National University of San Marcos

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National University of San Marcos
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
National University of San Marcos seal
Latin: Academia San Marci urbis regum in Peru
(Academy of Saint Mark of the City of Kings ("Ciudad de los Reyes") in Peru)
Motto Universidad Abierta al Futuro (University towards future)
Established May 12, 1551
Type Public, general
Rector magnificus Luis Izquierdo Vásquez
Faculty 2559 (full time)
674 (part time)
Undergraduates 29710
Postgraduates 3549
Location Lima City, Peru
Campus Urban, 0.69 km² (main campus) also called Ciudad Universitaria.
Colors Magenta, White, Steel blue
Mascot Lion
Website (Spanish) (en)

National University of San Marcos or University of Saint Mark [1] (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), or simply San Marcos) is a public university in Lima, Peru. It was founded in 1551, it is the oldest university in the Americas and as such is one of the oldest universities in the world. (See the section Oldest university below for a discussion.) It was chartered by a royal decree of May 12, 1551, signed by Charles I of Spain. While its historical campus is situated in downtown Lima, most academic activities take place at the modern Ciudad Universitaria.

The university is considered by many Peruvians as the most respected institution of higher learning in the country, as well as a leading center of scientific research.

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[edit] History

San Marcos was founded in 1551 by an order of Dominican friars headed by Fray Thomas de San Martin. It was subsequently officially recognized by a royal decree of Charles I of Spain and a papal bull of Pius V in 1571. Classes commenced on January 2, 1553, in the Convento del Rosario; the faculty consisted of Andrés Cianca and Corona Cosme Carrillo, and was led by Fray Juan Bautista de La Roca.

UNMSM was originally located in the Convent of Rosario of the Dominicans. Later, it was moved to a location adjacent to the Augustinians convent San Marcelo. In 1575, it was moved again to the Plaza del Estanque, later called Plaza de la Inquisición, where the Congress of Peru is currently located. The city's rapid growth as consequence of the 19th century industrial revolution and of president Manuel Pardo's efforts to develop and improve Lima's urban planning during the 1870s moved San Marcos' campus to a new location contiguous to an old Jesuit monastery called Convictorio de San Carlos; this campus is now referred to as La Casona. Finally in the 1960s, it was moved to its present location, the modern campus Ciudad Universitaria.

The Faculty of Medicine, also known as San Fernando (named after Ferdinand VII of Spain), was established during the viceroy's Francisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa's administration in 1573; however this faculty belongs to Department of Health Sciences and is also considered as the second campus also called Local San Fernando. Originally it was also located at the Plaza del Estanque until the 1860s when it moved to Avenida Grau, still in downtown Lima.

[edit] Logos

Main article: History of the National University of San Marcos seal

Since its founding in 1550s, San Marcos's identifying symbols changed over the years, although the main pattern has been consistently maintained. From its founding until 1574, the university's first official seal featured an icon of the "Virgen del Rosario" (Virgin of the Rosary), patron saint of the Dominican friars; at the right was a representation of the Pacific Ocean and on the bottom a lime (fruit) (that is, the fruit, which in Spanish is una lima, hence Lima, Peru). The logo was approved by King Charles I of Spain in 1551. By the late 1570s and after a papal bull of Pope Pius V, the seal was modified, replacing the icon of Virgen del Rosario with Saint Mark. It is uncertain which colors were used on this seal, because documents in the 16th century were only black and white paper prints. It wasn't until 1929 when the colors—blue for the ocean, black or brown for the saint's icon, a light blue background, and silver for columns—became popular.

San Marcos logos throughout its history, from left to right. The 1574 version of the original University seal already shows Saint Mark writing at a desk, a lion, three crowns, and the Latin phrase "Plus ultra". The second logo: the round shape of the seal was improved and the angel at the top modified and its wings made clear. The recent third logo added light computer-generated imagery effects.
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San Marcos logos throughout its history, from left to right. The 1574 version of the original University seal already shows Saint Mark writing at a desk, a lion, three crowns, and the Latin phrase "Plus ultra". The second logo: the round shape of the seal was improved and the angel at the top modified and its wings made clear. The recent third logo added light computer-generated imagery effects.

This logo was the longest-enduring symbol of the university: it was used for almost four and a half centuries, until the late 1980s, when it was improved for the second generation logo. In the second generation logo major changes were made to the angel's shape and its wings. The third generation logo used today, was introduced in May 12, 2001 along a special anniversary seal, which was used throughout 2001 and 2002. The third emblem added light computer-generated imagery effects; the RGB color model was used and golden effects were added for seal's frame and shade in background.

[edit] Oldest university

There is some controversy regarding the claim that San Marcos is the oldest university in the Americas, although it is certainly the oldest on the continental mainland.

San Marcos is known as Decana de América ("decana" translating as "dean" in the sense of "oldest member"). There are other universities that claim similar titles, including the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, founded in 1538, which regards itself as Primada de América.

UNMSM's claims are based on the fact that it was the first institution in the Americas established by a royal decree (signed by Charles I of Spain), and also on the fact that it is the only American institution of higher eduction from the sixteenth century to operate without interruption from the time of its founding. This last claim has been accepted by many historians, since many universities in the Americas were closed during the wars of independence or other other conflicts or political turmoil.

San Marcos also says that according to the Archivo General de Indias, a famous Spanish repository of documents on the former colonies in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, there were no official records authorizing any university or higher educational institution before UNMSM in 1551. [2]

Other interpretations claim that while UNMSM is certainly the oldest university in South America, in the Americas as a whole the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, in what is now the Dominican Republic, predates it by 14 years. The National University of Mexico (UNAM) was chartered the same year as UNMSM (by a royal decree of September 21, 1551), as the Royal University of the New Spain.

[edit] Organization

Department of Chemistry at San Marcos.
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Department of Chemistry at San Marcos.

The university was originally headed by members of the clergy; during the Enlightenment, Bourbon reforms transformed it into a secular institution. The university is governed by:

  • A rector magnificus
  • Two vice-rectors
  • The university assembly (composed of professors and students, with the latter holding a third of the seats).

The original faculties at San Marcos were Theology, Arts and Law; Jurisprudence, and Medicine were added later in the colonial period. The Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Economics and Commerce were created in the mid-19th century. The Faculty of Science was subdivided by specialities in the 20th century. The Faculty of Theology was closed in 1935. In the mid-1990s San Marcos's departments were grouped into four academic blocks, as shown below.

Peruvian postal service made a commemorative stamp in 2001 for San Marcos's University, it features the third generation logo.
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Peruvian postal service made a commemorative stamp in 2001 for San Marcos's University, it features the third generation logo.

[edit] Famous UNMSM alumni



Peruvian State Universities:

National University of San Marcos | Universidad Nacional San Agustín de Arequipa | Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina | Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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