Article 35 of the Saudi Law of Universities

This article regulates the assignment of deans in the university, and covers three categories:

• The dean of a college.
• The dean of a deanship.
• The dean of an institute.

Method of assignment: by decision of the university president.

Term: two years, renewable, and the text does not limit the number of renewals.

Controls: this is under the rules approved by the university's board of trustees. The university president therefore does not assign the dean at his absolute discretion, but within the rules set by the board of trustees, which under Article 1 is the authority competent for the governance of the university and supervision of its performance.

Note that the article does not state the conditions for a candidate for the post of dean, such as academic rank or experience; these are found in the rules approved by the board of trustees.

This article is linked to Article 34, which regulates the role of the vice presidents of the university in assisting the president, and the assignment of one of them to carry out his duties in his absence. Article 36 then sets out the dean's responsibilities: he takes charge of the scientific, educational, administrative and financial affairs of the college or institute, subject to the provisions of the Law and the regulations of the higher councils, and submits to the university president at the end of each academic year a detailed report on the progress of the college's or institute's work.

A person with a matter concerning the assignment or renewal of a dean may consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.