Then Minister, Juan Ponce Enrile crafted the Charter for the establishment of state universities and by virtue of Presidential Decree 1436 signed by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 11, 1978, Cagayan State University was born. Sanchez Mira Rural and Vocational School was one of the administrative sites merged with the Cagayan Valley College of Arts and Trades at Tuguegarao, the Northern Luzon State College of Agriculture at Piat, the Aparri Institute of Technology, the Cagayan Valley Agricultural College at Lallo, the Bukig National Agricultural and Technical School in Aparri West, the Western Cagayan School of Arts and Trades at Lasam and the Gonzaga National Agricultural and Technical School. It is this fact that explains the present constellation of campuses of the Cagayan State University: Andrews (Caritan), Piat, Lasam, Lallo, Aparri, Sanchez Mira, and Gonzaga.

Cagayan State University at Sanchez Mira started from being the Sanchez Mira High School in the Municipality of Sanchez Mira and was converted and known to be the Sanchez Mira National Rural and Vocational High School by virtue of the Republic Act No. 2398 signed in the Congress of the Philippines on June 21, 1959. Then Congressman of the 2nd District, Hon. Benjamin T. Ligot passed said bill in Congress which later became R.A. 2398, converting Sanchez Mira High School into Sanchez Mira Rural and Vocational School that was housed in a 101-hectares of land in Sitio Nagbaranganan, a 2-kilometer walk from the National Highway . Said Nagbaranganan CSU old site according to informants has been always described as “Little Baguio” where the cottages and infrastructures were put up for the increasing population of students. According to one of the living informants, Mr. Saturnino S. Rivera, 82 years old one of the retired faculty members and was a student in the Sanchez Mira High School and the then Sanchez Mira Rural and Vocational School , then Cagayan State University, now, the 101 hectre land was bounded to the West by its dam , to the east Bianzon and Ruiz property owners, Southwest by the Prinsesa family until Dingin, North bound by the Eugenio Cabuyadao property and Northwest by the Sacramed . Mr. Saturnino Rivera quoted the late CRVS Administrator, Mr. Simeon L. Cadiz, relating the history of some lots donated by some benefactors to the Sanchez Mira Rural and Vocational School, however, the deed of donation as proof were burned during the insurgencies in 1984. In addition, lot 10,600 with a total area of 16, 767 m2 more or less under the name of the late Gregorio Mangosing was purchased or paid by hogs by the administration of the Sanchez Mira Rural and Vocational School and the said area of land now served as Riceland for the Agriculture course laboratories. Seven years after, the enrolment increased that led to its fast pace of development.

In 1974, an Agricultural Technician 2-year post-Secondary Curriculum was opened by authority of the Director of Vocational Education and it clicked with the big number of enrollees in 1976. Henceforth, two courses namely: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education were offered and became the attraction of the school.

In 1978, by virtue of P.D. 1436, Sanchez Mira Rural and Vocational School was converted, particularly its College Department as one of the nine satellite campuses of the Cagayan State University.

On July 24, 1985, however, the course of development in the campus was hindered by an armed confrontation between the NPA rebels and the military, which resulted to a bloody combat. The incident sent every school inhabitant to town. The Municipal Mayor of Sanchez Mira then offered the use of the Municipal Gymnasium until the situation normalized. The school was then branded as the “University without a Campus”. This condition prevailed for long years; however, the academic development of the students was not stymied because of the presence of the intelligent, dedicated and loyal teachers.

On May 1992, a 6.9-hectare lot along the Maharlika Highway was donated for the new site of the CSU-Sanchez Mira Campus. Meanwhile, the course offerings in the new campus broadened and the enrolment came pouring in, not only students from the 2nd District of Cagayan but also to the neighboring provinces of Apayao and Ilocos Norte.

Records of Cagayan State University show that the campus was led by anointed men and women chosen who left their marks and contribution by time and their leadership qualifications. Due to insurgency, files to manifest the period of leadership of the late Campus Administrators : Mr. Simeon Cadiz, Sr, Mr. Jovencio A. Bayag, Mr. Jesus Fonacier were not found in the electronic retrievable system. Dr. Patricio P. Unday was the Campus Dean then, when the new or current CSU-SM site was immensely developed from the Municipal gymnasium in 1996. From word of mouth sources though, years remembered are indicated herewith:

Mr. Simeon Cadiz- 1985-1986

Campus Administrator Benjamin Bayag-1986- 1989

Campus Dean Jesus Fonacier- 1989 – 1991

Campus Dean Eugenio Tolentino, 1991- 1992

Campus Dean, Patricio P. Unday, Ph.D., 1992- 1999

Campus Dean Romeo Culasing, Ph.D.- Special Order No. 99-71, June 7, 1999. Office of the University President, Dr. Armando B. Cortes, Ph.D.

Campus Dean Pedro R. Tugade, Ph.D.- Special Order No. 03- 096, October 18, 2003, Office of the President, Officer In Charge Dr. Eleuterio C. de Leon, Ph.D.

Campus Dean Dominador Tamayao, Ph.D., Special Order No. 04-069. September 23, 2004, Office of the University President, Dr. Roger P. Perez, Ph.D.

CEO Aurelio C. Caldez, Ph.D, Special Order No. OP- 08- 030, February 6, 2008, Office of the University President Roger P. Perez

CEO Lina M. Garan, DPA, Special Order No. 09-152.June 4, 2009. Office of the University President,Dr. Roger P. Perez

Special Order No.OP-12-099.April 23, 2012,Office of the University President Officer -in-Charge, Dr. Evelyn L. Pascua, Ph.D. CESO

Special Order No. OP- 12- 214, July 17, 2012Office of the University President Officer in- Charge, Atty. Honorato M. Carag, Jr.

CEO Froilan A . Pacris, Jr., Ph.D. , Special Order No. OP- 14- 263, June 6, 2014- May 2015, Office of the University President, Dr. Romeo R. Quilang, Ph.D.

CEO Narcitas Biado- Ouano, Ph.D , Special Order, OP-5003-2016-11-043, November 9, 2016. Office of the University President, Urdujah A. Tejada, Ph.D., CESO II

CEONarcitas Biado- Ouano, Ph.D , Special Order, OP5005-SO 2019-05-395-A, May 24, 2019,Office of the University President, Urdujah A. Tejada, Ph.D., CESO II

CEO Narcitas Biado- Ouano, Ph.D Special Order OP 5005-SO-2021- 05-190, May 20, 2021. ,Office of the University President, Urdujah A. Tejada, Ph.D., CESO II

Campus Overseer Rodel Francisco T. Alegado, Ph.D., Special Order OP-5005-SO-2022-02-125, Office of the University President, Urdujah G. Alvarado, PhD., CESO II

CEO Rodel Francisco T.Alegado, Ph.D., Special Order OP5005-S0-2022-05-350, May 30, 2022 to present,

Today, CSU-Sanchez Mira continues to offer Quality Education, making it a University that transforms the lives of every individual from all walks of life-into the best they can be.