HISTORY SKETCH The Board of Trustees in its resolution No. 80, s.

1976 approved the opening of the School of Nursing in the West Visayas State University in June 1977. The for-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program intended to provide opportunities for an affordable education to deserving students who were financially handicapped but had the aptitude for a career in nursing. Upon the favorable recommendation of the Board of Nursing, formal approval of the opening of the School of Nursing was given on April 21, 1977 by the Professional Regulation Commission. The Ministry of Education and Culture likewise issued a temporary permit, No. 520, s. 1977, which authorized the opening of the First and Second Years of the four year BSN course. West Visayas State College President Jose B. Ledesma designated Mr. Consuelo M. Bacabac, R.N. as the first Dean of the School of Nursing. The Dean recruited 32 second year student from different schools in the College namely: Arts and Sciences, Agriculture, and Education. The 32 students formed the second year of BSN Class 1980. The Secretary of Health, Dr. Gatmaitan signed the Memorandum of Agreement that made the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Mandurriao the affiliation center of the School of Nursing. On March 6, 1978, the Board of Nursing favorably recommended the continuance of the BSN program. This was concurred by the Professional Regulation Commission on March 21, 1978. The first batch graduated on April 7, 1980. I n 1986, when President Ferdinand E. Marcos converted the West Visayas State College into a University by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 2019, the School became known as the College of Nursing. In answer to the need for nurses to enhance their professional qualification, the College started to offer Master of Arts in Nursing program with specialization in either Nursing Education or Nursing Administration in the summer of 2006 (as approved by Board of Regents Resolution No. 36, series of 2006). The nursing program underwent several accreditations by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACUP) and was awarded Level III Re-accredited Status on December 23, 2006. The nursing curriculum has undergone several revisions. In school year 2009-2010, the university adopted the prototype curriculum recommended by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in its Memorandum Number 14, series of 2009. On November 24 200?, the Commission on Higher Education released the list of Top Nursing Schools in the country with WVSU having a percentage passing of 96.75% and with rank No. 3 under the category of schools with 100-999 examinees from 2004 2008.