By Randall George, GNN Legislative Reporter |
The plenary of the House of Representatives has nanimously voted to repealed an act of 2008 creating the Grand Bassa County Community College and granting it a university status. The Plenary took the decision in its 46th day sitting Tuesday, July 6th, 2021.
The passed bill was drafted and sponsored by Grand Bassa County District #3 Representative Matthew Joe.
When concord with by the Senate and pass into law, the Grand Bassa University College with various colleges and programs to be an institution of higher learning, situated in the City of Buchanan with the view of expansion to other Districts of the County is hereby created.
In the decision of plenary, the said University College is granted a Charter, which empowers it with all rights, privileges and benefits accorded institutions of higher learning under the laws of the Republic of Liberia, and shall henceforth be known by the name and title “Grand Bassa University College, or GBUC.”
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
The aims and objectives of the Grand Bassa University College shall be, but not limited to the following:
A. To create, establish, and implement a co-educational institution of higher learning within Grand Bassa County, Republic of Liberia, and to grant Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in relevant disciplines wherein graduates from accredited secondary schools may pursue tertiary education in any field of learning provided by the Grand Bassa University College;
B. To provide instructional and learning conditions in all aspects of professional, technical, and vocational education that will effectively contribute to the growth and improvement of the Grand Bassa University College, as well as the socio-economic development of Grand Bassa County and Liberia, as a whole;
C. To establish, promote, and maintain Center of Excellence for learning, where constituents of all races, classes, and creed, gender and ethnic settings, can enjoy equal opportunities of learning;
D. To acquire, establish and maintain such auxiliaries with associated colleges and institutions at locations within the Republic of Liberia as may be decided from time to time by the Board of Trustees; and,
E. To pursue, establish and maintain affiliations and partnerships with institutions and organizations, internally and externally, for the purpose of enhancing and promoting quality delivery and institutional development within the Institution.
COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD
The governance and control of the Grand Bassa University College shall be vested in the Board of Trustees of the University College which is hereby made a corporate body under the name and style, “the Board of Trustees of the Grand Bassa University College” with perpetual succession of members to be selected and appointed as herein provided.
SECTION 2:
The GBUC shall have the President of the Republic of Liberia as its Visitor and Chairman Ex-officio of the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees, as being constituted below, shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia with recommendation from the Grand Bassa County authority, which include the Superintendent, Statutory District Superintendents, Administrative District Commissioners, and the County Legislative Caucus. Members of the Board shall remain in office until their successors are appointed. Members of the Board shall serve a four-year term with good conduct.
The following constitute the Board:
A. One person from each of the Electoral Districts in Grand Bassa County;
B. One member representing the Press Media in Grand Bassa County;
C. Two members from the Business Community in Grand Bassa County;
D. One member from the National Commission on Higher Education;
E. Minister of Education of Liberia as Ex-officio who shall not be appointed or elected to any office of the Board;
F. The President of the Grand Bassa University College;
G. One member from the civil society;
H. The President of the Alumni Association of GBUC;
I. One member from the Honorable Liberian Senate; and
J. One member from the Honorable House of Representatives.
The Visitor, Ex-officio, the Minister of Education (Ex-official), the President of the Grand Bassa University College (GBUC), and the member of the National Commission on Higher Education may serve for more than two terms, i.e., they shall serve during their tenure in the positions within their original institutions. Unlike the above mentioned, all other members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for only two terms.
DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
The following duties and powers shall be discharged by the Board of Trustees of the Grand Bassa University College in accordance with its objectives:
A. To design policies and regulations for the enlistment, selection and appointment/employment of faculty and administrative staff, to set bench-marks for instructional courses; to approve appropriate methodologies and measures for admission; to create conducive learning environment and housing facilities for students; and to ensure all other things appropriate in keeping with the conduct of the Grand Bassa University College.
B. To carve a seal and change same at its will and pleasure.
C. To award appropriate diplomas, certificates, and degrees.
