The Mindanao State University System

The Mindanao State University was created under Republic Act 1387, as amended and authored by the late Senator Domocao A. Alonto who is now known as the “Father of the University.” It was formally organized on September 1, 1961 with Dr. Antonio Isidro as its founding president. Located in Marawi City, the University formally opened first classes on June 13, 1962 with 282 students who passed the scholarship examination administered by the National Science Development Board within the MINSUPALA region. Classes were handled by 19 faculty members and staff. The three (3) pioneering colleges are the following: Liberal Arts, Education and Community Development and Public Administration.

The University started to evolve from a single campus educational institution of higher learning to a multi—campus university when in 1968, Congress approved Republic Act 5363 changing the name of Northern Institute of Technology in Iligan City to.11igan Institute of Technology and categorizing it as a unit of MSU. The main thrust of MSU-I IT is to provide a program for an effective manpower training urgently needed fOr the industrial and commercial development of the Mindanao regions.

A year later, the Sulu College of Technology and Oceanography was established in Bongao, Sulu (now the Province of Tawi-Tawi) pursuant to Republic Act 6060 which likewise made it an integral unit of the University. It is mandated to extend to the Muslims and other cultural minority groups the opportunities of college education to promote Muslim welfare and hasten the economic development of the southern—most region of the country. Its academic programs are focused on the effective utilization and conservation of the fisheries resources in the Sulu Seas. It is likewise mandat d to undertake research in fish processing and culture and in oceanography. The Board of Regents changed the name Sulu College of Technology and Oceanography to Tawi- Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography in 1976 after the province of Sulu was split into Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, since the campus was geographically situated in the province of Tawi-Tawi to avert confusion.

In the 70’s, four more campuses were established by the Board of Regents. MSU at Naawan was established in the Municipality of Naawan, Misamis Oriental in 1971. It is involved in extensive training and research in fisheries and aquaculture. In 1973, MSU General Santos was organized out of a Community High School to concentrate on the expansion and innovation of programs in agribusiness. This campus is located in General Santos City. Within the same year, what started out as a Community College at Dinaig evolved into MSU Maguindanao to specialize in aquaculture, forestry, fisheries and community development. In Sulu, the Board of Regents established MSU Sulu Development and Technical College in 1974 with emphasis on development orientation and technical training to hasten the economic, social and cultural development of the Province of Sulu. It is now renamed MSU Sulu.

In 1982, what started as a self-liquidating community high school established by MSU was elevated into a collegiate level named MSU Buug College. In September 2010, it gained autonomy by virtue of BOR Resolution No. 168, s. 2010. MSU Buug’s mission is to provide quality education in arts, sciences and technology in agriculture and forestry as its flagship programs, giving more emphasis on plantation crops. MSU Buug is located in the agricultural province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

These campuses are autonomous, and each is headed by a chancellor who is elected by the Board of Regents for a term of five years. The campus in Marawi serves as the main campus of the University and the President performs the duties and responsibilities of the Chancellor. The Chancellors of MSU-IIT, MSU-TCTO and MSU- General Santos City are members of the Board of Regents pursuant to Memorandum Order No.45 signed by Executive Secretary Joker P. Arroyo on November 7, 1986 and ratified by then President Corazon C. Aquino on March 19, 1987.

On February 13, 2001, the Board of Regents approved the integration of three CHED-Supervised Institutions (CSIs) to MSU pursuant to pertinent provisions of RA No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994” and RA No. 8292 or “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997” and RA No. 8760, otherwise known as the “General Appropriation Act of FY 2000”. The three compelling reasons leading to the integration were: (1) promoting quality education; (2) rationalization of tertiary education; and (3) maximization of resources. These three institutions integrated to the University are: Lanao National College of Arts and Trades (LNCAT) in Marawi City; Maigo School of Arts and Trades (MSAT) in Maigo, Lanao del Norte; and Lanao Norte Agricultural College (LNAC) in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte. 

At present, MSU as a System, has 11 Constituent Universities and Colleges strategically located in the Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan (MinSuPala) regions.

The System Administration shall be responsible for the formulation, planning, controlling, monitoring and review, coordination and integration of system-wide policies, programs, systems and procedures, standards, activities and functions while establishing a decentralized system of autonomous campuses which shall be responsible for campus-oriented academic, administrative and service functions.