West Visayas State University

West Visayas State University

Pamantasang Estado ng Kanlurang Bisayas
Former names	Iloilo Normal Institute, Iloilo Normal School, West Visayas State College
Motto	Service, Harmony, Excellence
Type	Public Research, Normal and State University
Established	1902 (part of the Philippine normal school system under the American regime)* 1924 (formally established)
President	Luis M. Sorolla Jr., Ph.D., CSEE
Academic staff	549 (Iloilo City – Main Campus) PhD / Ed. D / M.D.: 340 M.S. / M. A. / M.: 172 B. A. / B. S. / B. : 37
Students	7, 449 (Iloilo City – Main Campus A.Y. 2010–2011)[1] *Basic – education: 817*Baccalaureate: 5, 146*Post-baccalaureate: 165*Masters: 804*Doctorate: 173*Medicine: 344
Location	Western Visayas and Negros Island Region,  Philippines
Campus	Urban [Main Campus] (Iloilo City) CAF Extension (Lambunao, Iloilo) Lambunao Campus (Lambunao, Iloilo) Janiuay Campus (Janiuay, Iloilo) Calinog Campus (Calinog, Iloilo) Pototan Campus (Pototan, Iloilo) Himamaylan Extension Campus (Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, Negros Island Region)
Colors	Blue      Gold
Athletics	SCUAA, ISSAA
Nickname	Taga-WEST (From West)
Website	www.wvsu.edu.ph

West Visayas State University (informally referred to as West or WVSU) is a public normal research university (a university system) located in Western Visayas region and the Negros Island Region (with a campus in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental) of the Philippines with its main campus in La Paz, Iloilo City. It was established formally in 1924 as Iloilo Normal School under the Philippine normal school system during the American colonial period in the Philippines under the tutelage of the Thomasites, it dates back its founding 22 years later when the university's College of Education was founded in 1902. It later became West Visayas State College in 1965 and became a university and changed its name to West Visayas State University in 1986.

The university is one of the twenty accredited Philippine Universities of the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific^[2] and one of the most prominent institutions in the Visayas in the field of Teacher Education, Nursing and Medicine.^[3]

The West Visayas State University (WVSU) is a university system where there are different separate campuses while the main campus is composed of nine schools and colleges and one institute. The Philippine Commission on Higher Education has also designated the university through its main campus as the Center of Excellence in Teacher Education and Center of Development in Nursing while the Lambunao Campus as Centers of Development in the programs of Agricultural Education and Forestry.^[4][5]

History

The Quezon Hall.

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

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)^[6] by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

WVSU historical marker

The INS became the West Visayas State College by virtue of R.A. 4189^[7] on May 4, 1965, and commenced the offering of the bachelor's degree in education for both elementary and secondary teaching, Bachelor of arts; Master 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—the second state medical school in the Philippines—in 1975, the School of Agriculture in 1976, and the School of Nursing in 1977. The doctoral program of the Graduate School was also founded in 1977. The B.S. in Biological Science, AB in Mass Communications, and B.S. Forestry programs began in 1981.

The Normalite nameplate, 1959

On January 27, 1986, the College became the West Visayas State University,^[8] 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)^[9] 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 which later became the College of Business and Management (2010).^[10]

In February 2008, the university hosted an international research conference in Iloilo City, in conjunction with its year-long centennial celebration.^[11]

Flagship programs

WVSU programs in Nursing, Social Sciences, Biology and Education have been awarded for achieving Level 4 Qualified status by the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) Inc.^[12] WVSU College of Nursing posted a 100% passing rate in the June 2016 Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) with five (5) topnotchers.^[13][14] With the hundred percent passing rate, WVSU retains its record, for the fourth consecutive year, as Number 1 performing school in the NLE in the country.^{[15][16][17][18]}

Also at present, WVSU is one of the top performing schools in the Philippines for the Physician Licensure Examinations.^[19][20]

WVSU College of Medicine

College of Information and Communications Technology

Among non-board examination courses, the University takes pride of its courses in English, Political Science, and Biology with specialization in Microbiology, Biotechnology and Pre-Med, these three programs were submitted for accreditation to the AACCUP and were recently granted with Level 4 Qualified status. Its courses in Information Science and Technology, Cooperatives Management, and Mass Communications are also producing graduates who are sought after in the region.

The University also takes pride of its programs in advanced education in the following disciplines: Arts and Letters, Sciences, Social Sciences and Governance, Education, Agriculture, and Communications. In 2010 the university was authorized to offer a graduate program in Hospitality Management in the College of Business and Management.

Accreditation

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. At present, programs are accredited by the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) and Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) for its College of Medicine. Programs recognized with Level III Re-accredited status are academic offerings in undergraduate and master's degree levels specifically Physical Education, Forestry, Agriculture, and programs in Communication (Broadcasting, Journalism and Development Communication). Level 4 qualified status was awarded to Nursing, Teacher Education (elementary, secondary, and special education), Arts and Social Sciences (English and Political Science) and Biology.^[21]

Over the years, the University has etched a mark in professional licensure examinations. Medical doctors, nurses^{[22][23][24][25][26]} and teacher education^{[27][28][29][30]} graduates have consistently topped exams all over the country and the university passing percentage in various exams have been well-above the national mean.^[20][31]

In 2004, WVSU was recognized by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as among the "Top 5 Performing Schools" in the Philippines in the National Board Examinations.

Governing body

The governance of the University is vested upon the Board of Regents of the West Visayas State University as constituted by P.D. no. 2019 and P.D. no. 1437. The Board of Regents exercise policy-making function in accordance with general policies, plans and programs on education as formulated by the Government.

The administration and the exercise of the University corporate powers are vested exclusively in the Board of Regents and the President of the University. It is an august body and works for the best interest of the University.^[32]

Academics

WVSU is accredited by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines(AACCUP) and Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). The AACCUP is a member of the National Network of Quality Assurance Agencies, Inc. (NNQAA) in the Philippines. AACCUP and PAASCU are both members of Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN) based in Hong Kong; and International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) based in Dublin, Ireland.^[33]

Official Symbol

Spire - official yearbook

Forum Dimension - official university school paper

Forum-Dimensions

Urn - monument found in front of Quezon Hall

Quezon Hall - one of the oldests structure in the campus

WVSU Hymnn:

From a dream a university grew,

Stirring hearts with a heroes refrain.

Out of darkness faith renew

That our toils should not fade in vain.

West Visayas State University,

Hold thy banner high,

Let genius bridge the earth

And boundless sky.

Set the youth to task half begun,

Seek their rightful place ‘neath the sun.

West Visayas State University,

Let that dream come true,

Not far away the goal

Comes in to view,

As the youth their tasks fully done,

Find their rightful place ‘neath the sun.

Notable Alumni

• Irene Mae B. Alcobilla – 2015 Philippine BAR Topnotcher, AB Political Science graduate.
• Jed Patrick E. Mabilog – World Mayor award 2014 top 5 finalist and current Mayor of Iloilo City, Philippines.^[34]
• Ferjenel Biron – Former Filipino congressman and notable author of the Cheaper Medicines Bill in the Philippines.
• JC Rahman Nava – Former Governor & currently the congressman of Guimaras, AB Science graduate & Medical Doctor.^[35]
• Dr. Nenalyn Defensor – former CHED Commissioner.
• Dr. Purita Bilbao – Author, Educational Leader.

Campuses

• West Visayas State University – Main Campus, in La Paz, Iloilo City, Philippines
• College of Agriculture and Forestry Campus, in Lambunao
• WVSU, Lambunao Campus, in Lambunao
• WVSU, Calinog Campus, in Calinog
• WVSU, Janiuay Campus, in Janiuay
• WVSU, Pototan Campus, in Pototan
• WVSU, Himamaylan Extension Campus, in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental

References

External links

• WVSU Official University website
• WVSU College of Medicine Online Community Homepage

Coordinates: 10°42′58″N 122°33′41″E / 10.7161°N 122.5614°E / 10.7161; 122.5614