Interamerican University of Puerto Rico

Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
Interamerican University Seal
Motto	"Yo soy la Inter, y Tú que esperas?"
Established	1912
Type	Private
President	Manuel J. Fernós
Location	San German, Puerto Rico Multiple Campus, Puerto Rico, U.S.A.
Colors	Green and Yellow
Athletics	• Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria  • NCAA Division II
Mascot	Tiger
Website	www.inter.edu

The Inter American University of Puerto Rico —or Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico (UIPR) in Spanish, and often referred as "Inter"— is a Christian private university system in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1912 in San German, Puerto Rico. The University has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Bayamón, Fajardo, Guayama, Ponce, San Juan, and San German. The school also has three professional schools: the School of Optometry, the Faculty of Law, and the School of Aeronautics. The Inter offers academic programs in 11 teaching units.^{[citation needed]}

It is the largest private university in the Western Hemisphere. In 1944 it became the first institution outside the continental United States to be accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

It has 45 exclusive programs, ranging from Associate Degrees in Medical Emergencies, Photography, Optical Science Technology; Bachelor Degrees in Popular Music, Food Technology, Small Business Administration, Biotechnology, Airway Sciences, to Master Degrees in Anesthesia, Fine Arts, Electronic Commerce, Criminal Justice, and International Business

It is the leader in distance education with 8 academic programs offered entirely online and more than 300 online courses and the only higher education institution on the island that has an all English trimester program in the Metro Campus.

It has the only Airway Science program in the Caribbean and the only Optometry School in the Caribbean and Latin America, being the main provider of bilingual optometrists in the world.^{[citation needed]}

History

The Inter American University was founded as Polytechnic Institute of Puerto Rico in 1912 by Rev. John Will Harris and his brother Clarence Harris. It was founded as an elementary and high school in the Lomas de Santa Marta sector of the town of San German in land now occupied by the University's San German Campus. In 1927, the first high school class graduation took place. In 1944, the institute was accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, thus becoming the first liberal arts college to receive such accreditation in Puerto Rico, as well as the first outside the continental United States. This accreditation has been maintained over the years.

Administration and organization

The governing body of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico is its Board of Trustees, which perpetuates itself and whose members are elected freely without interference from any external authority.

The President of the University is the executive officer and senior scholar at the Institution. Systemic Management Council comprises the President of the University who chairs the Council, the Vice-Rectors, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dean of the School of Optometry, an Executive Secretary appointed by the President, the Executive Director Information Systems, the Director of the Legal Office and the Director of the Office of Systemic Research and Evaluation. Students will participate in the meetings of the Council when systemic issues are under consideration relevant to its functions, the following advisers: the President of the University Council, the Director of the Office of Human Resources, the Director of the Office of Promotion and Recruitment and the Director- Systemic Development Planning and Physical Plant.

The faculty and administration of the Faculty of Law and School of Optometry determine their own programs and rules subject to approval by the President and Board of Trustees. In all other respects, these two professional schools are governed by the rules, policies and general procedures of the University.

Academic Senates of the teaching units and the University Council, Academic Senate heirs agencies was established in 1966 and the University Senate who succeeded him in 1973, dealing with the academic welfare of the University through a process of formal articulation between the units. The Academic Senates made academic standards and the University Council the ratification, subject mainly to the presence of the President of the University. Both bodies formulate recommendations on matters relating to educational policy, administrative and research.

Campuses

These are the sites of: Bayamón, Guayama, Arecibo, Aguadilla, Barranquitas, Fajardo, Metropolitan, Ponce, San German, and three professional schools: School of Optometry (D.O), Faculty of Law (J.D), School of Aeronautics.

Alumni

• José Hernández (baseball) - All Star, Major League Baseball Player
• Antonio Maldonado - Brigadier General, United States Air Force, Masters in Business Administration
• Héctor O'Neill - Mayor of Guaynabo, Bachelor's degree
• Pedro Rosselló - Former Governor of Puerto Rico, Masters Degree in Education
• Miguel Romero - Puerto Rico Secretary of Labor and Human Resources, Juris Doctor
• Jorge Santini - Mayor of San Juan, Juris Doctor
• Sol Luis Fontánes - Mayor of Barceloneta, Masters degree

External links

• Official website(Spanish)
• List of campuses