Northern Bukidnon State College is a public higher education institution located in the municipality of Manolo Fortich, in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. The college provides undergraduate degree programs in the fields of teacher education, business administration, and information technology. Operating under the statutory mandate of Republic Act No. 11284, the institution is directed to provide advanced studies, conduct scientific research, and execute community extension programs within its areas of specialization across the province of Bukidnon and the Northern Mindanao region.
History Northern Bukidnon Community College The institution was conceived to address the demand for tertiary education within the municipality of Manolo Fortich. Before operating as an independent entity, the local government of Manolo Fortich facilitated higher education access by hosting extension programs from established universities. Between the academic years 2002 to 2003 and 2004 to 2005, the municipality hosted courses administered by Bukidnon State College, which later became Bukidnon State University, and the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology.
The institution officially originated as the Northern Bukidnon Community College. The local government of Manolo Fortich formally established the community college in January 2005. The legal authorization for its initial operations was granted through Municipal Ordinance No. 368-2005, which was enacted on March 2, 2005. This ordinance authorized the Northern Bukidnon Community College to independently open classes for the academic year 2005 to 2006. During its first semester of operation, the community college recorded an enrollment of 143 students, with 45 students enrolled in the Teacher Education Program3. The initial academic offerings were limited to teacher education and commerce degrees.
The administrative leadership of the community college underwent several changes during its initial fifteen years. Lourdes Banaynal served as the College Registrar and Officer in Charge from 2005 to 2007, before becoming the first full-time Administrator from 2007 to 2010. She subsequently served another term as the Officer in Charge Administrator from 2011 to 2015. Sheila K. Maglente succeeded her as the Administrator from 2015 to 2020. Under her administration, the institution initiated the legislative and administrative steps required for conversion into a state college.
Conversion as a state college The conversion of the institution was executed through a specific legislative process in the Congress of the Philippines. The legislative measure originated in the House of Representatives as House Bill No. 1160. The bill was introduced during the Seventeenth Congress July 5, 2016. The legislation successfully passed through both chambers on March 12, 2019. The name of the institution officially changed to Northern Bukidnon State College following the passage of Republic Act No. 11284 on April 12, 2019, which altered its status from a locally funded community college to a nationally funded state college.
The enactment of the law did not result in an immediate operational conversion. Sections 20 and 21 of Republic Act No. 11284 stipulated that the conversion would only take effect after the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) verified that the institution had complied with the requirements of CHED Memorandum Order No. 46, series of 2012. These compliance metrics required the institution to employ full-time permanent faculty with relevant graduate degrees, establish comprehensive learning resources, and execute community outreach programs. The college submitted its institutional recognition documents to the Commission on Higher Education in March 2020. The Commission on Higher Education En Banc officially approved the conversion on October 7, 2020.
Dr. Catherine Roween C. Almaden was appointed as the first College President, serving from 2020 to 2024 to oversee the structural transition. Following her term, Dr. Joy M. Mirasol served as the Officer in Charge College President from July to September 2024. Dr. Christie Jean Villanueva-Ganiera assumed the role of the second College President on October 21, 2024. In March 2025, the college observed its twentieth founding anniversary, calculating its institutional age from the enactment of the 2005 municipal ordinance.
Governance structure The governance of Northern Bukidnon State College is divided among the Board of Trustees, executive officers, and specialized administrative councils, ensuring representation from national agencies, regional bodies, and internal stakeholders.
Board of Trustees The Board of Trustees acts as the highest governing body of the institution. Republic Act No. 11284 designates the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, or an assigned Commissioner, as the Chair of the Board. The ex officio members of the Board include national legislators and regional directors. These members include the chair of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, and chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education. Regional representation is provided by regional director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, regional director of the Department of Agriculture, and the regional director of the Department of Science and Technology.
Internal stakeholders hold designated seats on the Board. It includes the president of the faculty Association, the president of the alumni association, and the president of the central student government. The law also requires the inclusion of two prominent citizens from the private sector to serve two-year terms.
The Board is required to convene once every quarter. The body possesses the authority to promulgate institutional rules, approve curricula, determine faculty salaries, authorize external management audits, and absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the region as branches or extension centers.
Executive offices and administrative councils The day-to-day operations of the college are led by the college president, who is appointed by the board of trustees upon the recommendation of a search committee. The president serves a four-year term and is eligible for reappointment. The president is supported by two primary vice presidents: the vice president for academic affairs and the vice president for administration and finance.
Policy formulation is guided by two councils. The administrative council consists of the president, vice presidents, deans, and directors, and is tasked with reviewing management and development policies. The academic council includes the president and all instructional staff with the rank of assistant professor or higher. This council determines admission and graduation standards, establishes student discipline rules, and reviews all curricular proposals before submission to the Board of Trustees.
Office of the College President The Office of the College President directly supervises specialized units dedicated to legal compliance, strategic planning, and public relations. The Legal Office provides legal guidance to the administration and reviews institutional contracts to ensure compliance with national regulations. The office is responsible for representing the college in administrative and judicial proceedings and formulating risk management programs. The Internal Audit Office, conducts quarterly evaluations of the financial and operational controls of the college. This office executes compliance, management, and operations audits to verify that resources are utilized efficiently and ethically in accordance with government laws. The Quality Assurance Office, systematically reviews educational processes to maintain institutional standards. This unit facilitates program accreditation, curriculum assessments, and manages the Client Satisfaction Survey to gather stakeholder feedback. The Information and Communications Technology Management Office, is mandated to govern the digital infrastructure of the campus. This office executes the Information Systems Strategic Plan mandated by the Department of Information and Communications Technology and manages hardware maintenance, enterprise software administration, and the implementation of the Smart Campus initiative. Infrastructure development is supervised by the Project Management and Monitoring Office. This office translates development plans into construction packages, manages design documentation, conducts site inspections, and processes contractor billing. The Campus Safety Management Office enforces security protocols, controls access to the campus, and coordinates emergency responses through the Disaster Action and Response Team. External communications are managed by the Public Affairs and Information Office. This unit handles the production of official announcements, digital content, press releases, and the live streaming of institutional events. Research compliance is supervised by the Research Ethics Office. This office operates under the Research Ethics Committee, reviewing protocols involving human participants, ensuring informed consent procedures, and issuing data gathering permits. The International Affairs and External Linkages Office manages academic collaborations, student exchange programs, and joint research initiatives with foreign and domestic organizations.
Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance The Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance functions as the operational core of the institution. The office ensures the efficient management of human resources, financial assets, and physical infrastructure. The Administrative Division oversees procurement, records, and personnel management. The Procurement Management Office facilitates competitive bidding and alternative procurement methods, coordinating with the Bids and Awards Committee and the Commission on Audit. The Supply and Property Management Office manages the lifecycle of physical assets, including receiving deliveries, conducting physical inventory counts, and processing the disposal of unserviceable equipment. The Records and Archival Office ensures document management compliance with the standards of the National Archives of the Philippines. The Human Resource Management and Development Office manages employee welfare and recruitment. The Gender and Development Office implements programs aligned with Republic Act No. 9710, the Magna Carta of Women, integrating gender sensitivity into institutional policies. The Finance Division is responsible for fiscal reporting and fund management. The Accounting Office implements auditing rules, processes payroll, and generates financial statements in accordance with the Government Accounting Manual. The Budget Office drafts annual budgets, monitors fund utilization, and coordinates allocations with the Department of Budget and Management. The Cashiering Office, processes official payments, tuition collections, and operational disbursements. The General Services Office maintains campus facilities. This office handles building maintenance, motorpool operations, and logistical event support. It includes the Ecological Solid Waste Unit, which ensures compliance with national waste management laws, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit. The Auxiliary Services Division houses the Income Generation Program Office. Operating under the provisions of Republic Act 8292, this office develops commercial initiatives and strategic partnerships to generate alternative revenue streams, aiming for long-term financial stability and optimum utilization of institutional land and capital.
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