1.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
1.1 The Dominican Institute is
an academic centre of the Province of St. Joseph
the Worker, Order of Preachers.
1.2 Working with the norms of
the Vatican II decree Optatam totius, the Vatican
documents Sapientia Christiana and Ex corde ecclesiae,
and the Dominican Liber Constitutionum et Ordinationum
Fratrum Ordinis Praedicatorum (76-97) and Ratio
Studiorum Generalis, and in response to the imperatives
of the academia in Nigeria, the Dominican Institute
endeavours to explore and systematically explain
Catholic doctrine and study human problems under
the guidance of the light of divine revelation authentically
interpreted by the Church's magisterium.
1.3 In recognition of the intellectual
relevance of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Dominican Institute
endeavours to retrieve the insights of the Angelic
Doctor in dialogue with Protestantism, Pentecostalism,
Islam, African traditional religions, and other
trends of thought in the Nigerian and African contexts,
in, view of the social, political and economic problems
of our time.
1.4 To accomplish this objective,
and in virtue of Vatican II's Optatam totius, 16,
CIC 251 and 2523, and LCO, 82, the lecturers and
students of the Institute take St. Thomas Aquinas
as teacher and guide.
2. THE GRAND
CHANCELLOR
2.1 The Master of the Order is
the Grand Chancellor of the Institute.
2.2 The Grand Chancellor is the
ultimate instance of appeal in cases of conflict.
3. THE CHANCELLOR
3.1 The Dominican Institute is
under the direction of the Chancellor, who is always
the Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Joseph
the Worker, Order of Preachers.
3.2 The Chancellor administers
the Institute through a Board of Governors, an Academic
Council, a Recruitment Board, an Economic Council,
an Admissions Board, and other bodies and officials
mentioned in these Statutes.
3.3 The Chancellor is the legal
representative of the Institute to the local Church
and, through the Master of the Order of Preachers,
to the universal Church.
3.4 He fosters communion of the
lecturers and students of the Institute with the
local and universal Church by promoting the Catholic
tradition of faith seeking understanding, so that
through their fidelity to the Church's doctrine,
Dominican tradition, and the imperatives of scientific
activity, the goals of the Institute will be achieved.
3.5 The Chancellor has ultimate
responsibility for ensuring the academic and financial
well-being of the Institute.
4. OTHER
OFFICIALS
4.1 The day to day running of
the affairs of the Institute is the function of
the following officials: the President, the Dean
of Studies, the Registrar, the Head of Department
of Philosophy, the Head of Department of Theology,
the Bursar, and the Librarian.
5.1 The Board of Governors consists
of the following members: the Chancellor as Chairman,
the President of the Institute as Vice Chairman,
the Provincial Regent of Studies, the Dean of Studies
of the Institute, the Registrar of the Institute
who will serve as Secretary, the Bursar of the Institute,
and three other non-Dominican members belonging
to academia and the business world appointed by
the Provincial and his Council after consulting
the Intellectual Life Commission of the Province.
5.2 The non-Dominican members
serve for a renewable term of four years.
5.3 The Board of Governors meets
at least once a year, usually during the last month
of every academic year.
5.4 The Board of Governors promotes
the long term development of the Institute.
5.5 It is the fimction of the
Board of Governors to propose three candidates for
the office of President of the Institute to the
Provincial Council after receiving the names proposed
by the Recruitment Board.
5.6 The Board helps to raise funds
for the Institute in liaison with the President
and the Economic Council of the Institute.
6. THE ACADEMIC
COUNCIL
6.1 The Academic Council of the
Institute consists of the officials listed in #4.1
with the President of the Institute serving as Chairman,
all the full-time lecturers of the Institute, the
directors of intellectual formation in the religious
communities whose members study at the Institute,
and a representative of the students of the Institute.
6.2 The Academic Council meets
twice during an academic year, that is, on the first
and last weeks of every academic year, and at other
times as the President of the Institute deems fit.
6.3 The Academic Council oversees
the implementation of the Academic policies of the
Institute.
6.4 The Academic Council confmns
the appointment of the Registrar and the Heads of
Department, upon their nomination by the Recruitment
Board.
6.5 The Academic Council has the
power of making by-laws for particular policies
of the Institute.
7. THE RECRUITMENT
BOARD
7.1 The Recruitment Board consists
of the Dean of Studies as Chair, the Heads of Department,
the Regent of Studies of the Province of St. Joseph
the Worker, and one other representative of the
Provincial Intellectual Life Commission.
7.2 The Recruitinent Board, in
consultation with the full-time lecturers, is responsible
for proposing to the Board of Governors three names
for the office of President.
7.3 The Recruitment Board is responsible
for proposing the appointment and dismissal of full
time lecturers, which shall be done by the President,
subject to confirmation by the Chancellor.
7.4 The Board sees to it that
lecturers who are recruited possess not only appropriate
degrees, but also the academic and pedagogical competence
to teach in the Institute.
8. THE ECONOMIC
COUNCIL OF THE INSTITUTE
8.1 members of the Economic Council
are the Bursar who serves as Chairman, the members
of the Recruitment Board and the President or his
representative.
8.2 The Economic Council determines
the amount the President and the Bursar can spend
at their discretion; any other expenditure must
have the approval of the Economic Council.
8.3 The Economic Council. determines
fees in general, as well as salary/stipend to each
lecturer.
8.4 The Economic Council of the
Institute shall submit its budget and financial
report to the Provincial Economic Council for the
approval of the Provincial Council.
8.5 The Institute runs its own
bank account with the following signatories: the
Chancellor, the President of the Institute, the
Dean of Studies, the Bursar, and the Economic Administrator
of the Province of St. Joseph the Worker.
9. THE ADMISSIONS
BOARD
9.1 Members of the Admissions
Board are the Dean of Studies who serves as Chair,
the Registrar, and the Heads of Department.
9.2 The Admissions Board determines
who can be admitted to study at the Institute.
9.3 In determining who can be
admitted into the Institute, the Board shall adhere
to the admissions policy of the department to which
the student applies.
9.4 The Admissions Board shall,
through the Dean of Studies, inform the President
of its decisions.
10. ADMISSIONS
POLICY
10.1 Admission into the Institute
is open to persons preparing for Holy Orders, men
and women religious, priests and other interested
applicants who meet the admission requirements of
the Institute.
10.2 To be admitted into the B.A.
Philosophy programme, the applicant must have at
least five ordinary level credits obtained in not
more than two sittings. Applicants to the Theology
programme must have a first degree in Philosophy;
in the event that the applicant possesses a first
degree in a discipline other than Philosophy, the
applicant will be required to take courses in the
Philosophy Department to meet the equivalent of
two years of Philosophy courses.
10.3 An applicant who is a diocesan
seminarian or priest will be required to present
a letter of recommendation from his local ordinary.
10.4 An applicant who is a member
of a religious community will be required to present
a letter of recommendation from his/her major superior.
10.5 An applicant who is a layman
or a laywoman should present a letter of recommendation
from his/her parish priest or any other priest or
religious, and a member of the academic community.
10.6 An applicant who is non-Catholic
should present a letter of recommendation from a
member of the academic community.
11. ACADEMIC
BOARDS
11.1 Each department has an Academic
Board.
11.2 An Academic Board comprises
the Dean of Studies who serves as chair, the respective
Head of Department, and one other member of the
department appointed by the President of the Institute.
11.3 An Academic Board approves
and or modifies dissertation topics, proposals,
supervisors and readers.
11.4 Where a comprehensive examination
is required for the award of a degree, the Academic
Board ensures that the requirements laid down by
each department are met before the student can sit
for the examination.
12. THE
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
12.1 The Dean of Studies chairs
the Disciplinary Committee which consists of the
Dean of Studies and the Heads of Department.
12.2 In handling disciplinary
cases, the Disciplinary Committee follows the by-laws
made by the Academic Council (cf. #6.5).
12.3 The Dean of Studies shall
report cases of indiscipline of students as well
as punitive measures recommended by the Disciplinary
Committee to the President, who will notify the
Academic Council of his decision.
13. THE
PRESIDENT
13.1 The President is appointed
by the Chancellor from among the three candidates
proposed by the Recruitment Board (cf #7.2) and
the Board of Governors (cf. 45.5). This appointment
is subject to ratification by the Grand Chancellor.
13.2 To qualify to be President,
one must possess an academic doctorate.
13.3 The President serves for
a term of four years, renewable once.
13.4 The President shall make
an annual comprehensive report to the Provincial
Council and the Board of Governors on the state
of the Institute.
13.5 In the event that the President
is incapacitated, absent, or dismissed from office,
or in the event of the office being vacant for any
other reason, the Dean of Studies shall be Acting
President pending the appointment of a new President
according to the procedure specified in 13. 1.
13.6 The President is the chief
executive officer of the Institute having administrative
authority over the teachers, students, and non-academic
staff.
13.7 The President represents
the Institute for routine contacts with the local
ordinary and other officials of the Church and of
other academic institutions.
13.8 The President assisted by
the Bursar and the Economic Administrator of the
Province, undertakes public relations and fund raising
functions of the Institute.
13.9 The President appoints acting
officials for the Institute in the event of a sudden
vacancy, pending replacement through normal procedure.
This interim appointment shall not exceed a period
of three months. In the event that no replacement
is found within three months, the President shall
ask the Academic Council for an extension.
13.10 The President, subject to
approval by the Recruitment Board and confirmation
by the Chancellor, shall appoint or dismiss full-time
lecturers.
13.11 The President shall appoint
part-time and visiting lecturers after consultation
with the Dean of Studies and the respective Heads
of Department.
14. THE
DEAN OF STUDIES
14.1 The Dean of Studies is appointed
by the Chancellor from three candidates proposed
by the Recruitment Board in consultation with the
President and full-time lecturers.
14.2 To qualify to be Dean of
Studies, one must possess an academic doctorate.
14.3 The Dean of Studies serves
for a term of three years, renewable once.
14.4 The Dean of Studies assists
the President and respective Heads of Department
in the recruitment of part-time lecturers of the
Institute mindful of #7.3.
14.5 The Dean of Studies serves
as custodian of the academic integrity of the Institute
in collaboration with the Heads of Department.
15. THE
REGISTRAR
15.1 The Registrar is appointed
by the President after being proposed by the Recruitment
Board and approved by the Academic Council.
15.2 To be appointed Registrar,
one must possess a first degree and/or a relevant
professional qualification.
15.3 The Registrar assists the
President in the administration of the Institute
by overseeing the process of admission of students
into the Institute, the accurate keeping of the-
academic records of students, handling all administrative
dealings with affiliating institutions, and other
assignments determined by the President.
15.4 The tenure of the Registrar
is normally three years.
16. THE
HEADS OF DEPARTMENT
16.1 Heads of Department are appointed
by the President after being proposed by the Recruitment
Board and approved by the Academic Council.
16.2 To qualify to be Head of
Department, one must normally possess an academic
doctorate in the discipline that concerns the department.
16.3 A Head of Department serves
for a term of three years, renewable once.
16.4 A Head of Department serves
as custodian of the academic integrity of the department.
16.5 Heads of Department sit on
the Disciplinary Committee with the Dean of Studies.
17. THE
BURSAR
17.1 The Bursar is appointed by
the Chancellor after being proposed by the Recruitment
Board and approved by the Board of Governors or
its chair.
17.2 The Bursar must possess a
first degree and/or a relevant professional qualification.
17.3 The tenure of the Bursar
is normally three years.
17.4 The Bursar is the custodian
of financial records, sees to the payment of salaries,
the provision and maintenance of the infrastructure
for the Institute, and assists the President in
raising funds for the Institute.
17.5 The Bursar carries out other
assignments pertaining to the financial administration
of the Institute as determined by the President.
18. THE
LIBRARIAN
18.1 The Librarian is appointed
by the President after being proposed by the Recruitment
Board and approved by the Academic Council.
18.2 The Librarian must possess
a first degree and/or a relevant professional qualification.
18.3 The term of office of the
Librarian is according to the terms of employment.
18.4 The Librarian is responsible
for the general administration of the library, the
security, acquisition, and circulation of books.
18.5 The Librarian is responsible
to the President or his delegate.
19. RESIGNATION
AND DISMISSAL
19.1 Non-Dominican members of
the Board of Governors may resign at any time without
prior notification.
19.2 The President may not resign
without notifying the Board of Governors six months
before his resignation.
19.3 Other officials of the Institute
may not resign without a three month notification.
19.4 Full time lecturers may not
resign without notifying the President six months
before they resign.
19.5 Full time lecturers may not
resign in the course of a semester.
19.6 The President, for just reasons,
can be removed from office by the Provincial and
his Council after consultation with the Board of
Governors and the Academic Council. The decision
requires ratification by the Grand Chancellor.
19.7 The bodies chaired by the
President are convoked by the Dean of Studies once
the Recruitment Board has voted for his removal.
19.8 The Registrar cannot be removed
from office without a simple majority vote of the
Recruitment Board, and of the Academic Council.
19.9 The Dean of Studies cannot
be removed from office without a simple majority
vote of the Recruitment Board, and the Academic
Council.
19.10 A Head of Department cannot
be removed from office without a simple majority
vote of the Recruitment Board, and of the Academic
Council, confirmed by the President.
19.11 The Bursar cannot be removed
from office without a simple majority vote of the
recruitment Board, confirmed by the Chancellor.
19.12 The Librarian cannot be
removed from office without a simple majority vote
of the Recruitment Board, confirmed by the President.
19.13 In cases of obstinate deviation
from the Church's teachings in matters of faith
and morals, after having submitted the case for
the consideration of the Intellectual Life Commission
of the Province of St. Joseph the Worker, and having
heard from the same Commission that the accusations
of deviation are valid, the Chancellor, acting with
the Provincial Council, has the authority to remove
from office the President, Dean of Studies, or any
member of the academic staff. In such cases the
approval of the Recruitment Board is not required.
19.14 In cases of public scandal,
the Chancellor, acting with the Provincial Council,
has authority to remove the President, Dean of Studies,
any member of the academic staff and any employee.
20. MODIFICATION
20.1 Any modification of these
Statutes is subject to a two-thirds majority vote
of the Provincial Council, after consulting the
Recruitment Board. This modification is subject
to ratification by the Grand Chancellor.
