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).
History
University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras
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.
Portico of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (RUM)
* 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.
