Overview
At
present, Bicol University (BU) offers 67 degree programs with varying
number of specializations. These are spread into 14 academic units:
Agriculture and Forestry (CAF); Arts and Letters (CAL); Business,
Economics and Management (CBEM); Education (CE); Engineering (CENG);
Graduate School (GS); Industrial Technology (CIT); Nursing (CN); Open
University (OU); Polangui Campus (PC); Science (CS); Social Sciences and
Philosophy (CSSP); Tabaco Campus (TC); and the Institute of Physical
Education, Sports and Recreation (IPESR).
Among
these, five units are service colleges that offer general colleges that
offer general education courses to all academic units in the
University. These are CAL, CS, CSSP and IPESR. However, even if they are
service colleges, the said academic units also offer professional
degrees. The other collegs - CAF, CE, CBEM, CENG, GS, CIT, CN, OU, PC
and TC - are classified as professional colleges.
These
various academic units, in turn, are found in six campuses in the
province of Albay. These are the Main Campus (the flagship campus
offering the most degree programs). Legazpi East Campus (engineering and
industrial technology), Daraga Campus (social sciences and business),
Guinobatan Campus (agriculture and forestry), Tabaco Campus (fisheries),
and Polangui Campus (technology).
An
extension program in Sorsogon province also offers degree programs. BU
also has elementary and high school departments. These serve as the
laboratory school of the College of Education.
BU's
passing level in licensure examinations in all programs is greater than
the national average. BS Social Work and Midwifery usually attain a 100
percent passing rate. The university has strong research programs
especially in fisheries and agriculture. This is shown by the number of
research grants awarded and national awards garnered by
faculty-researchers and the university.
As a
state university with a combined land area of more than 1.7 million
square meters and has a total of 59 buildings. BU serves the educational
needs of students all over the Bicol Region. Its enrolment at the
undergraduate level accounts for 10 percent of the total enrolment in
the province. To provide access and equity, scholarship grants and loan
assistance are given to poor but deserving students.