Board of Trustees Resolution
Meeting number: 83
Meeting date: March 16, 1992
Resolution 2) Pursuant to law number 3785, approved in the Turkish Grand National Assembly gathering of March 5, 1992 and printed in the Official Gazette dated March 7, 1992, the motion of the Core Regulations prepared by the Founding Foundations was accepted as it is, in view of the fact that the concerned law acknowledged the public legal body of Bilkent University and recognized the University’s faculties, high schools and institutions.
Founding
1. Bilkent University is a higher education institution, founded on October 20, 1984 by the İhsan Doğramacı Health Foundation, the İhsan Doğramacı Education Foundation and the İhsan Doğramacı Science and Research Foundation. Bilkent University began educational, instructional and research activities on October 20, 1986 and acquired its public legal body status in accordance with the law number 3785, dated March 5, 1992.
Definitions
2. In these Core Regulations, the following terms will be used hereafter:
Founding Foundations: İhsan Doğramacı Health Foundation, İhsan Doğramacı Education Foundation and İhsan Doğramacı Science and Research Foundation, which are the founders of Bilkent University
General Assembly of Founding Foundations: Formed by the union of executive boards of the founding foundations.
University: Bilkent University
Board of Trustees: Bilkent University Board of Trustees
Senate: Bilkent University Senate
Executive Board: Bilkent University Executive Board
Chairman: Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Rector: Bilkent University Rector
Provost: Provost who is in charge of academic affairs at Bilkent University
General Provisions
3. The University takes the necessary measures to ensure that academic studies are conducted at the highest level. In order to provide the highest quality instructors, the criteria to be accepted by the Board of Trustees will be observed in the selection of instructors, in addition to qualities sought in instructors in higher education institutions founded by the State.
With regard to security, the University is subject to provisions provided for in the Constitution for Higher Education Institutions.
Board of Trustees
4. The Board of Trustees is formed by at least 7 and at most 28 people who are selected by the Founding Foundations General Board from among those individuals who have the specifications and qualities stipulated in the laws and regulations. Natural members are not included in this number. The President of the Founding Foundations General Board or the representative he appoints and the Rector or the representative he appoints are natural members of the Board of Trustees.
Names of the Board of Trustees are notified to the Higher Education Council within thirty days following their appointment.
The term of office for each member of the Board of Trustees is five years. In the case that a member’s term of office finishes or the member resigns for other reasons, the person to replace this member is selected for a five-year term. Members whose term of office terminates can be re-selected. In order to discharge a member from the board before the termination of the term of office, at least two thirds of the whole number of the Founding Foundations General Board members must vote in favor of the motion.
The Rector, who is one of the natural members of The Board of Trustees, can not be elected as the President of the Board. Membership on the Board of Trustees is honorary; members do not receive any payment or remuneration, except for the actual expenses of participation in meetings and board activities.
The Board of Trustees is the highest decision making body in the University. With a view to ensuring the efficient operation of the University in all respects, the Board of Trustees issues regulations and instructions that are complementary to and do not contradict the Core Regulations, and the Board decides on the drafts of regulations and instructions prepared by other bodies within the University.
The Board of Trustees makes decisions relating to the establishment, abolishment and integration of preparatory schools, vocational schools, practice and research centers, technoparks and academic units which form faculties and higher schools; it submits proposals as to the establishment, abolishment and integration of faculties, institutes and higher schools to the Higher Education Council. Application and research centers with a special financial and administrative status can be founded in accordance with the resolution of the Board of Trustees or the Chairman. The Board of Trustees makes decisions relating to the administration of the academic units, which constitute the faculties, institutes and higher schools.
The Board of Trustees determines the status of administrators, instructors and other personnel to be appointed in the University; makes their contracts when necessary; approves their appointments, promotions and dismissals; agrees upon the University budget submitted for approval; monitors the budget expenditures; and determines the fees to be collected from the students.
The Board of Trustees appoints the Rector according to the principles indicated in Article 7 of the Core Regulations for the term and under the conditions it approves. The Rector does not attend the meetings where his appointment and personal affairs are discussed.
The Board of Trustees can transfer some of its powers to the Chairman, the Rector or other bodies in the University for the period and to the extent it deems convenient.
The Board of Trustees convenes at least four times a year; it can sustain its activities through provisional and permanent committees founded by itself or by the Chairmanship.
The Board of Trustees elects an Execution Board comprised of the Chairman and two members to use its authority in financial affairs and to allocate the budget.
Chairman
5. The Board of Trustees elects a Chairman from among its members for a five-year term, who in turn elects two Vice-Chairmen for a three-year term. The Chairman represents the legal body of the University as its Chairman. The Chairman and Vice-Chairmen can be re-elected at the end of their terms of office.
Senate
6. The University Senate is formed under the Chairmanship of the Rector by Vice-Rectors, Deans, one instructor from each faculty to be selected by the faculty boards for a three-year term, Directors of Institutes and Higher Schools affiliated with the Rector’s Office and the Library Director as the Vice-Rector. The Senate makes decisions about academic activities of the University; gives opinions on issues sent by the Board of Trustees; submits proposals about granting honorary academic titles that are not subject to examination; and performs other duties assigned to the Senate within these Regulations. The Senate’s reporter is the Secretary General of the University.
Executive Board
7. The University’s Executive Board is formed under the Chairmanship of the Rector by Vice-Rectors, Deans, three instructors to be selected for four years by the Senate so as to represent various units and areas associated with the University and the Library Director as Vice-Rector. The University Executive Board makes decisions on topics forwarded by the Rector about the administration of the University and resolves objections to the decisions of executive boards of faculties, institutes and higher schools. It performs other duties assigned within the Core Regulations. The Executive Board’s reporter is the Secretary General of the University.
Rector
8. The Rector is appointed for an indefinite term by the Board of Trustees, the primary executive body, and uses the authority granted to him by the Board. If the Rector is to be appointed for a definite period, he shall be notified of this.
In the case that the Rector’s position becomes vacant or before the acting Rector’s term of office terminates, the Chairman forms a “Rector Search Committee”. After conducting the required research, the Committee submits the names of Rector candidates in order of preference to the Chairman. The acting Rector may be nominated again as a candidate. The Chairman appoints the Rector after considering the opinion of a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees and obtaining the approval of the Board concerned.
In the case that the “Rector Research and Investigation Committee” has not been formed or has not completed its task at the end of the acting Rector’s term of office, then this term is prolonged until the new Rector is appointed.
Vice-Rectors
9. The Rector submits the name of a Vice-Rector or Provost candidate from among the instructors in the University to the Chairman for approval. Apart from this, as many Vice-Rectors as the Board of Trustees sees fit are appointed following the same procedure. Of the Vice-Rectors, one is charged with administrative affairs, one with financial affairs and one with student affairs. The term of office for the selected Provost and other Vice-Rectors is five years at most, and the Chairman approves their appointment. In the case that the Rector changes, whether Vice-Rectors will remain in their positions or new Vice-Rectors will be appointed depends on the new Rector’s proposal and the Chairman’s resolution. The Library Director is a natural Vice-Rector. In the absence of the Rector, he is represented by the Provost and in the absence of the latter, by another Vice-Rector.
Faculty, Institute and Higher School Executive Boards
10. The Faculty Executive Board is formed under the chairmanship of the Dean by Vice-Deans and three professors, two associate professors and an assistant associate professor to be selected for three years by Vice-Deans and Faculty Boards.
The Institute Executive Board is formed under the chairmanship of the Institute Director from three instructors to be selected by Institute Board for three years from among six candidates nominated by Institute Vice-Directors and the Institute Director.
The Higher School Executive Board is formed under the chairmanship of the Higher School Director by three instructors to be selected by the Higher School Board for three years among six candidates nominated by the Higher School Vice-Director and the Higher School Director.
Faculty, Institute and Higher School Executive Boards give opinions about motions put forward by the concerned Dean or Director on all kinds of topics and particularly those related to students and make decisions and perform the duties included in these Regulations. The reporters of the Executive Boards are the secretaries of the concerned faculty, institute and higher school.
Deans and Directors of Institutions and Higher Schools
11. The Rector determines Dean and Institution and Higher School Director candidates via a commission to be formed by the University’s professors chaired by the Provost and submits the names of the candidates in order of preference to the Chairman. The appointment of Deans and Institute and Higher School Directors is finalized by the Chairman’s approval.
The term of office for the Deans and Institute and Higher School Directors is three years at most. At the end of this term, Deans and Institute and Higher School Directors may be appointed again for at most three years. If the concerned person is not notified otherwise three months before the termination of his/her term of office, the term is considered to have been prolonged for one year on each occasion.
Department Heads
12. The Dean determines the Department Head candidates via a committee he appoints and submits his choice to the Rector for approval. The term of office for Department Heads is three years at most. At the end of this term, Department Heads can be appointed again for another three years. If the concerned person is not notified otherwise three months before the termination of his/her term of office, the term is considered to have been prolonged for one year on each occasion.
Instructors
13. Duty term for professors and associate professors that commit all their efforts to Bilkent University (full-time) is four years and that of assistant associate professors is two years. If the concerned person is not notified otherwise three months before the termination of his/her term of office, the term is considered to have been prolonged for one year on each occasion.
Duty term for instructors, lecturers and part-time teachers is generally limited to one or two semesters and their duty ends at the end of this period. They may be appointed again for the same term.
At Bilkent University, assistants are personnel who contribute to the University’s research under the supervision of the instructor they are responsible to. They are appointed for one year. If the supervising instructor or the Department Head reports that the concerned part of the research project has been completed in less than one year, their duty finishes as of that date. At the end of the duty term, assistants can be appointed again for no more than one year. Assistants who fulfil the requirements to be accepted for graduate study may enroll in master’s or doctorate degree programs with the motion of the supervising instructor and approval of the Department Head.
Research and Development Projects and Counseling Services
14. Research and development projects received by the University’s instructors and administrators are investigated, evaluated and approved by the “Project Evaluation Committee.” In the evaluation, the project’s high-level contribution to education and research at the University, the revenue it will raise and other factors are taken into consideration.
The full-time instructors providing consultancy services in and out of the University require the permission of the Project Evaluation Committee.
Principles pertaining to the extent full-time university personnel will benefit from the revenue they obtain from projects and consultancy services (including copy rights) shall be resolved observing the principles established by the Board of Trustees and taking the Provost’s and Rector’s joint suggestions into account.
Leaves
15. Since education and research at the University continues all year round, Deans and Higher School Directors can grant leaves to instructors only with the motion of the Department Head on condition of not interfering with education and research.
Of the periods which can be spent outside the University campus for research and investigation purposes with the joint motion of the concerned Dean and Department Head and the approval of the Provost, a maximum of six weeks in a year shall be regarded as leave. Those who obtain leave must report to the Rector’s Office about their studies within one month.
With regard to sabbatical leaves, instructors who have worked in education-instruction continuously for at least three years at the University can be granted two-month paid leave for each academic year upon the motion of the concerned department, positive opinion of the Faculty, Institute or Higher School Executive Board and the resolution of the University Executive Board. Paid leave can be prolonged again as unpaid leave upon the motion of the concerned department, positive opinion of the Faculty, Institute or Higher School Executive Board and the resolution of the University Executive Board. Periods of paid and unpaid leaves of absence shall not exceed one year each (total two years).
Instructors on sabbatical leave are not paid any remuneration or travel expenses under another name except for the wages to be paid upon the basis which they received when the leave began. Those who are on sabbatical leave shall inform the Department Head about the wages they are paid for their work during the leave period by the institutions which employ them.
The leaves of the Vice-Rectors, Deans, Directors of Institutes and Higher Schools are granted by the Rector and that of the Rector, by the Chairman.
Financial Provisions
16. The University’s sources of revenue are as follows:
a) Grants to the University by institutions allocated to the University by the Founding Foundations and revenues from the University’s investments.
b) Revenues from research and development projects.
c) Fees collected from the students.
d) Grants from the University’s budget and other public organizations and institutions.
e) Donations, inheritances and other revenues.
In order to accept donations, grants and inheritances to the University and units within the University, the Chairman’s approval is necessary.
17. The University’s Payment Director is the Chairman. The Chairman can give this authority, to the extent that he sees fit, to the Rector, Deans and other administrators when necessary.
Amendments to the Core Regulations
18. Amendments and the addition of new articles and provisions to these Core Regulations are made by the Founding Foundation and the approval of the Board of Trustees.
Validity Articles
19. These Core Regulations shall be put into force as of March 16, 1992, the Board of Trustees’ resolution date.
20. The provisions of these Core Regulations shall be enforced by the Chairman.
Temporary Article
With the coming into force of these Regulations, Bilkent University Core Regulations which had been accepted before became void.
Legal Grounds of Bilkent University Core Regulations
1. Pursuant to annexed Article 5 of the Higher Education Act, number 2547, the Board of Trustees performs its duties according to provisions of the Regulations prepared by the Founding Foundation. According to the same article provision the Board of Trustees represents the Foundation Higher Education Institution’s legal body.
2. According to Article 124 of the Constitution, “To ensure the enforcement of laws and rules pertinent to their activity field, the Prime Ministry, ministries and public legal entities can draw up regulations on condition that they are not contrary to existing laws and rules. These regulations will be published in the Official Gazette as indicated in the law.”