University of Puerto Rico - History

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. 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.

1908 - The Morrill-Nelson Act is extended to Puerto Rico making the University a "Land Grant College" which provides federal land to establish colleges of agriculture, science and engineering.

1910 - Establishment of the College of Liberal Arts.

1911 - Establishment of the College of Agriculture at Mayagüez. A year later the name was changed to College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

1913 - The Departments of Pharmacy and Law were established.

1918 - High School (UHS) is founded to provide clinical experience and supervised practice for applicants teachers, support staff and other teaching professionals.

1923 - The University Act of 1923, the University reorganized administratively it independent Insular Department of Education, provides the Board of Trustees as the governing board, and make the position of Rector as the principal officer. In 1924 he appointed the first Rector. The enrollment is 1,500 students.

1924 - The administrative structure and identity of the University of Puerto Rico is completely independent of the Department of Public Instruction.

1925 - The Legislature approved Act 50, which gives the UPR educational autonomy, and this leads to a total restructuring and the beginning of a period of rapid growth.

1926-were established the College of Business Administration and the School of Tropical Medicine.

1927 - Opening of the first graduate program: the Master of Arts in Hispanic Studies.

1928 - The San Felipe hurricane struck the island of Puerto Rico and caused serious damage in the Rio Piedras campus. Staff and faculty began a reconstruction effort, the educational work had to be suspended for more than a month.

1935 - The U.S. Congress extended to Puerto Rico the benefits of Bankhead-Jones Act, which provided funding for research and the construction of more buildings.

1936 - 1939 - Major structures are built historic quadrangle in Rio Piedras, Spanish Renaissance style, including buildings such as the Tower Theatre and the University.

1938 - Augusto Rodríguez composed the music and lyrics Arriví Francisco's Alma Mater, the University anthem.

1939 - Installed the "chime" mechanism that plays the bells in the tower at the Río Piedras Campus.

1942 - Act No. 135 of May 7, 1942, amendment to the University, created the Higher Education Council as the governing board of the institution and regulator of the higher education system in Puerto Rico.

1943 - The model is implanted with the general education core courses modality.

1946 - The University first received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

1950 - Beginning of courses in the School of Medicine.

1966 - Act No. 1 of 1966, restructuring the university. The system becomes a three campuses-Rio Piedras, Mayaguez and Medical Sciences, and a regional school management to group those that may be created in the future, under the direction of a President. Create a College Board with representation from the regional campuses and colleges, and renamed to the governing Council of Higher Education.

1967 - Creation of the regional colleges Arecibo, Cayey and Humacao and five more were created in the following years: Ponce (1969), Bayamon (1971), Aguadilla (1972), Carolina (1973), and Utuado (1978).

1979 - WRTU-FM began broadcating from the Río Piedras Campus.

1993 - Act No. 16 of June 6, 1993, divided the functions of the Council for Higher Education, assigning the functions of government at the University Board of Trustees to a newly created.

1998 - Act No. 186 of August 7, 1998, provides for the autonomy of regional schools as provided by the Board of Trustees gradually, leading to the establishment of a university system of eleven autonomous units.

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 sports 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 subject to excessive wear and tear.

On July 2010, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education placed the accreditation of the University on probation citing concerns about the lacking governance of the institution. Nevertheless, by the end of 2011, all 11 campuses had regained full accreditation after demonstrating significant progress in this area.