The Asian Association of Agricultural Colleges and Universities (AAACU) has elected Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President and Board Member of AAACU, as its new second vice president during the 19th AAACU Biennial Convention held on October 10-13, 2012 at the Seoul National University of the Republic of Korea. With the latest development, the Visayas State University Main Campus will be the host institution of the 22nd AAACU Biennial Convention in 2018.

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.