Charter of Huazhong Agricultural University

Preface

Chapter I General Principles

• Article 1 This charter is formulated on the basis of related laws and regulations stipulated in the Education Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Higher Education Law of the People’s Republic of China, and the Teachers’ Law of the People’s Republic of China, with the University conditions combined, in order to guarantee university’s autonomy in operation in accordance with the laws and to establish and improve a modern university system.
• Article 2 The Chinese name of the University is “环球体育平台·(中国)官方网站”，which is “Huazhong Agricultural University” in English. It is abbreviated as “华中农大”, or “华农”, in Chinese, and “HZAU” in English.

  The legally registered address of the University is No.1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province.

  The website of the University is http://www.trinitymethodisthull.com.

• Article 3 The University is a full-time, non-profit, state-run, general higher education institution and a legal entity. It is designated by the State Council to cultivate talents for the entire country, managed by the Ministry of Education, and is co-developed by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture of the State Council.
• Article 4 The state-sponsor and the competent departments carry out macro-guidance and supervision of the University in accordance with the laws and based on the principles of separating government from university and governance from operation. They shall appoint and dismiss university leaders according to the regulations of the country and provides stable funds and fundamental assurance for the university operation while safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests and supporting its autonomy in operation according to national laws and regulations as well as this charter.

  The University shall report to the Ministry of Education of the State Council for approval on major issues such as division, merging, termination or alteration of the University’s name.

• Article 5 Adhering to a socialist principle for its operation and implementing the educational policies of the Communist Party of China and the country, the University fulfills its fundamental role of cultivating talent, focusing on teaching, academic research, and social services as well as encouraging innovation in cultural inheritance.
• Article 6 The University takes agricultural science as its advantageous discipline and life science as its feature, while achieving a coordinated development of multiple disciplines by integrating other categories of disciplines including natural sciences, engineering and technology, social sciences, and arts and humanities.
• Article 7 The University implements full-time degree-oriented education prioritizing graduate and postgraduate education. The University also offers part-time degree-oriented education as well as some non-degree programmes. It provides education for international students and has various joint Sino-foreign programmes.

  The University highly values morality and talent cultivation, committed to producing high-quality and society-leading students with a solid academic foundation, great capacity in practice and innovation, sound sense of responsibility, and a global vision as well as with well-developed morals, intelligence, physique, and aesthetics. Graduate education adheres to the combination of general education and specialty education, whereas postgraduate education focuses on high-level specialized education.

• Article 8The University issues educational certificates and diplomas in accordance with the laws. It awards bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees and certificates. The University, after approval, also awards honorary titles to distinguished elites who have made prominent contributions to social development and human civilization and confers honorary doctoral degrees to outstanding scholars or well-known social activists.
• Article 9 The University adheres to the operational policy of “creating distinction in its disciplines and enhancing the University’s overall strengths”, sparing no effort in building the University on its high qualities and unique features, upgrading the University via talent, science and technology, and international exchange and cooperation, as well as striving to establish first-class disciplines, field-leading faculty, world-class talent cultivation, high innovative capacity, and a beautiful campus.
• Article 10 The University establishes a modern system of legal operation, autonomous management, democratic supervision, and social participation with a view towards forming a free, equal, fair, and legal environment for talent cultivation as well as improving the University governance by integrating Chinese characteristics and HZAU’s unique features into the process of governance modernization.
• Article 11 The University carries out a system of presidential accountability under the leadership of Huazhong Agricultural University Committee of Communist Party of China (hereinafter referred to as the University Party Committee).
• Article 12The University is an independent legal entity. It shall enjoy civil rights and undertake civil responsibilities according to the laws. The President of the University is its legal representative.

  In accordance with social development, operational conditions, the state-approved operation scale and related policies, the University is legally entitled to the following autonomy in operation:

  • (1) Compiling and implementing plans and safeguarding their authority and integrity;
  • (2) Setting and adjusting disciplines and specialties, stipulating student recruitment plans and degree-conferring measures, determining and regulating operational levels, structures and study terms;
  • (3) Formulating and carrying out talent-cultivation plans and procedures, conducting educational and teaching reforms, improving educational and teaching conditions, and establishing and perfecting the quality assurance system for learning and teaching;
  • (4) Conducting scientific research, sticking to co-emphasis on basic and applied research, encouraging knowledge updating, technological innovation, transformative achievement, and advancing industry-university-research cooperation and innovation;
  • (5) Carrying out technological development, social service, and innovative activities of cultural inheritance, providing intellectual, technological, and academic support for social development, and exercising its role in cultural education;
  • (6) Carrying out international exchange and cooperation as well as enhancing the university’s reputation worldwide;
  • (7) Determining the institutional framework as well as staffing of the University, recruiting and managing staff, evaluating posts and titles and employing staff accordingly, formulating remuneration and allowance plans;
  • (8) Managing and utilizing assets offered by the state, national fiscal funds, donated assets, and other assets legally owned by the University;
  • (9) Other legally obtained rights in operation autonomy.

Chapter II Students

• Article 13“Students”, refers to those who have been admitted, have attained enrollment qualifications, and have maintained enrollment by the University in accordance with the laws. Students are the main body in educational and teaching activities of the University.
• Article 14 Students shall enjoy the following rights:
  • (1) Participating in educational and teaching activities, using educational and teaching resources, obtaining chances of re-selecting specialty and conducting exchanges home and abroad according to regulations on a fair basis;
  • (2) Receiving fair evaluation in terms of ethics, academic performance, and comprehensive quality as well as being awarded the corresponding academic certificates and degree certificates after fulfilling the academic requirements;
  • (3) Applying for scholarships, grants and student loans, and obtaining various types of honorary titles and prizes at all levels on a fair basis;
  • (4) Participating in social services and part-time jobs, engaging in original, innovative, and entrepreneurial activities, organizing or joining in student groups along with participating in technological, cultural, art and sports activities on campus, and obtaining guidance and assistance in regards to job hunting or business start-up offered by the University;
  • (5) Enjoying the rights to be informed of, to participate in, to present opinions and suggestions on, and to supervise over the university’s affairs;
  • (6) Expressing objections and lodging appeals on decisions of disciplinary actions and those related to student interests, lodging appeals or filing lawsuits in accordance with the laws against university or teachers’ infringement of students’ legal rights and interests such as human rights and property rights;
  • (7) Other rights stipulated in the laws, regulations, and rules.
• Article 15 Students shall fulfill the following obligations：
  • (1) Abiding by the Constitution, laws, and regulations;
  • (2) Complying with the University rules and regulations;
  • (3) Complying with the student codes of conduct, respecting teachers, keeping harmony with schoolmates, and defending the University’s reputation;
  • (4) Studying diligently, thinking reasonably, practising vigorously, and striving to complete all school work;
  • (5) Paying tuition and related expenses in accordance with regulations and fulfilling the corresponding obligations to obtain loans and grants;
  • (6) Protecting and using appropriately the educational and teaching equipment and living facilities of the University;
  • (7) Other obligations stipulated in the laws, rules, and university regulations.
• Article 16 The University establishes a service and support mechanism for student development. It keeps cultivating talents via the efforts of all its members, shows overall care and respect for students, fully guarantees students’ exercise of legitimate rights, encourages students to fulfill their obligations, and develops students’ qualities of patriotism, professionalism, honesty, and kindness.
• Article 17 The University establishes a system of student rewards and punishments. It encourages the combination of comprehensive development and individual growth, sets up scholarships to reward excellent students, and grants commendations and awards to student groups or individuals who have achieved outstanding results and won honors for the country and the University. It also gives the corresponding treatment or punishment to discipline-violating students.
• Article 18 The University sets up a financial supporting system for students, helping those with financial problems and guaranteeing that students will not drop out due to financial difficulties.
• Article 19 The University establishes a security mechanism for students’ rights and interests. The University sets up a student complaint committee and a legal aid institution, protecting students’ right of justified defenses and complaints in accordance with the laws and safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests.
• Article 20 The University advocates and supports students to form student groups based on common interests and needs for growth and development. Student groups shall carry out activities in accordance with the relevant regulations.
• Article 21 Other students who are not enrolled at the University, including trainees and part-time students, shall also enjoy the corresponding rights and fulfill the corresponding obligations according to the laws, regulations, and contracts during their stay at the University.

Chapter III Faculty and Staff

• Article 22 Faculty and staff of the University consist of teachers, other professional and technical personnel, management staff, and workers and logistics staff. Teachers are the main body in university operation.
• Article 23 Faculty and staff shall enjoy the following rights:
  • (1) Employing public resources of the University in accordance with the laws and regulations;
  • (2) Getting necessary access to job opportunities and conditions for self-improvement on a fair basis;
  • (3) Receiving fair evaluation on ethics, competence and achievement, and obtaining various types of awards and honorary titles on a fair basis;
  • (4) Obtaining wages, remuneration and other welfare benefits on a fair basis in accordance with the laws, regulations, rules, and university regulations and contracts;
  • (5) Enjoying the rights to be informed of, participate in, present opinions and suggestions on, and supervise over the University affairs;
  • (6) Expressing objections and lodging appeals on matters of promotion, post, welfare benefits, performance evaluation and disciplinary actions; lodging appeals or filing lawsuits in accordance with the laws against infringement of their legal rights and interests;
  • (7) Other rights stipulated in the laws, regulations, rules, and contracts.
• Article 24 Faculty and staff shall fulfill the following obligations:
  • (1) Observing the Constitution, laws and regulations, and being a model of virtue for others;
  • (2) Implementing the state’s educational policies, devoting themselves to educational causes, abiding by rules and regulations of the University, and working with diligence;
  • (3) Respecting academic freedom and complying with professional ethics and academic norms;
  • (4) Respecting and caring for students;
  • (5) Stopping behaviors that do harm to students or other behaviors that infringe students’ legitimate rights and interests, and criticizing and resisting activities that may hinder students from having a healthy and sound development;
  • (6) Consciously defending the reputation, rights, and interests of the University as well as protecting its resources according to the laws;
  • (7) Other obligations stipulated in the laws, rules, regulations, and contracts.
• Article 25 Teachers carry out teaching activities and research and enjoy academic freedom according to the laws and regulations. Teachers shall teach and educate, guide students to develop in an all-around way, stick to truths, adhere to academic honesty, and lead students to form scientific, conscientious, honest, and self-disciplined study attitudes and academic qualities.
• Article 26 The University implements systems of open recruitment for faculty and staff, job engagement through competition, contract engagement, and post management. The University assesses faculty and staff according to contracts and uses assessment results as the basis for adjusting posts and salaries and renewing contracts. The University establishes a system for normal raise and promotion and guarantees the welfare of faculty and staff in accordance with the laws and regulations.
• Article 27 The University establishes a system of faculty and staff rewards and punishments. It grants commendation and awards to faculty and staff who have made outstanding contributions and gives corresponding treatment or punishment to discipline-violating faculty and staff.
• Article 28 The University establishes a career development system for faculty and staff as well as a sabbatical leave system for teachers, encouraging and supporting faculty and staff to enhance their working capacity. It respects and cherishes talent, cares about the physical and mental health of faculty and staff, and provides necessary conditions and guarantees for them to carry out their work.
• Article 29 The University establishes a mechanism ensuring faculty and staff’s rights and interests. The University sets up a faculty and staff complaint committee and a legal aid institution to protect faculty and staff’s right to justified defenses and complaints in accordance with the laws to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.
• Article 30 The University guarantees the welfare of the emeritus and retired in accordance with the laws and also provides the necessary conditions for them to care and support the development of the University.
• Article 31 Postdoctoral researchers, visiting scholars, in-training teachers and other educational, research, management and service staff shall enjoy the corresponding rights and fulfill corresponding obligations according to the laws, regulations, and contracts during their work at the University.

Chapter IV Governance Structure

Section I Party and Administration Management System

• Article 32 The University Party Committee of the Communist Party of China is the leading group of the University. It practices collective leadership over the University’s affairs and supports the independent exercise of the President’s responsibilities according to the laws.
  • The University Party Committee is elected by Huazhong Agricultural University’s Party Congress in accordance with the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and other relevant regulations. It is responsible for and reports its work to the University Party Congress and serves a term of five years. The Standing Committee of the University Party Committee, which is elected by the University Party Committee plenary meeting and whose leadership is composed of one secretary and several deputy secretaries, is responsible for and reports its work to the University Party Committee. The main responsibilities of the University Party Committee are:
  • (1) Implementing the party’s guidelines, principles and policies, adhering to the socialist philosophy, managing the University according to the laws, and promoting the scientific development of the University by relying on faculty, staff, and students;
  • (2) Discussing major issues and basic management systems concerning university reform, development, and stability as well as teaching, research and administrative management, and making decisions thereof;
  • (3) Taking charge of the selection, education, training, assessment, and supervision of cadres, discussing and deciding the institutional framework of the University and candidates for leadership, recommending candidates for university-level leadership and reserve cadres according to related procedures and taking care of the work related to senior cadres;
  • (4) Discussing and deciding on plans and policies concerning personnel issues and arranging and advancing the development of various qualified personnel;
  • (5) Leading the University’s ideological, political, and moral education, firmly holding the leadership, management, and discourse power over the ideological work of the University, and safeguarding the security and stability of the University;
  • (6) Leading the University’s cultural construction, and developing a sound university spirit, study atmosphere, and teaching style;
  • (7) Leading grassroots party branches and developing the University Party Committee itself;
  • (8) Leading the discipline inspection of the University Party and fulfilling the leading responsibility of building a clean University Party and an honest administrative body;
  • (9) Leading the University Trade Union, the Communist Youth League Committee, the Students Union, the Postgraduate Union and other mass organisations, and the Faculty Delegate Congress as well as handling the united front work;
  • (10) Discussing and deciding on other major issues related to the faculty, staff, and students’ vital interests.
  • The University Party Committee practices the combined system of both collective leadership and individual responsibility and adheres to democratic centralism. Major issues and critical matters are decided by group discussion of the committee. The members of the university-level leadership should carry out duties in accordance with the division of work. The University Party Committee leads the University’s work when the Party Congress Meeting is not in session. The Standing Committee presides over the regular duties of the Party Committee. The secretary of the Party Committee presides over the comprehensive work of the Party Committee.
  • The University Party Committee plenary meeting is held by the Standing Committee who decides the agendas. The Standing Committee meeting is held and presided over by the secretary of the Party Committee, and the meeting theme is proposed by the university-level leadership of the University and determined by the secretary of the Party Committee. Meeting agendas and discussion rules are otherwise stipulated.
• Article 33 The President, responsible for university administration, takes charge of the University’s overall teaching, research, and administrative management under the leadership of the University Party Committee.
  • The University has one president, several vice presidents and several president assistants, each serving a term of five years. The President and vice presidents are appointed and dismissed by the Ministry of Education in accordance with relevant regulations of the country, and president assistants are employed and dismissed by the University. Vice presidents and president assistants facilitate the exercise of functions and powers of the President. The President’s main responsibilities are as follows:
  • (1) Formulating and implementing development plans, rules and regulations, major reform measures, plans of allocating important resources, and the annual work plan;
  • (2) Formulating and implementing university projects for the establishment of internal institutions, recommending candidates for vice presidency according to the laws and regulations, and appointing and dismissing leading officials of internal administrative departments of the University;
  • (3) Formulating and implementing university  human resources development plans, taking charge of the faculty and staff development, and employing and dismissing faculty and staff according to the laws and regulations;
  • (4) Formulating and implementing the major capital construction plans of the University and the annual appropriation budget, carrying out financial management and auditing supervision, and managing and protecting university assets;
  • (5) Organizing and implementing teaching activities and research and striving to make the University first-class with distinctive characteristics;
  • (6) Organizing and carrying out ideological and moral education, managing student registration, implementing student rewards or penalties, and managing student recruitment and employment;
  • (7) Dealing well with the issues concerning university security, stability, and logistical support;
  • (8) Organizing and conducting international exchange and cooperation, signing cooperation agreements on behalf of the University in accordance with the laws, and accepting social donations;
  • (9) Reporting to the University Party Committee on the implementation of major resolutions, reporting to the Faculty Delegate Congress, organizing and dealing with proposals related to administrative affairs, and supporting party organisations at all levels to carry out their work, as well as grassroots democratic parties, mass organisations, and academic groups;
  • (10) Fulfilling other responsibilities stipulated in the laws, regulations, and this charter.
  • The President’s Administrative Meeting is the decision-making body for administrative affairs of the University. It proposes plans on important matters to be discussed and decided by the University Party Committee, deploys and implements related measures of the University Party Committee resolutions, and handles teaching, research, and administrative management affairs.
  • The President’s Administrative Meeting is held and presided over by the President. Vice presidents and president assistants participate in the meeting. The head of the University Party Committee participates the meeting depending on its agendas. Personnel related to the meeting contents can attend the meeting. The meeting theme is proposed by the university-level leadership of the University and determined by the President who shall make decisions on discussed matters based on the wide-ranging opinions from the participants. Meeting systems and discussion rules are otherwise stipulated.
• Article 34 The Discipline Inspection Commission of the University Party Committee is an inner-party supervision institution and is elected by the University Party Congress for a term of five years. Under the leadership of the University Party Committee and higher-discipline inspection commission, it assists the University Party Committee in building a clean and honest university and in fighting against corruption in order to safeguard and promote the healthy development of all undertakings of the University in accordance with the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and the laws and regulations.

  The University Inspection Department is the administrative supervision institution exercising its power in accordance with the laws, regulations, and this charter.

• Article 35 The University shall establish, adjust, and streamline its party and administrative departments under the guideline of efficiency. The party and administrative departments shall follow the department chief executive responsibility system and perform their functions in management and service as authorized by the University.

  The University shall establish leading groups and specialized committees to coordinate relevant matters.

Section 2 Academic Management Systems

• Article 36 The University adheres to professors’ academic management, respects academic freedom and guarantees academic independence. It endeavors to improve the mechanism of academic management and create a democratic, equal, open, and inclusive academic atmosphere.
• Article 37 The University establishes the Academic Commission as the highest academic institution in charge of decision-making, reviewing, examining, and consulting in academic activities in accordance with the laws. The University shall respect and guarantee the independent administration of the Academic Commission.
  • The University Academic Commission implements its work with its own charter and its annual report shall be reviewed by the Faculty Delegate Congress. The main functions are as follows:
  • (1) Examining the University’s plans on disciplines, specialties, faculty introduction and development, and major academic plans on research and academic exchange and cooperation;
  • (2) Examining the establishment and adjustment of disciplines and specialties and the setup of academic institutions;
  • (3) Examining and approving the evaluation criteria and assessment measures for faculty employment, teaching and research achievements, talent cultivation, and other academic criteria.
  • (4) Formulating academic norms, investigating and adjudicating disputes, and offering penalty suggestions for academic misconduct;
  • (5) Examining the nominees and working rules for the University’s specialized and grassroots committees, guiding the committees in their work, and offering decision-making consultation and suggestions for important matters proposed by the committees;
  • (6) Examining and approving the awards of teaching and research achievements, the nomination of high-level personnel, important academic institutions as well as the academic importance of funded projects of all levels;
  • (7) Offering consultations and suggestions on overall academic development, major plans, and development strategies;
  • (8) Reviewing, assessing and offering suggestions for other relevant issues.
• Article 38 The Academic Commission is composed of professors and other senior-professionals from different disciplines and specialties in the University who serve a term of four years. The number of full-time teachers who take no management responsibilities in administrative departments and the Party organisations as well as young and middle-aged teachers shall be proportionate.

  The Academic Commission sets up one chairman and several vice chairmen, who shall be nominated by the President, elected and approved in the plenary session, and the chairman of the Academic Commission shall be neither the leaders of the University Party Committee nor the leading administrators of the University.

• Article 39 The Academic Commission shall establish several specialized committees concerning the development of academic disciplines, faculty employment, teaching guidance, research, academic ethics as well as other matters.
  The Academic Commission shall establish grassroots academic commissions in colleges, key laboratories, research centres, and other research institutions.
• Article 40 The University establishes an academic degree committee. The committee shall review, approve, or cancel a degree, approve the candidate of an honorary doctorate, and examine relevant issues concerning degree awarding in accordance with laws, regulations and its own charter.

  The Academic Degree Committee is headed by the President and several deputy directors. The committee members are elected from postgraduate supervisors based on the set-up of disciplines.

  The University Academic Degree Committee shall establish a branch committee in terms of discipline and observe the rules of majority voting and secret ballots in making decisions.

• Article 41 The University establishes divisions based on disciplines as required by development, following the rule of classified management and professors’ academic management. Under the guidance of the Academic Commission, a division shall be an academic institution responsible for reviewing discipline plans and capital resource allocation, as well as recommending candidates for professional and technical positions. It shall play evaluative, advisory, and coordinating roles in order to optimize interdisciplinary development. The chairman of a division is on balance selected from well-known professors with no administrative posts.

Section 3 Democratic Management and Supervision

• Article 42 The University establishes a faculty and staff congress that ensures faculty and staff’s participation in democratic management and protects their own legal rights. The trade union is the working organisation of the Faculty Delegate Congress responsible for its routine work. The University also establishes branch faculty and staff congresses.
  • The Faculty Delegate Congress performs its functions in accordance with implementation measures stipulated by the University. Its major functions are as follows:
  • (1) Hearing reports on the formulation and amendment of the university charter and offering advice and suggestions;
  • (2) Hearing reports on the University’s development plan, faculty and staff introduction and development, education and teaching reform, research, campus construction reform, as well as offering advice and suggestions;
  • (3) Hearing reports on the University’s annual work, financial work, trade union’s work, and other specific work reports as well as offering advice and suggestions;
  • (4) Discussing implementation plans for welfare, remuneration and allowance distribution as well as corresponding measures on employment, assessment, reward, and punishment suggested by the University that are directly concerned with the interests of faculty and staff;
  • (5) Examining reports on the implementation of proposals in the previous session of faculty and staff congress;
  • (6) Appraising the University’s leading officials in accordance with the relevant regulations and arrangements;
  • (7) Offering advice and suggestions on the work of the University through multiple means, supervising the implementation of this charter, regulations, and policies;
  • (8) Discussing other issues stipulated in the laws, regulations, and rules as well as those determined by the University and trade union.
•  Article 43 The University establishes a student congress, which is an important organisation for students to participate in self-management and self-service as well as the democratic management and supervision of the University in regards to education. The University allows for and supports the activities organised by the students’ union elected by the student congress in accordance with the laws and this charter.
• Article 44 The University establishes a university council, which is the organisation for democratic consultation on the University’s work. The University Council performs its functions in accordance with this charter and offers advice on critical issues and decisions.

  The University Council shall consist of a chairman, vice-chairmen, and well-known experts and representatives who serve a term of four years. The secretary of the University Party Committee shall work as the chairman.

• Article 45 The University’s democratic parties and social groups shall carry out activities in accordance with the laws and this charter. Their members and independents shall participate in the democratic management and supervision of the construction and development of the University in line with the policy of united front and multi-party cooperation.
• Article 46 The University establishes its Trade Union Committee, Communist Youth League Committee, Women’s Committee, and Youth League. These organisations shall carry out activities in accordance with the laws and regulations.
• Article 47 The University adheres to transparency in party affairs, management of university affairs as well as openness to supervision from students, faculty and staff, educational authorities, and the society.

Section 4 Teaching, Research, and Public Service Institutions

• Article 48 With talent cultivation as its core task, the University establishes colleges, independent key laboratories, and research institutions, as required by research and discipline development. The University establishes public service institutions including units under its direct supervision to guarantee all the teaching and living activities.
• Article 49 The University establishes a dual-level administration system between university and colleges. The colleges independently exercise administration, teaching, research, and social service within the stipulated range by the University. Their main functions are：
  • (1) Drawing up a five-year development plan and development plans on academic disciplines and faculty training as well as implementing them after rectification by the University;
  • (2) Carrying out teaching, research, social service, exchange and cooperation home and abroad and other academic activities;
  • (3) Developing disciplines and specialties and managing the basic teaching and research organisations of the departments and research institutions;
  • (4) Improving faculty development, organising faculty training and recruitment, as well as implementing faculty evaluation and employment;
  • (5) Managing student cultivation and education, classroom teaching and practice and promoting teaching reform;
  • (6) Establishing the colleges’ inner setup and formulating internal working rules and methods according to the rules and regulations stipulated by the University and implementing staff employment and management accordingly;
  • (7) Managing the expenditure of colleges’ funds, equipment, and other assets;
  • (8) Fulfilling other responsibilities empowered by the University.
• Article 50 The University establishes and adjusts disciplines and departments as required by discipline development and talent cultivation. The establishment, alteration, or discontinuation of disciplines and specialties shall be justified, first proposed during the President’s administrative meeting, then examined by the Academic Commission, and finally approved by the Standing Committee of the University Party Committee.
• Article 51 The College Party Committees（the College Party Branches）are the political nuclei with supervisory and guaranteeing functions in their respective colleges under the leadership of the University Party Committee, and support the deans and the college leadership in fulfilling their duties independently and conscientiously.
• Article 52 The dean of the college shall be responsible for the development of academic disciplines, teaching, research, and administrative management. In his/her tenure, the dean shall report to faculty, staff, students, and the Faculty Delegate Congress.
• Article 53 A joint meeting system of deans and College Party Committee members is implemented by colleges to discuss and decide on major issues.
• Article 54 Key laboratories, research centres, and research institutes in the University undertake the tasks of talent cultivation, research, and social services. The University exercises classified management, evaluation, and assessment accordingly.
• Article 55 The institutions directly under the University shall follow the chief executive responsibility system. The Party Committee branches play the role of political nucleus and the secretary of the Party Committee branch is responsible for party affairs and participates in the decision-making on major issues and important matters.

  The independent legal entities affiliated with the University shall run and manage in accordance with laws, regulations and their respective charters. The University shall fulfill the duties of supervision and administration on the invested companies to guarantee the lawful rights of the personnel who have made the scientific achievements and of the University.

Chapter V University and Society

• Article 56 The University shall promote effective cooperation with governments, research institutes, public enterprises and institutions, and social groups. It shall serve the society and related industries while meeting the social needs and making good use of the university resources to win the support of society and industries by means of joint talent cultivation, joint research, and transformation of scientific achievements.
• Article 57 The University shall adhere to the principle of independence, mutual benefits and respect, and have multichannel exchange and cooperation through Sino-foreign cooperative education and scientific and technical exchanges.
•  Article 58 The University sets up an advisory, reviewing, consultative, and supervisory board for broader social support and better social participation. The University Board, as an important institution, aims at enhancing cooperation and democratic decision-making, winning social support and receiving social supervision.

  The University Board is composed of delegates from the competent departments, co-developers, trades associations, local governments, institutions and enterprises, alumni, elites of the society, as well as the leaders of the University and academic institutions, and representatives of faculty, staff and students. It is headed by the director of the board and several deputy directors who shall be nominated by the University and elected in the Board’s plenary meeting. The University Board shall perform its functions in accordance with its own charter.

•  Article 59 The alumni include former students, faculty and staff, honorary doctorate degree or honorary title holders. They are the embodiment of the fame of HZAU and valuable resources.

  The HZAU Alumni Association, initiated by alumni, is a lawfully established social organisation with the status of a legal person. It carries out activities in accordance with relevant regulations and its own charter and supports the setup of different alumni organisations in terms of region, trade, interest, etc.

  The alumni association shall support the alumni’s personal development and social service and encourage their participation in the construction and development of the University. The University shall give credit to those who have made great contributions or accomplishments.

•  Article 60 The HZAU Education Development Foundation, initiated by the University, is a lawfully established social organisation with the status of a legal person. It is responsible for raising donations, managing donated projects and funds, and carrying out other activities in accordance with relevant regulations and its own charter to further the educational development of the University.

Chapter VI Funds，Properties, and Logistics

• Article 61 The University’s assets are state-owned, including fixed assets, current assets, intangible assets, projects under construction, and outbound investment. The University exercises independent management of possessed assets and legally protects and utilizes the University’s name and identity, intellectual property, and other intangible property in accordance with the laws and regulations.
• Article 62 The University exercises the management system of state-owned assets characterized by “unified leadership and a level-to-level and clear individual responsibility”. The University establishes a sound asset management system to rationalize resource allocation and to improve the efficiency of resource use.
• Article 63 The asset allocation of the University shall adhere to the principle of fiscal balance and sustainable development based on a five-year development plan, specialized plans, and an annual plan formulated by the University.
• Article 64 The University is mainly financed by the Central Government, and partly by donations and other sources. Students pay a reasonable amount of tuition. The University actively raises educational funds through multiple channels, supporting and encouraging its inner organisations and colleges to finance for development.
• Article 65 The University establishes a collective financial management system under unified leadership. It sets up sound systems of financial pre-final accounts, financial responsibility, auditing, and monitoring. It practices economy in school administration and strives for higher capital efficiency and security.
• Article 66 The University establishes public service facilities such as a library, the University’s history gallery, a museum, a gymnasium, a gallery, and a campus network centre, and improves its management and logistics service centre in order to guarantee the study, work, and life of faculty, staff, and students.
• Article 67 The University protects its beautiful campus featuring harmony between man and nature, and endeavors to build a safe, civilized, ecologically-healthy and spiritually-enriching campus with natural views, good facilities, rich academic atmosphere and profound culture.

Chapter VII University Identity

• Article 68 The University motto is, “learn and practice, achieve and help achieve.”
• Article 69 The University logo is a round circle with the image of a chime from the Chu State and a tilling tool in the centre formed from the letters “HZAU” (Huazhong Agricultural University). “1898” in the logo indicates the founding year of the University. On the outer edge are the Chinese and English names of the University. The University badge is a rectangle engraved with the University’s name in Chinese. It is crimson with white characters for faculty and staff, white with scarlet characters for graduates, and orange with white characters for postgraduates.
• Article 70 The University flag is rectangular in shape and standard in colors with the University’s name in both Chinese and English in the centre.
• Article 71 The University song is “Song of Huazhong Agricultural University”. It was composed in 1946 for the University previously known as “Hubei Agricultural College”.
• Article 72 The University Day and Alumni Day is October 2nd.

Chapter VIII Supplementary Articles

• Article 73 The formulation and amendment of this charter is to be submitted to the Faculty Delegate Congress for discussion, to be examined by the President’s administrative meeting, and to be judged by University Party Committee plenary meeting, issued by the President, and ultimately submitted to the educational and administrative departments of the State Council for approval.
• Article 74 This charter offers the basic guidelines for the University’s autonomy in operation, management and fulfillment of public functions. The University shall formulate internal management regulations, run the University, and carry out social cooperation based on this charter.
• Article 75 The Standing Committee of the University Party Committee reserves the right of interpretation for this charter.
• Article 76 This charter shall go into effect as of the date of approval.