The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico) is a privateRoman Catholicuniversity 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.
The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico was founded in 1948 as Universidad Católica de Santa María,[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 María.[7] "The name Santa María 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]
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 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]
^Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Histografia de Ponce: Quien ha escrito Qué, Cuándo y Cómo sobre la Historia de Ponce.ISBN9781618878670 Ponce, Puerto Rico: Professional Editions. 2016. p. 83.
^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)
^ abCristobal Colón. A mis amigos de la Universidad Católica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas, Inc. 1993. Page 8.
^Cristobal Colón. A mis amigos de la Universidad Católica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas, Inc. 1993. Page 11.
^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.
^Cristobal Colón. A mis amigos de la Universidad Catolica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas Inc. 1993. Page 5.
^Cristobal Colon. A mis Amigos de la Universidad Católica. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas. 1993. p. 7.
^ abFrancisco 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. ISBN1563281724
^ abcdefgCristóbal Colón. A mis amigos de la Universidad Católica. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas. 1993. p. 9.
^Women Artists of Color: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook to 20th Century Artists in the Americas. Farris, Phoebe. Westport, CT.: Greenwood Press. 1999. ISBN0-313-30374-6. page 131.
^Chiarmonte, Paula. Women Artists in the United States. G. K. Hall & Co. 1990. ISBN081618917X. page 131.
^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.