Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico
Type Private University
Established 1948
President Dr. Jorge Iván Vélez Arocho
Students 12,000[1]
Location Ponce, Puerto Rico
Website www.pucpr.edu
Front entrance of the university.

The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico is a Roman Catholic university located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It provides courses leading to Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate degrees in the areas of education, business administration, science, and arts and human studies. The University is also home to a Law School, and in August 2010 it inaugurated a School of Architecture in downtown Ponce.[2] The university's original name (Catholic University of Santa Maria)[3] was changed in 1950 to Catholic University of Puerto Rico with the graduation of its first class.[4] On January 25, 1991, the name was again changed to its current name, after Pope John Paul II bestowed the title of pontifical.[5]

History

The university was founded in spring of 1948 by James E. McManus, C.S.S.R., Bishop of the Diocese of Ponce, and James Peter Davis, Bishop of the Diocese of San Juan. It was founded as the Catholic University of Santa Maria.[3] "The name Santa Maria was chosen to honor the Mother of God and to implore her protection and help."[6] Its first president was Monseñor Vicente Murga.[7] The original campus consisted of a few classrooms provided by the Capuchin Friars (OFM) and the Sisters of Saint Joseph, catholic clergymen and nuns, respectively, in the Colegio San Conrado in Ponce, a catholic primary educational school. This continued until 1949, when the university obtained 120 acres (0.49 km2), donated by the Luis A. Ferré Family. It has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1953.[4]

Schools

In 1961, the university started the School of Law providing graduate law studies and student exchange programs with other law schools in the United States and in Spain. The school has been host to famous and respected Puerto Rican law professors, including former Puerto Rico governor Rafael Hernández Colón.

In 1976, the university started the School of Medicine as a graduate medical education program, which, when reorganized, became an independent private institution now known as the Ponce Health Sciences University.

In 2009, the university opened a School of Architecture.[8]

In 2011, the university announced it was engaging in a $20 million expansion plan that would result in the creation of three new schools over a ten-year period. The three new schools were reported to be a School of Graphical Design, a School of Fashion, and a School of Cinematic Arts.[1]

Campuses

Aside from its main campus in Ponce, specifically on barrio Canas Urbano, on Avenida Las Americas (PR-163), the university has two additional campuses: the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo in Arecibo and the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez in Mayagüez. It also has a satellite extension in Coamo. The School of Architecture is also a separate campus from the main campus on Avenida Las Americas and is located across from Plaza Las Delicias in downtown Ponce.

Social

Fraternities

Sororities

Prominent alumni

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Inversion de $20 Millones: Con ambiciosa agenda La Católica. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30, No. 1458. 9 November 2011. Page 4. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  2. ↑ La Escuela de Arquitectura: Coquetea con la Internacionalización. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. (Electronic Edition - Noticias Locales section) Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  3. 1 2 Univ Catolica Santa Maria.
  4. 1 2 Cristobal Colon. A mis amigos de la Universidad Catolica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas Inc. 1993. Page 8.
  5. ↑ Cristobal Colon. A mis amigos de la Universidad Catolica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas Inc. 1993. Page 11.
  6. ↑ Cristobal Colon. A mis amigos de la Universidad Catolica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas Inc. 1993. Page 5.
  7. ↑ Colección Monseñor Vicente Murga: Area de Contexto. Censo-Guia: Archivos de Espana y de Iberoamerica. Government of Spain. Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  8. ↑ La Escuela de Arquitectura: Coquetea con la Internacionalización. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. (Electronic Edition - Noticia Locales section) March 5, 2010.] Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "PUCPR" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2008-01-03.

Coordinates: 18°0′8.81″N 66°37′2.34″W / 18.0024472°N 66.6173167°W / 18.0024472; -66.6173167

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