By virtue of Batas Pambansa No. 401 which was signed into law by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 10, 1983, the Central Visayas Polytechnic College came into being (CVPC).

In 1998, with the development of the new campus at Brgy. Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City which is officially known as NORSU Main Campus II. Main Campus II permanently housed the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) and the College of Maritime Education (CME). In January 1999, the Board of Trustees (BOT) approved the creation of the College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF). In June 1999, CAF started to operate in NORSU Main Campus II. In the second semester of the school year, 1999-2000 CAF moved to where it is now at Barangay Mangoto, Pamplona, Negros Oriental. In the year 1995 and subsequently created CAF Pamplona Extention. The 6.1-hectare land area was donated by Hon. John O. Osmeña, one of the major stockholders of the Pamplona Golf and Country Club plantation who was a senator at that time.

Through Republic Act No. 9299 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on June 25, 2004, Central Visayas Polytechnic College (CVPC) was converted into Negros Oriental State University (NORSU).