The Bohol Island State University comes into existence through grit and determination of its leaders.

It started from a humble community college founded by the late Mayor Anunciacion R. Tuazon, and originally named Calape Community-Based Agro Industrial College (CCBAIC) in June 1989. Later, CCBAIC was converted into a polytechnic college known as Calape Polytechnic College (CPC) by virtue of Republic Act 7370. In June 1998, Republic Act 8659 established Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology out of the integration of the five (5) chartered colleges all in the province of Bohol except CPC. CPC was then integrated into CVSCFT System on October 30, 1998 through BOT Resolution No. 2 Series of 1998 adopting the college.

Finally, on October 14, 2009 CVSCAFT evolved anew with the name Bohol Island State University by Virtue of Republic Act 9722 converting the college, its unit and satellite campuses into a University.