The University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn was established on 1 September 1999, in accordance with the new Statute of Sejm signed by the President of the Republic of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, as well as the Minister of National Education, Mirosław Handke, in August of the same year.[1] Its first rector became prof. dr. hab. Ryszard Górecki. The Faculty of Theology was prescribed with the agreement between Polish Episcopate and the government, in the presence of CardinalJózef Glemp among others. In October the first academic year was inaugurated.[2]
The core structure of the University was based upon the agreement between the academic senate of three institutions of higher learning already established in the city: the Academy of Agriculture and Technology, the Pedagogical Institute, and the Warmia Institute of Teology.
The University has 16 faculties, out of which 8 hold full academic rights and therefore entitle the university to operate as an autonomous unit.
Faculties
The Faculty of Animal Bioengineering
The Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Biology
The Faculty of Economic Sciences
The Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Fisheries
The University Library is a unit of University structure which performs teaching and research assignments and provides services to other units. It is a scientific library accessible to everyone. Its book collection is the result of amalgamating the libraries of partner schools, including the seminary library, whose history dates back to the 16th century. The library building, situated in the campus, is a new "intelligent" building, with an integrated system managing all the systems inside (Building Management System), with air conditioning, monitoring and easy access for the disabled.
The Centre of Polish Culture and Language For Foreigners
as one of the general public units of the University of Warmia and Mazury, was established on 28 January 2005 by the UWM Senate. The Centre is located in the new centre for the Faculty of Humanities in Kortowo.