Tarlac State University HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, VISION AND MISSION  



Being the premier center of learning in the province of Tarlac, the beginnings of the Tarlac State University (TSU) are synchronous with the beginning of public education in this heartland of Central Luzon. The early and dominant image of TSU among the people of Tarlac was being a trade school, and its origin as such could be traced to as early as 1906, when the director of public instruction-mandated the offering of intermediate grades in selected areas in the county to cater to industrial and vocational courses. In 1919, under the auspices of the provincial government and the Provincial High School, this school began to include secondary students in its fold. By 1921, it had evolved into a full secondary school. In 1931, the trade school was annexed to the Tarlac High School during the principalship of Mr. Russel Taylor, a status it maintained until the onset and the end of the Second World War.

in 1946, immediately after the war, Tarlac Trade School was officially separated from the Tarlac High School, with the appointment of Mr. Manuel T. Espinosa as its principal. More than a decade later, in 1959, the Congress of the Philippines approved House Bill 1006, jointly sponsored by Congressmen Constancio Castaneda and Jose Roy, converting Tarlac Trade School into the Tarlac School of Arts and Trades (TSAT), with Mr. Manuel T. Espinosa who became its first Superintendent. As a nationalized academic institution, TSAT began to offer collegiate technical education courses in the province.

In 1965, through the passage of Republic Act 4337, TSAT acquired its full- fledged status as a college, the Tarlac College of Technology (TCT). Among other provisions, the lav/ called for the merging of TSAT with Tarlac National Agricultural School in Camilinn, Tarlac. Dr. Mario P. Manese was appointed as its first President (1965-1972), who introduced the courses, Teacher Education and Engineering.

Prof. Jack Smith replaced Dr. Manese in 1972 as TCT President. It was during his early tenure when Presidential Decree 609 was mandated in 1974 which instructed the separation of the TCT from its agricultural component, which became the present Tarlac College of Agriculture in Camiling. Pres. Smith's lengthy slay in TCT saw its expansion as a state college, particularly with the acquisition of a ten-hectare lot in Barrios Ungot and Maliwalo, that came to be known as Lucinda Campus and which eventually became the site of the Laboratory School and various agro-industrial projects of the institutions. In 1976, the TCT organized the Graduate School with academic programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts in Education, with majors in Guidance in Counseling and Educational Management. In 1978 the TCT set up degree programs in Master of Public Administration, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and the revised two-year Trade Technical Education, and in 1983. the Bachelor of Science and Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

Dr. Ernesto 0. Cosme was designated Officer-in-Charge in September 14, 1984. eventually becoming TCT's third and last president. It was during his administration that Republic Act of 6764 was passed on October 13, 1989, converting TCT into the Tarlac State University (TSU). His stay in both the TCT and TSU saw the further expansion of University's physical structure and academic programs. Modern bu'ldings rose on the 1.2 hectare Main Campus and the 10 hectare Villa Lucinda Campus. Additional programs were opened like Doctor of Education with major in Industrial Education Management, Bachelor in Secondary Education, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.

On August 8, 1990, the TSU Board of Regents appointed Dr. Alejandro M. Fernandez, then Professor of Political Science and Ninoy Aquino Professor of Development in the University of the Philippines, as the first President of the Tarlac State University.

Upon the end of the term of Dr. Fernandez, Dr. Priscilla C. Viuya, the Dean of Graduate School, was appointed as Officer-in-Charge of TSU effective February 28, 1994, until September 1994 when a new President from among the applicants to the position of the Presidency was appointed by the BOR. In her short stint as OIC, she continued the upholding of academic excellence in the University.

On September 14, 1994, Dr. Rodolfo Y. Baking from the Technological University of the Philippines was appointed by the Board of Regents as the second President of the University. Like his predecessors, his administrative policies were geared toward the upgrading of academic standard and the offering of curricular programs that will cater to the developmental needs of the government and the private sector. Unfortunately, Dr. Baking was not able to finish his term. On December 5, 1996, the Board appointed Dr. Dolores G. Matias, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, as Officer-in-Charge. As Officer-in-Charge, Dr. Matias steered the University into attaining its visions and missions of offering relevant quality education to the people of Tarlac and its neighboring provinces. During her incumbency as OIC, The Graduate School and the College of Business and Accountancy attained level two accreditation while the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Education attained level one accreditation. The College of Engineering, which already had a level one accreditation, was proposed for the next level accreditation. During this time, the passing average in the board examinations of the graduates improved. Other courses were opened like B.S. in Computer Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Doctor of Public Administration. The Testing Center was institutionalized and evening ciasses were offered. Along physical development, additional classrooms and university facilities were built and the students were accorded a function room and added space for their use.

Dr. Matias was appointed President on March 25, 1998. During this year, she not only actively involved herself in the affairs of her university but also in the Region as chair of the Development Council of State Universities and Colleges (DC-SUC III) and representative of the Region to the national PASUC, as member of the Central Luzon Industrial and Energy Development Council (CLIERDEC), the Social Services Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC III), the Central Luzon Association of Regional Officers (CLARO), the Central Luzon Association of Higher Education Institutions (CLASSHEI), the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP), and various committees of the Commission of Higher Education (CHED III).

A reorganized University administrative structure was approved by the Board of Regents which gave way for a third Vice President, that of Planning, Research and Extension. Emphasis was placed not only on instruction but also on research, extension and production. Research proposals were submitted to the CHED and the DOST for funding. Extension service to the community was enhanced and income-generation was intensified. University policies were reviewed as the University Code was written. During this year, the University became active in its involvement, in the celebration of the centennial year of the Philippine Revolution. The TSU became strongly aware of its roles and responsibilities in nation building by establishing the TSU tradition of excellence.

Cooperativism was encouraged, it was during this time that the TSU Cooperative was given office space in the Administration building. It was also during this time that the College of Computer Science attained its full -fledged status as a college and the CAS was reorganized into two separate colleges - the College of Science and the College of Arts and Social Sciences. Course offerings were reevaluated and updated as new curriculums were opened.

Among the greatest accomplishments of the University in 1999 are its selection as a Center of Development in Electrical Engineering; the high performance of its graduates in board examinations like Cristina Timbang who placed third in the 1999 Accountancy Board, Rolando Roxas who placed 4th in the Electrical Engineering Board, and Julieta Barriento who placed first in the Teacher's Board, province wide; and the creation of the University's Business Center. In response to the present Dispensation's challenge for the SUC's to generate income to augment the dwindling resources from government, the TSU Administration conceptualized and established a Business Center which took and will take charge of income generating projects. Deemed as a very laudable project, this office has become very operational.

The University ventured more and more into research. Outputs were reflected in the reports of the Office of Research and the different colleges and academic units which went into research. A research work on profiling of industries in the Province of Tarlac, undertaken by the College of Business Administration, was funded by ihe Department of Trade and Industries. The joint research proposal on the establishment of a phytochemical laboratory of the Office of Research and the Chemistry Department of the College of Arts and Sciences was awarded funding by the Department of Science and Technology. Research projects were mostly on phytochemical, physio-chemico and microbiological, evaluation of cumcular offerings and on computer and engineering technology. Approved for funding by the CHED was an in-house research on the evaluation of quality instruction among Teacher Education institutions and mathematics curriculum. In terms of curricular accreditation, the Colleges of Engineering, Education and the Arts and Sciences attained level 2. Projects were undertaken by the graduate school's Institute for Local Government (ILGA) which served as consultant on matters relative to local governance, environmental management, conduct of feasibility studies, budgeting, and rural development projects.

With President Matias at the helm of the TSU governance, the University continued with its quest for excellence in the pursuit of its goals and objectives and in accordance with the national development thrusts.

In the year 2001, accomplishments done during the firs^ term of office of Dr. Matias have become very visible. A streamlined organization structure made and implemented as soon as she assumed into office resulted in a functional and revitalized University organization. The creation of a third Vice President for Planning, Research and Extension, strengthened these University service offices. A new awareness on the functions, roles and responsibilities of each office from the University down to the Deans and Directors created a new sense of leadership and accountability. Administrative responsibility was shared with the different administrative offices and colleges as they were envisioned to grow and develop not only as mandated from authorities above but out of their initiatives and capabilities. The guiding work ethics included academic excellence, transparency, integrity, honesty and hard work. Indeed there was the dawning of a university culture of excellence no matter how elusive it seemed to some elements in the University. Implemented were alternative sources of income to cope with the dwindling budget. Classrooms and other amenities were constructed despite financial constraints. The strong determination and administrative will of the University President enabled the University to pursue vigorously and successfully physical and human development programs and projects that redound on the whole to an improved TSU personnel and studentry.

Curricular programs were continuously developed and upgraded. Offered for the first time were the following courses: Doctor of Public Administration (1998), Bachelor of Fine Arts (1998), AB Theater Arts (1999), AB Journalism (1999), BS Nutrition and Food Tech (2000), BS Electronics and Communication Engineering (To be implemented 2002), BS in Information Technology and Graduate Diploma in Information Technology (2002), BS Mathematics (2002) and B Physical Education (2002). Upgraded were AB Social Science courses to AB History, AB Psychology, AB Development Studies, AB English with minor in Theater Arts. Renamed was B Technology to BS Industrial Technology.

In terms of accreditation, in 1999 the following courses attained level 2 accredited status: BS Civil Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering and BS Mechanical Engineering. In 2000 the following courses attained level 2 accredited status: BS Social Science (History), BS Chemistry, B Elementary Education, B Secondary Education and BS Industrial Education; while, the following courses attained level 1-candidate status: BS Computer Science, BS Architecture and B Technology major in EIT, FAT and MPT. In 2001, the doctoral and masteral programs of the Graduate School, BS Accountancy and BSBA Entrepreneurship were submitted for first resurvey visit which is the first step towards a level 3 status.

To enhance student affairs management the TSU Administration was able to negotiate with the Provincial Government thru Governor Jose V. Yap and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the use of a lot with two buildings'adjacent to the main campus. The bigger building was utilized to house the Office of the Student Affairs. For the first time, the students had a building used for student offices.

 

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