It offers the largest number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs and short-term courses and certificates among the higher education institutions in the Eastern Visayas region.

The University of Eastern Philippines began as the Catarman Farm School (CFS) in September 1918 in a 516-hectare site of forested mountains and rice fields facing the Pacific Ocean.

It was in his term that the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Chapel (which houses the university chaplain) and the UEP Centre for Culture and Pageantry (commonly known as the RAB Amphitheatre) were founded.

In response to the pressing need for manpower development necessary for the upliftment of the socio-economic condition of the service area, House Bill 4050, sponsored by Congressman Eladio T. Balite, was signed by President Diosdado Macapagal on June 20, 1964, converting SIT into the University of Eastern Philippines.

UEP is mandated to "primarily give technical and professional training, advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences and the arts, besides providing for the promotion of scientific and technological researches."

The elevation of the school to a university status has, in fact, paved the way towards dramatic increase in its academic, research, and extension programs as well as the creation of additional colleges, institutes, centers, and offices.

Pepito's successor was named, the Head Executive Assistant, Atty Sergio Gelera Sr. of Catarman, World War II hero of Calbayog, became the OIC.

He enhanced UEP's educational opportunities and reinvigorated the university's Faculty Development Program, which gave rise to a number of PhDs and MAs.

In 1999 the Pedro Rebadulla Memorial Agricultural College (PRMAC) and the Laoang National Trade School (LNTS), formerly CHED-supervised institutions, were integrated into the university.

Prior to the selection of a regular successor, the Board of Regents appointed Dr. Milagros Esparrago, Chief Education Program Specialist of CHED Regional Office V, as UEP's Officer-in-Charge.

On June 15, 2007, in Tacloban City, Atty Mar P. De Asis of Catubig, Northern Samar took his oath of office as the 5th president of the university.

4126, to "primarily give technical and professional training, advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences and the arts, besides providing for the promotion of scientific and technological researches and democratic access to education to poor but deserving students, not only in Northern Samar, but also in other parts of the country."

For instance, the Regional Science Teaching Center has been offering short training courses in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics for elementary and secondary school teachers in Eastern Visayas.