Central Luzon State University

History

Central Luzon State University is in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It started as a farm school and in 1907 became Central Luzon Agricultural School (CLAS) with the intention of promoting agriculture and mechanics arts. Later, it included the promotion of homemaking arts among its commitments.

In 1954, CLAS was converted into Central Luzon Agricultural College (CLAC) with the mission of promoting agricultural education. In 1964, it was elevated to a university — the Central Luzon State University — to provide advance instruction and technical and professional training in agriculture and mechanics arts, and promote research, literature, philosophy, sciences, technology and arts. Over the years, CLSU has been known as an agriculture-oriented institution.

In April 2007, CLSU celebrated its centenary.

Present day

Today, it has transformed into a comprehensive university offering undergraduate and graduate courses. Lately, it has been designated as a zonal university in Luzon as one of the more respected institutions of higher learning in the Philippines.

The university is the lead agency of the Muñoz Science Community and the seat of the Regional Research and Development Center in the Central Luzon. To date, CLSU is one of the premier institutions of agriculture in Southeast Asia known for its breakthrough researches in aquatic culture (pioneer in the sex reversal of tilapia), ruminant, crops, orchard, and water management researches.

Campus

CLSU is on a 658-hectare sprawling main campus in the Science City of Muñoz, 150 km north of Manila. It has a more than 1000-hectare site for ranch-type buffalo production and forestry development up the hills of Carranglan town, in northern Nueva Ecija, 40 km from the main campus.

The Main Gate

Showing a farmer with his carabao and plow. School officials and students readily consider CLSU the biggest landmark in Muñoz. In the early 1900s, CLSU made a name by pioneering scientific farming, adopting the half-day academic work and half-day practicum, and promoting citizenship training.

Up to the time it became a university in 1964, the student government ran the affairs of what was then known as “Little Republic.” Its governance was patterned after the setup of the national government and the yearly elections were a much anticipated event.

The Reimer’s Hall

Built during the time of superintendent William Wade Head (1935-1936), was designed to show talking films, then a first in the province.

Made of wood, steel frame and concrete, with a galvanized iron roof, the building was later fitted with acoustics for cinema functions and bowling alleys. It was named Concordia Hall during the time of superintendent Christian Reimer and later renamed Reimer’s Hall.

Equipped with a big stage, the 500-seat hall had been used to stage plays produced by students. In 1939, the school’s first Filipino superintendent, Emeterio Asinas, improved the structure so it can hold functions and social affairs. The most significant affair held there was the inauguration of CLAC on Jan. 6, 1952. Then President Elpidio Quirino and his defense secretary, Ramon Magsaysay, graced the event. Among the other prominent guests were senators, congressmen, Cabinet members, diplomats, school officials and representatives of the country’s top universities and colleges.

Magsaysay would have returned to Reimer’s Hall on April 5, 1955, as Philippine president during the golden jubilee and graduation programs, but he died in a plane crash on March 17, 1955. He would have been conferred the honorary degree of doctor of agricultural education, CLAC continued with the program. Two empty chairs, draped in black, and a speaker’s stand decorated with academic regalia, diploma and citations for Magsaysay were set up on the stage to remember the late president.

A modern auditorium was later built beside Reimer’s Hall during the time of then CLSU president Amado Campos, who changed the complexion of the campus with his more than P45-million infrastructure build-up during his term from 1972 to 1986.

Brief History

Central Luzon State University (CLSU) is one of the renowned and prestigious institutions of higher learning in the Philippines. It has consistently produced well-trained professionals and technicians, provided services with marked excellence.

CLAS: On April 12, 1907, it started as a farm school, the Central Luzon Agricultural School (CLAS), through Executive Order No. 10 issued by then Governor General James F. Smith, James F. Smith. Its initial emphasis was on the development of skilled and technician-type graduates to meet the human resource requirements in the opening and cultivation of rich farmlands.

As a school, CLAS stamped a class of its own. With its unique curriculum, it promoted agriculture and mechanic arts which combined practicum and academic work. In time, CLAS became known as the “mother of vocational agriculture schools” in the country.

CLAC: The school was converted into Central Luzon Agricultural College (CLAC) on December 31, 1950 by virtue of Executive Order No. 393 issued by then President Elpidio Quirino to promote agricultural education. As a higher learning institution, CLAC distinguished itself as the first state college established by the Philippine government to promote agricultural education, agricultural engineering and home economics, among others.

CLSU: On June 18, 1964, CLAC was elevated into Central Luzon State University (CLSU) by virtue of Republic Act No. 4067 “to give professional and technical training in agriculture and mechanic arts; provide advance instruction; promote research, literature, philosophy, the sciences, technology and arts.”

From its basically agricultural orientation, CLSU turned into a comprehensive higher education institution offering various undergraduate and graduate courses.

The CLSU campus is a sprawling 658-hectare area in the Muñoz, 150 km north of Manila. On October 19, 2001, CLSU was launched as the Model Agri-Tourism Site for Luzon under the Philippine Agri-Tourism Program, a joint project of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Tourism.

Research

The Research Program primarily started in 1976 to help graduate students in their agricultural researches. Having momentum and acknowledging the importance of research in an academic community, its thrust expanded to cover several technical researches on selected agricultural commodities. In 1978, the Research and Extension Programs were merged which gave birth to the Research and Development Center (R & DC). The R & DC adopted the pipeline approach as its strategy to spur countryside group for information and technology dissemination and contribute to the realization of the university’s development goals. It relives the maxim “development is research utilized”. Research was, therefore, envisioned to establish a foundation that would accomplish one of the trilogies of functions of the University.

Moving on with this commitment, the R & DC became the Research, Extension and Training (RET) in 1987 where prioritized research programs are important features and are geared towards improving the quality of life of the people it serves.

Today, the Research Office has received prominence and has established a solid ground in its continuous and relentless efforts towards contributing to countryside development.

Ranking

The 2010 survey ranked the Central Luzon State University as sixth of the nine Top Universities for the following: Center of Excellence (COE) in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Fisheries, Veterinary Medicine, Teacher Education; and as Centers of Development (COD) in Biology and Chemistry.

In 2014 the university's ranked dropped to seventh for the following Center of Excellence (COE): agricultural engineering, agriculture, biology, fisheries, teacher education, veterinary medicine and in Centers of Development (COD): chemistry.

In 2015, World Ranking Web of Universities released the list of top 100 colleges and universities from which Central Luzon State University was ranked at 39th.

In June 2015, the Nationwide Ranking of Universities based on board passers Central Luzon State University ranked 21st.

Institutes and Centers

Academics

CLSU is composed of:

In addition, it houses a University Science High School and an Institute of Graduate Studies.

Graduate degree programs

Undergraduate degree programs

Accredited programs

Programs accredited by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines

Source: Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines AACCUP

Photos