Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology

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Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology, abbreviated NORMISIST is a state-controlled college in Ampayon, Butuan City, Philippines.

[edit] History

The Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology (NORMISIST) was initially established as the Agusan Agricultural High School (AAHS) through the passage of an Omnibus Bill in 1918. In support to the pursuit for the development of education in Northern Mindanao, the American Governor to the Philippines, Sir Francis Burton Harrison, issued Proclamation No. 4 on February 14, 1920, declaring the reservation of a 232-hectare virgin forest land in Barrio Ampayon, municipality of Butuan, province of Agusan, as site of the newly established school. In the ensuing years, the operations of the school was deferred as the government sought to prioritize and concentrate on the educational need of the Manobo tribal communities by opening the Bunawan Agricultural High School (BAHS).

In 1946, after World War II, students from BAHS were transferred to AAHS and became the first batch of graduates of the latter.

After 17 years, in June 22, 1963, Republic Act 3604 converted the school into the Northern Mindanao National Agricultural College (NORMINAC). The wider range of curricular offerings was dynamically responsive to the growing need of the region for an educationally prepared and academically capable human resource that is equipped with higher technical skills for agricultural and industrial development.

As Caraga Region rapidly grew and developed in both agricultural and industrial sectors, so was the necessity for greater capability building in matters of technical aptitude, to run and manage indispensable machineries. In lieu of this, House Bill No. 25 converting NORMINAC to NORMISIST was introduced By Hon. Antonio R. Tupaz. The House Bill became Batas Pambansa Blg. 241 when President Ferdinand Marcos signed it into law on November 11, 1982.

The now chartered state college of Region XIII-Caraga is strategically located along the Phil-Japan Friendship Highway which traverses Butuan City, Surigao City, and the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. The main campus is nestled in a 232-hectare area, 6 km east of Butuan City, 32 hectares of which is allocated for academic buildings and support facilities while the remaining 200 hectares are for the production, research, and extension projects of the college.

As part of its commitment to serve a larger academic area of responsibility, and with the integration of a CHED supervised school, NORMISIST has evolved into a system with one satellite campus, the NORMISIST-NMCAST established in an 8-hectare area at the heart of the municipality of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte.

Through the course of its growth, the institute has been served by 6 presidents who have exemplified deep commitment for academic development and progress, thereby completing meaningful contributions that have cemented the institute's path towards greater improvement. The first president of the institute is Engr. Alberto Villares who was responsible for the implementation of the ADB funded ATEP-EDPITAF Project package offering the technology-oriented DAT-BAT program, its infrastructure, curriculum, and human resource development support system. He led the establishment of the College of Science and Mathematics Teacher Education. He also labored for the creation of strong linkage with various line agencies, NGOs, and research consortia. At present, the institute president is Edgar W. Ignacio, Ph. D. in Chemistry and former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

At present, the institute continues to serve the Caraga Region through the delivery of accredited programs and relevant course offerings. Its growth as an academic community is exemplified in the increase in the number of enrollees, the rise of new infrastructure, the revision and strengthening of programs offered, the consistency of linkage established, and the development of the teaching force through the faculty development program.