teaching in undergraduate, post-graduate and super specialties so as to meet a very high standard of education, particularly in the fields of professional courses; (iii). To launch any new programmes or courses which are in demand or suitable for the advancement of knowledge or societal development; (iv). To institute degrees, titles, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions; (v). To hold examinations, to grant and confer degrees, titles, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions on persons who shall have pursued and passed an approved course of study of the University subject to such conditions as the University may determine, and to withdraw any such degrees, titles, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions on good and sufficient cause; (vi). To confer honorary degrees or other distinctions under conditions prescribed; (vii). To approve colleges located within the State providing courses of study for admission to the examinations for titles, degrees, diplomas and certificates of the University under conditions prescribed and to withdraw such approval; (viii). To hold and manage funds and other properties of the University and to raise loans required for the purposes of the University; (ix). To fix fees and to demand and receive such fees and other charges as may be prescribed; (x). To establish and maintain halls and hostels and to recognize places of residence for the students of the University and to withdraw such recognitions accorded to any such places of residence; (xi). To supervise and control the places of residence for the students of the University and to regulate the discipline of the students of the University and to make arrangements for promoting their health; (xii). To establish within the State such special centers or other units for research and instruction as are, in the opinion of University, necessary for the furtherance of its objects; (xiii). To create academic, technical, administrative, ministerial and other posts and to make appointments thereto; (xiv). To regulate and enforce discipline amongst the employees of the University and to take such disciplinary measures as may be deemed necessary; (xv). To institute professorships, associate professorships, assistant professorships, readerships, lecturerships, and any other teaching, academic or research posts as may be deemed necessary by the University; and to appoint duly qualified persons as professors, associate professors, assistant professors, readers, lecturers, or otherwise as teachers and researchers of the University; (xvi). To institute and award honorary doctorate, fellowships, scholarships, prizes and medals; (xvii). To provide for printing, reproduction and publication of research and other works and to organize exhibitions; (xviii). To cooperate with other organizations in the matter of education, training and research, particularly in the fields of professional courses for such purposes as may be agreed upon and on such terms and conditions as the University may from time to time determine; (xix). To co-operate with institutions of higher learning in any part of the world having objects wholly or partly similar to those of the University, by exchange of teachers and scholars and generally in such manner as may be conducive for furtherance of the objects of the University; (xx). To regulate the expenditure and to manage the funds of the University; (xxi). To establish and maintain within the premises of the University or elsewhere within the State, such class rooms, study halls, etc. as the University may consider necessary and to adequately furnish the same; (xxii). To receive grants, subscriptions, donations and gifts for the purpose of the University consistent with the objects for which the University is established; to enter into agreements with the Central Government, State Government, the University Grants Commission or other authorities for the purposes of receiving any such grants and donations and to accept grants of money, securities or property of any kind on such terms and conditions as may be deemed expedient; (xxiii). To purchase, take on lease or accept as gift or otherwise any land or building or works which may be necessary or convenient for the purpose of the University and on such terms and conditions as it may think fit and proper and to construct or alter and maintain any such buildings or works; (xxiv). To execute conveyance, transfers, re-conveyances, mortgages, leases, licenses, and agreements in respect of property, movable or immovable, including Government securities belonging to the University and/or to acquire such property for the purpose of the University; (xxv). To raise and borrow money, including upon mortgaging properties, on promissory notes or on the basis of any other obligations whatsoever on any of the properties and assets of the University and upon such terms and conditions as the University may think fit; to pay out of the funds of the University all expenditure incidental to the raising of money; and to repay any money borrowed and to redeem any security given with respect to the property of the University; (xxvi). To invest the funds of the University or money entrusted to the University in any securities and in such manner as the University may deem fit and from time to time to transpose any such investment; (xxvii). To make such rules, regulations or statutes as may from time to time be considered necessary for regulating the affairs and management of the University and to later amend and to rescind them; (xxviii). To delegate all or any of the powers of the University to the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor or to any other officer of the University, or to any Committee or SubCommittee thereof; (xxix). To do all such other acts and things as the University may consider necessary, conducive or instrumental to the attainment and enlargement of the objects of the University or anyone of them; and (xxx). Generally to do all such other acts and things as may be necessary or desirable to further the objects of the University.

The University shall be open to all persons irrespective of class, creed, religion, language or gender. Provided that nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prevent the University from making special provisions for admission to Seventh-day Adventist students or students of the State.

The University will seek accreditation from respective national accreditation bodies.