The general mandate of Negros Oriental State University is expressed in Section 2 of Republic Act 9299 herein quoted as follows: "The University shall primarily provide advanced education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in the fields of arts, sciences, education, commerce, agriculture and forestry, and fishery and other related fields of study. It shall also promote research and extension services and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization."

Quoted hereunder, Section 3 of RA 9299 provides for the curricular offerings of the State University, to wit: "The University shall offer undergraduate and graduate studies in the fields of arts and sciences, philosophy, literature, mass communication, teacher education, agriculture and forestry, fishery, engineering and architecture, maritime education, industrial and information technology, hotel, and restaurant management, tourism, public health, criminology, volcanology/geology, public administration, business and accountancy, law, medicine, nontraditional courses and other degrees within its areas of specialization and according to its capabilities as the Board of Regents may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, particularly to meet the needs of the province of Negros Oriental and the region."

In addition to this, the law provides that "The University shall maintain and operate a laboratory high school if it has a College of Education. Otherwise, the existing laboratory high school shall be allowed to remain and operate until the existing students shall have completed their high school education."

In so far as administration is concerned, the law provides that "the University shall have the general powers of a corporation set forth in Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, as amended, otherwise known as "The Corporation Code of the Philippines." The administration of the University and the exercise of its corporate powers shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Regents and the President of the University insofar as authorized by the Board."

NEGROS ORIENTAL STATE UNIVERSITY (NORSU)
Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) has nine (9) campuses located in strategic areas across the province of Negros Oriental, namely: Dumaguete (2) campuses, Bais (2) campuses, Bayawan-Sta. Catalina Campus, Siaton Campus, Guihulngan Campus, Pamplona Campus and Mabinay Campus.

Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) offers Diploma, Certificate, Baccalaureate and Masteral Degree Programs. It has a total enrolment of about 22,000 students per semester and producing about 3300 world-class graduates annually. Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) was cited as the Top 2 performing StateUniversity and Colleges (SUCs) with the most number of assessed programs (includingpreliminary visits) and the Top 4 SUC with the most number of accredited programs Level1 and above among the 102 SUCs in the entire Philippines.

NORSU graduates not only are in the Top 10 passers of the board examinations in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Geodetic Engineering but also consistently performs better than most of the engineering schools in the country, by posting a higher passing percentage rate compared to the average national passingrate. This is also true to the College of Criminal Justice Education wherein it posted 66.38% passing rate for first time CBE takers for all the Criminology programs across six NORSU campuses, besting the national passing rate, which is pegged at 45.27%.

VISION
A dynamic, competitive and globally responsive state university.

MISSION
The University shall provide excellent instruction, relevant and responsive research and extension services, and quality-assured production through competent and highly motivated human capital.

QUALITY POLICY
NOrSU commits itself to the provision of quality instruction, research, extension services and production as well as compliance to applicable regulatory requirements and continual improvement of its management system.

CORE VALUES
S - spirituality

A - accountability

P - professionalism

P - patriotism

H - harmony

I - integrity

R - respect

E - excellence