At the same time, they reiterated the “core principle” of NMC’s autonomy.
Moreover, because of constitutional and other legal issues, the board said it will ask the Legislature to create a “mechanism” when appointing the voting-student member.
Introduced by Sen. Jovita M. Taimanao, Ind.-Rota, S.B. 17-57 stated that a student member should be a full board member with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of the other regents.
The board, the bill stated, should establish the qualification and eligibility criteria of the student regent and will establish the policies for electing the student regent who will serve for a one year term and may be reelected to no more than one successive one-year term.
“This will allow the students to have a direct voice on the board and to permit the student members to vote on choices directly affecting the lives and education of the students,” the bill stated.
But the regents’ legal counsel, former Supreme Court Justice Jesus C. Borja, expressed concern about the appointment of a voting-student member.
He said all members of the board are appointed by the governor and appointing a voting-student might result in a constitutional challenge in the future.
Borja said the board may be required to vote on a major issue and the vote of the student member, who is not appointed by the governor, could be challenged by a third party.
The acting president of the Associated Students of NMC, Maria Calilong, expressed concern about the selection process for the voting-student member.
She said the college has an existing student association that already has representation on the board. The current student representative doesn’t vote though.
She asked if the voting-student member will be selected from the ASNMC.
Regent Andrew Orisini, who was a student member of the board for 10 years, said NMC’s student leadership should be consulted about the bill.
The board’s fiscal and legislative committee headed by Regent Frank Rabauliman will meet with lawmakers to discuss the mechanism in appointing the voting-student member.
