History (2000...)

A transition point as the University heads for the future, grasps new and emerging technologies, and prepares itself to become globally competitive.

2000
April 2000: PUP Information Technology Center started its operation with Prof. Mely R. Luya as the director. Later that year, it changed its name to Information and Communications Technology Center (PUP ICT Center).

February 2000: The University was conferred by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as a Center of Development for Excellence (CODE) in Information Technology. read news article about this

March 2000:  PUP was designated by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as a Virtual Center for Technology Innovation in Information Technology (VCTI-IT) and during the Year-End Commencement Exercise, PUP was declared an Information Technology Zone.

June 2000: The Master of Science in Information Technology program began with Prof. Rosicar E. Escober as the chairperson.

On June 30, PUP ICT Center was declared as a Microsoft Certified Government Technology Education Center (GTEC).

PUP celebrated its 96th Foundation Anniversary with the theme: "PUP @ 96:  Knowledge Connectivity to e-Economy."

2001
Important developments during this year include:

• Generally, for the period 1998-2001, 45 major projects and 31 minor projects were accomplished, unprecedented physical developments so far in PUP. Among these infrastructure projects includes the CLMC Building and Theater, Student Center, Laboratory High School Building, Interfaith Chapel, Grandstand, Gymnasium and Swimming Pool, and PUP ICT Center Phase 1 and 2;
• Almost all the programs of the academic units of this University have been submitted for accreditation. Four (4) programs have gone through a formal survey and sixteen (16) programs went through the first survey to achieve the enhanced accredited status towards accreditation level 3. In fact, it ranked third in the Top 10 SUC’s with the most number of reaccredited (Level 2) programs which totaled to nine (9) programs. Consequently, it ranked first in the top 12 State Universities and Colleges with the most number of accredited (Level 2) programs which totaled to fifteen (15) programs;
• The performance of PUP graduates in Professional/Licensure Examinations in the fields of Accounting, Architecture, Chemistry, Education, Engineering and Nutrition and Dietetics have showed noteworthy results;
• Twenty (20) modules were reviewed, edited and evaluated and were all recommended for student use;
• Curricular offerings of seventy-three (73) programs have been revised, and have passed through the scrutiny of the Curriculum Evaluation Committees (CECs) in the Department, College and University levels;
• New colleges have been created:  The College of Law, College of Communication, College of Nutrition and Food Science, College of Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Management, College of Architecture and Fine Arts, and the College of Languages and Linguistics;
• New programs have been approved:  The Bachelor in Public Administration and Governance of the College of Economics, Finance and Politics and Master in Library and Information Science;
• New subjects/courses were added into the various curricula to meet the demands of the changing times, especially in the fields of communications, engineering and other sciences;
• The PUP through the CNTSP-ETEEAP is still one of only three (3) universities that were able to institutionalize and implement the ETEEAP despite absence of budgetary support from the CHED;
• A new program in the Commonwealth campus was opened - Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Management;
• The Graduate School successfully participated in the implementation of e-linked graduate courses with UP, PNU and EAC;
• Students and faculty have actively involved themselves in various personal/professional developments e.g. graduate school, conferences, trainings, etc.;
• Linkages to national and international entities and organizations have widened e.g. participation to national and international conferences, national and international networks and grant to PUP faculty of scholarships abroad.
• Implemented ATM Payroll System;
• Modernized offices in the Mabini Campus;
• Processed 891 special scholars under President GMA Scholarship Program;
• Implemented Information Systems for key operations such as human resource, enrollment, students, and payroll;
• Through proper financial management, economic support was extended to the whole PUP Community, first time ever in the history of the University;

PUP celebrated its 97th Foundation Anniversary with the theme:  "PUP:  Kabalikat ng Pamahalaan sa Pag-aangat ng Antas ng Buhay ng mga Mamamayan" (PUP:  Together with the Government in Uplifting the Lives of the People)

2002
PUP celebrated its 98th Foundation Anniversary.

2003
Dr. Ofelia M. Carague completed her term as University President on April 20, 2003.  Through Board Resolution No. 202, Dr. Samuel M. Salvador was designated as Officer-in-Charge.

Dr. Samuel M. Salvador

The offering of AB Theater Arts for school year 2003-2004 was unanimously approved by the Board of Regents.

Consistent to existing Civil Service Rules and the PUP Merit System for Faculty and Academic Staff, 176 faculty members and 30 administrative staff were promoted one step higher in rank, and 36 faculty members and 7 administrative employee enjoyed permanent or temporary status.

2004
On January 26, Dr. Salvador's designation was reclassified as Acting President of the University.  Preparations for PUP’s centenary became the most strategic agenda of his stewardship.

Developments during this year include:

• The establishment of an Electronic and Communications Engineering Laboratory for Wireless Engineering Program in cooperation with SMART Communications;
• Internet services returned.  The University Web Site became online again;
• SMART Communications was allowed to house a self-supporting tower for its cellular network in PUP Ragay;
• The construction of the Centennial Plaza was proposed;
• PUP introduces the BS Nursing program in PUP Bataan in cooperation with the Bataan Polytechnic State College;
• The confirmation of a PUP Nursing Fund Account No. 148 welcomes the expectations of an eventual establishment of the PUP College of Medicine and its own hospital;
• The PUP Board of Regents authorized the University to allocate 300 square meters lot for the construction of a Dialysis Center;
• A Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Cooperative Management has been added in the curricular offerings of the University;
• Fast confirmation of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Municipality of General Luna, Quezon to offer a one-year program in Technopreneurial course in General Secretariat in PUP Lopez.  A separate MOA also commits PUP to expand its Open University Programs in San Pedro Laguna;
• Proposed and later got the board approval of the revival of the Master in Construction Management offered in the Open University;
• The University also expanded its academic coordination with other leading universities in the country, notably, the Ateneo de Manila University, regarding the development of a Modular Curricular Program;
• Endorsement and repair and rehabilitation of the Laboratory High School building, amounting to PhP 1,346,724.34;
• Improvement of the restrooms at the Learning Resources Center.  This improvement is connected to the critical role of the said center of academic praxis in maintaining facilities conducive to both student and faculty training and education;
• Building of perimeter fence, benches, gazebo, and lighting system in its premises;
• The completion of cable installation for distributed Internet service and local area networking;
• Dr. Salvador supervised the purchase of equipment for the ECE laboratory in PUP Bataan,  and the reforestation of a watershed in PUP Lopez;
• Construction of a fully furnished gymnasium and 2-storey concrete classroom facility in PUP Lopez extension;
• Dr. Salvador lobbied with House of Representatives to donate IT equipments to PUP Ragay, which was granted.
• Nine (9) classroom facilities were constructed in Sta. Rosa, Laguna;
• The Unisan campus had humble improvements in its infrastructure: construction of school’s stage, construction of a shop hall/function room, and a new flagpole;
• Within Dr. Salvador's first year in office, a total of PhP 41,950,000 has been allocated to employees’ bonuses and incentives from a total of PhP 75,002,000 projected income for 2004. From the Memorandum of Operational Expenses, amounting to PhP 29,852,000, PhP 700,000 has been allocated to training and seminar expenses - a guarantee that a flourishing academy will be maintained;
• Most academic programs offered in the University passed the 1st resurvey assessment of the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACCUP);
• Twelve topnotchers in different professional admission exams in just a year span (2003-2004) have recently joined the roster of young professional achievers, conveying the academic repute of the University to the whole nation as well as abroad where PUP alumni have created professional strongholds;
• The University started to lay the foundations of enlightened academic self-sufficiency in some of its countryside branches, notably, the Mulanay branch in Quezon. Graduates courses such as Master of Science in Mathematics Education and Master of Arts in Language Teaching are now offered in the said branch;
• In the first quarter of this year, many were promoted;
• The Commission on Audit cited PUP for sound fiscal management;
• Prof. Raoul Cawagas of the College of Science was runner-up in the Zonal Research Center NCR-1 Zonal Awards;
• Atty. Lambert Castro of the College of Communication received a gold medallion from Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.;
• The Young Men’s Christian Association of Manila awarded the ‘Outstanding College-Y Adviser of the Year’ to Prof. Elizabeth Amaranto of the College of business.  The same organization awarded Prof. Anita M. Espanol of the PUP Laboratory High School the ‘Outstanding Hi-Y Adviser’ in the high school category; and
• The ICDE cited and awarded cash prize to Dr. Carmencita Castolo of the Open University for her paper on Information and Communications Technology.

On September 18, 2004, over 30,000 students, faculty and alumni of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines create a "human rainbow" in a move to boost the image of the school and a bid to set a new record for world's largest human rainbow in the Guinness Book of World Records.

2005
Through a Board Resolution, Dr. Dante G. Guevarra was appointed Officer-in-Charge, which took effect on July 1.

Dr. Dante G. Guevarra

October 1, the University celebrated its 101st Founding Anniversary. Through another Board Resolution, Dr. Guevarra was appointed Acting President extending his term for another year.

Other events that took place on that year were: DBM e-budget Training (July 11-29), Training on Computer Literacy and Proficiency Training Program of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Development (OVPRD), Philippine Educators Network for Training, Research, and Development, Inc. (PENTRAD) and The Rotary International (Oct.13-14, and 17 and 18), Microsoft Office Specialist PUP Faculty Training (Partners in Learning Program, July 13-27), Microsoft Faculty and Student Ambassador Program Cascades (Technical and Business Management trainings) to A. Maceda Integrated School Teachers and Students (November 10-11), First ever PUP Technology Day at PUP ICT Center (November 18), Computer literacy program for the disabled military of the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines (September 24, October 8 & 15, 20).

PUPCET iApply, a Web-based PUP College Entrance Test (PUPCET)Application System was pre-released on December to accommodate PUPCET applicants until January 31, 2006.