Section 20-2003-A - Purposes and General Powers(a) The State System of Higher Education shall be part of the Commonwealth's system of higher education. Its purpose shall be to provide high quality education at the lowest possible cost to students. The primary mission of the system is the provision of instruction for undergraduate and graduate students to and beyond the master's degree in the liberal arts and sciences and in applied fields, including the teaching profession. Graduate instruction at the doctoral level, except for doctoral programs provided for in the act of December 16, 1965 (P.L. 1113, No. 430), known as the "Indiana University of Pennsylvania Act," only may be offered jointly with Indiana University or an institution chartered to offer work at the doctoral level. Programs of research and service may be provided which are approved by the Board of Governors, and which are consistent with the primary mission of the system. Each institution shall provide appropriate educational facilities, student living facilities and such other facilities as deemed necessary by the board.(b) The system is hereby granted and shall have and may exercise all the powers necessary or convenient for the carrying out of the aforesaid purposes, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following rights and powers:(1) To have perpetual existence as a corporation.(2) To adopt, use and alter at will a corporate seal.(3) To acquire, purchase, hold, lease as lessee and use any property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein, lease as lessor any property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, necessary or desirable for carrying out the purposes of the system, and to sell, transfer and dispose of any property acquired by gift, grant, devise or bequest, whether the property is real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein; to take, demand, receive and possess all moneys, real property and goods which shall be appropriated, given or granted to for the use of the system and to apply the same according to the will of the donors; to sell, transfer and dispose of real property acquired by and titled to the system upon approval by the General Assembly as provided in section 2018-A; and by gift, purchase or devise to receive, possess, enjoy and retain forever any and all real and personal estate and funds, of whatsoever kind, nature or quality the same may be, in special trust and confidence that the same, and the profits thereof, shall be applied to and for the use and purpose of endowing the system, and shall have power to receive donations from any source whatever, to be exclusively devoted to the purposes of the system or according to the terms of donation: Provided, however, That the system shall have no power at any time or in any manner, to pledge the credit or taxing power of the Commonwealth, nor shall any of its obligations or debts be deemed to be obligations of the Commonwealth, nor shall the Commonwealth be liable for the payment of principal or interest on such obligations. Nothing herein shall empower the Board of Governors or the chancellor to take or receive any moneys, goods or other property, real or personal, which is given or granted to specific institutions.(c) Collective bargaining agreements in force at the time of enactment of this act shall remain in force for the term of the contract. New collective bargaining agreements with professional employes shall be negotiated on behalf of the system by the chancellor. The board shall make a coalition bargaining arrangement with the Commonwealth for the negotiation of new collective bargaining agreements with noninstructional employes.(d) The system may participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer cooperative use or purchasing agreements. All purchases and agreements made pursuant to this subsection shall be made in accordance with 62 Pa.C.S. § 1902 (relating to cooperative purchasing authorized). Amended by P.L. TBD 2020 No. 50, § 3, eff. 7/1/2020.Amended by P.L. 1108 2012 No. 134, § 1, eff. 9/3/2012.1949, March 10, P.L. 30, art. XX-A, § 2003-A, added 1982, Nov. 12, P.L. 660, No. 188, § 2, effective July 1, 1983. Amended 1990, July 11, P.L. 424, No. 103, § 2, effective in 30 days.