Tarlac State University

Tarlac State University (TSU; Filipino: Pamantasang Pampamahalaan ng Tarlac) is a public university located in Tarlac City, Philippines. Established in 1906, it is the flagship academic institution of higher education in the province offering different degree programs through its ten colleges and three campuses.

TSU started as an elementary trade school progressing to a secondary school. Later, it became a collegiate technical school and then a full-fledged state college, the Tarlac College of Technology. On October 13, 1989, it was converted into a state university by virtue of Republic Act No. 6764.

Tarlac State University sits on a Level III-A status awarded by the Joint Committee of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in recognition of its excellent instruction, active involvement in research programs and community-wide extension services. Most of its curricular programs are accredited by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP).

The university acquired its ISO 9001:2008 certification in 2013 for its provision of technical assistance, consultancy and training for the implementation of community development, industry development, and extension support services program. In August 2016, TSU was granted an Integrated Management System (IMS) Certification, becoming the first state university in the Philippines to acquire this status. The IMS Certification covers ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, ISO 14001:2015 Environment Management System, and OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management System under the United States Accreditation System (USAS).

It is mandated to provide advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences, and the arts, and also to offer professional and technical training courses. To enhance the academic sector, the syllabi of the various course subjects adopted the outcomes-based education (OBE) format prescribed by CHED.

TSU is the first university among other State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) with a government authority to conduct Transnational Education Programs. It has established international linkages with a number of colleges and universities in Asia.

History

Early years

Tarlac State University was established in the same time that public education was developed in the Philippines. Its origin could be traced as early as 1906 as one of the trade schools offering industrial and vocational courses in selected regions. This was in pursuit of the American colonial government's policy of laying the groundwork for a western-oriented educational system in the country.

In 1909, TSU, then the Tarlac Trade School, began to open its doors to high school students. By 1921, it had evolved into a full-fledged secondary school. From 1931 up to the start of World War II, it was annexed to Tarlac High School.

After the war in 1946, it was separated from Tarlac High School, and in 1959, the Congress of the Philippines approved House Bill 1006 converting the Tarlac Trade School into the Tarlac School of Arts and Trades (TSAT) which began to offer collegiate technical education courses with Manuel Espinosa as its first superintendent.

In 1965, TSAT obtained its status as a state college by virtue of Republic Act 4337. It was converted into the Tarlac College of Technology (TCT) and merged with the Tarlac National Agricultural School in Camiling, Tarlac. From 1965 to 1972, Mario Manese served as its first president, introducing teacher education and engineering as new courses.

Jack Smith became the president in 1972. TCT's Institute of Agriculture was made into a separate state college in 1974 to be known as the Tarlac College of Agriculture, now Tarlac Agricultural University. The college underwent expansions under his administration, including the acquisition of a ten-hectare land in Barangay Binauganan known today as the Villa Lucinda Campus which became the site of the Laboratory School, College of Education, and a ground for different agricultural and industrial projects.

University era

Ernesto Cosme was designated as the officer in charge in September 1984, eventually becoming the TCT's last president. It was during his administration that Republic Act No. 6764 was signed into law by former President Corazon Aquino on October 13, 1989, converting TCT into Tarlac State University (TSU). This was made possible through the sponsorship of Congressmen Jose Cojuangco Jr., Jose Yap, and Hermie Aquino.

On August 8, 1990, the university's Board of Regents (BOR) appointed Alejandro Fernandez, formerly a professor at the University of the Philippines, as the first president of TSU. During this time, TSU was able to acquire its eight-hectare lot for a third campus in San Isidro under a 50-year lease contract with the provincial government. Upon the end of the term of Fernandez, Graduate School Dean Priscilla Viuya was appointed as OIC from February 28 up to mid-September 1994.

Campuses

Tarlac State University has one main campus and two satellite campuses within the vicinity of Tarlac City and an international joint institute in Hong Kong. The nine colleges were divided into three campuses to control the student population of the university. Its main campus, with the smallest land area, houses five colleges, San Isidro Campus houses three colleges, and Lucinda Campus houses two colleges.

Main campus

Five of the colleges that the university instituted (College of Engineering and Technology, College of Business and Accountancy, College of Arts and Social Sciences, College of Public Administration and Governance, and School of Law) are on the Main Campus. The Dr. Mario Manese Gymnasium or well known as the TSU Gymnasium, where large events in the university and in the province are usually held, is located here, along with the Administration Building, Main Library, and Business Center. Apart from the buildings and offices, there are places in the campus where students hang around such as the Heroes Park in front of the College of Arts and Social Sciences building, and a student center located on the College of Engineering grounds.

The university main campus is a 1.2-hectare property located along Romulo Boulevard, San Vicente, Tarlac City, near Diwa ng Tarlak. Most of the public utility vehicles in Tarlac pass through the campus.

The place where the College of Computer Studies building is located was the site of the Casa Real of Tarlac which once became an office of the late President Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine–American War. It is now recognized as a historical site by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Lucinda Campus

The Villa Lucinda Campus is located in Brgy. Binauganan, Tarlac City, three kilometers away from the Main Campus. It has a total area of 10 hectares and houses the College of Teacher Education, College of Science, the College of Criminal Justice Education, and the Laboratory School. Due to the campus' spacious area, several offices and buildings were built here such as the University Hostel, Alumni Center, Hon. Jose V. Yap Library, and other structures. The activities of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) are also being performed within the campus.

The TSU Hostel was established in 2008 and started out as a venue for the practical training of Hotel and Restaurant Management students and for other university activities. As it developed over the years, it soon became a second home and school to foreign students, and was then made popular by its guests to cater to business and personal affairs.

Academics

The present student population is over 16,000. The university offers a total of 66 courses through its ten colleges. Recently, it started its Bachelor of Laws program (LL.B.) in cooperation of Integrated Bar of the Philippines (Tarlac Chapter). The university also offers degree programs to international students. A number of students from USA, China, Hong Kong, Korea, and India have attended and graduated from TSU.

Tarlac State University was recognized as one of the state universities and colleges in the country with the most number of curricular programs granted with Accreditation Status by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP).

Colleges

• College of Business and Accountancy
• College of Teacher Education
• College of Engineering and Technology
• College of Arts and Social Sciences
• College of Criminal Justice Education
• College of Architecture and Fine Arts
• College of Computer Studies
• College of Public Administration and Governance
• College of Science
• School of Law

Laboratory school

Tarlac State University - Laboratory School (commonly referred to as Lab School or TSU-LS) was a secondary school in Tarlac City founded in 1985. It was officially under the College of Education, serving as a training ground for the practice teachers of the university. Its old building, now occupied by BS Criminology students, is located at Lucinda Campus in Binauganan, Tarlac City along with the College of Teacher Education and College of Science.

TSU-LS was known in the province for the academic and athletic repute of its students. It had received several awards from different competitions during its active years, one of which was its title as the regional champion in National Cheerleading Championship in Central Luzon.

In 2005, a proposition suggesting to stop the operation of Laboratory School was raised due to the inability of the provincial government to support it, but this was not implemented and the school continued to operate. However, after over 10 years, the decision was finalized in accordance with a resolution of the university's board of regents despite strong opposition from students, parents, and teachers of the school. In April 2016, the last commencement ceremony of the school was held with Norbina Genever Castro as the last principal.

Culture and student life

Student organizations

Student organizations in Tarlac State University were established for the purpose of providing opportunities to undergraduate students to explore and enhance their academic, cultural, political, spiritual, and social interests as students and as a part of the institution.

The highest student body in the university is the Supreme Student Council (SSC) which is administered by student leaders guided by the university administration. It is composed of a president, vice president, and five senators. The elected president will serve as a member of the university's Board of Regents for the whole term. In every college, there are also College Student Councils (CSC), headed by a governor, that provide voluntary service to the students.

One of university's distinguished organizations is the TSU Performing Arts which has achieved national and international recognition over the past years. Its Dance Troupe yearly participates in the International Folklore Festival, while its TSU Chorale competes in national competitions and even in abroad. In March 2016, TSU Dance Troupe won in World Artistic Dance Federation-European Championship in Moscow.

Student organizations are under the administration of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).

Publication

The predominant media outlet on campus is The Work, a student-run newspaper and the official student publication of the university. The Work circulates its regular issue at least four times in an academic year and its literary folio, Obra, once per year. Formed in 1948, it is one of the leading student publications in the region with numerous awards from different journalism competitions. It is a member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP). TSU Bulletin, on the other hand, is published monthly by the Office of Public Affairs and Information (OPAI) supplemented by an online edition on the university website.

In addition, each college runs its own student publication. The Oracle (College of Arts and Social Sciences), The Blaze (College of Business and Accountancy), Educators' Gazette (College of Education), The Bureaucrat (College of Public Administration and Governance) and other college publications usually release their regular issues every semester.

Athletics

TSU participates in SUC-III (State Universities and Colleges in Region III) Olympics annually. Most of the delegates are winners from the university intramurals. Those who win in the regional level qualify for the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) National Olympics. Moreover, TSU Firefox cheerleading team has been consistently qualifying to the National Cheerleading Championship (NCC) lately. In 2013, it won the third place in Cheerleading category under elite division.

Administration

Tarlac State University is administered by the 12 members of its Board of Regents. Ronald L. Adamat, CHED commissioner, is the chairperson and presiding officer of the board. Officials assigned by the government, the university president, presidents of the faculty and personnel union, alumni association, and student council, and representatives from private sector are the other members composing the board. The board has the power to prescribe rules for its own government and to enact for the government of the university such rules and regulations not contrary to law, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the university.

The institution, including all its campuses, is headed by the university president. The president is assisted by four vice presidents—for academic affairs, administration and finance, research and extension services, and institutional linkages and external affairs.

University key officials

• President
• Arnold E. Velasco
• Vice Presidents
• Agnes M. Macaraeg, Academic Affairs
• Grace N. Rosete, Administration
• Murphy P. Mohammed, Research Development and Extension
• Nino B. Corpuz, Planning and Quality Assurance

Research, Extension and Development

In 2006, with the start of the administration headed by the University President, Priscilla C. Viuya, the Office of the Vice President for Planning, Research, Extension and Training (VP-PRET) was under the helm of Brigido Corpuz. The offices under the VP-PRET were the Planning and Development Office, University Research Office, University Extension Office, Office of the Alumni Affairs, Center for Tarlaqueño Studies, Institute of Local Government Administration, and the University Training Office.

On February 15, 2008, Glenard Madriaga was designated as the new vice president for PRET in lieu of the designation of Corpuz as vice president for production. Moreover, the name of the office was changed to vice president for research, extension and development (VP-RED) when the organizational structure of TSU was revised and approved in August 2008 by the BOR. With the changes was the transfer of the PDO under the Office of the University President and the UTO to the Office of Production. The rest of the offices were retained while new ones were attached, namely the Gender and Development and Intellectual Property Office.

The vice president for research, extension and development focused on fulfilling the mandates of each of the attached office. Some programs, projects and activities were planned and implemented that would accent the comparative advantage of the university. In fact, good reviews were reported by the University Planning Office on the accomplishments of offices under the VP-RED.

Эх сурвалж: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)