Premier College and Center of Excellence (COE) in Agricultural Education

The former Mindanao Institute of Technology now University of Southern Mindanao was established in 1952 and offered the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree in 1954-55. In 1959, the late President Dominador D. Clemente approved the formation of the Department of Agricultural Education with the late Prof Crisostomo M. Marasigan as its first head.

The Department then became the nucleus of the College of Agriculture two years before the Mindanao Institute of Technology was converted to the University of Southern Mindanao in March 13, 1978. Presently, the CA offers degree programs: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor in Agricultural Technology, Bachelor in Practical Agriculture and Bachelor of Science in Fisheries. It is composed of four departments, namely Department of Crop Science consists of Agronomy and Farming Systems, Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Soil Science and Organic Agriculture, Department of Crop Protection consist of Plant Pathology and Entomology, Department of Animal Science, Department of Agricultural Extension and Department of Fisheries.

The College of Agriculture is the mother unit which led to the creation of the College of Engineering and Computing (CENCOM) from its Department of Agricultural Engineering, College of Business of Development Economics and Management (CBDEM) from its Department of Agricultural Economics and the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) from its Department of Veterinary Medicine.

The College was designated as the Nodal Center of the Mindanao Advanced Education Program (MAEP) in Agriculture in 1997. It became a National Center of Excellence in Agriculture Education by CHED in February 1999. Along with the Center of Excellence achievements academic triumphs were accomplished when the College of Agriculture successfully passed the levels in November 1996 up to the most recent Level IV (Candidate) in November 2016. The college became a center of Development in Agricultural Biotechnology in 2009. Moreover, it became a National University of Agriculture or NUCA under the National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System in 2009. However, from 2009-2014 the College was reverted to a Center of Development in the Agriculture Education Program. Moreover, the ISO 9001:2008 Certification was awarded in February 2017 and recertification of ISO 9001:2015 was awarded in July 2018.

The USM College of Agriculture produced two Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines awardees: Ms. Nanette Hope N. Sumaya in 2006 and Mr. Mehlan R. Josol in 2005.

The College also sent students to the Asian Association of Agricultural Colleges and Universities (AAACU) Study Tour Program and the Virtual Summer Program from 2014 up to present.

The College of Agriculture is also the home of board topnotchers in the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists and Fisheries Professional administered by the Professional Regulation Commission.

TOPNOTCHERS FOR LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR FISHERIES PROFESSIONAL

TOPNOTCHERS FOR LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR AGRICULTURIST

On its journey towards attaining and maintaining a culture of academic excellence and relevance in tertiary education, the College of Agriculture have been led by brilliant men and women at its helm, to wit:

DEANS OF THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO THROUGH THE YEARS

References

Tangonan NG (Editor). 2006. Faculty Manual and Information Bulletin. College of Agriculture, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Cotabato, Philippines, 268 pp

Excerpts from the MIT-University of Southern Mindanao Yearbooks, to wit: Raquel B. Evangelista, Mark Al-jamie J. Muttulani, Bernadith T. Borja, Arlene P. Riogelon, Joan P. Sadoral, Gerwin T. Alcalde, and Julius Jerome G. Ele