Bicol University (Bikol: Unibersidad nin Bikol; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Bikol), also referred to by its acronym (BU or Bicol U), is a regional state, research and coeducational higher education institution in Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines, with external campuses scattered throughout the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon. BU is an ISO 9001:2008 certified public university.[4]
The university is partly subsidized by the Philippine government. Students of the university and its graduates are referred to as "Mga Iskolar ng Bayan" ("Scholars of the Nation") but they are commonly called as Bueños. Students who wish to study in the university must pass the Bicol University College Entrance Test (BUCET).[5] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the university implemented the Bicol University College Entrance Scoring System (BUCESS) for its admission of undergraduate students for academic years 2021-2022 and 2022–2023.[6]
History
The Bicol University[7][8][9] was founded on June 21, 1969, by virtue of Republic Act 5521[10] and was formally organized on September 22, 1970. It evolved out of six educational institutions integrated to form the first state university in the Bicol Region (Region V):
Bicol Teachers College (BTC) with its Laboratory School in Daraga, Albay, now the BU College of Education (BUCE) with its Integrated Laboratory School (ILS)
Daraga East Central School (DECS) also in Daraga, Albay, initially renamed as Bicol University Pilot Elementary School (BUPES), now integrated with the BUCE-ILS as its Elementary Department
Albay High School in Legazpi City, now the BUCE-ILS High School Department
Bicol Regional School for Arts and Trades (BRSAT) in Legazpi City, converted from the Albay Trade School by virtue of Republic Act 1129[11] on June 16, 1954, now the College of Industrial Technology and the College of Engineering.
Roxas Memorial Agricultural School (RMAS) in Guinobatan, Albay, which became the College of Agriculture, now renamed as the College of Agriculture and Forestry.
School of Fisheries in Tabaco, Albay, turned into the College of Fisheries, now the Bicol University Tabaco Campus.
These public schools and colleges, now part of Bicol University, had served the people of the region for more than half a century prior to their forming Bicol University.
As of 2023, the 9th Bicol University President issued the Bicol University Vision and Quality Policy:[8]
Vision - A university for humanity characterized by productive scholarship, transformative leadership, collaborative service, and distinctive character for sustainable societies.
Quality Policy - Bicol University commits to continually strive for excellence in instruction, research, and extension by meeting the highest level of clientele satisfaction and adhering to quality standards and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Organization and administration
The governance of the university is vested in the Board of Regents, abbreviated as BOR. The board, with its 12 members, is the highest decision-making body of the university.
The chairperson or its designated commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) serves as the board's chairperson while the president of the Bicol University is the vice-chairperson. The chairpersons of the Committees of Higher Education of the Senate and the House of Representatives are also members of the Board of Regents which are concurrent with their functions as committee chairpersons.
The students of the Bicol University are represented by a student regent, who is also the chair of the University Student Council. The faculty regent is nominated by the faculty members of the whole university. Alumni are represented by the president of the BU Alumni Association.
As of 2023, the members of the Board of Regents are:
The Legazpi West (Main) Campus is located on the boundary of Daraga, Albay and Legazpi City along the national highway, Rizal St. Aside from the Administration Building, the campus also hosts the following colleges and institutes:
The Doctor of Dental Medicine is the latest course that had been approved in this campus.[24]
It also hosts the Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School-Elementary Department[25] and Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School-High School Department (BUCEILS-HS).[26] The Bicol University Main Library,[27] Student Union Center,[28] Amphitheater and the Little Theater are also found in this campus.[29]
Bicol University's Torch of Wisdom
Legazpi East Campus
Bicol University East Campus
Located in Enlisted Men's Barrio (EM's Barrio), Barangay 1 also in Legazpi City, the campus[30] hosts the following:
B in Technical-Vocational Teacher Education Major in Drafting Technology
B in Technical-Vocational Teacher Education Major in Electrical Technology
B in Technical-Vocational Teacher Education Major in Food Service Management
B in Technical-Vocational Teacher Education Major in Garments Fashion and Design
14. Institute of Design and Architecture (BUIDeA).[33]
Courses Offered:
BS in Architecture
Daraga Campus
Located in Sagpon, Daraga, Albay, and is less than a kilometer from the main campus, the campus consists of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (BUCSSP) and College of Business, Economics and Management (BUCBEM). This campus was formerly called College of Arts and Science (BUCAS).
BS in Business Administration Major in Financial Management
BS in Business Administration Major in Human Resource Management
BS in Business Administration Major in Marketing Management
BS in Business Administration Major in Operations Management
BS in Business Administration Major in Microfinance
Tabaco Campus
17. BU Tabaco Campus (BUTC), is located at Brgy. Tayhi, Tabaco, Albay.[36]
Courses offered in this campus[37] are the following:
BS in Nursing
BS in Food Technology
BS Social Work
BS in Fisheries Major in Aquaculture
BS in Fisheries Major in Marine Fisheries
BS in Fisheries Major in Fish Technology
BS in Fisheries Major in Coastal Resource Management
B in Secondary Education (Majors in Science and Math)
BS in Entrepreneurship.
Guinobatan Campus
18. BU Guinobatan Campus (BUGbtn) formely BUCAF is located along the Pan-Philippine Highway in the town of Guinobatan, Albay,[38] formerly known as Guinobatan Farm School in 1912; Guinobatan Rural High School in 1927; Roxas Memorial Agricultural School in 1950; Bicol University College of Agriculture (BUCA) in 1969 through RA 5521; with the offering of Bachelor of Science in Forestry starting in 1991, is known as Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry (BUCAF).[39] In 2022, the LGU Guinobatan passed an ordinance in renaming the campus to BU Guinobatan. BUCAF is a member of Philippine Agroforestry Education and Research Network (PAFERN)[40]
Courses Offered:
B in Agricultural Technology
BS in Agribusiness
BS in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
BS in Agriculture Major in Crop Science
BS in Agriculture Major in Animal Science
BS in Agriculture Major in Agricultural Extension
BS in Forestry
BS in Food Technology
B in Technical-Vocational Teachers Education Major in Animal Production
B in Technical-Vocational Teachers Education Major in Crop Production
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Polangui Campus
19. BU Polangui Campus (BUPC) is located in Centro Occidental, Polangui, Albay,[41] this was formerly known as the School for Philippine Craftsmen[42] and offered vocational courses. It was integrated into Bicol University,[43] through R.A. 7722, R.A. 8292 & R.A. 8769, on December 14, 2000, and renamed as Bicol University Polangui Campus. From the five courses offered in 2000, it now offers the following courses:
B in Elementary Education
B in Secondary Education Majors in (Math and English)
BS in Automotive Technology
BS in Computer Engineering
BS in Computer Science
BS in Electronics Engineering
BS in Electronics Technology
BS in Entrepreneurship
BS in Food Technology
BS in Information System
BS in Information Technology
BS in Information Technology (Animation)
BS in Mechanical Technology
BS in Nursing
B in Technology and Livelihood Education (BTLEd)
Gubat Campus
20. Gubat Campus (BUGubat) is located in Gubat, Sorsogon, the only campus outside of Albay,[44][45] this campus offers the following courses:
B in Elementary Education
B in Secondary Education Majors in (Filipino and Social Studies)
BS in Agricultural Technology (Ladderized)
BS in Entrepreneurship
BSBA Major in Microfinance
Ligao Campus
21. BU College of Veterinary Medicine (BUCVM) is currently under contruction at Brgy Bay, Ligao City. It came into existence through Republic Act No. 11973 or the law to establish the Bicol University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ligao City. The program is currently housed at BU Guinobatan - Mauraro Campus
Courses Offered:
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Facilities and services
Library System
The University Library System is for the use of students and other researchers. It has a collection of books in different fields of knowledge and all the published undergraduate and graduate research. It is composed of ten sub-libraries, namely:
The University Library
College of Education Library
College of Nursing Library
College of Agriculture and Forestry Library
ILS-Elementary Library
ILS-High School Library
East Campus Library
Polangui Campus Library
Tabaco Campus Library
Gubat Campus Library
Athletics
It organizes and facilitates the conduct of intercollegiate sports and the university's participation in sports events. It runs wellness and fitness programs. Some of its facilities for athletics include a soccer field, olympic-sized swimming pool, a rubberized track oval, and a grandstand.[46]
Radio station
The university has its own radio station, BUFM 106.3.[47]
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