The Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology (NONESCOST) in Sagay City, Negros Occidental will have to comply with the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education for the grant of a university status.
This as the measure converting NONESCOST in Sagay and its Laga-an Campus in Calatrava and the campus in Escalante City into the State University of Northern Negros (SUNN) has lapsed into law as Republic Act No. 11859 last month.
A legislative measure lapses into law if the President does not sign or veto it within 30 days of receipt. The bill for the conversion of NONESCOST into a state university, or House Bill 10283, principally authored by then 2nd District Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva, was passed by the House of Representatives on Nov. 8, 2021, and in the Senate on Jan. 31, 2022.
“The conversion of NONESCOST to a state university shall become effective only upon the determination and declaration by the CHED…that the institution has complied with the requirements for a university status,” RA 11859 showed.
This is based on CHED Memorandum Order No. 46, series of 2012, or the Policy-Standard to Enhance Quality Assurance in Philippine Higher Education.
The operational requirements for a university include the employment of full-time, permanent faculty members, who possess relevant degrees in their areas of specialization, and have participated in research and development activities;
A comprehensive range of degree programs in all levels, from basic post-secondary to doctoral programs; conduct of viable research programs in specific disciplinal and multidisciplinary areas of study; establishment and maintenance of comprehensive learning resources and support structures, to include libraries, practicum laboratories, educational resources, and linkages with relevant disciplinal and professional sectors, among others.
The NONESCOST shall retain its status prior to the effectivity of the Act until it is able to comply with the CHED requirements.
Newly-installed NONESCOST president Renante Egcas earlier challenged all teachers, staff, and school stakeholders “to be the rays of the SUNN. Let us work together to prove that in the soon-to-be SUNN, everybody’s future shines brightest”./CGC
