History: 1972-1985

The institution's transformation from a college into a university happened during these period.

1972
When martial law was declared, Dr. Narciso Albaraccin, Jr. was designated Officer-in-Charge (OIC), with Dr. Pablo T. Mateo, Jr. as Performance Officer. Among the changes under Albaraccin were:

• Abolition of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences;
• Introduction of several new courses, including technology and occupational education;
• Reorganization of different Faculties; and
• Offering of a five-year curriculum in Accounting.

1973
Dr. Isabelo T. Crisostomo succeeded Albaraccin as OIC.

Dr. Isabelo T. Crisostomo

1974
The following developments came in the wake of Dr. Crisostomo's appointment as Acting President:

• Offering of Bachelor of Business Administration and General Administration;
• Completion of phase 1 of the gymnasium;
• Establishment of the Center for Skills and Rural Industries Development (CSRID), which was designed to give out-of-school youths skill training for gainful employment and in the production of export products using indigenous raw materials in their communities;
• Construction of the marble pylon and the Mabini Circle; and
• Creation of a unit to handle short courses in Electronic Data Processing (EDP).

1975
The PCC opened its branch in the Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ), Mariveles, Bataan.

1976
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) was reestablished, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Master in Economics (ME) programs were added in the Graduate School, and the various offices were re-structured.

1977
After Dr. Mateo became president in May 1977, the ladder program was expanded to all degree courses; 13 additional degree courses using the ladder approach were introduced. The "techno-business" curriculum was developed, and introduced were adult business education and non-degree courses in business/distributive arts.

Dr. Pablo T. Mateo

1978
Through Presidential Decree (PD) 1341, PCC was converted into a chartered state university and accordingly renamed Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). This led to the broadening of course offerings and the restructure/streamlining of the University's administrative organization.

1979
Among the accomplishments of this period were:

• Face-lifting of A. Mabini Campus through construction of the main library, the University canteen, the ecumenical chapel (Interfaith Chapel), and the 3rd, 4th, and portion of the 5th floors of the XYZ building (Main building in Mabini Campus);
• Establishment of a branch in Lopez, Quezon (June 1979);
• Revision of undergraduate curricular programs;
• Establishment of consortia with the Construction Industry Board for the Opening of Master in Applied Statistics, the Philippine Normal College for the conduct of teacher education courses in PUP Lopez, and La Consolacion College for a program in Cooperatives;
• Expansion of graduate programs to include masteral programs in Public Administration (MPA), Public and Business Administration (MPBA), Economics (ME), Accountancy (MAC), as well as doctoral programs in Public Administration (DPA) and Business Administration (DBA);
• Creation of the Institute of Technology;
• Introduction of ladderized baccalaureate courses in Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Office Administration, Government Accounting, and Library Science;
• Start of the PUP Review Center (Summer 1981);
• The EDP/Computer Data Processing Management (CDPM) unit was created under the Faculty of Business and Cooperatives. It started to offer a four-year ladderized course, known as Bachelor in Computer Data Processing Management (BCDPM).

1983
In spite of the country's economic difficulties, PUP's 71 ladderized technical and professional programs continued to be viable. There were significant accomplishments like:

• Introduction of Bachelor of Human Behavior Technology (BHBT) under the FAS;
• Inclusion of a course in computers in all degree programs;
• Revival of the PUP Student Council, drafting of its Constitution and By-Laws by the Student Constitutional Convention and the ratification of this by the studentry; and
• Consortium with the NMPC as well as international linkages through PASUC-Texas Consortium, the Association of Asian Institutes of Higher Learning, the Regional Institute for Higher Educational Development, the International Association of Universities, and the UNESCO.

1984
The University underwent reorganization. It adopted the "cluster colleges" set-up, where each college prepared the program and supervised all the subjects required in the degree program offered in the college. It set up a University Center for Technological Research, the function of which was to conduct research and produce inventions/innovations in technology areas most needed by the communities served by PUP. For lack of sufficient rooms, laboratories, and related facilities, the University considered the completion of the 5th floor of the XYZ-Main Academic Building a top priority in its infrastructure program.

The PUP also established a tie-up with the University of Life in the training of trainors/project managers needed in the KKK program, as well as with the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, and the NACIDA in these agencies' continuing training program to upgrade their personnel.

1985
That school year was an uneasy one...

Next: 1986-1990