Procedural regulations
for Hólar University College
Chapter I
The role of the university
Article 1
Hólar University College is a scientific educational and
research institution at the university level. The activity of the
school is based on act 57/1999 on agricultural education, with
subsequent amendments, and on universities act 63/2006. Hólar
University College is a centre for education and research in horsemanship
and horse breeding, aquaculture, aquatic biology, and tourism studies.
Holar University college authorized to set offer an international
programme of study in horse breeding and horsemanship. Student
in this programme may permitted to pay tuition fees. Hólar
University College can initiate programs of study or research in
other fields, if these activities fulfill the requirements for
accreditation according to the universities act 63/2006.
Chapter II
Administrative organization
Article 2
The Board of Directors
The administration of Hólar University College is entrusted
to the board of directors and the rector. The board of directors
sets policy in teaching and research and shapes the organization
of the school. Decisions pertaining to the organisation of the
University’s departments and the arrangement of its work
are made by the board of directors. The board of directors may
determine special additional entrance requirements for each specific
study programme in the University (cf. article 11 of act 57/1999).
The board of directors provides the minister with an opinion statement
regarding the hiring of the rector. The rector is the chair of
the board of directors and calls meetings as needed. If three representatives
of the Board of Directors ask for a meeting, the rector is required
to call it. Alternates attend meetings of the board in the absence
of the main representatives. A meeting of the board of directors
can make decisions if two-thirds of those qualified to vote attend
the meeting. The force of votes determines the outcome of cases.
In the case of a tie vote, the rector's vote determines the outcome.
The decisions of the board of directors shall be recorded.
Article 3
Rector
The minister appoints the rector for a period of five years upon
receipt of an opinion statement by the university council. The
rector is the head of the university administration and is responsible
for its operation. He or she is responsible for the creation of
operation plans and budgets and for ensuring that these are approved
by the board of directors. The Rector of Hólar University
College is the University’s highest-ranking representative
vis-à-vis persons and institutions, both within the University
and outside it. He or she directs the activities of the University
and takes initiative for the board of directors to establish an
overall policy in the university's affairs. The rector has the
power to appoint all employees of the school. The rector shall
ensure that job descriptions exist for all employees of the university.
The rector is responsible for the operation and maintaining at
Hólar community (cf. article 13). The rector's tasks shall
be defined in his letter of appointment.
Article 4
Management team
The University’s Management team carries out daily operations
and co-ordinates the work of divisions and departments. The Rector,
the heads of the various departments, and the director of operations
sit on the Management team.
Article 5
Director of operations
The rector hires the Director of operations, who is the head of
the division of operations and service for the university and attends
to its finances on behalf of the rector. In the same way, the head
of operations prepares an annual budget in collaboration with the
Management team of the university and monitors to make sure that
operations are in accordance with current limits.
Article 6
Research division
The departments’ research activities constitute the division
of research of the University. The Rector appoints a divisional
director and a research committee for a term of two years. The
committee oversees the co-ordination of research. The role of the
research division is to provide assistance with applications and
the management of research projects. The research committee consists
of one representative from each department, one representative
of the graduate students and the director of operations, in addition
to the director of the division, who is the chair of the committee.
The research committee assists in shaping research policy, maintains
the Hólar University College research fund and attends to
quality control for research.
Article 7
Division of Academic affairs
The programmes of study across departments comprise the Universities
division of academic affairs. The programmes of study across departments
comprise the Universities division of academic affairs. The Rector
appoints a divisional director for a term of two years. The director
oversees the co-ordination of programmes of study. The employees
of the division of academic affairs oversee student registration
and academic records, assist the departments in admissions and
the organisation of instruction, prepare curricula, and assist
instructors. An academic affairs committee is appointed by the
Rector. It consists of the director of the division, who is the
chair; one representative from each department and two student
representatives. The academic affairs committee is responsible
for quality management (cf. article 14) of studies and decides
on improvements as needed, in co-operation with the management
team of the University. The academic affairs committee handles
curricula for individual programmes of study, formulates rules
on registration and monitoring of academic progress, and sets rules
concerning admission requirements, academic evaluation, and assessment
of other education. The academic affairs committee also oversees
affairs related to technical aspects of study and handles affairs
concerning collaboration with other university-level institutions.
The academic affairs committee rules on matters of disagreement
that may arise concerning the execution of teaching or academic
evaluation. Decisions by the academic affairs committee may be
appealed to the rector and to the board of appeals for university
student complaints, cf. article 2 of universities act 63/2006.
Within each faculty shall operate a programme committee, which
consists of two faculty members and two student representatives.
The programme committee is a forum for discussion regarding the
development of the catalogue of instruction, syllabi and progress
in courses.
Article 8.
Graduate division
The study programmes at the Master’s and doctoral level form
the division of graduate studies. The co-ordination of graduate
studies within the University is in the hands of the director of
the division of graduate studies, who is appointed by the Rector
for a term of two years. He or she is charged with ultimate supervision
of coordination of graduate study within the school. Within the
division is a graduate studies committee, which comprises one representative
from each department, an expert from outside the University (who
is appointed by the Rector), a representative of the graduate students,
and the director of the division, who chairs the committee. The
role of the graduate studies committee is to guarantee connections
with other educational institutions and to take the initiative
in co-ordinating academic programmes. The committee is also responsible
for quality management as it relates to the various academic programmes.
(cf. article 14). The graduate studies committee attends to the
admission of new students to graduate studies, supervises progress
in studies, nominates external examiners and examination committees,
attends to the appointment of advisors from outside the school
and maintains the research education fund of Hólar University
College.
Article 9
Head of departments
The administration of university departments is in the hands of
heads of departments who are appointed by the rector. They administer
the affairs of each department of the university on behalf of the
rector and the board of directors and take initiative in shaping
its policy. They prepare a budget for the department in consultation
with the director of operations and are responsible for human resources
and all resources of the department. They are responsible for admission
of new students. They are responsible for real estate, facilities,
equipment and other school property which belongs to the department
and make plans for the development and use of this property. The
heads of departments have professional responsibility for the teaching
and research of the departments and direct their daily activities
and operations.
Article 10
Department forums and the university forum
Department forums discuss the professional issues of each department;
they shall be called at least once per year. All permanent employees
of the department and two student representatives, elected for
one year at a time, serve on the department forum. The purpose
of department forums is to:
•
be a forum for discussion of the goals and role of the department
•
discuss the organization of teaching, course offerings and programs
•
discuss research in the departments
•
discuss professional issues which affect the department
•
elect members to councils and committees and determine their functions
and duties
The university forum is a common meeting of all departments which
is held at least once each year with the purpose of:
•
discussing the University's plan of operations
•
discussing general policy formation for the University in the areas
of instruction and research
•
discuss various other University affairs as relevant at individual
forums.
Article 11.
General employee meetings
General employee meetings are held to discuss affairs of the University.
The rector calls employee meetings as needed. Heads of departments
may also call special employee meetings within departments.
Article 12.
On consultation with other universities and collaborating institutions
Hólar University College and individual departments shall
engage in consultation and collaboration with other universities,
Icelandic and international, in order to make the best possible
use of available manpower, materials and facilities. This collaboration
will support greater diversity in educational opportunities, in
accordance with acts 57/1999 and 63/2006. A mutual recognition
of components of study shall be sought by formal agreements with
collaborating parties The university is also permitted to make
agreements of collaboration with institutions which are related
to the university's specialisation. Heads of departments and directors
of divisions shall take initiative for collaboration and coordination
in the aforementioned areas.
Article 13.
On the property and consultation with other institutions at Hólar
The rector is responsible for the operation and maintenance at
Hólar community cf. act 57/1999 and for collaboration with
the Skagafjörður municipally. The rector also attends
to collaboration with other institutions at Hólar.
Article 14.
Quality control
Hólar University College shall conduct a regular assessment
of internal operations cf. act 57/1999 and 63/2006. Hólar
University College sets codes of conduct, an environmental policy,
an employee policy and an equal rights policy.
Chapter III
Departments and academic faculty
Article 15.
The departments of the University
Hólar University College is divided into departments each
of which is responsible for teaching and research within the department
in question. Through joint use of manpower, experimental facilities,
teaching equipment and other facilities, it shall be endeavored
to enhance diverse scientific activity and to ensure efficiency
in operations. The departments of Hólar University College
are as follows: Rural tourism, Equine Science and Aquaculture and
Fish Biology.
The objective of the Department of Rural Tourism is to gather
and disseminate knowledge about tourism affairs in order to increase
professionalism and innovation in the sector and to guarantee the
sustainable development of tourism in Iceland. It achieves this
goal through teaching, research, and development projects in extensive
collaboration with the tourist industry and tourism academic community,
both in Iceland and abroad. The department emphasises quality,
collaboration, and diversity in research, instruction, and development
projects
The objective of the Equine Science Department is to provide professional
education in the fields of horse breeding, horse training, horsemanship,
and riding teaching. Furthermore, the department works toward development
and innovation through research activities. It also promotes increased
profitability in the sector, the spread of equestrian activities,
and the welfare of horses. The department is an international centre
for education and research in the fields of horse breeding, horse
training, horsemanship, and riding teaching.
The objective of the Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology
is to gather and disseminate knowledge in the fields of aquatic
biology, aquaculture, and fish biology. The department is an international
centre for research, instruction, and continuing education in aquatic
biology, aquaculture, and fish biology. The department promotes
the professional development of aquaculture in the spirit of sustainable
development.
Article 16
The Guðbrandur institute
The Gudbrandur Thorláksson Institute is an independent research
and educational institution of Hólar University College.
It operates in parallel to the University’s divisions. The
objective of the Institute is to enhance the level of knowledge
in various scholarly fields, particularly theology, history, literature,
archaeology, ethics, printing, ecclesiastical art, music, and visual
art, as well as the natural science fields represented at both
the University of Iceland and Hólar University College.
The Institute is also the sponsor of vigorous musical and cultural
activities at Hólar. The Guðbrandur institute is subject
to a special board and has an independent budget. Hólar
University College, the suffragan bishop of the Hólar diocese
on behalf of the National Church and the University of Iceland
are parties to the Guðbrandur institute. The administration
of the institution and the management team of Hólar University
College consult closely with one another; among other things, the
minutes of the Guðbrandur institute are presented at the meetings
of the management team
Article 17
Academic faculty
Full professors, associate professors and assistant professors
are employed at Hólar University College. They work in teaching,
research, administration and/or other tasks which are assigned
to them by the rector and by the head of departments, and which
generally belong to the working area of the university. It is permitted
to hire other employees for specialized tasks. Job duties, rights
and hiring of employees are in other respects according to wage
contracts and further stipulations in laws and regulations.
Article 18
On sabbatical
The rector is permitted to grant sabbatical to permanent employees
of the university in accordance with special regulations on the
matter.
Chapter IV
Division of operations and services
Article 19
Hólar University College has a division of operations and
services directed by the head of operations. To this division belong,
inter alia, the general office, human resource management, finances,
supervision of real estate and the operation of support units such
as, e.g., the library. A work development committee is appointed
by he rector for two years at a time. The head of operations, who
is the chair of the committee, representatives of departments and
representatives nominated by labor units serve on the board. The
role of the board is to supervise work development, progress and
point assessment of employees and to discuss the granting of research
leave (cf. article 18). The board collaborates closely with the
point assessment committee.
Chapter V
Students, teaching and examinations
Article 20
The rector and the board of directors establish special regulation
of study regarding students, teaching, examination and the organization
of programs of study.
Chapter VI
Adoption and revision
Article 22
These regulations are established according to the permission
granted in act 57/1999, with subsequent amendments, and take
effect immediately.
They shall be reviewed no later than two years after the date
of signing.
Thus approved by the board of directors on June 26, 2007.
Hólar in Hjaltadalur, June 26, 2007. Sk
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Hólar
University College, Hólar Hjaltadal, IS-551 Sauðárkrókur
