Bill 296.

Summary.

The bill amends Law 4 of January 16, 2006, which reorganizes the Autonomous University of Chiriquí (Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí). Article 1 sets qualifications for directors of institutes, research centers, departments and schools, and for coordinators of university extensions. It provides an exception for directing a department or school where regular professors account for less than twenty percent (20%) of its faculty. The chair of the Higher Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Superior de Elecciones) must be the full professor with the longest teaching service and have had no relatives appointed at the university, within the stated degrees of kinship, for ten years. The same selection conditions apply to its other faculty and administrative representatives.

Article 2 provides for universal, direct and secret voting to elect the Rector, deans, vice-deans, and directors and deputy directors of regional centers. It defines eligible voters among professors, researchers, regular students and administrative employees, who must retain their qualifying status through election day. The tribunal issues the call fifteen days after the second semester begins; candidacies are submitted one week later, and voting takes place two months before that semester ends. Faculty votes carry forty-five percent (45%), regular student votes thirty-five percent (35%) and administrative staff votes twenty percent (20%). Faculty and administrative staff each use an exclusive ballot box at the central campus. The article also defines regular students. Articles 3 and 4 set a single five-year term, bar reelection for the next two terms and prescribe the order of interim replacement when the Rector's office is temporarily vacant.

Article 5 lists the deans' duties, including representing their faculties, supervising unit directors, convening faculty boards, organizing teaching and other academic activities, carrying out development plans, imposing applicable disciplinary sanctions, managing budgets, reporting on activities and signing certificates with the Rector. Under Article 6, first entry into teaching or research is through an informal qualifications-pool competition and carries a five (5)-year probationary period. Applicants submit evidence of degrees, teaching and professional experience, and academic work. Article 7 limits recognition of degrees from other universities to those recognized by their regulator and accredited. Article 8 requires faculty to obtain at least a postgraduate qualification within the next five (5) years and permits them to continue teaching while obtaining it.

Article 9 adds a laboratory charge equal to 35% of semester tuition. Article 10 sets University Community Service at eighty (80) hours. For the first elections after approval, Article 11 bars those holding, or having held, an office during the preceding term from standing for that same office and requires all authorities to be elected on the same day. The final amendment clause also mentions Articles 50 and 48-C; the bill provides for commencement upon promulgation. Its provisions concern university administration and could affect faculty, researchers, students, administrative staff and other universities whose degrees are submitted for recognition.