Organization of the University of Puerto Rico

[ Versión en Español ]

The University of Puerto Rico is a wellestablished and mature institution, with a total enrollment of over 69,000 students. The University consists of the Mayagüez Campus, the Medical Sciences Campus, and the Río Piedras Campus, which are dedicated to both undergraduate and graduate education; and the Colleges at Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamón, Carolina, Cayey, Humacao, Ponce, and Utuado which provide undergraduate education. Each autonomous institutional unit has a Chancellor as chief administrator and academic officer.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the University of Puerto Rico. Its membership consists of ten private citizens who represent the public interest in higher education, two faculty members, and a student representative. The Governor of Puerto Rico, with the advice and consent of the Senate of Puerto Rico, appoints the lay representatives. The faculty and student representatives are elected from among the nonuniversity administration members of the University Board. Five of the public interest members are appointed to eight-year terms, three members to six-year terms, and the remaining two members to four-year terms. The faculty and student representatives serve a one-year term.

Members representing the public interest may be reappointed to additional terms as long as the total time served does not exceed eight years. The Board of Trustees elects its president from among its members. It is responsible for:

• examining and reviewing the budgetary and institutional development plans of the University
• authorizing the institution of new campus, centers, and other institutional units
• appointing the President and chancellors of each autonomous unit
• defining rights and duties of various constituents in the institutional community
• defining student financial aid standards
• preparing an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the state of the University of Puerto Rico Public sessions are held according to the established annual schedule. Extraordinary meetings may be held at other times as determined by its president or required by five of its members.

President

The President of the University, the chief executive officer of the University system, is appointed to an indefinite term by the Board of Trustees. Subject to the approval of the Board, he appoints chancellors to the various campuses and colleges. The President represents the University on corporate matters before courts and government agencies. He acts as an exofficio member of all the UPR faculties, academic senates, and administrative boards.

The President is responsible for submitting an annual budget, an annual report, the institutional development plan and its revisions, regulations, contracts, and agreements which require university approval. He develops and maintains relationships with other cultural and educational institutions.

University Board

The University Board is constituted by:

• the President of the University
• eleven chancellors representing each autonomous institutional unit
• a financial director
• three additional members appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Trustees
• one faculty representative from eachunit

The Board is responsible for the preparation of
the following documents:

• general bylaws of the University
• general bylaws of the student body
• university’s strategic plan with recommendations from the Academic Senates

These documents are submitted to the President and to the Board of Trustees for their consideration and approval. The Board also considers the integrated university budget, and it is the first avenue of appeals against any decision taken by the Administrative Board or the Academic Senate of an autonomous unit.