First, please let me say some about Dr. Alma E. Berowa:

Alma has been serving as VPAA of the MSU System for 14 years since 2011 under three University Presidents. She guides and nurtures the academic thrusts and programs of the University, through growing pains and crises.

When the government required Grades 11-12 (Senior High), thus MSU curricula needed to be revised, Alma confronted the meticulous and nitty gritty mandate and led the academic constituents to respond proactively and to prepare for the incoming and subsequent influx of senior high school graduates.

Particularly during the Marawi Siege of 2017, Alma played a major crucial role as leader and team player; she stayed and never left the University except to attend meetings outside of the campus. She helped immensely in the difficult return of constituents to Marawi, and resumption of classes.

During the pandemic, she rose anew to the challenge and led the University to flexible and complicated learning options.

I have observed Alma through the years since she was Dean of CSSH and how she strongly fought for more classrooms and better learning facilities. I was amazed watching how she stood her ground during BOR deliberations and fought for faculty promotions, increase of scholars’ stipends and many other significant matters, e.g., external units in Palawan and Zamboanga del Norte.

She is most effective that her continuing service as VPAA was asked of her by successive MSU Presidents.

I have had long institutional relationship with VP Alma. Many decades ago, I was in the same role in the University. She is more than elated to give us updates on the status of academics in the System, specifically pertaining to Main (Marawi). Napakasipag at napagaling ni Alma talaga. Kamangha-mangha, to say the least!

In the 3rd Anniversary of President Mapupuno in the University, he deemed it proper to send Alma to the awarding ceremonies in Manila when MSU Main was adjudged TOP 1 in the Philippines’ SUC accreditation efforts, Level II. It proved that MSU has indeed arrived and is in a strong, solid and stable foundation in academics and support matrix. Nuong araw pa naman, magaling na talaga ang MSU Main, di ba?

And Here Now is VPAA Alma:

“Accreditation helps us to go for Quality Assurance, to assessed ourselves and have a third party to evaluate us and tell us if we are good in terms of inputs, outputs and processes (or if we fail dismally).

Thanks God, with the support of Pres Basari and cooperation of all, we made it to TOP 1!

While I chair the University Committee, Campus Quality Assurance Board (CQAB) and the entire accreditation endeavor, the success is due to great teamwork and the truism that MSU-Marawi faculty are really great academicians pursuing their best in instruction, research, and extension.

Our officials in the Administration supported us, we worked in synergy to bring about academic excellence through quality education, the priority in the 10-Point Agenda of Pres. Basari Mapupuno.

The award as TOP 1 among Philippines’ State Universities and Colleges (SUÇ) is a testament that the academic sector has achieved its targeted goals.

Of course, considered in the award also is the fact that MSU- Marawi is Top Performing University in various licensure examinations like Engineering, Social Work, Nursing, Education, Shariah, and others.

There are 10 areas that we passed, evidence-based, of accreditation, such as:

1. Mission, Vision, Goals
2. Faculty
3. Curriculum
4. Students
5. Research
6. Extension and Community Involvement
7. Library
8. Physical Facilities
9. Laboratory
10. Administration

The validity of our accreditation is up to 2028. We need to strive to be greater in these areas particularly in research and extension as we proceed on to Level III in the next round. We have three years to accomplish that.

With Level II accreditation in place, we are now confident to submit MSU- Marawi for ISO Certification, to apply for Center of Development (COD), Center of Excellence (COE) and work hard to be included in the Impact Rankings as we strive to make our programs and activities synched with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

One step at a time. One day at a time, Siruffy.

UP is more than a hundred years old, our beloved MSU is only 63 years old, a maturing university. We need the help and support of all stakeholders, of all alumni to have a stronger, better MSU. If only we can have funding similar to UP, then we can do more and polevault. With highly competent faculty of MSU-Marawi, and brilliant hardworking students, many greater things are certainly possible, and are happening around here.

We are getting there, Siruffy, You take care, Big Brother. We need you for MSU, yesterday, today, tomorrow!

I am inspired, even if soon I will be retired. While I can, and I still can, I will serve MSU that we both love. I thank God sincerely for this opportunity to serve humanity through MSU.

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