Chapter III AUTHORITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY

Authorities of the University.- The following shall be the authorities of the University, namely:-

1. (i) Board of Governors;
2. (ii) Academic Senate;
3. (iii) Finance Committee;
4. (iv) Faculties or Schools of Studies;
5. (v) Departments or Boards of Studies; and
6. (vi) Such other authorities that may be constituted from time to time by the Regulations.

-1 9. Board of Governors.-

1. (1) The Board of Governors shall be the principal executive body of the University.
2. (2) The Board of Governors shall consist of the following members, namely:-
   • (i) A Chairperson from amongst the eminent persons distinguished in the field of science, engineering, technology, management or industry or other related field;
   • (ii) The Director of the University;
   • (iii) The Secretary or Principal Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka, in his ex-officio capacity;
   • (iv) Four eminent persons, of whom at least one shall be a person belonging to SC or ST and one shall be a person belonging to OBC or Minorities, who have distinguished themselves in the field of engineering, science, technology, industry, management, nominated by the Board of Governors;
   • (v) Two eminent persons from among the alumni of the UVCE, who have distinguished themselves in the fields of engineering, science, technology or industry or management or such other fields nominated by the Board of Governors;
   • (vi) One eminent person from academia from another premier educational institution, who has distinguished himself in the field of engineering, science or technology, nominated by the Board of Governors;
   • (vii) One Dean and one faculty to be nominated by the Board in the manner to be specified by the Regulations; and
   • (viii) One member of the Academic Senate who is a Professor at the University to be nominated by the Director: Provided that, from amongst the members to be nominated under clauses (iv), (v), (vi),
   • (vii) and (viii), three shall be women; The Registrar of the University shall be the Secretary of the Board of Governors.
3. (3) The Chairperson and members of the first Board of Governors shall be nominated by the Visitor, on the recommendation of the State Government.
4. (4) Except as provided in sub-section
5. (3) above, the members of the Board of Governors shall, to the extent not prescribed in sub-section
6. (2) be nominated by the Board of Governors in the manner prescribed by the Regulations.
7. (5) The Chairperson shall have the power to invite relevant experts, not being members of the Board of Governors, to attend meetings of the Board of Governors and assist the Board of Governors with specific issues of their expertise, but such invitees shall not be entitled to vote at the meeting.
8. (6) The respective nominating authorities may nominate a person to fill up any temporary vacancy of members in Clauses
   • (iii) to
   • (viii) of sub-section (2).
9. (7) The Chairperson shall ordinarily preside at the meetings of the Board of Governors. In case the Chairperson of the Board of Governors is unable to attend, the Director may be nominated by the Chairperson to chair the meeting of the Board.
10. (8) The Board of Governors shall hold at least four meetings during every year. The duration between two consecutive meetings shall not exceed three months.
11. (9) The Visitor himself or in consultation with the State Government may, by Order, direct the University to hold the meetings of the Board of Governors to discuss such terms of reference as may be specified and the Chairperson of the Board shall comply with such directions.

-1 10. Powers and Functions of Board of Governors.—

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board shall be responsible for the general superintendence, direction and control of the affairs of the University and shall have the power to frame or amend or modify or rescind the regulations governing the affairs of the University to achieve the objects of the University specified in section 4.
2. (2) It shall exercise all powers of the University not otherwise provided for in this Act, the rules made hereunder, the Regulations or Ordinances and have the power to delegate such powers to the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors for more efficient management of the University.
3. (3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Board of Governors shall also have the following powers and functions, namely:-
   • (i) To take decisions on questions of policy relating to the administration and working of the University, and review the achievement of policy objectives;
   • (ii) To enter into, vary and cancel contracts on behalf of the University;
   • (iii) To consider and approve the annual budget estimates for the next financial year, the annual accounts and the annual reports of the University;
   • (iv) To examine and approve the development plans for the University and to identify the sources of finance to implement such plans as are considered necessary;
   • (v) To advise the Visitor, if so required, in respect of any function to be performed by him under this Act;
   • (vi) To establish faculties or schools of studies, departments and centres, and initiate programmes and courses of study at the University;
   • (vii) To frame, amend, or rescind the Regulations governing the affairs of the University, the fees to be charged for courses or programmes of study and examinations in the university, manner of establishment of departments, institution of scholarships, fellowships, exhibitions, medals and prizes, the qualifications for appointment to various posts, pension, insurance and provident fund for the benefit of employees etc.;
   • (viii) To create academic, administrative, technical and other posts and appoint persons to such posts in the University and define the duties and conditions of service for such posts and set salary scales for academic and non-academic staff as per Government norms;
   • (ix) To invest moneys and funds of the University and raise funds for the University;
   • (x) To delegate certain of its functions to the Executive Committee, the Director, the Registrar or to any other authority or officers of the University;
   • (xi) To grant degrees, diplomas and other academic distinctions or titles and to institute and award fellowships, scholarships, prizes and medals;
   • (xii) to confer honorary degrees in such manner as may be specified by the Regulations;
   • (xiii) To grant honorary awards and other distinctions; and
   • (xiv) To exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed upon it by this Act or the rules made hereunder or the Regulations or Ordinances.
4. (4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board may, by Regulations, delegate such powers and functions of the Board to the Director as it may deem fit.
5. (5) The Board shall conduct an annual review of the performance of the Director, in the context of the achievements of objects of the University: Provided that, such review shall include performance reviews of faculty members of the University on such parameters, periodicity and terms of reference as may be determined by the Board.
6. (6) The Board shall, through an independent agency or group of experts, within a period of three years from the date of incorporation of the University, and thereafter atleast once in every three years, evaluate and review the performance of the University, including its faculty, on the parameters of long-term strategy and rolling plans of the University and such other parameters as the Board may decide and the report of such review shall be placed in the public domain.
7. (7) The qualifications, experience and the manner of selection of the independent agency or group of experts, referred to in sub-section (6), shall be such as may be specified by Regulations.
8. (8) The report of the evaluation and review under sub-section
9. (6) shall be submitted by the Board to the State Government along with an action taken report thereon.
10. (9) Where in the opinion of the Chairperson or the Director the situation is so emergent that an immediate decision needs to be taken in the interest of the University, the Chairperson, in consultation with the Director, may issue such orders as may be necessary, recording the grounds for his opinion: Provided that, such orders shall be submitted for ratification by the Board in the next meeting.
11. (10) The Board may constitute such committees and other authorities of the University and specify the duties and functions of each such committees and authorities by Regulations.

Term of office and vacancies.-

1. (1) Save as otherwise provided in this section, the term of office of the Chairperson is four years and other non-official members of the Board of Governors shall be three years from the date of their nomination or election: Provided that, the Chairperson, or any other member of the Board of Governors, other than an ex-officio member, may be appointed or nominated for a second term of two years. Provided further that, the term of office of the non-official members other than the Chairperson, of the first Board of Governors shall be prescribed by the Visitor, on the recommendation of the State Government.
2. (2) The term of office of an ex officio-member shall continue so long as he holds the office by virtue of which he is a member.
3. (3) The term of office of a member nominated or elected to fill a casual vacancy shall continue for the remainder of the term of the member in whose place he has been nominated or elected.
4. (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, an outgoing member shall continue in office until another person is nominated as a member in his place.
5. (5) The members of the Board of Governors shall be entitled to such allowances as may be provided for in the Regulations but no member other than the persons referred to in clauses
   • (iii) to
   • (vi) of sub-section
6. (2) of section 9 shall be entitled to any allowance by reason of this sub-section.
7. (6) A member of the Board of Governors shall cease to be a member if he,-
   • (i) tenders resignation and such resignation is accepted; or
   • (ii) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court of law;
   • (iii) becomes un-discharged insolvent; or
   • (iv) has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude. Any such cessation shall constitute a casual vacancy.
8. (7) Any member of the Board of Governors may by writing addressed to the Chairperson, resign from his office and such resignation shall take effect on the date it is accepted by the Chairperson, which shall be not later than two weeks from the date of the intimation of resignation written by such member to the Chairperson.
9. (8) Any member of the Board of Governors may be removed by the Board by a majority vote after an enquiry constituted by it, in accordance with the Regulations, in which such member has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges.
10. (9) The Visitor shall have the power to remove the Chairman or any of the members of the Board of Governors except the ex-officio member, by an order passed on the ground of wilful omission or refusal to carry out the provisions of this Act or for abuse of the powers vested under this Act, and on the advice tendered by the State Government on consideration of the report of an inquiry ordered by it. For the purpose of holding an inquiry under this section the State Government shall appoint a person who is or has been a Judge of the High Court or the Supreme Court. The inquiry authority shall hold the inquiry after giving an opportunity to make representation by the concerned and shall submit a report to the State Government on the action to be taken including penalty, if any, to be imposed, and the State Government shall on consideration of the report advise the Visitor.

Executive Committee Executive Committee.-

1. (1) The Executive Committee shall consist of the following members, namely:-
   • (i) The Director shall be the Chairperson;
   • (ii) Three Other members of the Board of Governors (one Dean, one Professor and one nominated member), nominated from among themselves by rotation for a period of one year; and
   • (iii) The Registrar – Member Secretary;
2. (2) The Executive Committee shall meet atleast six times in a year. All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be chaired by the Director. In the absence of the Director, the meeting shall be chaired by the Dean of the Faculty or School, who is a member of the Executive Committee.
3. (3) The Executive Committee shall have the following powers and perform the following functions, namely:-
   • (i) It shall be competent to take decisions on behalf of the Board of Governors with respect to the matters as prescribed in the Regulations, subject to the ratification of the Board of Governors in the immediate next meeting of the Board of Governors;
   • (ii) It shall carry out all decisions taken by the Board of Governors and incur such expenses as are necessary to fulfil the objectives set out in this Act;
   • (iii) It shall present before the Board of Governors the annual academic and financial audit reports of the University for its approval; and
   • (iv) It shall have such other powers, functions and duties as may be prescribed by the Regulations.

Academic Senate.-

1. (1) The Academic Senate shall be the principal academic body of the University.
2. (2) It shall consist of the following members, namely:-
   • (i) The Director of the University, who shall be the Chairperson of the Academic Senate;
   • (ii) Five eminent educationists such as former principals and professors, nominated by the State Government for a term of two years from a panel of eminent academicians of whom one shall belong to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, one to other Backward Classes or religious minority. Of the five members, two shall be women;
   • (iii) Two eminent persons belonging to research and development, commerce and industries, banking and finance, management or public administration nominated from a panel of names by the Board of Governors for a term of two years;
   • (iv) Two eminent academicians from other institutes or universities nominated by the Director for a period of two years;
   • (v) Deans in charge of academics, research, student affairs and such other functions of the University;
   • (vi) All the Deans of Faculties or Schools;
   • (vii) All the Chairs or Heads of Departments or Sections and Coordinators of Centres;
   • (viii) Three professors of the University by rotation on seniority nominated by the Director for a period of two years;
   • (ix) Three younger enterprising faculty (from among Assistant and Associate Professors) nominated by the Director for a period of two years as specified in the Regulations;
   • (x) The Controller of Examinations of the University; and
   • (xi) The Registrar, who shall be the Member Secretary.
3. (3) The term of office of the nominated non-official members shall be two years from the date of their nomination and of the official members shall also be two years or as long as they hold the office by virtue of which he is a member.
4. (4) The Academic Senate shall normally meet four times during an academic year, so that the period between two consecutive meetings shall not exceed twelve weeks.
5. (5) There shall be a Standing Committee to decide any emergent issues on behalf of the Academic Senate. It shall consist of the Director, Deans of the Faculties or Schools who are members of the Academic Senate and the Registrar: Provided that, the minutes of such meetings of the Standing Committee, including the decisions taken, are put up at the next immediate meeting of the Academic Senate for ratification.
6. (6) The Director may convene special meetings of the Academic Senate, in case of urgency.
7. (7) The Regulations may provide for procedure for holding the meetings of the Academic Senate and the Standing Committee.
8. (8) The Visitor or the State Government may, by order, direct the University to hold the meetings of the Academic Senate to discuss such terms of reference as may be specified and the Director shall comply with such directions.

1. (1) The Academic Senate being the academic body of the University, shall exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be conferred upon it, by this Act or the Regulations or by the Board. It shall be responsible for the maintenance of the standards of instruction, education and examinations in the University.
2. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing and subject to such conditions as may be specified by or under the provisions of this Act, the Academic Senate shall exercise the following powers, namely:-
   • (i) To approve new programmes and changes or modifications to the existing programmes;
   • (ii) To specify the criteria and process for admission to courses or programmes of study offered by the University;
   • (iii) To design and develop the curriculum content of the academic programmes and courses of study and undertake modifications therein;
   • (iv) To specify the academic calendar, guidelines for conduct of examination;
   • (v) To recommend grant of degrees, diplomas and other academic distinctions or titles;
   • (vi) To make proposals for issue of Ordinances relating to academic matters;
   • (vii) To make proposals for Regulations regarding the courses of study, the scheme of examinations and conditions on which the students shall be admitted to the examinations, degrees, diplomas, certificates or other academic distinctions and for declaration of the results of the University examinations;
   • (viii) To formulate schemes for promoting research within the University or for promoting other specialized studies;
   • (ix) To make proposals for allocating subjects to the Faculties or Schools and to assign its own members to the Faculties or Schools;
   • (x) To determine the criteria for grant of exemptions relating to the admission of students to examinations;
   • (xi) To make proposals for the institution of posts of Professorships, Associate Professorships, Assistant Professorships and other posts of teachers required by the University and for prescribing the duties of such posts;
   • (xii) To make proposals for the institution and award of fellowships, travelling fellowships, scholarships, studentships, teaching or research assistantships or exhibitions;
   • (xiii) To make Regulations prescribing equivalence of examinations;
   • (xiv) To make Regulations for granting exemptions from approved courses of study in the University to qualify for degrees, diplomas and other academic distinctions;
   • (xv) To provide for instruction, teaching and training in such branches of learning and courses of study as may be appropriate for research and for the advancement and dissemination of learning;
   • (xvi) To consider the annual financial estimates;
   • (xvii) To amend or repeal any Regulations; (xviii) To nominate members to various authorities of the University as required;
   • (xix) To establish and maintain departments of research and specialized studies;
   • (xx) Generally, to advise the University in all academic matters; and
   • (xxi) To exercise such other powers and to perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed on it by this Act or the Regulations, Ordinances or Statutes made there under;

1. (1) There shall be a Finance Committee consisting of the following members, namely:-
   • (i) The Director- Chairperson;
   • (ii) One expert in University finance or accounting service nominated by the Board of Governors;
   • (iii) One member each of the Board of Governors and the Academic Senate;
   • (iv) The Registrar; and
   • (v) The Finance Officer - Member Secretary.
2. (2) The Finance Committee shall meet at least once in three months.
3. (3) The Finance Committee shall perform the following functions, namely: -
   • (i) To scrutinize the annual budget estimates and the annual accounts of the University, review the yearly audit reports and make recommendations thereon;
   • (ii) To scrutinize all proposals of the University involving expenditure in excess of budgetary provision or for which no provision is made in the budget, including creation, upgradation and abolition of posts in the University and make recommendations thereon;
   • (iii) To plan practical and implementable strategies for mobilizing funds for the University and also make proper plans for investment of excess funds at the disposal of the University and make recommendations thereon; and
   • (iv) Such other functions as may be prescribed by the Regulations: Provided that, the above recommendations are placed at the meetings of the Board of Governors for its consideration.
4. (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in item
   • (i) of sub-section (2), the Director may, in case of urgency and for reasons to be recorded in writing, incur without the approval of the Finance Committee, any expenditure up to a limit as specified in the Regulations in any one case for which no provision is made in the budget or which is in excess of the provisions made in the budget: Provided that, such expenditure shall be placed before the Finance Committee for ratification at its immediately subsequent quarterly meeting.

Faculties or Schools of Studies

1. (1) The University shall have the Faculties or Schools of Architecture, Engineering, Science and Technology, Management and such other disciplines as may be prescribed by the Regulations from time to time.
2. (2) Each Faculty or School shall consist of such number of Departments of Studies as may be assigned to it by the Regulations.
3. (3) Each Faculty or School of Studies shall consist of the following members, namely:-
   • (i) The Dean of the Faculty or School of Studies shall be the Chairperson;
   • (ii) The Controller of Examinations;
   • (iii) The Chairpersons of the Departments of Studies in the Faculty or School;
   • (iv) All the Professors and in the absence of Professors, Associate Professors in the Faculty from each Department in the Faculty;
   • (v) One Associate Professor and one Assistant Professor in each Department of Studies nominated by the Director by rotation in the order of seniority for a term of two years;
   • (vi) Two experts from other universities in the State nominated by the Director for a term of two years; and
   • (vii) In addition to members as specified above, each Faculty or School shall have three experts in the subjects and or allied subjects or industries nominated by the Director from the panel of at least five names suggested by the Dean of the Faculty concerned. The tenure of their office shall be two years. Note: While making these nominations, eminent persons not only from the concerned subjects but also allied subjects may be considered.
4. (4) The Faculties or Schools shall meet ordinarily once in a year or at such times as are fixed by the Director or on the requisition of the Dean with the prior permission of the Director or on the written requisition of five members entitled to be present at the Faculty. The Dean shall preside over the meeting of the Faculty or School. In the absence of the Dean, the senior-most Professor present in the meeting shall preside over the meeting.
5. (5) The Director may convene joint meetings of two or more Faculties or Schools for the purpose of considering any matter common to them and shall preside over such meeting and in his absence, the senior most Dean shall preside over the meeting.
6. (6) The quorum for a meeting of a Faculty or School shall be one-third of the number of members entitled to be present at the meeting.
7. (7) The Faculties or Schools shall have the following powers, namely:-
   • (i) To consider and report on any matter referred to it by any authorities of the University;
   • (ii) To refer any matter to a Board of Studies comprised within the Faculty or School for consideration and report;
   • (iii) To consider and report on any recommendation referred to it by a Board of Studies before it is referred to the Academic Senate; and
   • (iv) To make suggestions or recommendations to the Academic Senate regarding the organization of teaching, training, research and examinations in the subjects comprised in the Faculty.

Departments of Studies.-

1. (1) The Department of Studies in each Faculty or School shall consist of the following members, namely:-
   • (i) All the Teachers of the Department of Studies;
   • (ii) Honorary Professors, if any, attached to the Department;
   • (iii) Persons appointed to conduct Research in the Department; and
   • (iv) Such other persons who are members of the Departments as may be prescribed in the Regulations.
2. (2) Any Department of Studies may be established or abolished by the Regulations.
3. (3) Each Department of Studies shall have a Chairperson who shall also be the Chairperson of the Departmental Council. The Chairperson of the Departmental Council shall also be the Chairperson of the Board of Studies in that subject.
4. (4) Each Department of Studies shall have a Departmental Council. consisting of,-
   • (i) all the Professors and Associate Professors of the department; and
   • (ii) two of the senior most Assistant Professors in the Department.
5. (5) The Chairpersons of the Departments and the Boards of Studies shall be appointed by the Board of Governors for a term of two years, or for such other term as the Board of Governors may determine from time to time.
6. (6) The Chairperson of the Department of Studies shall be in-charge of the administration of the Department.

Boards of Studies Boards of Studies.-

1. (1) There shall be a Board of Studies for every subject or group of subjects as may be prescribed by the Ordinances: Provided that, the Board of Governors may constitute a separate Board of Studies for Undergraduate Studies and for Postgraduate studies.
2. (2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the constitution, functions and powers of the Board of Studies shall be as prescribed by the Regulations.

Other Authorities.- The constitution, powers and duties of authorities other than those specified in this Act, shall be such as may be specified in the Regulations.