Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico

The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico) is a private Roman Catholic university with its main campus in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It provides courses leading to Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate degrees in education, business administration, the sciences, and arts and humanities. It also has campuses in Arecibo and Mayagüez, as well as a satellite extension in Coamo. It is also home to a School of Law and a School of Architecture.[2] The university also founded a medical school, Escuela de Medicina de Ponce, in 1977, but in 1980 became an independent entity that eventually became the Ponce Health Sciences University.

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico
Seal of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
TypePrivate university
Established1948
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic
ChancellorRuben Gonzalez Medina
PresidentDr. Jorge Iván Vélez Arocho
Students12,000[1]
Location
Ponce
,
Puerto Rico

18°0′8.81″N 66°37′2.34″W
Websitewww.pucpr.edu
Front entrance of the university

The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico was founded in 1948 as Universidad Católica de Santa Maria,[3][4] but its name was changed to Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico with the graduation of its first class in 1950.[5] On 25 January 1991, the name was changed again to its current name, after Pope John Paul II bestowed the title of pontifical on the university.[6]

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.[7] "The name Santa Maria was chosen to honor the Mother of God and to implore her protection and help."[8] Its first president was Monseñor Vicente Murga.[9] 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. During 1949, the university acquired 118 cuerdas (115 acres) from the Government of Puerto Rico (administered by Autoridad de Tierras). This plot of land was located south of the city center proper and was, at the time, part of the Ingenio La Reparada sugar cane plantation, and being used to feed Central Mercedita sugar mill.[10] The University has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1953.[5]

Presidents
  • Jorge Iván Vélez Arocho (2010–present)
  • Marcelina Velez de Santiago (2006 - 2010)
  • Jose Alberto Morales[11] (2001 - 2006)
  • Tossello Giangiacono[11] (1984 - 2001)
  • Jaime B. Fuster (1981 - 1984)[12]
  • Francisco Carreras (1969 - 1981)[12]
  • Theodore McCarrick (1965 - 1969)[12]
  • John F. Mueller (1961 - 1965)[12]
  • Thomas Stanley (1956 - 1961)[12]
  • William Ferree (1953 - 1956)[12]
  • Vicente Murga (1948 - 1953)[12]

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.[13]

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 Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Architecture is also a separate campus and is located across from Plaza Las Delicias at the historic Forteza Building in downtown Ponce.[14]

Student life

Fraternities

Sororities

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. 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. Weblink updated 15 February 2018.
  3. Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Histografia de Ponce: Quien ha escrito Qué, Cuándo y Cómo sobre la Historia de Ponce. ISBN 9781618878670 Ponce, Puerto Rico: Professional Editions. 2016. p. 83.
  4. 70ma. Colación de Grados: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico. 13 July 2019. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ponce. 2019. "La Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico" p. 2. (unnumbered)
  5. Cristobal Colón. A mis amigos de la Universidad Católica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas, Inc. 1993. Page 8.
  6. Cristobal Colón. A mis amigos de la Universidad Católica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas, Inc. 1993. Page 11.
  7. 70ma. Colación de Grados: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico. 13 de julio de 2019. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ponce. 2019. "La Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico" p. 2.
  8. Cristobal Colón. A mis amigos de la Universidad Catolica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas Inc. 1993. Page 5.
  9. Colección Monseñor Vicente Murga: Area de Contexto. Censo-Guia: Archivos de España y de Iberoamerica. Government of Spain. Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  10. Cristobal Colon. A mis Amigos de la Universidad Católica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas. 1993. p. 7.
  11. Francisco Lluch Mora. Orígenes y Fundación de Ponce y Otras Noticias Relativas a su Desarrollo Urbano, Demográfico y Cultural (Siglos XVI-XIX). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Plaza Mayor. 2001. p. 7. ISBN 1563281724
  12. Cristóbal Colón. A mis amigos de la Universidad Católica. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas. 1993. p. 9.
  13. 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. Weblink updated 15 February 2018.
  14. Dan bienvenida a Escuela de Arquitectura. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur (Ponce, Puerto Rico). 22 September 2009. Accessed 15 February 2019.
  15. "PUCPR" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  16. Women Artists of Color: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook to 20th Century Artists in the Americas. Farris, Phoebe. Westport, CT.: Greenwood Press. 1999. ISBN 0-313-30374-6. page 131.
  17. Chiarmonte, Paula. Women Artists in the United States. G. K. Hall & Co. 1990. ISBN 081618917X. page 131.
  18. Men's 400m Hurdles. Archived 30 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Olympic Games 27 July – 12 August: Official London 2012 website. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  19. Biografia Completa de Juan H. Cintrón García.
  20. "Rinunce e nomine, 18.09.2018". Bolletino. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  21. Gov. Turnbull Nominates Julio Brady for Superior Court Judge. Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Lynda Lohr. St. Croix Source. 2006-01-18. Accessed 2011-07-25.
  22. Vuelve a casa protagonista de América . Glorimar Muñoz Berly. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 16 March 2011. Page 26. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  23. Ley Núm. 256 del año 2008 (P. de la C. 2988), 2008, ley 256: Para ordenar a la Comisión Denominadora de Puerto Rico designe la Carr. PR-9 con el nombre de Rafael (Churumba) Cordero Santiago. Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico. Law 256 of 13 August 2008. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 2008. Accessed 25 September 2018.
  24. Seijo-Maldonado, Luisa. "Biosketch External Reviewer" (PDF). Cohemis. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  25. Archived on 2010-January-11 at the WayBack Machine from the original at La Obra De Wichie Torres. Puerto Rico Fine Arts Gallery. 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
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