Article 24 of the Saudi Law of Universities
المادة 24 من نظام الجامعات · الفصل السادس: مجالس الكليات أو المعاهد
The article sets the composition of the college or institute council under the dean with vice deans and heads of departments, lets the university president add faculty members and experts, and lets the council invite students to discuss student matters.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون مجلس الكلية أو المعهد برئاسة العميد وتكون العضوية فيه على النحو الآتي:
1- الوكلاء ويكون أحدهم أميناً للمجلس
2- رؤساء الأقسام العلمية.
ولرئيس الجامعة أن يضيف لعضوية المجلس ثلاثة -على الأكثر- من أعضاء هيئة التدريس في الكلية أو المعهد، واثنان -على الأكثر- من ذوي الخبرة والعلاقة بمجال اختصاصات الكلية أو المعهد، وذلك بناءً على ترشيح من مجلس الكلية أو المعهد لمدة سنتين قابلة للتجديد مرة واحدة.
ولمجلس الكلية أو المعهد دعوة من يراه من الطلبة لحضور جلساته للمشاركة في مناقشة الأمور الطلابية.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article regulates the college or institute council, which under Article 1 is the authority competent to conduct academic affairs in the college.
First: chair and core membership
- It is chaired by the dean.
- It includes the vice deans, one of whom is secretary of the council.
- It includes the heads of academic departments.
Second: additional members
The university president may add to the membership:
- At most three faculty members of the college or institute.
- At most two persons of experience with a connection to the college's or institute's field of specialization.
This is on the nomination of the college or institute council, for two years, renewable once. Adding them is at the discretion of the university president ("may add"), and the numbers mentioned are maximums.
Third: participation of students
The college or institute council may invite whichever students it sees fit to attend its sessions to take part in discussing student matters. The text does not make them members of the council, and does not state whether they have the right to vote, so this cannot be assumed.
Article 25 then sets out the council's competence to consider the scientific, administrative and financial matters relating to the college or institute, subject to the provisions of the Law and the regulations and rules issued by the Council of University Affairs, the board of trustees and the university council. The article is also linked to Article 23, which regulates decisions of the scientific council and their effect.
Practical example
The college of engineering at a university is discussing amending class timetables in a way that affects students. Under this article, the college council may invite whichever students it sees fit to attend the session and take part in discussing this student matter.
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 24 of the Saudi Law of Universities
Who chairs the college council?
The dean.
Who are the members of the college council?
The vice deans, one of whom is secretary of the council, and the heads of academic departments; the university president may add at most three faculty members and at most two persons of experience.
Can students attend the college council?
The college or institute council may invite whichever students it sees fit to attend its sessions to take part in discussing student matters.
More articles on College and Department Councils
- Article 25
The article gives the college or institute council jurisdiction over its scientific, administrative and financial matters, subject to the Law and the regulations of the higher councils, and lets it delegate some competences to its chair and form committees.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به أحكام النظام وما يصدره مجلس شؤون الجامعات ومجلس الأمناء ومجلس الجامعة من لوائح وقواعد؛ يختص مجلس الكلية أو المعهد بالنظر في الأمور العلمية،
- Article 26
The article regulates monthly college or institute council meetings with a two-thirds quorum, and makes its decisions effective unless the university president objects within twenty days, with objected decisions referred to the university council for a final decision.
1- يجتمع مجلس الكلية أو المعهد بدعوة من رئيسه مرة كل شهر على الأقل في العام الدراسي، ولا يصح الاجتماع إلا بحضور ثلثي أعضائه على الأقل بمن فيهم الرئيس أو من ينيب
- Article 27
The article provides that each academic department has a council chaired by the head of department with its faculty members as members, and chaired by the dean when the head is absent or the post is vacant.
يكون لكل قسم علمي من أقسام الكلية أو المعهد مجلس يتألف من رئيس القسم رئيساً، وعضوية أعضاء هيئة التدريس فيه. ويجوز بقرار من رئيس الجامعة -عند الحاجة- أن يضاف إلى
- Article 28
The article gives the department council jurisdiction over the department's scientific, financial and administrative matters, including setting basic curriculum standards and reviewing them periodically, and lets it delegate some competences to its chair and form committees.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به أحكام النظام وما يصدره مجلس شؤون الجامعات ومجلس الأمناء ومجلس الجامعة من لوائح وقواعد؛ يختص مجلس القسم بالنظر في الأمور العلمية والمالية وا
- Article 29
The article regulates monthly department council meetings with a two-thirds quorum, and makes its decisions effective unless the dean objects within seven working days, with objected decisions referred to the college council to decide.
1- يجتمع مجلس القسم بدعوة من رئيسه مرة كل شهر في العام الدراسي على الأقل، ولا يصح الاجتماع إلا بحضور ثلثي أعضائه على الأقل بمن فيهم الرئيس أو من ينيبه من الأعضا
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.