STI West Negros University (STIWNU) has been granted autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), a recognition of its unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of education and excellent service.

This recognition, awarded in accordance with CMO No. 7, Series of 2024, solidifies STIWNU’s standing as an educational leader in the Philippines.

“The autonomous status is a validation that everything we have been doing over the past decade is aligned with our mission to serve our students and our community,” said Dr. Ryan Mark Molina, STIWNU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Following a rigorous evaluation by CHED Regional Office VI and the CHED Office of Institutional Quality Assurance and Governance (OIQAG), STIWNU joins an exclusive group of 77 autonomous universities across the Philippines and becomes the first STI campus to receive this distinction.

Universities granted autonomy enjoy a range of privileges, including priority access to government funding and scholarships, enabling them to enhance their facilities and resources. Additionally, these institutions are exempt from certain graduate documentation processes, streamlining the transition from graduation to employment or further education. Autonomy also allows these universities to pursue international collaborations, providing students with opportunities to study abroad and engage with diverse cultures.

Dr. Molina emphasized the proactive measures STIWNU has undertaken in recent years. “We have been diligent in subjecting our programs to accreditation and ISO audits, and we have heavily invested in upgrading our facilities, advancing research, and expanding community engagement initiatives.”

Atty. Monico V. Jacob, Chairman of the Board of STIWNU said during the strategic planning in 2015, the university envisioned itself to be a leading university in Negros Island, highlighted by its autonomous status.

“Among the goals were to promote academic excellence by establishing centers of excellence and development, be the preferred school for basic education, develop better professionals through exceptional continuing education, establish visibility in Asia and create a research-driven academic community,” explained Atty. Jacob.

STIWNU has consistently achieved excellence, earning Level IV accreditation, the highest accreditation granted by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA), for six of its academic programs: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Liberal Arts, Bachelor in Elementary Education, Bachelor in Secondary Education, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Arts in Education.

In addition, all STIWNU’s programs are certified under the Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015) and the Educational Organization Management System (ISO 21001:2018), underscoring its commitment to global standards in education.

Autonomous status is conferred upon universities that demonstrate exceptional performance in board exams, high graduate employability rates, and a superior curriculum. Institutions that receive this distinction enjoy greater academic freedom, including the ability to innovate their programs and establish global partnerships. The status also recognizes the university’s numerous active partnerships at the international, local, and institutional levels.