Mandate as the National University
Under its Charter of 2008 (RA 9500), UP is mandated to perform its unique and distinctive leadership in higher education and development.
The ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ shall:
Lead in setting academic standards and initiating innovations in teaching, research, and faculty development in philosophy, the arts and humanities, the social sciences, engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, and technology; and maintain centers of excellence in these disciplines and professions.
Serve as a graduate university by providing advanced studies and specialization for scholars, scientists, writers, artists, and professionals especially those who serve on the faculty of state and private colleges and universities.
Serve as a research university in various fields of expertise and specialization by conducting basic and applied research, promoting research and development, and contributing to the dissemination and application of knowledge.
Lead as a public service university by providing various forms of community, public and volunteer service, as well as scholarly and technical assistance to the government, the private sector, and civil society while maintaining its standards of excellence.
Protect and promote the professional and economic rights and welfare of its academic and non-academic personnel.
Provide opportunities for training and learning in leadership, responsible citizenship, and the development of democratic values, institutions, and practice through academic and non-academic programs, including sports and enhancement of nationalism and national identity.
Serve as a regional and global university in cooperation with international and scientific unions, networks of universities, scholarly and professional associations in the Asia Pacific Region and around the world.
Provide democratic governance based on collegiality, representation, accountability, transparency, and active participation of its constituents; and promote the holding of fora for students, faculty, research, extension and professional staff (REPS), administrative staff, and alumni to discuss non-academic issues affecting the University.
Rights and Responsibilities
Academic Freedom
UP has the right and responsibility to exercise academic freedom.
Academic Excellence
UP has the responsibility to maintain and enhance its high academic standards in the performance of its functions of instruction, research and extension, and public service.
Commitment to National Development
UP shall harness the expertise of the members of its community and other individuals to regularly study the state of the nation in relation to its quest for national development in the primary areas of politics and economics, among others.
UP shall identify key concerns, conduct research and formulate responsive policies regarding these concerns, give advice and recommendations to the President of the Philippines, Congress, the Supreme Court, the lower courts, other government agencies and instrumentalities.
Social Responsibility
UP is committed to serve the Filipino nation and humanity, and relate its activities to the needs of the Filipino people and their aspirations for social progress and transformation, and provide venues for student volunteerism.
Democratic Access
UP shall take affirmative steps, which may take the form of an alternative and equitable admissions process to enhance the access of disadvantaged students.
Sports
UP shall undertake and support comprehensive sports programs that promote physical education, uphold excellence and encourage competitive participation in sports activities, instill school identity and solidarity, cultivate pride, self-discipline and teamwork.
Institutional and Fiscal Autonomy
UP has the right to be treated in a manner consistent with its institutional requirements as the national university by the service-wide agencies in the exercise of their respective jurisdiction.
Taking into account national goals and priorities, UP shall exclusively determine its teaching, research and extension thrusts, plans, policies, programs and standards, and on the basis of such determination, shall recommend its annual budget to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and Congress.
Guiding Principles
Honor, Excellence and Democratic Governance
Committed to UP’s long tradition of honor and excellence, we shall be guided in our decision-making by the principles of democratic governance: collegiality, representation, accountability, transparency, and active participation of the University’s constituents
Accessibility and Responsiveness
We will break down bureaucratic walls and make our administration accessible and responsive to our stakeholders.
Innovativeness and Creativity
In making decisions, we shall not be bound by traditional solutions. We shall be prepared to pursue innovative approaches in solving the problems and issues that confront the University.
One University
We shall be guided by the spirit of Oneness: common standards of excellence, harmonized systems, common and shared services across constituent universities, but with decentralized decision-making and execution.
For a full copy of the UP Charter or Republic Act 9500, please click here.