Section 8
SEC. 8. The Board shall have the following specific powers and duties in addition to its general powers of administration and the exercise of all the powers granted to the board of directors of a corporation under existing laws: To enact rules and regulations not contrary to law as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the College; To import duty-free materials and equipment for educational or technological programs as an exception to existing laws, provided such materials and equipment are not available locally; To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds and to administer and dispose the same when necessary for the benefit of the College and subject to the limitations, directions and instructions of the donor, if any. Such donations shall be exempt from all taxes and shall be considered as deductible items from the income tax of the donor; To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges such as, but not limited to, matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the Board may deem proper to impose; To authorize the construction and repair of its buildings, machineries, equipment and other facilities and the purchase and acquisition of real and personal properties, including necessary supplies, materials and equipment. Purchases and other transactions entered into by the College through the Board shall be exempt from all taxes and duties; To confirm appointments of vice-presidents, deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty members and other officials and employees of the College made by the President of the College; To approve the curricula, institutional programs, and rules of discipline drawn by the administrative and academic councils as herein provided; To confer degrees upon successful candidates for graduation, to award honorary degree upon persons in recognition of outstanding contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and technology or in any field of specialization and to authorize the award of certificates for completion of non-degree and non-traditional courses; To establish not more than two (2) branches within the Province of Sorsogon if and when it becomes essential and necessary where there is no existing school offering similar programs or courses to promote and carry out equal access to education opportunities as mandated by the Constitution; To establish chairs in the College and to provide fellowships for qualified faculty members and scholarships to deserving students; and The Board shall have the power to absorb/integrate other public schools within the province that will eventually offer tertiary courses in the future.