Bicol University

Bicol University (Bikol: Unibersidad nin Bikol; Unibersidad ng Bikol), also referred to by its acronym (BU or Bicol U), is a regional state, research and coeducational higher education institution in Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines, with external campuses scattered throughout the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon. BU is an ISO 9001:2008 certified public university.

The university is partly subsidized by the Philippine government. Students of the university and its graduates are referred to as "Mga Iskolar ng Bayan" ("Scholars of the Nation") but they are commonly called as Bueños. Students who wish to study in the university must pass the Bicol University College Entrance Test (BUCET). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the university implemented the Bicol University College Entrance Scoring System (BUCESS) for its admission of undergraduate students for academic years 2021-2022 and 2022–2023.

History
The Bicol University was founded on June 21, 1969, by virtue of Republic Act 5521 and was formally organized on September 22, 1970. It evolved out of six educational institutions integrated to form the first state university in the Bicol Region (Region V):
 * Bicol Teachers College (BTC) with its Laboratory School in Daraga, Albay, now the BU College of Education (BUCE) with its Integrated Laboratory School (ILS)
 * Daraga East Central School (DECS) also in Daraga, Albay, initially renamed as Bicol University Pilot Elementary School (BUPES), now integrated with the BUCE-ILS as its Elementary Department
 * Albay High School in Legazpi City, now the BUCE-ILS High School Department
 * Bicol Regional School for Arts and Trades (BRSAT) in Legazpi City, converted from the Albay Trade School by virtue of Republic Act 1129 on June 16, 1954, now the College of Industrial Technology and the College of Engineering.
 * Roxas Memorial Agricultural School (RMAS) in Guinobatan, Albay, which became the College of Agriculture, now renamed as the College of Agriculture and Forestry.
 * School of Fisheries in Tabaco, Albay, turned into the College of Fisheries, now the Bicol University Tabaco Campus.

These public schools and colleges, now part of Bicol University, had served the people of the region for more than half a century prior to their forming Bicol University.

As of 2023, the 9th Bicol University President issued the Bicol University Vision and Quality Policy:

Vision - A university for humanity characterized by productive scholarship, transformative leadership, collaborative service, and distinctive character for sustainable societies.

Quality Policy - Bicol University commits to continually strive for excellence in instruction, research, and extension by meeting the highest level of clientele satisfaction and adhering to quality standards and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Organization and administration
The governance of the university is vested in the Board of Regents, abbreviated as BOR. The board, with its 12 members, is the highest decision-making body of the university.

The chairperson or its designated commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) serves as the board's chairperson while the president of the Bicol University is the vice-chairperson. The chairpersons of the Committees of Higher Education of the Senate and the House of Representatives are also members of the Board of Regents which are concurrent with their functions as committee chairpersons.

The students of the Bicol University are represented by a student regent, who is also the chair of the University Student Council. The faculty regent is nominated by the faculty members of the whole university. Alumni are represented by the president of the BU Alumni Association.

As of 2023, the members of the Board of Regents are:

Legazpi West (Main) Campus
The Legazpi West (Main) Campus is located on the boundary of Daraga, Albay and Legazpi City along the national highway, Rizal St. Aside from the Administration Building, the campus also hosts the following colleges and institutes:

1. College of Education (BUCE)

Courses Offered:


 * Bachelor of Culture and Arts Education
 * Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
 * Bachelor of Elementary Education
 * Bachelor of Secondary Education majors in:
 * English
 * Filipino
 * Mathematics
 * Science
 * Social Studies
 * Values Education

2. College of Nursing (BUCN)

Course Offered: BS Nursing

3. College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL)

Courses Offered:


 * AB Broadcasting
 * BA Communication
 * BA English Language
 * BA Literature
 * BA Journalism
 * BA Performing Arts (BPEA) Theater

4. College of Science (BUCS)

Courses Offered:


 * BS Biology
 * BS Chemistry
 * BS Computer Science
 * BS Information Technology
 * BS Meteorology

5. Graduate School (BUGS)

This is divided into two categories:


 * Master of Arts Degree (Masteral or MA)
 * Doctoral Degree (Doctorate or PhD)

They are both offered with thesis or with no thesis.

6. Institute of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation (BUIPESR)

Courses Offered:


 * BS in Exercise & Sports Sciences
 * Bachelor of Physical Education

7. College of Medicine (BUCM)

Course Offered: Doctor of Medicine

8. College of Law (BUCL)

Course Offered: Juris Doctor

9. Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance and Development (BUJMRIGD)

Course Offered: Bachelor of Public Administration

10. Open University (BUOU)

Course Offered: BS Development Communication

11. College of Dental Medicine (CDM)

Course Offered: Doctor of Dental Medicine

The Doctor of Dental Medicine is the latest course that had been approved in this campus.

It also hosts the Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School-Elementary Department and Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School-High School Department (BUCEILS-HS). The Bicol University Main Library, Student Union Center, Amphitheater and the Little Theater are also found in this campus.

Legazpi East Campus
Located in Enlisted Men's Barrio (EM Barrio), Barangay 1 also in Legazpi City, the campus hosts the College of Engineering (BUCENG), College of Industrial Technology (BUCIT) and the Institute of Design and Architecture (BUIDeA).

Daraga Campus
Located in Sagpon, Daraga, Albay, and is less than a kilometer from the main campus, the campus consists of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (BUCSSP) and College of Business, Economics and Management (BUCBEM). This campus was formerly called College of Arts and Science (BUCAS).

The BUCSSP offers the following programs:


 * 1) BS Psychology
 * 2) BS Social Work
 * 3) AB Philosophy
 * 4) AB Political Science
 * 5) AB Peace Studies
 * 6) AB Sociology

The BUCBEM offers the following programs:


 * 1) BS Accountancy
 * 2) BS Economics
 * 3) BS Entrepreneurship
 * 4) BS Management
 * 5) BS in Business Administration Major in Financial Management
 * 6) BS in Business Administration Major in Human Resource Management
 * 7) BS in Business Administration Major in Marketing Management
 * 8) BS in Business Administration Major in Operations Management
 * 9) BS in Business Administration Major in Microfinance

Tabaco Campus
Located in Tayhi, Tabaco, Albay. Courses offered in this campus are Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Food Technology, Social Work, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Marine Fisheries, Fish Technology, Coastal Resource Management, Secondary Education, and Entrepreneurship.

Guinobatan Campus
Located along the Pan-Philippine Highway in the town of Guinobatan, Albay, formerly known as Guinobatan Farm School in 1912; Guinobatan Rural High School in 1927; Roxas Memorial Agricultural School in 1950; Bicol University College of Agriculture (BUCA) in 1969 through RA 5521; with the offering of Bachelor of Science in Forestry starting in 1991, is now known as Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry (BUCAF). BUCAF is a member of Philippine Agroforestry Education and Research Network (PAFERN)

Polangui Campus
Located in Centro Occidental, Polangui, Albay, this was formerly known as the School for Philippine Craftsmen and offered vocational courses. It was integrated into Bicol University, through R.A. 7722, R.A. 8292 & R.A. 8769, on December 14, 2000, and renamed as Bicol University Polangui Campus. From the five courses offered in 2000, it now offers fifteen courses including BS in Nursing, BS in Computer Engineering and BS in Electronics and Communications Engineering.

Gubat Campus
Located in Gubat, Sorsogon, the only campus outside of Albay, this campus offers bachelor's degrees in Agricultural Technology, Secondary and Elementary Education, Fisheries, Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, Peace and Security Studies and Computer Science are offered in this campus.

Library System
The University Library System is for the use of students and other researchers. It has a collection of books in different fields of knowledge and all the published undergraduate and graduate research. It is composed of ten sub-libraries, namely:
 * The University Library
 * College of Education Library
 * College of Nursing Library
 * College of Agriculture and Forestry Library
 * ILS-Elementary Library
 * ILS-High School Library
 * East Campus Library
 * Polangui Campus Library
 * Tabaco Campus Library
 * Gubat Campus Library

Athletics
It organizes and facilitates the conduct of intercollegiate sports and the university's participation in sports events. It runs wellness and fitness programs. Some of its facilities for athletics include a soccer field, olympic-sized swimming pool, a rubberized track oval, and a grandstand.

Radio station
The university has its own radio station, BUFM 106.3.

Notable alumni

 * Venus Raj (BUCAL; ComArts, Major in Journalism ) was Miss Philippines Earth 2008 (Miss Philippines Eco Tourism 2008), Binibining Pilipinas 2010 (Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010), Miss Universe 2010 (4th Runner-Up)