Sorsogon State University (SorSu) successfully concluded its three-day Online AACCUP Accreditation Program on November 29, 2023. Faculty, staff, and personnel were present both via Zoom and physically at the Quality Assurance Office in Castilla, marking a significant milestone in its academic journey.
The closing ceremony was a formal affair, commencing with an opening prayer and the rendition of the Philippine National Anthem.
During the program, AACCUP evaluators assessed various academic aspects, with a particular focus on courses offered across SorSu’s two campuses. At SorSu’s Castilla Campus, Dr. Manuel D. Gacutan Jr., an AACCUP Accreditor from Visayas State University, provided insightful feedback on the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) program.
Dr. Gacutan lauded SorSu’s Castilla Campus for its impressive compliance certificates in the BSA program. He highlighted the well-balanced mix of junior and senior instructors and professors, ensuring a sustainable academic workforce ready to support future enrollment growth. Significant investments in infrastructure and agricultural land development, notably the Integrated Academic Laboratory and Library Building, were recognized as promising signs for expanding agricultural courses.
Castilla’s extension services, including the Pili extension program and the Animal Farmers Assistance Center (AFAC), received well-deserved praise. Achievements such as library facility improvements and the groundbreaking of the Angat Buhay Dormitory were also acknowledged.
AACCUP’s recommendations included adopting assessment technologies, establishing consortium linkages for academic and research extensions, and enhancing employment opportunities. SorSu has already taken tangible steps in this direction by forming Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) with partners from Australian and South Korean companies such as Global Skilled Employment Services and Dagam Farm. AACCUP placed significant emphasis on research publication and encouraged instructors to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees, ensuring a sustainable academic program for the next 10-20 years.
The closing ceremony featured an Acceptance of Commitment from Dr. Geraldine F. de Jesus, SorSu’s President, and a virtual performance of the Pantomina by the Kasanggayahan Dance Troupe. Certificates of appreciation were presented to AACCUP accreditation team members, representing diverse institutions across the Philippines.
In conclusion, Prof. Maria Elena C. Demdam, Bulan Campus Director, and Prof. Andrew F. Detera, Campus Director of the Castilla Campus, expressed heartfelt gratitude and reiterated SorSu’s unwavering commitment to excellence. They emphasized SorSu’s dedication to serving the community and echoed the sentiment of a “pamantasang may puso” – a university with a heart, as symbolized by the SorSU Hymn.
Sophia Ansus (The Bloom)
E.J. Arcos
