the Iloilo High School complete with elementary and training departments. In 1924, with the completion of its main building (now Quezon Hall) and laboratory school building, Iloilo Normal School was established as a distinct educational and independent institution. It was also when a secondary normal school program, which eventually became a four-year normal college course, was established. In 1954, the Bachelor of Science in Education major in Elementary Education was offered, pioneering teacher-training institution in Western Visayas. It was named a Center of Excellence (1994) by the late Sen. Blas P. Ople and Center of Excellence for Teacher Education (1995) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The INS became the West Visayas State College by virtue of R.A. 4189 on May 4, 1965, and commenced the offering of the bachelor's degree in education for both elementary and secondary teaching, Bachelor of arts; Master in Education. Also established were the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Sciences, (and consequently the Secondary Laboratory School) offering courses in the university level. The period from 1974 to the early 1980s was one of marked growth, witnessing the establishment of the School of Medicine, the second state medical school in the Philippines in 1975, the School of Agriculture in 1976, and the School of Nursing in 1977. The doctoral program of the Graduate School was also founded in 1977. The B.S. in Biological Science, AB in Mass Communications, and B.S. Forestry programs began in 1981. On January 27, 1986, the College became the West Visayas State University, integrating the Iloilo National College of Agriculture (INCA) into its system. In 1987, the University acquired the Don Benito V. Lopez Memorial Hospital which became the WVSU Hospital, a 150-bed tertiary, teaching and training hospital. The University further established in 1993, the Sports, Athletics, and Cultural Arts Center which later became the degree-granting PESCAR Institute and later PESCAR College in 2000. In 1993, the Department of Mass Communications became the degree-granting Institute of Mass Communications, which was later converted into a College in 2000. In 2001, the Board of Regents and the Department of Health (DOH) approved the conversion of the WVSU Hospital to WVSU Medical Center that it is now. The enactment of the Higher Education Modernization Act (1997) brought more developments in the University. In 2000, four CHED-supervised schools in Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Pototan were integrated into the WVSU System. The University