University of Puerto Rico

The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members. UPR has the largest and most diverse academic offerings in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, with 472 academic programs and 32 doctoral programs.

History

In 1900, at Fajardo, the "Escuela Normal Industrial" ( normal school) was established as the first higher education center in Puerto Rico. Its initial enrollment was only 20 students and 5 professors.Historia de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. http://upi100.rrp.upr.edu/espanol/secciones/sobre_centenario/datos_historicos.htm. 2008-04-30. 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 College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts or "Colegio de Agricultura y Artes Mecánicas" (CAAM). In 1913 the departments of Law and Pharmacy were established in Rio Piedras. In 1918 The University High School (UHS) is funded to provide clinical experience and supervised practice teacher candidates, support staff to teaching and other professionals. The University Law of 1923, reorganized the University providing administrative independence of the Insular Department of Education, establishing the Board of Trustees and Governing Board, and creates the post of Rector as the principal officer. In 1924 he appointed the first Rector. The enrollment is 1,500 students. In 1926 is established the College of Business Administration and the School of Tropical Medicine. In 1927 opened the first graduate program: the Master of Arts in Hispanic Studies. In 1935 the U.S. Congress extended to Puerto Rico the benefits of the Bankhead-Jones Act, which provided funds for research and construction of more buildings. From 1936 to 1939 were built the main structures of historic quadrangle in Rio Piedras Campus Spanish Renaissance style, including landmark buildings such as The Tower and the University of Puerto Rico Theater. In 1946 the university received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The expansion continued through the 1950s when many programs flourished in the University. The College of Arts and Sciences and the Nuclear Center were established in University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. The Colleges of Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences emerged in University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras. The UPR School of Medicine, and UPR School of Odontology were established at San Juan in the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. ]] On January 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 became the Medical Sciences campus.
Granting complete autonomy to the Mayagüez and Río Piedras campuses. The former was renamed the "Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez" (RUM), a name it keeps to this day. Today, the RUM is well known for its excellent Engineering and Science programs. The Rio Piedras campus is best known for Social and Humanities studies, as well as strong science and business departments. The Rio Piedras Campus has a strong emphasis on doctoral level programs. The University of Puerto Rico Law School is the oldest in Puerto Rico.
Establishing three regional colleges at Arecibo, Cayey, and Humacao.
In 1969, the regional college at Cayey became an official campus. It was granted complete autonomy in 1982.
In 1969, the regional college at Ponce was inaugurated.
In 1970, the regional college at Bayamón was inaugurated.
In 1972, the regional college at Aguadilla was inaugurated.
In 1974, the regional college at Carolina was inaugurated. It was granted complete autonomy in 1999.
In 1978, the regional college at Utuado was inaugurated.

In 1979 began the broadcasting of WRTU from Rio Piedras Campus. In 1993, legislation was approved to create a Board of Trustees for UPR that would take on the duties of university governance that were previously performed by the Council on Higher Education, which remains the top regulatory body for all public and private universities in Puerto Rico.

UPR Today

UPR's student body has grown from 173 at its founding in 1903 to almost 70,000 today. These students are served by 5,300 professors and 14,000 non-teaching staff at eleven campuses throughout Puerto Rico. The Master Plan for the Río Piedras Campus directs future growth for the University of Puerto Rico’s largest campus, a branch expected to serve 27,000 students by 2020. The study reviews existing facilities, identifies attainable development scenarios, and provides phasing and implementation strategies. The plan also envisions new development including a sport and recreation center; housing for 800 students; and academic and research facilities. The $700 million development plan is currently being implemented. The Master Plan for the Bayamón Campus addresses the pressing needs of this important facility of the University of Puerto Rico system. Originally built as a campus of temporary structures to serve 2,500 students, the campus today serves more than 5,000 students, a figure expected to double by the year 2020, and its facilities are decaying and subjected to excessive wear and tear.

Organization

Overview

The University of Puerto Rico is a well-established and mature institution, with a total enrollment of over 65,000 students. The University consists of the Mayagüez Campus, the Medical Sciences Campus, and the Río Piedras Campus, which are dedicated to both undergraduate and graduate education; and the Colleges at Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamón, Carolina, Cayey, Humacao, Ponce, and Utuado which provide undergraduate education. Each autonomous institutional unit has a Chancellor as chief administrator and academic officer.

Board of Trustees

]] The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the University of Puerto Rico. Its membership consisted of thirteen private citizens who represent the public interest in higher education, two faculty members, and a student representative. However, it should be noted that in July 2010 the government modified the law of the university and assigned new members (from 13 to 17) to the Board of Trustees of the university in order to control their governing body. The Governor of Puerto Rico, with the advice and consent of the Senate of Puerto Rico, appoints the lay representatives. The faculty and student representatives are elected from among the non-university administration members of the University Board. Five of the public interest members are appointed to eight-year terms, three members to six-year terms, and the remaining two members to four-year terms. The faculty and student representatives serve a one-year term. Members representing the public interest may be reappointed to additional terms as long as the total time served does not exceed eight years. The Board of Trustees elects its president from among its members. It is responsible for examining and reviewing the budgetary and institutional development plans of the University, authorizing the institution of new campus, centers, and other institutional units, appointing the President and chancellors of each autonomous unit, defining rights and duties of various constituents in the institutional community, defining student financial aid standards, preparing an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the state of the University of Puerto Rico.

President

The President of the University, the chief executive officer of the University system, is appointed to an indefinite term by the Board of Trustees. Subject to the approval of the Board, he appoints chancellors to the various campuses and colleges. The President represents the University on corporate matters before courts and government agencies. He acts as an ex-officio member of all the UPR faculties, academic senates, and administrative boards. The President is responsible for submitting an annual budget, an annual report, the institutional development plan and its revisions, regulations, contracts, and agreements which require university approval. He develops and maintains relationships with other cultural and educational institutions.

University Board

The University Board is constituted by the President of the University, eleven chancellors representing each autonomous institutional unit, a financial director, three additional members appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Trustees, one faculty representative from each Academic Senate and one student representative from each unit. The Board is responsible for the preparation of the following documents: general bylaws of the University, general bylaws of the student body university’s, strategic plan with recommendations from the Academic Senates. These documents are submitted to the President and to the Board of Trustees for their consideration and approval. The Board also considers the integrated university budget, and it is the first avenue of appeals against any decision taken by the Administrative Board or the Academic Senate of an autonomous unit.

Enrollment and admissions

UPR has the highest selectivity index of all colleges and universities in Puerto Rico. UPR’s average admission rate since 1997 has been 67.6% (systemwide, 11 campuses). UPR has maintained a matriculation rate of over 90% during the past five academic years.http://www.gdb-pur.com/investors_resources/presentations/UPR.pdf

Academics

UPR has more than 500 academic programs, including associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees; as well as postdoctoral, continuing education and professional growth programs.

Tuition

The cost per credit for undergraduate students entering the 2009-2010 academic year was $49.00. However, the Board of Trustees imposed an additional annual fee of $800 per student in July 2010.

Research

Rankings

In overall the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez is ranked 13th in Top Latin America. http://www.webometrics.info/top100_continent.asp?cont=latin_america

College of Engineering

The college is accredit by ABET. Just one of its campuses, the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, produces 606 engineers every year; which is more than Texas A & M, Florida International University and California State University, Pomona combined. It was chosen as the Top Engineering School for Hispanics by Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology Magazine. Puerto Rico's large pool of engineering students does not go unnoticed by U.S. employers. On October 2002, UPR's job fair had a record-setting number of companies and federal agencies recruiting engineers: 74. The list includes the likes of Motorola, Raytheon Systems, IBM, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Other colleges and schools

School of Restaurant and Hotel Management The School of Restaurant and Hotel Management of the University of Puerto Rico is located in the University of Puerto Rico's Carolina Campus. It was the first institution to offer the degree of Bachelor's in this discipline on the island, and the first to be accredited in Latin America and the Caribbean by the "Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration" (ACPHA).

Achievements

During the 5-year period from 2004 to 2008, the UPR conferred 46,987 academic degrees.
In the areas of science, engineering and technology, the number of degrees conferred averages 38% per year.
UPR graduate programs continue to develop very quickly, 380 PhD's have been awareded in the last 5 years (47% in science and technology).
The UPR contributes to over 16% of all degrees awarded to Hispanics in the US in Science and Technology
In 2005-2006 the UPR School of Engineering ranked 1st in graduating chemical engineers in the US; 1st in graduating Hispanics and 2nd in graduating women.
In 2007 the American Society of Engineering Education acknowledged that the UPR's School of Engineering ranked among the 20 largest engineering programs in the US.
In 2005-2006 the UPR Río Piedras Campus ranked 4th among the top 25 institutions selected for federal support in chemical research equipment.
Research activity, measured in terms of external funds received, has grown exponentially since 1985, doubling every five years. In 2007-2008 the UPR received over $87 million for research.

Campuses

Campus radio

UPR broadcasts both in FM (to some areas) and online. The campus radio station is called " WRTU Radio Universidad de Puerto Rico", and it was established in 1980. This is a public radio station with diverse musical and news programming. Radio Universidad de Puerto Rico

On Air

Today