Dr. Umpa has received awards and distinctions, which include among others, the "Loyalty Award in Grateful Recognition and Valuable Services rendered to MSU" and the "Outstanding Mindanaon Award". He has written several papers on various topics and has traveled abroad in Asia, Middle East, Europe and the USA for international conferences and MSU institutional linkages with other universities.

In terms of academic excellence, MSU is one of the top five (5) higher education institutions in the Philippines. It has seven autonomous University campuses in Mindanao, namely: 1) Mindanao State University Main Campus, Marawi City; 2) Mindanao State University Iligan Institute of Technology; 3) Mindanao State University Sulu Campus; 4) Mindanao State University Naawan; 5) Mindanao State University Tawitawi College of Technology and Oceanography; 6) Mindanao State University General Santos City; and 7) Mindanao State University Maguindanao.

For more than 40 years now since 1961, MSU has been on the forefront of multi-disciplinary education (from pre-elementary education to post graduate studies) in the Philippines. Many of its graduates are now gainfully employed in the Philippines and abroad, including those in the USA, Middle East and Asia.