The University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao or UPMin) is the sixth constituent university (CU) of the University of the Philippines System and is a representative of the UP System in Mindanao Island, located at Mintal, Tugbok District, Davao City.

The university was first named University of the Philippines in Mindanao to declare the arrival of the state university’s presence in Mindanao after a long period of waiting by eager alumni and students. This was later replaced to its present name due to the request of the UP System for formalities’ sake.

UP Mindanao was created on February 20, 1995 by Republic Act 7889, and formally created by the Board of Regents of the UP System on March 23, 1995, with its main focus in Mindanao studies through an affirmative action program in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao to attract Muslims and Lumad students, aside from the marginalized and deserving students.

The university offers nine undergraduate degree programs and one graduate program heavily inclined in research through its two colleges and one school; the university is the one of its kind in the Philippines to have a discipline in Agribusiness Economics (ABE), and is one of the three worldwide to have such a degree program.

As of 2007, the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education (CHED) awarded a National Center of Development (COD) to UPMin in Information Technology (College of Science and Mathematics). Currently the university is developing itself to become a Center of Culture and Languages, engaging in activities enriching the Filipino and ethnic languages and Mindanao through literature and translation; the university is also an active member of the Davao Colleges and Universities Network (DCUN) in the field of cultural integration and development.

The university also aims to become the best science university in Southern Philippines with the UP Mindanao Science and Technology Park Consortium; the university’s long term plan is to transform UPMin to a “green university town,” the only one of its kind in the UP system and in the Philippines.

 

Special Events

Even though the university is considered "young" in its academic history, due to the efforts made by the students and academe, and due in part to its isolation to urban Davao, UPMin has strived to become a cultural melting pot in the whole Davao region. Most of the traditions practiced were borrowed from other constituent units, but were given a cultural twist, adding Mindanaoan elements to the events. Because of these unique cultural elements, such events draw an enormous crowd not only from the UPMin student body, but also from other schools and universities as well.

Most of the events are organized by the UP Mindanao University Student Council (USC) and student organizations, and are supported by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA); other events are also hosted by courses and student organizations, notably course-based organizations, fraternities and sororities.

• University Convocation

During the first day of classes for every academic year, the whole community gathers at the Atrium to welcome the freshmen with an acquaintance ceremony, in which members of the administration, faculty, heads of the colleges, staff and students are introduced. The administration, upperclassmen and alumni then give an inspirational message for the new members of the student body. The freshman with the highest University-predicted Grade (UPG) will then give his/her message in behalf of the batch and lead them during the oath-taking. The elected University Student Council officials are also inaugurated during the program; the officials were elected during the preceding academic year.

• Torch Night

Usually done during June or July, the Torch Night involves the symbolic passing of the lit torch (symbolizing responsibility and privilege as "Iskolar ng Bayan") and group presentations between the courses, which is then sort-of an introduction between the freshmen batch with their upperclassmen.

This event was controversial in 2008 when freshmen from the Communication Arts program were booed upon by the upperclassmen which resulted to the event (and all student-organized activities thereafter) being suspended by the Chancellor in the same year after a complaint was filed by one of the parents, but was reinstated in 2009 through the efforts of the University Student Council and the student body.

• Freshmen Night

One of the highlights during the academic year, the Freshmen Night is held weeks after the Torch Night, where all freshmen, with the help of their upperclassmen, compete in a pagaent (Search for UPMin Isko and Iska) and a dance competition.

• Freshmen Torch Night

In an effort to make the experience of welcoming the new Iskolars ng Bayan better, the Freshmen Torch Night has been organized since 2011. This event combines the fanfare of welcoming the freshmen during Torch Night and the pageantry of the Freshmen Night. The event's highlights include the passing and lighting of the degree program torches and group presentations from the freshmen (taken from the Torch Night) and the Search for the Ultimate Isko and Iska of UP Mindanao (Freshmen Night).

• Dula

Dula, a Cebuano word meaning "play", is the university-wide sportsfest, preceded by college-based sportsfests (Dula-dula for the CSM and SOM, and Hampang for the CHSS). Done usually in the middle of the semester (August/September), students get together with their teachers in the spirit of enjoyment, sportsmanship and camaraderie. The highlight of the competitions is the Cheerdance Competition, the climax of intercollegiate rivalry between CHSS, CSM and SOM, drawing huge crowds from other universities and is commonly featured in the local media. For 2012, the whole month of September has been dedicated for Dula.

• Deviance Day

Usually held at the last week of November or the first week of December, this event involves students, faculty and staff dressing up with their "not-so-everyday" attires; male students usually wear female clothes during this day, as well as other students and teachers wearing sleeping gowns, costumes and formal dress, with some going to the extreme: wearing almost nothing at all. This is then highlighted by a program in the evening which consists of talent shows and a free concert.

For 2011, the event consisted of two talent shows (One Minute of Fame, Three Minutes of Fame), two pagaents (Echusero Echusera Mary Joy of the Night, Oyot Alert) and the free concert, sponsored by the UP Mindanao Association of Musicians Playing Loud Instruments (UPMin AMPLI).

This event is organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) under the Department of Social Sciences (DSS) and the Dalub-aral na may Ugnayan, Galing at Organisadong Ningas na Ginagabayan ng Antropolohiya (DUGONG-ANTRO) student organization.

The event is an adaptation of UP Cebu's "Crazy Day" and was originally a free concert hosted by the BA Social Sciences and BA Anthropology programs.

• Kasadya

A Cebuano word meaning "joy, happiness," Kasadya is the highlight of the university-wide Christmas celebration that starts during the last month of November and ends before the Christmas break; the affair features a lantern parade made by the university constituents and other sectors in UP Mindanao, and Pasiklaban, a skit contest for students and alumni sponsored by the UP Alumni Association-Davao.

In 2010, the Christmas celebrations were officially opened with the lighting of the University Christmas Tree, constructed with lanterns from the different student organizations, at the Kalimudan Student Center.

In 2011, the celebrations for Kasadya were be held at the campus, a break from the traditional venue at Peoples' Park.

• UP Mindanao Anniversary Celebrations

A month-long event, this commemorates the foundation of UP in Mindanao as a constituent university with the UP System on February 20. Cultural and civic events are conducted during this time, spearheaded by the administration, while the respective colleges celebrate their foundation weeks during this period (CHSS Week and CSM Week). In addition, residents of the Elias B. Lopez Hall celebrate their Dorm Week, with events such as workshops and talkshows, the Open House, and the much-awaited Mistress of the Dorm.

Since 2012, UP Fiesta has also been celebrated. Organized by the University Student Council, this week-long festivity encourages high school students from the region to visit the university in order to give them an idea of what's in store for them should they decide to enroll in the university after graduation. They are then given tours around the university by members of the USC, college councils and course-based organizations.

Honorable students, faculty and staff are given recognition during the Recognition Day (held during the third week of February).

Many organizations and courses also celebrate their own foundation celebrations during the month through the week-long Orgs Fair.

Tatak UPMin, a student organization fair headed by the University Student Council, is the highlight of the festivities. The event consists of a beauty pageant (Mistress of UPMin) of male students from the different student organizations portraying their respective female "alter-egos", and a free concert, which has (since 2011) featured the UPMin AMPLI.