University of Southern Philippines Foundation

Historical background

The university was called Southern Institute when it was founded in 1927. The institute began by offering a complete elementary course and the first two years of secondary education. In response to public demand, the secondary course was made complete with the addition of the third and the fourth year levels. Classes were held in a house on Colon Street. With the increase in the school population, the school moved to a more spacious location on Mabini Street.

Collegiate courses were opened in 1933. With complete collegiate courses in the Arts and Sciences, Education, Commerce, Law and Engineering, the name was changed to Southern College in 1937.

The Second World War in 1942–45 razed the buildings to the ground with the exception of the façade of the Administration Building. The U.S. Army occupied the campus. After the war the school was reconstructed, using the surplus materials bought from the U.S. Army.

In 1949, the Southern College was granted the permit to open a graduate school. Having attained university status, the name was changed to University of Southern Philippines on July 8, 1949. The graduate courses that have been offered since are Master of Arts in English, Master of Arts in Teaching Sociology, Master of Arts in Teaching English, Master of Laws, and Master of Science in Social Work.

The above expansions caused the Mabini Campus to extend itself to V. Gullas (formerly Manalili) and P. Burgos streets where the Sanson and the Doña Beatriz Hall which house the Elementary Department, the Gonzales Hall which houses the college of engineering, and the Home Economics Building are.

The Engineering Laboratory was at Colon Street and served as a training center for other short-term vocational courses like refrigeration, welding and auto mechanics.

In 1959, the stockholders agreed to dissolve the original stock corporation and converted USP into a non-stock, non-profit foundation. In May 28, 1959, it was registered with SEC as foundation.

Envisioning the eventual congestion at the Mabini Campus and noting the trend of dispersal among educational institutions to the suburbs, the founder, in 1962, established the USP Lahug Campus which is on Salinas Drive. The Lahug Campus is now the main campus of the university.

In 1968 USP founder, engineer Agustin Jereza, died. He left behind a rich legacy of educational opportunities. His heirs have picked up the challenge and are exerting every effort to perpetuate the ideals of the university as envisioned by the founder.

In 1970, the Master of Laws was offered and in 1975 Master of Science in Social Work was added tp the graduate school curricular offerings.

In 1986, graduate school expanded with the opening of Doctor of Education.

On January 25, 1989, fire gutted the Administration Building at the Mabini Campus which housed the library and the administrative offices.

In 1989-90, the university president, engineer Oscar Jereza, Sr. announced the decision reached by the Board of Trustees to temporarily stop operations in all levels at the Mabini Campus. This was aimed at cutting costs by concentrating in one campus — the Lahug Campus. Recognizing the moral obligation of the institution towards the students, classes were conducted for all graduating students at the Lahug Campus during 1990-91. No new enrolees, however, were admitted to college.

By 1991-92, the university, under the leadership of the new president, Dr. Ronald R. Duterte, decided to reopen college operations phasing in the courses by year levels; that is, first year of all recognized courses was offered during this school year; first and second year by 1992-93, and so on until all years are opened.

In 1990 transfer of the college to Lahug Campus was completed. In 1993, the Computer Studies Center was inaugurated. In 1994, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science was offered. In August 1996, the USP Alumni Hall which houses the famous Rizaliana Museum was inaugurated. February 1995, USPF opened the non-academic skills-based Continuing Education Department, now the Learning Resource Center in partnership with the Manpower Resource Center, now TESDA. In June 1999, the College of Law reopened and a new graduate program, Master of Science in Environmental Management was offered.

In 2002, the ground breaking was done for the new building that would house the College of Nursing, College of Computer Studies, College of Law, College of Engineering, and the Theater for Performing Arts.

In 2003, the College of Nursing started in its initial operation and its doing well.

On March 5, 2004, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) issued a permit for USPF to open and conduct first and second years of the four-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy starting June 2004. On March 19, 2004, CHED issued a permit for USPF to open and conduct Diploma in Professional Education (DPEd) and Diploma in Special Education (DSPEd).

On June 10, 2005 CHED issued Government Recognition for USPF to conduct and operate the post baccalaureate diploma in Community Development effective academic year 2005-2006. On the same date, CHED also issued a permit to open and conduct first year of the four-year course in Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship effective Academic Year 2005-2006.

On November 20, 2005, the university president Dr. Ronald R. Duterte died. On December 1, 2005 the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Alicia P. Cabatingan as the new president.

In 2006, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education successfully passed the PACUCOA Level I Accreditation during a visit February 20–22, 2006.

In school year 2007-2008 University of Southern Philippines triumphed over the nationwide results of two of the most prestigious Licensure Exams. The same year the university processed the accreditation of five departments: School of Business and Management, College of Computer Studies and Information Technology and the Basic Education of Mabini and Lahug campuses.

In 2009, USPF started Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, and Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering.

The College of Computer Studies and School of Business and Management was granted Level I Status by the Philippines Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation in 2014.

In school year 2010-2011, two programs were granted Level II Accreditation Status: the Bachelor of Secondary Education and Liberal Arts Programs and Level I Status for the Bachelor of Elementary Education. After the Level II Formal Visit of the Bachelor of Secondary Education, PACUCOA accelerated the program for LEVEL III Format Visit on February next year April 2016.

Graduate school

Doctor of Education

Master of Laws Master of Science in Social Work major in:

Master of Arts in Education major in:

College of Law

College of Pharmacy

Bachelor of Science In Pharmacy major in:

Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics

College of Arts and Sciences

Bachelor of Arts major in:

Bachelor of Science major in:

Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Associate in Hotel & Restaurant Service Technology
Diploma in Community Development

College of Education

Bachelor of Secondary Education major in:

Bachelor of Elementary Education with area concentration in:

Diploma

College of Business and Management

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in:

Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management
Bachelor of Science in Tourism & Travel Management
Associate in Office Administration

College of Accountancy

College of Nursing

College of Computer Studies

Basic Education