Southern Luzon State University


Southern Luzon State University, formerly known as Southern Luzon Polytechnic College, is the premier, state-funded higher education institution in Quezon Province in the Philippines operating by virtue of Republic Act 9395. It is composed of 11 campuses in the province of Quezon, with the main campus situated in the Municipality of Lucban.
SLSU is mandated to provide advanced education, professional, technological instruction in the fields of allied medicine, education, engineering, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, environment, arts and sciences, accountancy, cooperative, business and entrepreneurship, technology and other relevant fields of study in the Province of Quezon and in Region IV-A CALABARZON. It is also mandated to undertake research and extension services and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization. By virtue of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, SLSU will no longer be collecting tuition fees from its local, first degree undergraduate students.

History

Southern Luzon State University started as Lucban Municipal Junior High School by virtue of Municipal Resolution No. 5 passed in April 1964. The permit to operate was bestowed by Assistant Secretary of Education Hon. Miguel Gaffud in July 1964. On May 1965, Municipal Resolution No. 86 was passed requesting the change of name to Lucban Municipal High School. The Director of Public Schools of the time approved the resolution in August 1965. Lucban Community College was created and was made part of Lucban Municipal Junior School as an adjunct institution for its School of Education in June 1968.
Lucban School for Philippine Craftsmen formally started in July 1970 by virtue of Republic Act 4345 also known as the merger law, combining the Lucban Municipal high School and Lucban School of Philippine Craftsmen to form the Lucban National High School in July 1972. In 1981, 20 Assemblymen of the Southern Tagalog Region sponsored the Parliamentary Bill No. 173 for the conversion of Lucban National College into Southern Luzon Polytechnic College. The bill was approved in December 1981 and was signed into law known as Batas Pambansa No. 145 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Since then, SLPC grew to establish seven satellite campuses located in various parts of the province of Quezon. The first satellite campus was inaugurated in Alabat in July 1991. In 1991, SLPC-Polilio was created by virtue of Board Resolution No. 19, Series of 1992. In the following year, two additional campuses were established: SLPC-Sampaloc in Brgy. Caldong, Sampaloc, Quezon and SLPC-Infanta. In 1996, another campus, the SLPC-Lucena Dual Training and Livelihood Center, was established under Board Resolution No. 130, series of 1996. Judge Guillermo Eleazar Polytechnic College was integrated in February 2002 under Board Resolution No. 352, series of 2002.
Dr. Angelo Quevedo-Peña was the founder and first president of SLPC. He served from 1964-1986. Dr. Palermo Salvacion served as the Officer-in-Charge of the College in 1986. In 1987, Dr. Ernesto de Chavez led the school and left office in June, 1990. Dr. Joselito B. Jara took his post as College President in 1990. On May 31, 2002, Dr. Cornelio D. Esquieres became the college president until his demise in August 2004.
Dr. Cecilia N. Gascon, who was then Vice President for Research, Extension, Production and Development, was designated as Officer-in-Charge of the College in January 2004 and eventually as acting president to serve the unfinished term of Dr. Esquieres until May 31, 2006. On June 1, 2006, the Board appointed Dr. Gascon as the full-fledged College President, disappointing groups who were calling for a search for a new College President to be conducted. On March 17, 2007, SLPC was converted to Southern Luzon State University by virtue of R.A. 9395 signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Dr. Gascon became the first university president by virtue of Board Resolution No. 609 Series of 2007.
The first female president of the institution, Dr. Gascon's term paved ways to extensive infrastructure development, faculty and staff development, internationalization, and quality assurance. The most notable infrastructures that were built during her term are the Main Library Building, Administration Building, Science and Technology Building, and Business Administration Building in the main campus. New satellite campuses in Tiaong and Gumaca were established, while extension classes in Agriculture and Teacher Education were conducted in Catanauan, Sariaya, and Calauag.
An environmental advocate herself, Dr. Gascon has lobbied for a law that would protect the Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal landscape. A product of her extensive research work in Mt. Banahaw, Republic Act 9847 otherwise known as Mt. Mts. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape Act of 2009 was signed into law in December 2009. As the sole educational institution that is recognized as steward of Mt. Banahaw, SLSU receives a Php 1 Million yearly endowment from the Quezon Provincial Government until 2026.
Dr. Gascon's administration has also made possible for the first time the joint international teaching and learning opportunities between SLSU and Vietnam's Thai Nguyen University. It was also in her term when degree programs and institutional services were subjected to external audit, primarily by the AACCUP, for quality assurance. By the end of her term in 2015, SLSU was granted the ISO 9001:2008 Certification for Quality Management System, and the Commission on Higher Education distinction as the Regional Center of Development in Teacher Education and Forestry. Based on a joint CHED and Department of Budget and Management evaluation of the University's performance between 2007 and 2015, SLSU was ranked a notch higher from being Level II in 2007 to a Level III higher education institution in 2016. SLSU graduates have also consistently ranked high in licensure examinations administered by the Professional Regulation Commission, specifically in the fields of Nursing, Teacher Education, Forestry, Agriculture, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Faculty members have likewise been sent abroad for postgraduate studies, short-term training, exchange programs, and research fora as part of the administration's intensive capacity building program.
After her term, Dr. Cecilia N. Gascon was elected and appointed University President of Bulacan State University in 2015.
On April 30, 2015, Dr. Milo O. Placino took his oath as the sixth president of SLSU. Dubbed 'SLSU in the 21st Century', the administrative policy of Dr. Placino and his administration was geared towards aggressively improving University facilities, especially those in the satellite campuses, and continuing measures that ensure the delivery of quality education and services to its students and the greater community. Although met with strong criticisms, his policy on establishing flagship programs for each of the campus of the University was designed to decongest the main campus and to eliminate redundancy in program offerings in hopes of ensuring maximal use of the University's rather limited physical and financial resources. With the support of the City Government of Tayabas the university is expanding into a 50-hectare area in the said city, which will be called the "University City", and once completed will be an extension campus of the main campus in Lucban.
Dr. Placino's term has been challenged by strong criticisms from stakeholders and the community due to the combined effects of the government's transition to the K-12 basic education program and the immediate implementation of the Universal Free Tertiary Education Law or commonly known as "free tuition" law. But by the end of his term on May 9, 2019, his administration has laid the groundwork for the establishment of research centers such as the Coconut Research Center in Catanauan and the Center for Mount Banahaw Studies in Lucban, connecting campuses via its dedicated broadband network, and improving library services and holdings. New laboratories were put up such as the Psychological Laboratory, Birthing Home, and Communications Laboratory in the main campus, and the Design and Innovations Center in the Lucena Campus. SLSU has likewise been granted the ISO 9001:2015 Certification for Quality Management System, and was recognized by the AACCUP in 2018 as one of the top-ranking SUCs in the Philippines in terms of the number of degree programs accredited. In addition, infrastructures in the satellite campuses were given a facelift, while new academic programs were opened to accommodate a greater number of students.
Immediately after his term, the Board designated Dr. Marissa Cadao-Esperal as Officer-in-charge until the election of Dr. Doracie Zoleta-Nantes on September 30, 2019.
On September 30, 2019, Dr. Doracie Zoleta-Nantes took her oath as the seventh President of the University before the University's Board of Regents. The immediate past President of Aurora State College of Technology, having served as Professor for 25 years at the University of the Philippines Diliman's Geography Department, and having conducted and been recognized for her research on Disaster Risk Reduction, Dr. Zoleta-Nantes envisions SLSU to be "an international academic hub that integrates disciplinary studies and professional skills development, pursues Centers of Excellence and Development in all its curricular programs, undertakes multidisciplinary research projects, and delivers relevant community extension programs." Among her priorities are the offering of Veterinary Science and Doctor of Medicine programs and the establishment of a Center for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in SLSU.

Board of Regents

As of October, 2019, the following is the list of Southern Luzon State University's Board of Regents, the highest policy-making body of the institution.
Board Member
ChairpersonLilian de las LlagasCommissioner, Commission on Higher Education
Vice ChairpersonDoracie Zoleta-NantesPresident of Southern Luzon State University
MemberJoel VillanuevaChairperson, Senate Committee on Higher Education
MemberMark GoChairperson, House Committee on Higher Education
MemberAlexander MadrigalRegional Director, DOST
MemberLuis BanuaRegional Director, NEDA IV-A
MemberLucy KopokPrivate Sector Representative
MemberRenato V. DevezaPrivate Sector Representative
MemberRichard VeluzPresident, SLSU Faculty Federation
MemberJoel ErandioPresident, Alumni Association, Inc.
MemberGeraldine Astrid A. AguilarPresident, Supreme Student Council Federation

Aurora L. Sumague serves as the University and Board secretary.

Awards and Recognitions

SLSU is the Commission on Higher Education Center of Development in Teacher Education and Forestry. It is also an accredited "Dark Green School", which means that SLSU's instruction, research, and extension activities are geared towards environmental awareness and protection.
In 2018, the University is assessed as a Level III State University by the CHED, a level higher than in the 2007 evaluation. Based on the CHED-Department of Budget and Management Joint Circular, a Level III SUC is "very good in undertaking the functions of a state university/college", that is, instruction, research, and extension. In 2018, the AACCUP recognized SLSU as a top ranking SUC in the Philippines in terms of number of degree programs accredited.
The University has also been recognized by the Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines for top performance in licensure examinations and for producing topnotchers in board examinations in the fields of Nursing, Midwifery, Teacher Education, Forestry, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Technician, Mechanical Engineering, and Accountancy. In fact, in 2015, FindUniversity.PH ranks SLSU as the 17th best performing University in the Philippines, and the 2nd best performing State University in Region IV-A CALABARZON among Philippine Universities with at least 15 PRC Board Examinations.

Quality Assurance

As a State University, SLSU is mandated to submit its programs and services to external audit for quality assurance. In terms of instruction, research, and extension services, periodic survey visits are conducted by the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines. In terms of its management, it has been evaluated and granted the ISO 9001-2015 Certification for Quality Management System. The university is the first State University in the Southern Tagalog region to be ISO certified for Quality Management System in 2015. The Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines, on the other hand, conducts its in-house Institutional Sustainability Assessment
As of May, 2017, 97% of all curricular programs both from the undergraduate and graduate levels in the main campus have been accredited by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines. Curricular programs in its satellite campuses in Tagkawayan and Tiaong have likewise been subjected to accreditation visits.

Colleges, Campuses and degree programs

The Lucban main campus is home to five colleges: Allied Medicine, Teacher Education, Arts and Sciences, Administration, Business, Hospitality Management, and Accountancy, Engineering and Agriculture; one institute, the Institute of Human Kinetics, and various research centers for agricultural and environmental research. Starting A.Y. 2020-2021, the College of Industrial Technology will return to operations offering BS in Industrial Technology programs.
SLSU has satellite campuses in: Lucena, Tagkawayan, Alabat, Polillo, Tiaong, and Infanta. New satellite campuses have been/ will be opened in Gumaca, Catanauan, Tayabas, and Calauag.
The University also has key partner educational institutions in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Malaysia, and the United States. The partnerships allow educational exchange opportunities among the students and faculty of both parties. The University, together with the International School of Thai Nguyen University in Vietnam offers Joint academic programs in Business Administration, Environmental Science, and English language teaching.
The following lists the academic programs offered by the university in the different colleges in the Lucban main campus and satellite campuses:
Graduate school
Administered by the College of Teacher Education
Administered by the College of Arts and Sciences
Administered by the College of Administration, Business, Hospitality Management and Accountancy
Administered by the College of Agriculture
Administered by the College of Allied Medicine
International programs
Doctoral programs
Master's programs
Undergraduate programs
Short courses
College of Agriculture
'
  • Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Major in: Animal Science, Crop Science, Organic Agriculture
  • Bachelor of Science in Forestry
  • Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
  • Bachelor of Agricultural Technology
College of Administration, Business, Hospitality, and Accountancy
  • Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Major in: Marketing Management, Human Resource & Development Management, Financial Management
  • Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
  • Bachelor of Public Administration
College of Allied Medicine
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology
  • Midwifery
College of Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
College of Arts and Sciences
  • Bachelor of Arts in Communication
  • Bachelor of Arts major in History
  • Bachelor of Arts major in Psychology
  • Bachelor of Science in Mathematics major in Statistics
  • Bachelor of Science in Biology
College of Teacher Education
'
Major in: English, Filipino, Mathematics, MAPEH , Physical Science, Social Studies
Major in: Industrial Arts, Information and Communication Technology, Home Economics

Institute of Human Kinetics

Laboratory Schools
College of Industrial Technology


Alabat Campus
Calauag Campus
Catanauan Campus
Gumaca Campus
Infanta Campus
Judge Guillermo Ellazar Polytechnic College - Tagkawayan Campus
Major in: Marketing Management, Financial Management
Major in: English, Mathematics, Science
Lucena City Campus
Major in: Computer Programming, Food & Service Management
Polillo Campus
Tayabas City Campus
Tiaong Campus
Major in: Crop Science, Organic Agriculture

Facilities

College of Engineering
College of Allied Medicine