UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO

Founded in 1903, the 'University of Puerto Rico' ('Universidad de Puerto Rico' in Spanish, 'UPR') is the oldest and largest university system in Puerto Rico. Though Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state, the system is run much like a state university system and its programs have been accredited by U.S. accreditation agencies. UPR consists of 11 campuses with approximately 64,740 student and faculty. (Approximately 60,000 are undergraduates).

Contents

History

UPR Presidents

Campuses

External links

History

The University of Puerto Rico is considered the most selective and complete university in Puerto Rico and has a reputation for academic excellence. In 1900, at Fajardo, the "Escuela Normal Industrial" was established as the first higher education center in Puerto Rico. The following year it was moved to Rio Piedras. On March 12, 1903, a law was passed which officially created the University of Puerto Rico. That same day, the "Escuela Normal" was proclaimed as the first department of the University of Puerto Rico.
In 1908, the United States government extended financial aid to the University of Puerto Rico as part of the Morill Act, thus making UPR a land-grant university. From these new funds, another campus, "El Colegio de Agricultura", was established in 1911 at Mayagüez. One year later, its name was changed to "Colegio de Agricultura y Artes Mecánicas" (CAAM).
On September 20, 1966, then Governor Roberto Sánchez Vilella signed a law which reorganized the University of Puerto Rico. The most important changes were:

★ Granting complete autonomy to the School of Medicine which becomes the Medical Sciences campus.

★ Granting complete autonomy to the Mayagüez and Río Piedras campuses. The former is renamed as "Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez" (RUM), a name it keeps to this day. At present time the RUM is well known for its excellence in Engineering and Science programs. The Rio Piedras campus is best known for the Social and Hummanities studies. Also, it has strong sciences departments. At present time, the Rio Piedras Campus has a strong emphasis in the doctoral level programs. The Law School is the oldest in Puerto Rico.


★ Establishing three regional colleges at Arecibo, Cayey and Humacao.

★ In 1969, the regional college at Cayey becomes an official campus. It is granted complete autonomy in 1982.

★ In 1969, the regional college at Ponce is inaugurated.

★ In 1970, the regional college at Bayamón is inaugurated.

★ In 1972, the regional college at Aguadilla is inaugurated.

★ In 1973, the regional college at Carolina is inaugurated.

★ In 1978. the regional college at Utuado is inaugurated.
In 1993, legislation was approved to create a Board of Trustees for UPR that would take on the university governance duties previously performed by the Council on Higher Education, which remains the top regulatory body for all public and private universities in Puerto Rico.
UPR's student body has grown from 173 at its foundation in 1903 to over 70,000 today. These students are served by 5,600 professors and 14,000 non-teaching staff at eleven campuses throughout Puerto Rico.

UPR Presidents

President	Years
Dr. Jaime Benitez	1966-1971
Dr. Amador Cobas	1971-1973
Dr. José M. Saldaña	1980s
Dr. Norman Maldonado	1993-2001
Prof. Antonio García Padilla	-present

Campuses

★ University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

★ University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla

★ University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo

★ University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón

★ University of Puerto Rico at Carolina

★ University of Puerto Rico at Cayey

★ University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

★ University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez

★ University of Puerto Rico at Ponce

★ University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras

★ University of Puerto Rico at Utuado

External links

★ Official website

★ WRTU Radio Universidad de Puerto Rico