University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez

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Coordinates: 18°12′34″N, 67°8′30″W The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) —or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez (RUM) in Spanish— is a state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. UPRM is the second largest university campus of the University of Puerto Rico System, and the premier Engineering and Science institution of the Caribbean. UPRM has been accredited by the "Middle States Commission on Higher Education" (MSCHE) since 1946. Also, the Engineering undergraduate program is accredited by the "Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology" (ABET), the Nursing undergraduate program is accredited by the "National League of Nursing" (NLN) and the Chemistry Department is recognized by the "American Chemical Society" (ACS). The Business Administration Department is going through the process of the AACSB accreditation.

Contents 1 History 2 Academics 2.1 Faculty of Agricultural Sciences 2.2 Arts and Sciences Faculty 2.3 Business Administration Faculty 2.4 Engineering Faculty 3 Athletics 4 Social 5 External links 6 References

[edit] History

The university was founded in 1911 as a land-grant university with the name of College of Agriculture. The founding of the institution is credited to D.W. May, José de Diego and Carmelo Alemar. In 1912 the name of the institution was changed to the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts — Colegio de Agricultura y Artes Mecanicas (CAAM).

In 1918, an earthquake and a fire caused significant damage to the institution. The ruins of the entrance of one of the buildings, Degetau Hall -which not only withstood the earthquake, but proved to be almost indestructible after the rebuilt hall was torn down in the late 1940's- would later become the emblem of the institution. In 1988, the archway ruins (the portico) was moved, landcaped and turned into a monument.

In 1929, the LAI ("Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria") was created at the Mayaguez Campus. The LAI is an athletic organization, similar to the NCAA, created with the purpose of promoting and regulating sports activities. It originally consisted of a three event competition : basketball, baseball and track and field. Currently the competition consists of more than 25 sports.

In 1942, the campus was granted considerable autonomy thanks to university reforms in which the colleges of Agriculture, Engineering and Science were created.

In the 1950s the institution saw more programs added when the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Nuclear Center were established.

The Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly reorganized the University of Puerto Rico's system in 1966. This reorganization of the system lead to the controversial change of its name, University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus, which is used in the present day as the official name of the institution. Currently, the university is divided into four academic units; Agriculture, Engineering, Arts and Sciences, and Business Administration. In the past few years, more women than men have been earning Engineering degrees at UPRM, a rare statistic in a field where women usually compose a small minority. For obvious reasons, the University of Puerto Rico is the top Hispanic graduating University in the United States.

The Puerto Rico Seismic Network, in charge of monitoring seismic activity for the Caribbean region, is also located on the campus.

To this day, as a matter pride, students and alumni alike still refer to the institution as El Colegio (The College) in reference to its former CAAM name. Such school spirit is evident still in sporting events with the student battle cry and motto of “¡Antes, Ahora y Siempre Colegio!” (“Before, Now and Forever, Colegio!”). The university is unique in Puerto Rico for creating a strong bond between students and the institution itself. Alumni proudly declare themselves "Colegiales" even decades after graduating the institution. Being a "Colegial" becomes part of a student's identity. Some students say that, given the shared challenges of what's been called "the most academically demanding institution of the Caribbean"^{[citation needed]}, all alumni share a sense of belonging and trust. "Colegiales" are also deeply prized by employers in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and many parts of the United States.

[edit] Academics

The University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez consists of four major faculties. These faculties are Agricultural Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration and Engineering.

The estimated enrollment is 12,146 students. Up to 2006, the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez is one, if not the most selective university in the island with an acceptance rate of 62%.

[edit] Faculty of Agricultural Sciences

The Agricultural Sciences faculty originated with the creation of the Mayagüez campus in 1911.

The Agricultural Sciences faculty offers 11 undergraduate academic programs conducive to a Bachellor in Agricultural Sciences, a Pre-Veterinary program and 9 graduate programs conducive to a Master in Agricultural Sciences.

The following Bachelor in Agricultural Sciences programs are offered:

Agronomy Agricultural Business Agricultural Economy Animal Sciences ("Industria Pecuaria")

Agricultural Mechanization Crop Protection General Agriculture Horticulture

Agricultural Education Agricultural Extension Soils

The following Master in Sciences degree programs are offered:

Agronomy Animal Sciences ("Industria Pecuaria") Agricultural Economy

Crop Protection Science and Technology of Foods Horticulture

Agricultural Education Agricultural Extension Soils

[edit] Arts and Sciences Faculty

The Arts and Sciences faculty was founded in 1942 and currently consists of 13 departments.

The departments are the following:

Biology Department Industrial Biotechnology Department Marine Sciences Department Economy Department Physical Education Department

Nursing Department Hispanical Studies Department Physics Department Humanities Department Department of Social Sciences

English Department Geology Department Mathematics Department Chemistry Department

[edit] Business Administration Faculty

The Departments of the Business Administration Faculty are the following:

Accounting Department Finances Department Human Resources Department Industrial Management

Marketing Department Computerized Information Systems Office Administration Department

[edit] Engineering Faculty

The Engineering faculty was founded in 1942 and currently consists of six departments. It has approximately 4,825 undergraduates students, 343 graduate students, 197 full time faculty members and 100 staff employees. Approximately 40% of undergraduate students and 32% of graduate students are women.

The six departments that comprise the engineering faculty are the following:

Chemical Engineering Department Civil Engineering and Surveying Department Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

Engineering Science and Materials Department Industrial Engineering Department Mechanical Engineering Department

All of these departments offer degrees except the General Engineering Department which offers courses that provide the foundation for all engineers.

[edit] Athletics

The University's men and women sports team are called the Tarzans and the Janes, respectively. The Mayaguez campus is a member of the LAI ("Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria"). It is the only university that participates in all sports sponsored by the LAI. It currently participates in 16 men's sports and 12 women's sports with a total of 373 athletes.

Since the 1st of September of 2003 the Mayaguez campus also competes as an independent university in the NCAA's Division II. It participates in men's basketball, baseball, cross country running, soccer, swimming, tennis, track (outdoor), volleyball and sport wrestling and in women's basketball, cross country running, swimming and tennis.

[edit] Social

Fraternities Phi Eta Mu -- 1923 Phi Sigma Alpha -- 1928 Nu Sigma Beta -- 1937 Alpha Beta Chi -- 1941 Phi Delta Gamma -- 1942 Zeta Phi Beta Alpha Omicron Sigma Sigma Phi Chi Rho Omicron Rho

Sororities Mu Alpha Phi -- 1927 Eta Gamma Delta -- 1928 Zeta Phi Sigma Eta Phi Zeta Phi Lambda Omega

Phi Eta Mu	Mu Alpha Phi	Eta Gamma Delta	Phi Sigma Alpha
Nu Sigma Beta	Alpha Beta Chi	Phi Delta Gamma

[edit] External links

• University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez - Official Site (In Spanish).
• Campus Information (In English)
• Puerto Rico Seismic Network

[edit] References

1. UPRM. Undergraduate Academic Catalogue. Mayaguez, Puerto Rico: University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez.