The Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City through its president, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, and the Mirriam College in Quezon City through its president, Dr. Rosario O. Lapus, have signed and entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pursue efforts in integrating local knowledge in education, specifically in the curriculum and research. The MOU was signed on November 20, 2012 right after the forum on local knowledge that was held at the Training Hall of VSU's Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies.

The BS in Agriculture program of the University has "Qualified for Level IV" status after the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), Inc. had conducted this year the first phase of evaluation.

In a letter sent on October 23, 2012 to VSU President Jose L. Bacusmo, Dr. Manuel T. Corpus, AACCUP Executive Director, informed him of the Board Action regarding the programs assessed by AACCUP on September 10-14, 2012.

VSU's Agriculture Program got an "Excellent" rating with a grand mean of 4.7 as reflected in the ten key result areas, namely: I) Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives – 4.95; II) Faculty – 4.78; III) Curriculum and Instruction – 4.68; IV) Support to Students – 4.55; V) Research – 4.64; VI) Extension and Community Involvement – 4.70; VII) Library – 4.87; VIII) Physical Plant and Facilities – 4.54; IX) Laboratories – 4.66; and X) Administration – 4.83.

The criteria set to pass and qualify for this Level must have a minimum grand mean of 4.50 with 5.00 as the maximum and a minimum area mean of 4.00.

In an interview with Dr. Lualhati M. Noriel, head of VSU Accreditation Center, she said that the College of Agriculture still need to apply for Level IV (Phase II) accreditation within the prescribed period of effectivity, which is from September 16, 2012 to September 15, 2013 before it can be awarded full-fledged "Level IV Accreditation Status" by AACCUP.

It should be recalled that Dr. Ma. Teresa SJ Valdez, AACCUP Overall Coordinator, said during the Level IV Accreditation of VSU Programs that "Level IV Re-Accredited Status is only awarded to academic programs which are highly respected and very high quality programs in the Philippines with prestige and authority comparable to similar programs in excellent foreign universities."

In a telephone interview with Dr. Victor B. Asio, dean of VSU's College of Agriculture, it was learned that he was very much delighted with the result of the survey. He pointed out that this success could never be attained without the concerted efforts by the faculty, staff, and students of the different departments of the College. "VSU President Jose L. Bacusmo and other key officials of the University have major contributions in this achievement," Dr. Asio added.

Other VSU programs that were submitted for Level IV accreditation got Excellent and Very Good ratings and were marked "Assessment on-going to Qualify for Level IV." However, the awarding of "Qualify for Level IV" accreditation status to these programs was deferred due to some deficiencies in some areas. They were also advised for revisit to meet the minimum requirement within the month of October 2012 but not later than September 2013 as noted by the accreditors.

These programs with corresponding grand mean ratings and the areas that need for revisit are: Elementary Teacher Education [4.50-Excellent] – Revisit areas III and V; Secondary Teacher Education [4.47-Very Good] – Revisit areas II, III and V; Graduate: Master's (Education – MS) [4.51-Excellent] – Revisit Area IV; Graduate: Master's (Education – MAgDev.) [4.51-Excellent] – Revisit area IV; Graduate: Master's (Agriculture – MS) [4.52-Excellent] – Revisit area IV; and Graduate: Master's (Agriculture – MAgDev.) [4.51-Excellent] – Revisit area IV.

Once the different specific areas noted by the accreditors are complied with and accomplished, that's the only time that the "Qualified for Level IV" accreditation status shall be given to such program.

Once again, the spirit of Christmas is felt by everyone at VSU as the University held its annual lighting ceremony of the Christmas tree and Holy Nativity statuette at the main entrance of the campus. The VSU constituents and other spectators from the neighboring barangays and even from the downtown areas of this city gathered and witnessed the spectacular event that was held on December 3, 2012. The ceremonial lighting at VSU is now in its fourth year since the incumbency of its president, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo.

The Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), Inc. recently awarded "Candidate Status" to all programs submitted for accreditation during the Preliminary Survey Visit by AACCUP to the VSU-Isabel and VSU-Tolosa campuses.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through its chairperson, Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, issued Memorandum Order No. 47 series of 2012 identifying the three universities throughout the country as centers of excellence and centers of development for the communication and development communication programs. The Memo stipulated that the Center of Excellence (COE) in Communication is the University of the Philippines' Department of Communication Research of the College of Mass Communication. The Center of Excellence in Development Communication is the University of the Philippines Los Banos' College of Development Communication.

Dr. Edmundo A. Campoto, president of the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan Eastern Samar and the host institution of the 24th Regional RDE Symposium at VSU, in his message, acknowledged that his being chosen as the president of ESSU was attributed to a great extent with ViCARP. "One major criterion in the selection of a university president is that he/she must have a very good track record in research," Dr. Campoto stressed. "I am deeply indebted to ViCARP for providing a venue for researchers like me to present our scientific activities to show what we are doing in our respective offices or agencies," the new ESSU president added.

The Visayas State University personnel celebrated the Christmas season with a get-together party featuring the different traditions commonly observed during the "Pasko sa Pinas."

The occasion was highlighted with the Christmas message from the VSU President, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo. He underscored that Christmas is a season full of anticipations-we anticipate the long rest from our work, we anticipate the gifts, we anticipate the prizes in stored for the raffle, and we anticipate that the Performance-Based Bonus will be granted.