Cavite State University (CvSU; ) is a public university in the province of Cavite, Philippines. Its main campus, known as the Don Severino delas Alas Campus, is located in Indang, about southwest of Manila. The institution has 12 other campuses spread throughout the province.
The school was initially established as an intermediate school by the Thomasites, a group of American teachers brought by the United States during the early part of the American colonial period to revamp the country's education system. By 1964, the school had grown into a college known as the Don Severino Agricultural College (DSAC). It became a university on January 22, 1998, and was renamed Cavite State University.
The Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) recently conferred upon Cavite State University (CvSU) the award for top-performing state university during its annual national conference held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Cebu City from March 7 to 9. In 2016, CvSU was also recognized as one of the top ten-performing state universities and colleges in accreditation, ranking seventh. The university is also among the top three performing schools in the criminology program in the country.
Since then, the university has expanded, offering 141 undergraduate and graduate programs. As of the end of the 2020–2021 academic year, it had more than 44,000 students and nearly 1,700 faculty and staff across eleven campuses.
History
The state university was first established by the Thomasites as an intermediate school, named Indang Intermediate School in 1906 with C.E. Workman its first principal. Subsequently, Americans Henry Wise and Joseph Coconower succeeded Workman as the school's principal. In 1915, the school had its first Filipino principal, Mariano Mondoñedo. The school's focused on vocational agriculture for boys and domestic science for girls. In 1918, the name of the school was changed to Indang Farming School.
As enrollment increased, the school site was expanded through the land donations of the citizens of Indang, including Francisco Ocampo and Don Severino de las Alas, Secretary of Interior during the Aguinaldo cabinet. In 1927, the school was renamed Indang Rural High School, during the incumbency of principal Simeon Madlangsakay. It first offered a secondary courses in vocational agriculture in 1923 and Home Economics in 1927.
In recognition of the generosity of Don Severino de las Alas to the community, the province of Cavite and the nation, the name of the institution was changed to Don Severino National Agricultural School in 1958 by a congressional action.
Don Severino Agricultural College The agricultural school was converted into a state college in 1964 by virtue of Republic Act No. 3917. Under this Act, the school was given its own charter and became known as Don Severino Agricultural College (DSAC).
In 1967, Santiago M. Rolle was appointed as the first college president. In 1971, Certificate in Technical Agriculture was offered. Dr. Sotero L. Lasap designed a new logo for DSAC in 1978. Its shape is like a spaceship supposed to symbolize carrying DSAC to its desired destination.
During the preparatory stage from 1983–1987, Dr. Ruperto S Sangalang became the officer-in-charge of the college.
The transition stage from 1988–1992 strengthened the instructional, research and extension programs through the implementation of the Institutional Development Assistance and Cooperation Project.
Elevation to University and Expansion
+ Previous Heads of DSAC/CvSU Name Position Period Vicente G. Hicaro Dean and Officer-in-Charge 1965-1967 Santiago M. Rolle Acting President 1967-1971 Vicente G. Hicaro Officer-in-Charge 1970-1971 Vicente T. Pinazo President 1972-1983 Dr. Ruperto S. Sangalang President 1983-2008 Dr. Divinia C. Chavez President 2008-2016 Dr. Hernando D. Robles President 2016–2024
Following a campaign period from 1993 to 1998, the school became a university on January 22, 1998, by virtue of the Republic Act No. 8468 and was renamed the Cavite State University (CvSU), elevating its four schools into colleges. Dr. Sangalang served as the first university president, a position he will hold until 2008.
In 2002, Cavite College of Fisheries (CACOF) in Naic and Cavite College of Arts and Trade (CCAT) in Rosario were integrated into the Cavite State University system to become the CvSU College of Fisheries and the CvSU College of Arts and Trade, respectively. The Cavite City campus was launched in 2001, and Carmona campus followed in 2002. Subsequently, new campuses were established in other parts of the province, namely, Imus (2003), Trece Martires (2005), Silang (2006), and Tanza (2007).
In 2008, Dr. Divinia Chavez from the College of Education succeeded Dr. Sangalang as the President of the university. She is also the first woman to hold the position. Under her leadership, campuses were established in Bacoor (2008), General Trias (2012) and Maragondon (2015).
Dr. Hernando Robles, former Campus Administrator of CvSU Naic, assumed the role of the University President in 2016. The newest campus, CvSU Dasmariñas Learning Center was established in 2023.
Campuses
CampusFormer namesDate establishedLocationEnrolmentWebsiteNotesCavite State University - Don Severino de las Alas Campus (Main Campus)Indang Intermediate School (1906)
Indang Farm School (1918)
Indang Rural High School (1927)
Don Severino National Agriculture School (1958)
Don Severino Agricultural College (1964)1906Indang17,581www.cvsu.edu.phElevated to university status in 1998Cavite State University - NaicCavite College of Fisheries1961Naic1,313www.cvsu-naic.edu.phintegrated into CvSU 2002Cavite State University - CCAT CampusCavite College of Arts and Trade Cavite State University Rosario Campus1969 Rosario3,357www.cvsu-rosario.edu.phintegrated into CvSU 2002Cavite State University - Cavite City 2001Cavite City2,339Cavite State University - Carmona 2002Carmona2,303Cavite State University - Imus College of Business and Entrepreneurship2003Imus4,583www.cvsu-imus.edu.phCavite State University - Trece Martires 2005Trece Martires1,148www.cvsu-trececampus.comCavite State University - Silang 2006Silang3,175www.cvsu-silang.edu.phCavite State University - Tanza 2007Tanza601Cavite State University - Bacoor 2008Bacoor2,814Cavite State University - General Trias 2012General Trias1,226Cavite State University - Maragondon 2015Maragondonn/a only offers basic education from pre-elementary to Grade 10Cavite State University - Dasmariñas City Learning Center 2023Dasmariñasn/a
Don Severino delas Alas Campus, Indang
Indang is the main campus of the university. Known as the Don Severino delas Alas Campus, it sits on 72 hectares of rural land and is the oldest campus of the university. This campus houses academic, administrative, and research and extension facilities. There are also a few residential and commercial buildings in the campus. The main offices for the entire university is also situated here.
The university's main library is called the Ladislao Diwa Memorial Library and Museum. Established in 1980, it has now grown to house around 92,000 volumes of books and more than 5,000 series titles such as magazines and newsletters.
Laya at Diwa Monument
The Laya at Diwa brass artwork displayed at the main entrance to the Indang campus is meant to represent the university's vision of "truth, excellence and service". The monument is a creation of Jonnel P. Castrillo of Imus, Cavite. It was inaugurated on December 15, 2006, by Senator Edgardo J. Angara during the university's centenary celebration.
The artwork has five major elements. The first is the unchained female figure, holding a book, her arms interlocked with the male figure. The male figure holds a pen and a torch. The flame of the torch carries the letters CvSU for Cavite State University. Finally, the child figure, in a dynamic pose atop the pillar behind the male & female figure, reaches out a dove, the universal symbol peace and freedom.
Imus campus
Formerly known as the College of Business and Entrepreneurship, CVSU Imus was established in 2003. It is located along Aguinaldo Highway in Palico IV. It occupies the plot of land that was set to become the Cavite Convention and Trade Center, but was transferred to the university for use as a satellite campus. As of 2023, it has nine academic departments offering 11 degree programs.
Silang campus
The Silang campus was built in 2006 when the municipal government of the town donated land to the university. Several buildings, including three academic buildings and a gymnasium, were built on a 5,000 square meter plot of land. As of 2023, the campus has four academic departments offering eight degree programs.
Academics
+ Schools and colleges of CvSU Unit Foundation College of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Natural Resources 1964 College of Arts and Sciences 1992 College of Criminal Justice 2010 College of Economics, Management and Development Studies 1998 College of Education 1992 College of Engineering and Information Technology 1992 College of Medicine 2022 College of Nursing 2005 College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation 1998 College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences 2000College of Tourism and Hospitality Management 2025 Graduate School 1985
The university has eleven colleges in its main campus in Indang. Originally an agricultural school, CvSU has grown to become a comprehensive university offering 43 undergraduate degrees, a degree in veterinary medicine, a Doctor of Medicine degree, 13 masters degrees and 3 degrees leading to a Ph.D.
When the Don Severino National Agricultural School was elevated to a state college in 1964, it started to offer its first undergraduate degrees in two fields: agriculture and agricultural education. This department would later be the origin of the three other colleges in the Indang campus. In 2005, it was renamed the College of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Natural Resources. Today, it offers degrees in agriculture, food technology, and environmental sciences. In 2016, it was recognized as a Center of Excellence in Agriculture by the Commission on Higher Education, one of only eight in the country.
The Graduate School was established in 1985 with the first postgraduate degrees of the college: master of science in agricultural education; animal husbandry and agronomy.
In 1992, the college reorganized its departments in preparation for its elevation as a university. Four departments emerged and were elevated into schools: Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Education and Engineering. After DSAC's successful elevation into a state university in 1998, all schools were renamed colleges. In addition, two more colleges were created: the College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation; and the College of Economics, Management and Development Studies.
In the 2000s, new academic divisions were created. The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences was separated from the College of Agriculture in 2000. The College of Nursing was established in 2005 as a result of rapid growth from its initial status of a program in the College of Arts and Sciences in 2003. And then finally, in 2010, the College of Criminal Justice was established.
In 2022, the College of Medicine started to admit students. It is also the second public medical school in the Southern Tagalog region, after the medical school of the Batangas State University.
In 2025, the College of Tourism, Hospitality and Management was established by virtue of Board Resolution No. 37, Series of 2024. The new College offers two courses: Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management and Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management.