By Aljon P. Tugaoen

Committed to sustain a competitive brand of education, the Mariano Marcos State University subjected five of its academic programs to an accreditation survey visit by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, Inc. (AACCUP) held online from November 9 to 11.

These programs are BS in Development Communication, BS in Environmental Science, BS in Tourism Management, BA in Sociology and BS in Fisheries. All are currently undergoing Level III - Phase 2 survey. This is the second of three batches of academic programs subjected to accreditation this month. 

The overall coordinator of the accreditation survey is Dr. Boyet Batang from Isabela State University. Members of the accrediting team include Prof. Adrian Aguilar from  Bicol University and Prof. Mary Joy Castillo from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (BS Dev Com); Dr. Elena Manaig also from PUP and Dr. Zenaida Luna from Bataan Peninsula State University (BS Envi Sci); Dr. Jeanneth Darocca and Prof. Ria Monsale, both from Iloilo Science and Technology University (BS TM); Dr. Maria Cristina Ferrer from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology and Dr. Emily Dela Cruz from ISATU (BA Socio); Dr. Francis Baleta from Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology and Prof. Grace Brizuela from BU (BS Fisheries); and Dr. Liza Tamargo from Ifugao State University for the libraries.

The programs will be evaluated through verification of documents and virtual interview sessions with selected stakeholders (alumni, local government officials, industry and community partners).

Vice president for research, extension, and business Nathaniel Alibuyog expressed his gratitude to the faculty of the five programs for their efforts in the preparation of the accreditation activities and to the accreditors for their help. 

“Our constant pursuit to accreditation indicates MMSU’s commitment to sustain its brand of academic excellence,” Dr. Alibuyog said during the opening program. In 2021, MMSU obtained the Level III Institutional Accreditation (IA) granted by AACCUP, one of the few state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country with the highest accreditation status so far. (JVBT/HLY, StratCom)