West Visayas State University

Infobox_University


name = West Visayas State University
nickname =
motto = "Service, Harmony, Excellence"
established = 1902
type = State University
president = Dr. Pablo E. Subong, Jr.
city = Iloilo City
state =
country =
undergrad =
postgrad =
staff =
endowment = No available figures
campus = Urban
colors = █ █
athletics = SCUAA, ISSAA
website = [http://wvsu.edu.ph http://wvsu.edu.ph] |

West Visayas State University ("Filipino: Estadong Unibersidad ng Kanlurang Bisaya"), also referred to by its acronym WVSU, is a state university located in Iloilo City, Western Visayas Region in the Philippines.

History

West Visayas State University (WVSU) was founded on June 16, 1902, forming part of the early Philippine school system under the American regime.

Known as the Iloilo Normal Institute and later the Iloilo Normal School, WVSU was one of the five tributary schools created to address the need to train Filipino teachers under the tutelage of the Thomasites. In 1916, it was a secondary school (with Iloilo High School) complete with elementary and training departments. In 1924, with the completion of its main building (now Quezon Hall) and laboratory school building, INS became a distinct educational institution itself. It was also when a secondary normal school program, which eventually became a four-year normal college course, was established.

In 1954, the Bachelor of Science in Education major in Elementary Education was offered, pioneering teacher-training institution in Western Visayas. It was named a Center of Excellence (1994) by the late Sen. Blas P. Ople and Center of Excellence for Teacher Education (1995) [http://www.ched.gov.ph/statistics/coecods.html] by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The INS became the West Visayas State College by virtue of R.A. 4189 [http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno4189.html] on May 4, 1965, and commenced the offering of the bachelor’s degree in education for both elementary and secondary teaching, bachelor of arts; and master’s in education. Also established were the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Sciences, and consequently the Secondary Laboratory School offering courses in the university level.

The period from 1974 to the early 1980s was one of marked growth, witnessing the establishment of the School of Medicine (1975), School of Agriculture (1976), and School of Nursing (1977).The doctoral program of the Graduate School was likewise, introduced in 1977. The B.S. Biological Science, AB Mass Communications, and B.S. Forestry programs took off in 1981.

On January 27, 1986, the College became the West Visayas State University [http://www.chanrobles.com/presidentialdecrees/presidentialdecreeno2019.html] , integrating the Iloilo National College of Agriculture (INCA) into its system. In 1987, the University acquired the Don Benito V. Lopez Memorial Hospital which became the WVSU Hospital, a 150-bed tertiary, teaching and training hospital. The University further established in 1993, the Sports, Athletics, and Cultural Arts Center which later became the degree-granting PESCAR Institute and later PESCAR College in 2000. In 1993, the Department of Mass Communications became the degree-granting Institute of Mass Communications, which was later converted into a College in 2000. In 2001, the Board of Regents and the Department of Health (DOH) approved the conversion of the WVSU Hospital to WVSU Medical Center that it is now.

The enactment of the Higher Education Modernization Act (1997) [http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno8292.htm] brought more developments in the University. In 2000, four CHED-supervised schools in Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Pototan were integrated into the WVSU System. The University Distance Education program through the Diploma in Teaching (DIT) course began in Summer 2003. By 2005, The Local Government Unit of Himamaylan entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the WVSU for the establishment of the WVSU Himamaylan Campus. Meanwhile, two new degree-granting units were also opened in the University: the Institute of Information and Communications Technology (IICT) in 2002 and the Institute of Management (IM) in 2006. [http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/06/19/YTCP20080619127429.html]

In February 2008, the university hosted an international research conference in Iloilo City, in conjunction with its year-long centennial celebration. [cite news | last = | first = | title =WVSU, NRCP collaborate for international research confab | pages = | publisher =The News Today Online | date = 2008-02-22 | url =http://www.thenewstoday.info/2008/02/22/wvsu.nrcp.collaborate.for.international.research.confab.html | accessdate = 2008-06-12]

Leadership

Dr. Pablo Subong, Jr. assumed the presidency on September 12, 2007 as the sixth president.

In 2007, WVSU earned perfect scores in research and management of resources, a point shy of a perfect score in extension and two points off in instruction.fact|date=October 2008

The role of the University as a key research institution was sustained consistently through collaborative efforts with local, national and international partner institutions. The University research efforts culminated in the International Research Conference in February 2008 where papers from all over the world were presented. [http://www.thenewstoday.info/2008/02/22/wvsu.nrcp.collaborate.for.international.research.confab.html]

Flagship courses

WVSU programs in education and nursing have been awarded Level III (Re-Accredited) Status by the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) Inc. [http://www.aaccupqa.org.ph/WestVisayasStateUniversity.html]

Graduates of the BEEd program consistently Rank No. 1 while those of the BSEd Rank No. 2 in over all performance in the whole country. The Nursing graduates also placed first in over all performance in the whole country (among schools with more than 100 examinees).fact|date=October 2008

Also at present, WVSU is among the top five performing schools in the whole country for the Physician Licensure Examinations. [http://www.prc.gov.ph/articles.asp?sid=4&aid=2701]

Among non-board examination courses, the University takes pride of its courses in English, Political Science, and Biological Science the three having been awarded a Level III (Re Accredited) Status by the AACCUP. Its courses in Information Science and Technology, Cooperatives Management, and Mass Communications are also producing graduates who are sought after in the region.fact|date=October 2008

Vision to be among the Top in Southeast Asia

West Visayas State University vigorously pursues its mission to produce globally competitive lifelong learners. The University has consistently maintained its leadership among institutions of higher learning in Western Visayasfact|date=October 2008 and dynamically evolves as it strives towards its vision to be among the top ten universities in Southeast Asia by 2015.

West Visayas State University is one of the first institutions to have its academic programs accredited to higher levels having surpassed the quality standards for instruction, research and extension. As of 2007, eight banner programs were recognized with Level III reaccredited status by the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP). [=http://www.aaccupqa.org.ph/WestVisayasStateUniversity.html]

Three of these programs are first in the country to achieve such recognition (nursing, biology, and special education.) Level II accreditation has been granted to College of Mass Communications, PESCAR and the College of Agriculture and Forestry. [=http://www.aaccupqa.org.ph/WestVisayasStateUniversity.html]

Over the years, the University has etched a mark in professional licensure examinations. Medical doctors [http://pinoy.md/ipb/index.php?s=97d1e0550f9523d6313ed0885d0e5e92&showtopic=2151&pid=25498&st=0&#entry25498] , nurses [http://www.pinoysites.org/jcm/item/5/] and teacher education graduates have consistently topped exams all over the country and the university passing percentage in various exams have been well-above the national mean. [http://www.ched.gov.ph/hei_dir/HEIDirJan2008/2006_prc.pdf]

In 2004, WVSU was recognized by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) as among the "Top 5 Performing Schools" in the country in national board examinations.fact|date=September 2008

Campuses

* West Visayas State University (main) La Paz, Iloilo City
* College of Agriculture and Forestry Campus, Lambunao, Iloilo
* WVSU, Calinog Campus
* WVSU, Janiuay Campus
* WVSU-Lambunao Campus
* WVSU-Pototan Campus
* WVSU-Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental Extension Campus

Academic units

* College of Agriculture
* College of Arts & Sciences
* College of Education
* College of Forestry
* College of Physical Education, Sports, Culture, Arts & Recreation
* College of Mass Communication
* College of Medicine
* College of Nursing
* Institute of Information & Communications Technology
* Institute of Management
* Graduate Schools
* Distance Education

External links

* [http://www.wvsu.edu.ph WVSU Official University website]
* [http://www.medskul.com/ WVSU College of Medicine Online Community Homepage]
* [http://www.wvsu.edu.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=124&Itemid=94 WVSU's 100 Outstanding Alumni of the Century]
* [http://www.aaccupqa.org.ph/ Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines]
* [http://www.sut.ac.th/auap/AUAP_members_all%20update15_9_47.htm Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific]
* [http://www.iaups.org/member_database.php?mode=browse&cid=220 International Association of University Presidents]
* [http://www.ched.gov.ph/ Commission on Higher Education]
* [http://www.chd6.doh.gov.ph/main/news.php?StoryID=69 Center for Health Development - Western Visayas]

References