To ensure continued campus operations, the Tarlac State University administration and the local government of Concepcion renewed their partnership through a memorandum of agreement signed on Friday (May 19) at the TSU Concepcion Extension Campus grounds in Brgy. San Nicolas Poblacion.
The agreement stipulates the addition of the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program among its course offerings alongside the existing programs, namely Bachelor of Elementary Education, Bachelor of Science in Criminology, and Bachelor of Public Administration.
The offering of the civil engineering program is in line with TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco's plan to strengthen the university's niche in engineering while also mentioning that both he and Concepcion town mayor Noel L. Villanueva are engineers.
Moreover, among the other new provisions in the MOA that would benefit the students and faculty members are the conversion of some classrooms into a faculty room, faculty dormitory, library, computer laboratory, crime laboratory, and canteen and the provision of faculty members' transportation allowance.
Also, according to Mayor Villanueva, LGU Concepcion and third congressional district representative Noel "Bong" Rivera will provide financial assistance amounting to 3,000 pesos per semester to all students enrolled in the campus regardless of residence in the district.
Moreover, Pres. Velasco and TSU Board of Regents members Hon. Alvin P. Belarmino, Hon. Reynaldo L. Catacutan, and Hon. Dennis Norman T. Go emphasized the importance of free quality tertiary education that is now within the reach of Concepcion town residents.
The campus welcomed its first batch of students last August 2022 under the leadership of former Concepcion mayor Andres "Andy" Lacson and former TSU President Dr. Myrna Q. Mallari.
"This memorandum of agreement signing started actually with the establishment of this building together with the then mayor of Concepcion, Mayor Andy Lacson, and our [former] president Dr. Myrna Mallari. Wala po itong building na ito kung hindi kay Mayor Andy at kay President Myrna Mallari," Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Agnes M. Macaraeg said in her opening message.
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