CMU soars high

“I have seen CMU advance by leaps and bounds through the years, and credit must be given to its officers and employees who have worked so hard to make it a highly respected institution in central and the whole of Mindanao as well.” – Dr. Soliven

Dr. Maria Luisa Rupac – Soliven, the first lady president, pilots Central Mindanao University (CMU) from 2011 to the present. She is the eighth CMU president who formally assumed the office on January 1, 2011 and officially installed on July 8, 2011.

CMU, as an academic paradise continuously advances its border through its four-fold functions namely instruction, research, extension, and production.

Hence, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) identified CMU as rank 8^th in 2011 from 19^th place in 2010 among the top universities in the Philippines. This makes CMU a highly respected institution in Mindanao, playing a crucial role in the overall development of the island.

For some decades, CMU enjoyed the distinction as the only state university in Region 10. It has transformed itself to one of the top universities in the country. CHED recognizes CMU as center of excellence in the fields of veterinary medicine, agriculture and forestry. More so, CHED identifies CMU as center of development in biology and mathematics education.

These achievements keep CMU beating the odds by honing its faculty through various scholarship grants, sending them to prestigious universities in the Philippines and abroad. This endeavour wrought the faculty and in return embarked good results to their students.  These consolidated efforts made CMU 3rd in the Licensure Examination for Agricultural Engineers (2012), 1^st and 9^th in the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists (2012) and obtained 100 percent passing for Mechanical Engineers. CMU is also consistently higher than the national passing rates.

The college of agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine remain outstanding as they post 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th respectively among the agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine schools nationwide. The college of nursing, in its inevitable response to university’s call for excellence despite of its novice existence, hurdled to rank 13 among top 16 nursing schools in the Philippines and number 1 in Mindanao and Region 10.

Furthermore, CMU took part in the quest for Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP). The RMF Foundation initiated the TOSP that aims to carry on the national hero’s legacy through the Filipino youth.  This initiative intends to honor the students who are exemplars in their academic fields and take part in changing the society for the better. With such privilege, an AB Political Science Magna cum Laude, Ms. Maria Janua B. Polinar made it to the top 10 TOSP awardees. Ms. Polinar is an active student leader in CMU. She serveed as chair of the League of Political Science Society (LPSS). She also participated in the Philippine Association of Campus Student Adviser (PACSA) leadership convention.  Her exemplary performances both in academics and leaderships made her as one of the TOSP awardees in 2012. Academically, CMU has been advancing and this bodes well for the development of central and the whole of Mindanao, since students need not go to other regions just to get quality education, Dr. Soliven said.

CMU also excels in Research & Development (R&D) and is considered as one of the leading institutions for research among state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines.  Since 2012, CMU has 34 completed and 45 on-going R&D projects covering the areas of agriculture, forestry, natural resources, environment, social development and academics.  Among these completed researches, the papers on Antimicrobial, Antipyretic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Selected Philippine Medicinal Pteridophytes by Dr. Victor B. Amoroso, et.al and Supply Chain Improvement for Fresh Vegetables in Region 10: a Farmer Cluster Managed Bagsakan Model by Dr. Maria Luisa R. Soliven, et.al. won first place both in research and development categories respectively during the 24^th Regional Symposium for Research and Development Highlights (RSRDH). In as much as CMU continues to work for sustainable development through research, the Center for Biodiversity Research and Extension in Mindanao (CEBREM) was institutionalized by the Board of Regents through a BOR resolution no. 103, s 2011 November 17, 2012.  CEBREM aims to protect and conserve the remaining biodiversity in Mindanao through research, training, education and community involvement. The Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) funded the construction of CEBREM building housing the equipment for biodiversity research and extension activities as well as a venue for various stakeholders’ trainings.

CMU also goes on board as it persistently supports extension activities by bridging experts and target clienteles through technology promotions. With this, the university signed several agreements with various linkages to seek financial assistance and to pursue quality extension services.

CMU made an agreement with the Department of Agriculture (DA) which aims to rehabilitate and convert the DXMU Radio Station from AM to FM. The operation will benefit CMU students and listeners; Local Government Units (LGUs) and other government and private sectors in Bukidnon including other provinces that abode within the coverage area. CMU also signed an agreement with DA to establish the CMU Village Level Bio-con Laboratory which shall disseminate environment friendly pest and disease control bio-con technology and agents for a healthier approach in farming.

The CMU’s extension function aims at helping farmers by filling the observed gaps addressed through research. Therefore, the university signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) to implement the project Production of Information, Education and Communication Materials. The project shall popularize and package CMU research-based technologies augmenting and enhancing client’s awareness, adoption and utilization.

The university also supports Hammer Mill Operation Project of the Kalilangan Irrigators Multipurpose Cooperative (KIMPC), Kalilangan, Bukidnon. The project aspires to ensure steady supply of inexpensive feeds for swine and poultry projects among the coop members.

CMU, being an income generating institution, deliberately tracks the production, protection, management and development of agri-based and forest-based entrepreneurships. This includes production projects on lowland rice, lowland rice seed (seednet), upland multicrops, rubber, sugarcane, cassava, fruit crops and nursery, coffee and cacao, coconut, organic fertilizer, rice mill, poultry and fishpond, beef cattle and horse, dairy, goat and sheep, swine and forest resources and development. Among these production projects, the rubber, lowland rice and forest resources and development grown to be the top-income generating projects that supported CMU in the operating expenses.

CMU is doing the best to give merit to its clients. As the famous axiom says things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out. At present, CMU actively unfolds its potential especially in establishing and re-establishing linkages with academic institutions, non-government and professional organizations allowing CMU to participate in seminars and conferences, promote the university, provide accessible information on scholarship opportunities and explore linkage and partnership possibilities for the university’s faculty, staff and students’ development and growth.

Indeed, CMU is motivated to take every step forward to achieve its vision in becoming an academic paradise of higher learning actively committed to the total development of people for a globally sustainable environment and a humane society.

Kudos to CMU! (Padoginog/Veron)