Underscoring the university’s commitment to academic excellence, future plans, and outstanding accomplishments, Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) President Dr. Dennis C. de Paz delivered his 2nd State of the University Address to the EVSU community held at the Miguel Romualdez Memorial Auditorium, Tuesday, August 29.

The ceremony, in connection with the institution’s 19th Charter Anniversary Celebration, was attended by the different Administrative Heads, Campus Directors, guests, faculty members, and non-teaching staff serving as witnesses as the president bannered a year of togetherness in achieving excellence and work accomplishments under his administration.

Beginning his Address, the President took pride in sharing how he managed to maneuver the university in realizing its plans and targets and in leading the institution in its pursuit of becoming a leading state university.

“As your captain, I am entrusted with the great responsibility of steering the university in the right direction considering the demands and challenges of this fast-paced world we live in. In the process of steering the wheel of leadership, you and I – and every one of us- in this academic community have a great role to play in ensuring that our plans and targets come to fruition”, the president stressed.

Additionally, Dr. de Paz proudly shared how the institution has become a solid training ground for the students even its faculty members and administration officers in shaping their skills, personal development, and leadership capabilities.

“The Eastern Visayas State University throughout its 116 years of existence has been a learning institution that continuously polishes individuals’ potentials- from the students, faculty and staff, its administration, and leaders. EVSU has cultivated fertile soil that has become a breeding place of quality and qualified professionals across disciplines, ethical researchers, and renowned and promising leaders”, exclaimed Dr. de Paz.

As he continued, the president enumerated achievements of the university in the fields of financial resource utilization, governance, quality assurance, licensure exam performance of the graduates, personnel development, curricular programs revision, student development and welfare, and the awards and recognition the university has amassed.

Dr. de Paz stressed the product of good governance after a successful implementation of the Smart Campus Enhancement Program with its Phase 1 catering to the construction of the Innovation Hub Building for the Data Center, the Command Center, the Fabrication Lab, and the Metals Engineering and Innovation Center.

Moreover, the SUA highlighted the different programs granted with the Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) issued by the Commission on Higher Education and the high percentage garnered by the university in terms of the programs accredited by the AACCUP proving the strong quality assurance of the institution.

Moving towards student achievements, the president proudly presented the EVSU graduates who have successfully secured the top spots in their respective and recent field licensure examinations giving the spotlight to topnotchers EVSUnistas.

“One indicator of quality education is the performance of students in licensure examinations. We take pride in our university being home to high-caliber students who have performed meritoriously in various licensure examinations and some even made it to the list of topnotchers”, the President proudly said.

Meanwhile, the president has also featured his commitment to developing the skills and competencies of the faculty members and non-teaching staff with his initiatives in personnel development for he believes that investing in the people is one key to the success of one’s institution.

“As your President, I believe that an investment in people is an investment in success. I think of it not as a cost, but as a wise investment for our people and in effect, for the university at large. Hence, we have instituted some plans and strategies to improve our faculty and nonteaching staff’s existing competencies and develop new ones”, he added.

Furthermore, the president utilized the SUA as an avenue in priming the outstanding achievement of the university in the field of research and journal publication, innovation, and extension services, internationalization initiatives, partnerships, and collaborations, virtual staffing solutions, development of physical facilities and infrastructures, and his plans and initiatives in gender development.

Concluding the address, Dr. de Paz left a remarkable message in the challenge of making the university that embodies the true essence of being an institution and exercising freedom.

“Let EVSU be a university that fosters freedom of inquiry, freedom of discussion, and freedom of teaching for these are the essence of a true university. In fact, it will be appalling if we do not engage in these intellectual academic discussions leading us to further improvement”, concluded the president.

Articles by Carol Morados