The governance and administration of UP Manila basically follows the above same hierarchy, structure, principles, and guidelines. As in other UP CUs, UP Manila is headed by a Chancellor who is directly responsible to the UP President and implements the policies formulated by the BOR, UP President, and University Council.

The Administration of each constituent university is vested in the Chancellor insofar as authorized by the Board and the President of the University. The Chancellor of the constituent university shall be elected by the Board upon nomination of the President of the University, following a process of consultation with the constituents of the constituent university based on standards and guidelines set by the Board. The Chancellor shall report to the President of the University, and shall perform the duties and functions stated in the UP Charter and all the usual, necessary and related functions of the Office of the Chancellor, subject to the policies and rules prescribed by the Board (RA 9500).

Assisting the Chancellor in the above functions are the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Vice Chancellor for Administration, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, Vice Chancellor for Research, the Deans of colleges/academic units, and the Directors of the academic support offices. Depending upon the strategies of the incumbent administration, Special Assistants (SA) to the Chancellor may be appointed for specific projects.

The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) oversees the implementation of academic rules, policies, and programs and provides advice on academic matters. The VCAA assists the Chancellor at the University Council (UC), coordinates local and international academic linkages and student exchange, and oversees quality assurance activities of academic programs. The VCAA ensures the growth and development of faculty, and welfare of students.

The Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance assists the Chancellor in the formation and implementation of financial and fiscal policies. The VCAF provides recommendations to the Chancellor for administrative matters, such as the flow of papers, financial matters, employee performance and discipline, and potential income-generating ventures of the University. The VCAF ensures the growth and development of administrative personnel in the University.

The Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development assists the Chancellor in formulating the UP Manila Strategic Management and Development Plan. The VCPD spearheads efforts to support special and flagship projects, reviews and evaluates proposals from outside institutions and groups involving public-private partnerships. The VCPD also monitors compliance and the progress of ongoing construction and development projects in the University, and ensures maintenance of physical and network infrastructure in the University.

The Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension oversees the planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of all research and extension agenda, programs, projects, and activities in the University. The VCRE advises the Chancellor on matters concerning research personnel recruitment and ensures the professional development, fellowship, and overall welfare of the Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS).

The Special Assistant to the Chancellor (SAC) on the UP Manila Museum serves as the curator and overall administrator of the Museum of a History of Ideas in UP Manila. The SAC is responsible for ensuring the maintenance of the Museum’s artifacts, exhibits, and galleries.

In each constituent university, the University Council (UC) serves as the highest academic body, which exercises the following powers:

1. fix the requirements for admission to any college or unit, graduation, and the grant of honors subject to the minimum system-wide requirements;
2. prescribe the academic programs including their institution, revision, abolition and merger, subject to the approval of the Board;
3. recommend to the Board the graduation of students and the grant of honors;
4. exercise disciplinary power over the students, through the Chancellors or their appropriate committees, subject to review by the President of the University according to the limits prescribed by system-wide rules on student discipline;
5. undertake the periodic review of academic courses, programs, standards, thrusts and policies; and
6. adopt internal rules of procedure consistent with the provisions of RA 9500.

The UC consists of the Chancellor as Chairperson and the University Registrar as Ex Officio Secretary, and all faculty members holding the rank of Assistant Professor and higher as members.

The UC may invite representatives to participate in its discussions without the right to vote, such as instructors, clinical faculty, lecturers, REPS, administrative personnel, and students (1988 Reorganization of UPM Handbook).

The President is an ex officio member of the University Council of each autonomous unit and presides over its meetings whenever present (828th BOR meeting, December 21, 1972; E.O. No. 4, Sec. 7 and 10, Office of the President, UP, March 23, 1983).

Each college or academic unit is headed by a Dean who serves as its academic and administrative leader. The Dean is appointed by the BOR, upon recommendation of the chancellor and the president of the university, for a term of three years without prejudice to a reappointment for a second term and until a successor shall have been appointed; Provided that they may only serve for two (2) terms in the aggregate; Provided further, that only in highly exceptional cases shall they be allowed an additional third term (Art. 79; University Code, 1961; amended at these BOR meetings: 789th, December 11, 1972; 1016th; September 22, 1988; 1020th, April 25, 1989; 1122nd, July 30, 1998; and 1127th, December 8, 1998).

The Dean acts as presiding officer of the college/unit’s faculty but he/she cannot serve as academic head of any department or division in his/her college or school (Ar1t 80, University Code, 1961). The limitation shall not apply to ad hoc bodies or committees or to the board of councils of which the UP Manila chancellor acts as Chair (Book 2, Omnibus Code, 1989).

Whenever the need arises and upon the Dean’s recommendation and the Chancellor’s concurrence, the President may create an additional position of Associate or Assistant Dean in any academic unit and approve any appointment thereto notwithstanding the foregoing rules. No administrative salary shall be attached to any such position created by the President or the Chancellor (970th BOR meeting, August 30, 1984).

The recommendation for an AD may be made provided that the college or academic unit has 50 or more regular faculty and 200 or more student majors. The term of office of the AD shall be determined by the Chancellor upon the recommendation of the incumbent Dean; provided that an appointment to said position shall not extend beyond the expiration date of the term of the incumbent dean or his/her resignation/separation from the deanship.

The College Secretary is appointed by the Chancellor upon the recommendation of the Dean for a term of three (3) years. The duties of the secretary in relation to the college student body are:

1. To inform students during registration of their schedule, curricula and other matters;
2. To assist in the supervision of student activities;
3. To help execute decisions of committees of the college/school and of the University authorities affecting students; and
4. To perform other duties assigned to him/her by the dean/director (From Arts. 95, 97, 98, 790th meeting, December 19, 1969).

The Chair of the Department is appointed by the Chancellor after consultation with the Dean for a term that does not exceed three (3) years without prejudice to a reappointment for a second term of not more than three years or a maximum of six years. Under exceptionally meritorious cases, the Chancellor may approve the renewal of appointment of a Chair beyond six years for a final term, also not exceeding three years. In no case shall a Chair serve more than nine consecutive years. The Chair determines the administrative organization and conduct of the work of the department (Art 102; amended at 828th BOR meeting, December 21, 1972; from Art 103; amended at these BOR meetings: 703rd, December 7, 1962; 714th, October 4, 1963; 783rd, June 25, 1969; 826th, November 27, 1972; 1054th, October 29, 1992).

Subject to the approval of the University Council, each college faculty council has the following powers:

1. To determine the entrance requirements of the college and the courses of study to be pursued for each degree program offered;
2. To recommend to the University Council qualified candidates for degrees, titles and certificates; and
3. To administer the educational and internal life of the college within the limits prescribed by the rules of the University System and by the President/Chancellor.

The NIH Executive Director and the PGH Director are appointed by the UP President, following a democratic process of selection similar to the selection of the deans. Other institutes and sub-units of UP Manila are each headed by a director whose role is that of an academic leader and administrator and who is appointed by the Chancellor for a term of three (3) years. No Director shall serve as academic head of any department or division of his/her institute (Art. 80, University Code, 1961) and strictly avoid conflict of interest in the conduct of their office (Book 2, Omnibus Rules, 1989).

The Director of a center/institute may recommend the appointment of a Deputy Director provided that the center/institute has 50 or more full-time professional and administrative staff (970th BOR meeting, August 30, 1984).

The term of office of a Deputy Director in any unit of the University shall be determined by the Chancellor upon the recommendation of the incumbent Director; provided that an appointment to said position shall not extend beyond the expiration date of the term of the incumbent director or his/her resignation/separation from directorship.

Aside from the administrative positions above, regular faculty members may be given administrative work, in the form of an additional assignment, to serve as head of a non-academic unit/office of the System, CU, or academic unit for a fixed term of office. (1094th UP BOR Meeting, January 26, 1996). Faculty administrators are given, in addition to their salary, entitlements such as honorarium, administrative load credit (ALC), representation, and transportation allowances. (1161st UP BOR Meeting, July 25, 2002).

They are tenured government personnel occupying career service positions who serve as head of a non-academic unit/office of the System, CU, or academic unit.


For the Organization Chart and list of the current officials of the UP Manila, click here.