The University charter was laid down by two Presidential Decrees, PD 1434 and PD 1437. On June 10, 1978, then President Ferdinand Marcos issued PD 1434 which established the Isabela State University by merging the Isabela State College of Agriculture (ISCA) at Echague, the Cagayan Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT) at Cabagan, and absorbing the college courses of the Isabela School of Arts and Trades (ISAT) in Ilagan, Roxas Memorial Agricultural and Industrial School (RMAIS) in Roxas, San Mateo Vocational and Industrial School (SMVIS) in San Mateo and Jones Rural School in Jones Isabela. The merger identified Echague Campus as the main campus and administrative site, and mandated the University to establish an effective and efficient institution of higher learning that will provide better service in the professional and technical training in agriculture, the arts, sciences, humanities, and technology and in the conduct of scientific researches and technological studies.
In 1999, the CHED Memo Order no. 18 s. 1999 which provides the guidelines for the integration of CHED institutions (CSIs) to SUCs was enacted. Pursuant to this Order the first CHED supervised institution that was integrated to the University is the CauayanPolytechnicCollege at Cauayan, Isabela. In Year 2002, three CSIs were again integrated into the system, namely the Roxas Memorial Agricultural and Industrial School (RMAIS) in Roxas, Isabela; the Delfin Albano Memorial Institute of Agriculture and Technology (DMIAT) in San Mariano, Isabela; and the Angadanan Agro-Industrial College (AAIC) in Angadanan, Isabela. Through collaborative efforts of LGU Palanan and Santiago City, two extension campuses were created causing the ISU to have eleven campuses at present.
The Isabela State University System is strategically located in the middle of the Cagayan Valley Region, which composed of the island group of Batanes, the valley provinces of Cagayan and Isabela and the generally mountainous provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. These five provinces are composed of about 92 municipalities, 2 cities and 2,292 barangays. Coincidentally, the ISU satellite campuses are situated along the regions “Midrib-Peripheral Growth Centers and Socio-Economic Development Zone” where the major urban and commercial centers of the region are located. Another strategic advantage is the University’s proximity to the site of the Regional Agro-Industrial Center (RIC) of Cauayan, Isabela and its accessibility to Sta. Ana, Cagayan, the entry point for International trade, and also Tuguegarao and Santiago cities, the regional trade and financial/commercial centers of the region, respectively.
Thirty-two years after its establishment, with its ten (9) campuses and two (2) extension campuses strategically located in the province of Isabela, the University has become a credible institution of learning and recently assumed leadership roles in research not only in Region 02, but also in the country and in Asia. As early as 1978, it became the Regional Center for at least twelve commodity programs on training, research and development through a consortium – the Cagayan Valley Agricultural and Resources Research and Development based at Echague Campus. In 1998, 2000, and 2001, PCARRD awarded CVARRD the most coveted “Ugnay Award” for the year with Plaque of Recognition and one- million peso cash incentive. It is now also the center in Asia on Program on Environmental and Development through the CVPED in collaboration with the Leiden UniversityNetherlands. In SY 1996-1997, the Isabela State University was identified as Center for Environmental Science, a pioneer course that was offered since SY 1996-1997. Earlier in 1995, the EDPITAF identified the University as the Regional Agricultural College, a position requiring the University to oversee the AGRITECH Program, a joint project in agricultural education (i.e. DAT-BAT Curriculum) between the Philippines and Australia.
In 1996, two new international linkage projects thru the CVPED were put up at Cabagan Campus, namely, the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park Conservation Project (NSMNP-CP) sponsored by the State of Netherlands through the Directorate General for International Cooperation.; the Community Forest Regeneration Project (COMFREP) funded by the USAID which was established to become the center of excellence in community-based and grassland regeneration in Region 02.
In more recent years, the university has become a relevant base of electronic information facilities established in the region by various institutions. These are anchored on programs that have varying mandates but are focus on a global concern to foster optimum utilization of information through the power of computerization. At least 3 major programs were institutionalized in the University Instruction and R & D. The Agriculture and Fisheries Research and Development Information System (AFRDIS) installed by the Bureau of Agriculture Research is the electronic information backbone that aims to facilitate agriculture development in Region 02. It is the main hub of ISU’s research program, connecting other departments and colleges at the main campus, including pertinent agriculture research centers in the region, thus, strengthening the University links to global knowledge via the Internet. Another collborative program among agricultural agencies and SUCs in the country with ISU as the base institution is the Open Academy Both the AFRDIS and the OPAPA aim to strengthen knowledge generation and research utilization. And, at present the university is the affiliate in region 02 for the CISCONetworking Academy and the Yapster e-learning, both of which enable e-learning techniques for the ICT curriculum. The Extension Program of the university continuously figures as the university’s main link to farm families and various communities. Extension programs are focused on promotion and commercialization of technologies for self sufficiency and development. Likewise, the university production thrust keeps on developing collaborative projects and prospective income generating enterprises to complement academic, research and extension, and other university concerns.
The University’s curriculum and graduate’s performance in licensure examinations has made ISU the current regional center of excellence in Forestry. Since its elevation into full-fledged university in 1978, graduates notably of agricultural engineering, too, have brought pride as topnotch board passers giving recognition to the university as one of the top performing schools in forestry and agricultural engineering in the country in 2001 and 2002, respectively; and produced the 3rd placer in the agricultural engineering board examinations again in 2005. In the Board Examination for Civil Engineers, ISU ranked no. 3 in the National Passing Performance in 2002, 5th in 2004, and the first in region wide school performance in 2005. Veterinary Medicine produced the second placer in t998 and the fourth placer in 2005 board examinations. High passing rate was also obtained in the Electrical Engineering board examination in 2005. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) on the other hand, granted full accreditation to the university in 2002, following an endorsement from an internal audit system that regularly analyzes and monitors staffing and performance of various units of the university.
The ISU has a Graduate School; thirteen (13) colleges, namely Agriculture, Engineering, Architecture and Technology, Teacher Education, Arts and Sciences, Forestry, Business, Accountancy and Public Administration, Business and Management, Nursing, Development Communication and Arts and Sciences, Forestry and Environmental Management, Law, and Polytechnic College, Computing and Information, Industrial Technology Education; three (3) schools, namely, Polythechnic, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Arts and Criminology; four (4) institutes, namely, the Information and Communication Technology, Teacher Education, Agricultural Technology, and Provincial Technical Institute of Agriculture; one (1) special program which is Expanded Tertiary Education and Equivalency Academic Program (ETEEAP) and three (3) laboratory high schools.
The University offers various academic programs through its different campuses. At present Echague Campus offers 16 courses in the graduate level, five (5) doctorate degrees and 11 masters degrees; 23 undergraduate courses. Cabagan Campus offers six (6) degree programs in the graduate level; thirteen (13) in the degree and two (2) non-degree courses. The Ilagan Campus offers one (1) graduate program; eight (8) undergraduate programs and one (1) non-degree program. Roxas Campus now offers six (6) degree courses. San Mateo Campus offers three (3) degree courses. Jones Campus offers five (5) degree courses. To date, Cauayan Campus offers 1 graduate, 12 undergraduate and 5 non-degree programs. Angadanan Campus offers 5 undergraduate programs and one (1) non-degree program; and San Mariano offers seven (7) degree programs. While the two extension campuses; Palanan extension campus offers 4 undergraduate programs, and Santiago City extension campus offers two (2) degree programs. Majority of all these degree programs have attained various level/status in the accreditation process by the AACCUP. As of SY 2010-2011, a total enrolment of 26,111 in all the university academic programs is registered.
The governing and the highest policy making body of ISU is vested in the Board of Regents. The President as the Vice-Chairman of the BOR and the Chief Executive Officer of the University exercises general administration and supervision to all officers, faculty and staff. Authority is vested in the University President and is delegated to other university officials to achieve efficiency, economy and effectiveness in the delivery of service. The dynamic organization of the University is reflective of shared management in governance towards the fulfillment of its vision, mission and goals and the improvement of its mandated role. With the approval of the new organizational structure, clustering of campuses was implemented to ease program management.
As of CY 2010, the ISU has a total of 364 administrative and non-teaching personnel. Most of these staff members are full-time permanent and majority of them are career professionals. And, out of the 650 faculty members of the University, more than 85% of them are full time permanent employees while 15% are on contractual status. Majority of the faculty members are Masters Degree Graduates, with an increasing number working toward the doctoral degree. A predominant number occupy the rank of assistant professor. Majority of the faculty members and staff have been sent to various national and International trainings and are now experts in their areas of concern. Many of them have attained regional recognitions as consultants, scholars, and researchers.
University’s Vision and Mission
ISU’s Strategic Development Plan of 2007-2011 defines its vision as follows:
The Isabela State University, a globally recognized institution of higher learning for people empowerment and sustainable development embodying excellence, effectiveness, accountability and integrity.
As embodied in the newly approved University Strategic Plan 2007-2011 (BOR Res. 44, s 2007), the University shall exert all its efforts to endeavor in programs that will empower its clients that are undertaken in a sustainable manner. These programs are attuned to global needs embodying the values of excellence, effectiveness, accountability and integrity.
Such vision guided the earlier programs and actions of the University being a major state educational institution in Cagayan Valley to respond to the development challenges confronting the region, and sustain its active role in socio-economic development in order to uplift the quality of life of the people in the province of Isabela and the Cagayan Valley as well.
Presidential Decree No. 1434, known as the University Charter, states that the University “shall provide advanced instruction in the arts, agriculture and natural sciences as well as in the technological and professional fields”. This has been the continuing commitment of the ISU since it became a state university in 1978. And, with the drafting of its 5-Year Institutional Development Plan 2007-2011, the marching order of the university is to produce professionally competent graduates in their chosen field of specialization and equipped with sound moral principles. Thus, the standing mission and its core value statements of the University are as follows:
Mission Statement:
The Isabela State University is committed to train and develop students to become professionally competent graduates who are equipped with sound moral principles; and to serve the community through research, extension and resource generation by way of inspired leadership and responsive manpower.
Excellence
ISU commits itself to dispensing its functions with productivity and exemplifying its values with distinction and brilliance. Every work manifests a distinct quality and every individual persistently strives to meritoriously improve his/her performance and value system every single time.
Effectiveness
ISU desires a far-reaching and long-lasting useful impact on every individual, every institution and on various other entities both in the local and international scenes that can be translated into a holistic growth of people, of the country and of the world.
Accountability
ISU commits to being answerable to everyone, to every appropriate authority and to the laws of the land and of God in everything that it does. It submits itself to the highest principles of responsibility, responsiveness and moral uprightness.
Integrity
ISU adheres to high moral soundness internally and externally. It dispenses and upholds honesty in thoughts, in words and in deeds and conducts transactions with transparency and accountability. It submits itself to the highest level of professional standard and individual and corporate wholeness. The Lord God is its icon of integrity.
Dr. Quilang provided the university with new policy directions and sets the new horizons for ISU to stride.
To give ISU a boost in its administrative management, Dr. Quilang spearheaded the formulation of campus clustering breaking the long chain of onerous per campus management. To date, there are four clusters comprising the whole ISU system – the Echague cluster constituting of Echague Campus, Jones Campus, Angadanan Campus and Santiago City, Cauayan cluster consisting of San Mateo Campus, Roxas Campus and Cauayan Campus, Cabagan cluster comprising Cabagan Campus and Palanan Campus and Ilagan cluster covering San Mariano and Ilagan campuses. Another milestone in his administration is the formulation of the new University Organizational Structure which placed a better management system.
He served as third ISU President. During his time, ISU for one realized the need to align all facets of the academe to the new era. Despite financial setbacks and impending forced financial autonomy from the government, the university strived to take more insistent steps of filling resource gaps to meet its goals. His four years term was consequently focused on competitive instruction, timely Research and Development and Extension (RDE), and aggressive measures for financial stability.
He served as the second president of the university after his appointment on August 1, 1987. It was during his term that pioneering degree programs in Asia and the country, e.g. B.S.A. in Farming Systems, B.S. Agritech, B.S. Food Engineering, B.S. Development Management Education were established. He started offering doctoral programs major in: Agricultural Sciences, Occupational Education and Institutional Development and Management. He caused the delineation of 3.5 hectares of land which is now the site of the Ilagan campus. He was also instrumental in the construction of four buildings for the campus next to the Ilagan School of Arts and Trades campus. During his term, ISU was named the lead agency in establishing national (AEOP, Environmental Development Program, etc.) and regional (Provincial Agricultural Institute, local government trainings, DA-DENR, etc) programs and projects. Under his leadership, the University received recognitions in research in the national level (awarding of Dr. Francisco M. Basuel as one of the six (6) Outstanding Young Scientist of the Philippines) and the regional level (creative research on Legulac Technology, PCARRD funded research project).
He was appointed as the university’s first president by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on October 6, 1978. His administration laid down the groundwork needed for a beginning yet fast developing university by promptly drafting the university’s philosophy, mission, goals and objectives and its strategy for growth and survival which has immediately provided direction to the university. He crafted strategies for effective educational management and development programs which elicited the needed loyalty and commitment to the University from his constituents. His conviction that the Isabela State University should not just be another university but one “that can touch and shape the lives of the people in Isabela as well as in Region 2” became contagious. For democratic and effective management, he organized a group of competent men to backstop him in the task of running a system composed of six developing schools.