Article 15 of the Saudi Law of Universities
المادة 15 من نظام الجامعات · الفصل الثالث: مجالس الأمناء
The article allows the board of trustees to choose a university staff member as its secretary in coordination with the university president, and provides for appointing a replacement for the remaining term when a post becomes vacant.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يختار مجلس الأمناء من يراه من منسوبي الجامعة ليتولى أمانة المجلس بالتنسيق مع رئيس الجامعة.
2- إذا شغر منصب رئيس مجلس الأمناء أو نائبه أو أي عضو فيه فيعين بديل له للمدة الباقية وفقاً لإجراءات تعيينه.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 15 explained in plain English
This article deals with two organizational matters in the university board of trustees:
Paragraph 1: the board's secretariat
- The board of trustees chooses whomever it sees fit from the university's staff to take charge of the board's secretariat.
- This is done in coordination with the university president.
The board's secretary is therefore from within the university, and the choice belongs to the board in coordination with the university president. The article does not specify the secretary's tasks in detail.
Paragraph 2: vacancy
- If the post of the chair of the board of trustees, his deputy, or any member of it becomes vacant.
- A replacement is appointed for him for the remaining term.
- This is done in accordance with the procedures for his appointment, that is, in the same way as the original holder of the post was appointed.
This means that the replacement does not start a new full term but completes what remains of his predecessor's term. The method of appointing the replacement also follows the type of post that is vacant; the article does not create a new route of appointment.
The article is linked to Article 14, which regulates the board's meetings at least once every three months with a quorum of two thirds of the members and makes its decisions effective fifteen days after the meeting date. It is also linked to Article 16, which moves to another council, the university council, chaired by the university president with his deputies, the deans of colleges, deanships and institutes, and at most four persons of experience appointed by the board of trustees.
The article is organizational and does not create direct rights for students or others.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 15 of the Saudi Law of Universities
Who serves as secretary of a university's board of trustees?
A person the board of trustees chooses from the university's staff, in coordination with the university president.
What happens if a post on the board of trustees becomes vacant?
A replacement is appointed for the remaining term in accordance with the procedures for appointing the holder of the post.
More articles on University Board of Trustees
- Article 5
The article specifies the bodies that undertake the governance, management and conduct of the university's affairs: the Board of Trustees, the University Council and the university president.
يتولى حوكمة وإدارة وتصريف شؤون الجامعة: مجلس الأمناء مجلس الجامعة رئيس الجامعة
- Article 11
The article provides that each university has a board of trustees whose members, other than the university president, are assigned by order of the Prime Minister for three years, renewable once, and its chair is accountable to the chair of the Council of University Affairs.
يكون لكل جامعة مجلس أمناء يكلف رئيسه ونائبه وأعضاؤه -فيما عدا رئيس الجامعة- بأمر من رئيس مجلس الوزراء -بناءً على ترشيح رئيس مجلس شؤون الجامعات- لمدة ثلاث سنوات
- Article 12
The article sets the composition of the university board of trustees: four university-education experts, three private-sector members, the university president and three faculty members, with the chair and deputy chosen from the experts.
يتكون مجلس أمناء الجامعة من الآتي: 1- أربعة أعضاء من ذوي الخبرة والكفاية والاختصاص ممن عملوا في مجال التعليم الجامعي. 2- ثلاثة أعضاء من القطاع الخاص من ذوي الخب
- Article 13
The article sets the tasks of the university board of trustees, including approving the university's vision, policies, structure and budget, nominating its president, appointing the external auditor, approving the founding of companies and awarding honorary doctorates.
يتولى مجلس أمناء الجامعة -وفقاً لأحكام النظام وما يصدره مجلس شؤون الجامعات من لوائح وقواعد- المهمات الآتية: 1- إقرار رؤية الجامعة ورسالتها وأهدافها، ورسم سياسات
- Article 14
The article regulates meetings of the university board of trustees at least once every three months with a quorum of two thirds including the chair or deputy, and makes its decisions effective fifteen days after the meeting date.
يجتمع مجلس أمناء الجامعة مرة كل ثلاثة أشهر على الأقل في العام الدراسي، وللرئيس أن يدعو المجلس للاجتماع إذا دعت الحاجة إلى ذلك، ولا تصح اجتماعات المجلس إلا بحضور
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.