Chapter 2 The University and its Objects

1. (1) The Sponsor shall have the right to establish the University in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the guidelines. (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:- (a) The objects of the University along with the details of the Sponsor;(b) The extent and status of the University and the availability of land; (c) The nature and type of programs of study and research to be undertaken in the University during a period of the next five years; (d) The nature of faculties, courses of study and research proposed to be started; (e) The campus development such as buildings, equipment and structural amenities; (f) The phased outlays of capital expenditure for a period of the next five years; (g) The item-wise recurring expenditure, sources of finance and estimated expenditure for each student; (h) The scheme for mobilizing resources and the cost of capital thereto and the manner of repayments to each source; (i) 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; (j) The details of expenditure on unit cost, the extent of concession or rebates in fee, freeship and scholarship for students belonging to economically weaker sections and the fee structure indicating varying rate of fee, if any, that would be levied on non-resident Indians and students of other nationalities; (k) The history and credentials of the sponsor including years of experience and expertise in the concerned disciplines at the command of the Sponsor as well as the financial resources; (l) The system for selection of students to the courses of study at the University; (m)Status of fulfilment of such other conditions as may be required by the State Government to be fulfilled before the establishment of the University; (n) Nature and types of its partnership and affiliations; and (o) 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 n accordance with the guidelines issued by the UGC. (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 in accordance with the guidelines issued by the UGC. (3) The headquarter of the University shall be at Shillong and it may have campuses or Regional Centres, Study Centres anywhere in India and abroad with prior approval of the UGC, the respective State Governments, the Government of India and the Government of the Host Country as the case may be; Provided that after the development of the main Campus and after 5 years of its coming into existence the University obtains permission from the UGC to set up such off-Campus Centre(s) and/or Study Centre(s) and/or regional centres and/or off-shore campuses. (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 use and be used 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 not shall be entitled to any grant in-aid nor any other financial assistance from the State Government or any other body or corporation owned or controlled by the State Government.

1. (1) The University may have constituent Colleges, Regional Centers and Study Centres subject to the conditions specified in Section 4 sub-section 3 and in accordance with the guidelines issued by the UGC. (2) The University may with the prior approval of the Board of Governors, affiliate any college or other institution in accordance with the guidelines issued by the UGC.

The objectives for which the University is established are as follows: (a) To provide instruction, teaching and research in selected fields of professional development and make provisions for research, advancement and disseminations of knowledge therein with focus on the development of North East in general, and Meghalaya in particular; (b) To establish a campus in the State of Meghalaya, and to have study centers, campuses and examination centers at different places in India and abroad in accordance with the guidelines issued by the UGC; (c) To offer class room and filed oriented campus based programmes in various fields professional education such as Management, IT, Bio-technology, Education, Environment and other scientific study and research; (d) To offer programs of study for continuing and through the distance education mode by formal and non-formal methods of international quality; (e) To institute degrees, diplomas, charters, certificates and other academic distinctions on the basis of examination, or any other method of evaluation in keeping with professional requirements and for recognition of merit and competence;(f) To collaborate with other colleges or universities, research institutions, industry associations, corporate and business houses, likeminded associations, church bodies, professional associations including the International Council for Higher Education or any other organization, in India or abroad, to conceptualize, design and develop specific education and research programs, training programs and exchange programs for students, faculty members and other; (g) To facilitate knowledge and skills through workshops, seminars, conferences, short-term and long-term intensive programs, community development programs, publications, and training programs; (h) To utilize computer managed e-learning facilities for elearning through national and international networks; (i) To undertake programmes for the training and development of faculty members of the University and other institutions in India or abroad; (j) To undertake collaborative research with any organization in India or abroad; (k) To create higher levels of intellectual abilities and professional development through Centres, Institutes or Academies to function under the University; (l) To provide consultancy to individuals, institutions, industry, Government and N-n-Government Organizations in areas of professional expertise; (m)To ensure that the standard of the degrees, diplomas, charters, certificates and other academic distinctions are not lower than those laid down by AICTE/NCTE/UGC/DEC/DCI/MCI/INC and Pharmacy Council. (n) To encourage writing, researching, publishing and distinction; (o) To do all things necessary or expedient to promote the above objectives; and (p) To pursue any other objective as may be approved by the State Government.

The University shall have the following powers, viz:- (a) To establish, maintain and recognize such Regional Centres and Study Centres as may be determined by the University from time to time in the manner laid down by the statutes in accordance with the guidelines issued by the UGC; (b) To carry out all such other activities as may be necessary or feasible in furtherance of the object of the University; (c) To confer degrees, diplomas, charters, certificates or other academic distinctions and professional designations in the manner and under conditions laid down in the Statutes; (d) To institute and award fellowships, scholarships and prizes etc., in accordance with the Statutes; (e) To demand and receive such fees, bills, invoices and collect charges as may be fixed by the Statutes or rules, as the case may be; (f) To make and terminate appointments of the faculty, officers and employees of the University or a constituent college, affiliated colleges, Regional Centres, Study Centres located in India and abroad in accordance with the guidelines issued by the UGC; (g) To receive donations and gifts of any kind and to acquire, hold, manage, maintain and dispose of any movable or immovable property, including trust and endowment properties for the purpose of the University or a constituent college, or a Regional Centre, Study Centre in accordance with the guidelines issued by the UGC; (h) To accept students from all sections of the University regardless of caste, race or creed; (i) To ensure that 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; (j) To co-operate and collaborate with other Universities and Institutions in such manner and for such purposes as the University may determine from time to time; (k) To offer programs on distance learning basis and continuing education and the manner in which such programs are offered by the University;(l) To make special provision for students belonging to the State of Meghalaya for admission in any course of the University or in a constituent college, affiliated college, regional centre or study centre; (m)To do all such other acts or things whether incidental to the powers aforesaid or not, as may be necessary to further the objects of the University; (n) To recognize examinations or periods of study (whether in full or in part) of other Universities, Institutions or other places of Higher learning as equivalent to examinations or periods of study in the University and to withdraw such recognition at any time; and (o) To manage all properties, movable and immovable the land acquired, created, arranged or built by the University for the purpose of the University in the State of Meghalaya which shall vest in the University and to ensure that such 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 open to all persons irrespective of class, caste, creed, religion, language or gender: Provided that noting in this section shall be deemed to require the University from making special provisions for admission to students of the State.

The University will seek accreditation from respective national accreditation bodies.