New UA Bylaws 2026: what changes in university governance and who is affected

Key data

The University of Alicante has operated since 2012 with the same bylaws. Fourteen years later, the approval of the Organic Law 2/2023 of the University System (LOSU) has forced a complete renewal of the statutory framework. The Decree 105/2026, of July 3, approved by the Council of the Valencian Regional Government and published on July 24, 2026, responds to that obligation with a text of 204 articles that redefines how the Alicante university community is governed, organized and represented.

This is not a minor adjustment: the new text reorganizes central governance bodies, introduces digital participation tools, elevates to statutory rank figures that until now lacked that formal recognition, and modifies the internal structure of Faculties and Schools.

What does this regulation establish?

Decree 105/2026 introduces structural changes in five main areas. Below is the detail of each block:

The reorganization of the Assembly and the Governing Council is the most significant change in terms of institutional governance. Both bodies have their compositions and competencies redefined to align with LOSU. In parallel, the introduction of generalized electronic voting represents a change in the model of participation of the entire university community in internal electoral processes.

On the organizational level, the regulation expressly regulates campus organization, an operational reality that until now lacked statutory coverage. As for centers, center assemblies disappear and are replaced by councils, simplifying the representation structure at the Faculty and School level.

Finally, equality units, diversity units and the figure of the university ombudsman acquire statutory rank, which grants them a formal and stable position within UA's institutional organization.

Economic and operational impact

The decree expressly establishes that it does not entail additional cost for the Valencian Regional Government. All expenses arising from the implementation of the new bylaws —adaptation of electoral processes to electronic voting, creation or strengthening of equality and diversity units, reorganization of governance bodies— must be assumed with the University of Alicante's own resources.

From an operational perspective, the most relevant changes for daily management are:

• Implementation of electronic voting: requires investment in technological platforms and adaptation of internal electoral processes.
• Conversion of center assemblies into councils: involves review of internal regulations of each Faculty and School.
• Creation or formalization of equality and diversity units: may require allocation of personnel or specific budget within UA's own budget.
• Campus regulation: the new territorial structure may affect the distribution of competencies and resources between campuses.

Who is affected?

• Faculty and Research Staff (PDI): affected by the reorganization of the Assembly, Governing Council and new center councils.
• Administration and Services Staff (PAS): affected by changes in representation bodies and reorganization of institutional units.
• Students: affected by the new electronic voting model and changes in representation bodies at centers and central government.
• Researchers: affected by the new overall organizational structure of UA.
• Management teams of Faculties and Schools: must adapt their internal regulations to the new center council figure, replacing the former center assembly.
• Equality units and university ombudsman: now have recognition and obligations with statutory rank.

Practical example

Imagine the Faculty of Law at UA. Until now, its highest collegiate body of internal representation was the center assembly, with a composition and functions regulated by the previous 2012 regulations. With Decree 105/2026, that center assembly is eliminated and a center council must be established in its place.

The dean's team will have to convene an electoral process under the new rules —including the possibility of electronic voting— to establish the new council. The Faculty's internal regulations will have to be reviewed and approved again to adapt to the new statutory framework. This process is replicated in each of the Faculties and Schools of UA, which represents a cross-cutting organizational effort for the entire institution.

What should institutions do now?

1. Review the internal regulations of each Faculty and School to remove references to center assemblies and adapt them to the new center council figure.
2. Plan internal electoral processes under the new framework, including enabling generalized electronic voting.
3. Verify the formal status of equality, diversity and university ombudsman units to ensure they comply with the rank and functions granted by the new statutory text.
4. Review the campus structure in light of the new express regulation, identifying whether the current distribution of competencies and resources is consistent with the new framework.
5. Budget adaptation costs from UA's own resources, given that the Valencian Regional Government does not provide additional funding for this transition.
6. Consult the full text of Decree 105/2026 in the BOE to identify transitional provisions or specific adaptation deadlines that may not be included in the official summary.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-16095