A Brief History of the University of Pangasinan

The University of Pangasinan started operation in 1925 as the Dagupan Institute. It was founded by the late Dean Francisco Benitez of the University of the Philippines, who became the chairman of the Board of Directors, the late Dr. Apolinario delos Santos who was then President of the University of Manila; the late Dr. Mariano delos Santos, then Dean of Faculty of the University of Manila; Dr. Sylvestre Pascual, and the late Dr. Blas F. Rayos, then Dean of the College of Education of the University of Manila. Dr. Rayos became the President of the school and headed it for 45 years until 1975 when he passed away and was succeeded by his son, George O. Rayos, who sat as president of the institution until 1987.

The Dagupan Institute officially opened with elementary, secondary and vocational courses as initial programs. These courses were granted recognition in 1927 by the Department of Public Instruction

Associate of Arts and BAchelor of Arts were opened in 1937 and Education in 1941. Also in 1941, theDagupan Institute was renamed the Dagupan Junior Colleges. Its smooth operation was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II in December 1941. It resumed operation in 1945 and offered new programs soon after, namely;

• Engineering, Law, Home Economics, Nursing, Commerce, Master of Arts in Education major in school administration, general education, guidance and elementary education, and new majors in the bachelors degree in Education

In 1950, the school assumed the name Dagupan Colleges (DC) and went on to expand its offerings to include new majors in Commerce in 1951 and Engineering in 1952. Other academic programs were given recognition:

• Review classes in Nursing in 1954;

• Industrial Education, Journalism, Foods and Nutrition, Elementary Education, M.A. Philosophy and Master of Science in Business Administration in 1959;

• MAEd in General Education and in Guidance in 1960;

• Sanitary Engineering in 1965;

• CPA Review class in 1966;

• Civil Engineering review class in 1967;

• Geodetic Engineering and BSN Supplental in 1968; and

• Elementary Education in 1968.

It was July 3, 1968 when the school eventually earned the much coveted university status and assumed the name University of Pangasinan. Other programs were offered thereafter, namely;

• MBA 1969;

• Doctor of Education, 1973;

• Master of Science in Management Engineering, 1975;

• MA in Business Education, 1969;

• BS Architecture and Associate in Secretarial Administration in 1969;

• MAEd major in Teaching English as a Second Language in 1972;

• Special courses in Government Accounting and Auditing in 1976;

• Medical Technology, 1977 and

• MAEd major in Nursing Education in 1977.

The four-year course in Bachelor of Science in Nursing was opened in 1976 to supersede the BSN supplemental course.

The year 1987 witnessed a change of administration of the University. The Board of Trustees was reconstituted with Mr. Cesaer T. Duque as Chairman. It was Dean Manuel R. Poco then dean of the College of Commerce to whom the administration of the university was entrusted; he remained Managing Director for one year.

Mr. Cesar T. Duque assumed the presidency in 1988. With him at the helm, the university continued to adhere to its commitment to academic excellence and leadership in different professions. To attain relevance and responsiveness to the changes in the needs of the times, it opened in the '90s the following curricular programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Information Management. 1992;

• Associate in Computer Technology, 1994;

• Medical Assistant Course, 1994

• Midwifery Course, 1996

• Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, 1998;

• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, 1999;

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, 1999;

• Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting, 1999; and

• Associate in Computer Office Administration, 1999;

Four new programs have been added to the list with the coming of the third millennium:

• Caregiver Course, 2004;

• Bachelor of Scince in Electrical Engineering, 2005;

• Bachelor of Science in Electronics & Communications Engineering, 2005 and

• Bachelor Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management, 2005

It has, likewise, updated its old programs to include other majors like Physical Education in B.S. Education and Mass Communications in Bachelor of Arts. All curricular programs in the University now carry at least three(3) units in computer education to prepare the school's graduates to surf the waves of the computer oriented world.

The University is one of the only seven HEIs in Region I deputized by the Commission on Higher Education in 1999 to offer the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP). Courses offered are BS Nursing, BS Commerce, BS Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Arts, Teacher Education and Midwifery. It is the only HEI in Region I deputized to pilot the ladderized programs in Information Technology and Nursing as provided in Executive Order No. 358. The project starts SY 2005-2006

To maintain its place in academic circles, the University has taken an active role in the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU); it is also a member of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) which has recognized its excellence in the following programs: Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Bachelor of Elementary Education; BAchelor of Secondary Education; Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Management, Banking & Finance and Economics; and BAchelor of Arts in English, History, Political Science and Mass Communications.

The university has also consistently produced board placers in civil engineering, architecture, teacher education, medical technology, accountancy and physical therapy. PRC adjudged it to be the 4th Best Performing School in Midwifery in 1988 and the 5th Best Performing School in Architecture in 2000. In the study of Arceo it was named as the 6th Best Performing School in Teacher Education in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Now on its 82nd year of excellent service in education, the University of Pangasinan is not resting on its laurels. Under the able stewardship of its new President, Dr. Catalino P. Rivera, who recently steered the University into being identified as the National Networks of Quality Assurance Agencies Center for Research, Training and Consultancy, it is exploring novel ways of furthering its services to the nation through the realignment of its vision towards the transformation of people and communities and the strengthening of its commitment to the carrying out of ideas: PATRIA, SCIENCTIA et VIRTUS.