EIGHT UNDERGRADUATE programs underwent survey visits by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities (AACCUP) in the Philippines, July 25-28.

The biology, mathematics, and nursing programs offered in the Batac campus underwent first survey visit for Level III conducted by a cluster team led Dr. Rosanna Grace B. Belo of the Western Visayas State University.

Another cluster of evaluators headed by Dr. Carmen M. Fernandez of the Pangasinan State University assessed the business administration-management, economics, and accountancy programs offered by CBEA. All three programs, likewise, underwent first survey visit for Level III status.

Moreover, Dr. Lucena C. Nepomuceno of the Central Visayas State University led the team to evaluate the industrial education program which underwent third survey and the industrial technology offering whose Area VIII (Physical Facilities) was revisited to satisfy its deficiencies during the last AACCUP visit held in November 2005. Both programs are offered at CIT.

On the whole, the accreditation group was composed of 28 AACCUP-trained evaluators from various higher education institutions in the country.  Heading them was Dr. Nilo E. Colinares, AACCUP overall coordinator.

Evaluation revolved on ten areas, namely: Area I - Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives; Area II – Faculty; Area III - Curriculum and Instruction; Area IV - Support for Students; Area V - Research; Area VI - Extension and Community Involvement; Area VII - Library; Area VIII - Physical Plant and Facilities; Area IX - Laboratories; and Area X -Administration. 

The accreditation activity kicked off with an opening program at the Teatro Ilocandia where the evaluators were introduced to students and faculty members and got a glimpse of MMSU through a movie presentation.  They were further presented with a spectacular show by the university’s student cultural group.

Accreditation activities such as examination of documents, ocular inspection, class observations, visit to extension and research sites, interviews with students, alumni, LGUs, and other stakeholders went on for three days.

Exit conferences in the colleges were conducted few hours before the closing program on Friday, July 27.  Here, the evaluators presented their assessments such as the strengths of the programs, the areas needing improvement, and the evaluators’ corresponding recommendations.

The accreditation of the curricular programs of the university is one of the main thrusts of the present administration as embodied in the 10-point agenda of President Miriam E. Pascua.  To date, the university already has 29 accredited programs out of the 43 degree programs it offers. Five of these are enjoying Level III status. Fifteen others are undergoing assessment for Level III, of which four will undergo second revisit tentatively on Sept. 28.  Five other programs are already holding Level II status while four, candidate status. Still, eight programs are slated for preliminary survey visit in November this year. 

According to Dr. Josephine R. Domingo, dean for instruction and survey visit committee overall coordinator, higher education institutions which pass the standards and awarded accreditation status would: possess the prestige of having programs of quality standards and the unremitting efforts to maintain these at high level; help parents know which program they may send their children for quality education; and make possible for the institution to know its strengths and weaknesses and in what aspects it needs to develop.