Universidad del Sagrado Corazón

University of the Sacred Heart
Universidad del Sagrado Corazón
Motto	"Vive Una Experiencia Universitaria Única"
Established	1880
Type	Private, Non-Profit
Rector	Dr. Jose Jaime Rivera
Admin. staff	~15,000
Students	~16,000
Undergraduates	~10,000 [1]
Location	Santurce, Puerto Rico, United States
Campus	Both urban and suburban
Website	Official website

Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (USC) —or Sacred Heart University in English, or simply Sagrado. Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Puerto Rico is a higher education institution based in Santurce, Puerto Rico and one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious institutions in Puerto Rico.

Its origins date back to 1880 with the establishment of an elementary school by, the religious order of the Catholic Church known as "Religiosas del Sagrado Corazon" (See also Society of the Sacred Heart) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The university is situated in an area which was urbanized in the first decades of the twentieth century with great residences that belonged to the privileged families of the time and is rich in architectural styles. Renown architect Antonín Nechodoma located his residence in Monteflores and some residences designed by him are still in the area. Including buildings with the unique French-style neoclassic architectural characteristics of the residence of Pablo Ubarri, Count of Santurce, which is now the center of the university's main campus. Such buildings abound along with Puerto Rican adaptations of Victorian architecture. There are also homes in the "tropical" U.S influenced Mission Revival, French-gothic, Spanish Colonial Revival, Prairie School, and several apartment structures of the "Art Deco" periods in Bouret street.^[2]

Nowadays some modern high rise apartment buildings dot the area. "Sagrado Corazón" is the starting point of the "Tren Urbano" (Urban Train). Various bus lines (guaguas) operate in the area as well.

In recent years, the university has also gained recognition for having the best Communications program in Puerto Rico.

History

At the beginning of the 20th century the institution acquired the Count of Santurce Estate and established the foundations of what makes-up today's campus.

In 1935, he local government issued the Letter Foundation, whereby it established the College of the Sacred Heart. Four years later, in 1939, the institution granted its first academic degrees. The original founding purpose was as an educational center for women in Puerto Rico to achieve ample knowledge, not only for their personal enrichment, but for the benefit of the country.

In 1970, the religious order opted to transfer ownership and governance of the institution to the Board of Trustees (composed of some religious, but mostly lay members). This transition allowed for the notable expansion of academic offerings and student body.

In February 1972, a change in the institution's original vision took place. The Board of Trustees approved the establishment of an entirely co-ed institution. In December 1976, the Board of Trustees authorized the use of the new official name: "Universidad del Sagrado Corazon" (USC) or University of the Sacred Heart (USH). In 1985, the University established the first three graduate programs in: Education, Communications, and Business Administration.

In 1990, the University began to limit the number of undergraduate students accepted with the purpose of promoting and maintaining the individualized education that characterizes the institution.

Corporate Philosophy and Mission

The University of the Sacred Heart is an educational Catholic institution in the ecumenical spirit of the Second Vatican Council. Finds the Good and Truth wherever they may be, and conceives Education as one of the processes by which develops Fully and structured invidual. It receives and incorporates in an atmosphere of community to people of all faiths, races and cultures and maintains alive the Gospel message.

The University carries its own mission within a framework of dialogue and educational excellence by promoting values and attitudes that promote respect for the dignity of all human beings in their personal dimension and social solidarity.

As a Catholic institution, the University is guided by a spirit of Ecumenical openness to dialogue and pluralism. It recognizes that teachers and students are participants in the educational and intellectual process, called to overcome barriers in society and to develop by choice of their own social consciousness. This will eventually direct the responsible exercise of their work. Therefore, the University promotes an active and personalized education that is relevant to the realities of social and cultural rights. The University equally supports the importance of training in humanistic, scientific, technological and professional skills complementing the capacity for the development of a logical expression of skills that facilitate critical and creative thinking. It promotes attitudes towards teamwork and the ability to recognize, discern and practice values.

The location and urban reality of the University reflect its mission of constant interaction with the environment and its pledge to serve as a transformative agent of the Puerto Rican society. It strives for closer ties with the realities of the social and cultural environment of the Caribbean, of America and of the international student body.

The Chairman is the principal executive officer for the University. His primary responsibility is to ensure compliance with corporate goals. It is his role to recruit staff, academic and administrative, according to the established bylaws. Convenes and presides over meetings of the Senate, the Academic Board and reports to the Board of Trustees regarding the functioning of the institution.

The Academic Board is the official forum directly related to the educational approach as an institution. As legislature and advisory committee it determines the general thrust of the educational programs and research. It also establishes general requirements for admission, promotion, retention and graduation of students. It consists of a broad delegation of elected faculty and student representatives.

The Administrative Council is a forum for discussion and development of options to address the management of various issues. It is conceived as an advisory body of the President of the University.

The Faculty of the University of the Sacred Heart consists of approximately 150 teachers. The academic backgrounds of the faculty demonstrate the diversity of their preparation including their areas of expertise and the variety of institutions and countries from which they have obtained their degrees.

Campus

The campus of the University of the Sacred Heart is composed of 33 acres (130,000 m²) of undulating terrain and shading, from whose height can see panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding urban areas. In its abundant vegetation, highlighting forest of tropical plants that contribute to the freshness and beauty of the land University.

For the development of its activities, the University has the following facilities: the broad main building architecture classical, lifted at the beginning of the twentieth century, which today accommodates the administrative offices and in whose center is home to the Chapel of the Institution, which was declared a National Monument in 1983, the residence of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, the Information and Resource Center Modern facilities of the Library. Then followed the student Residences, modern style, and south of the earlier, a complex structures consisting of classrooms, administrative offices and teachers, and an amphitheater.

The Library Mother Maria Teresa Guevara, one of the vital units of the University for his significant educational role, offers services to teachers, students, administrators and others members of the university community.

The Theater Emilio S. Belaval serves the development of a comprehensive program of artistic, cultural and academic development. A modern student center and sports complex to accommodate several service offices and fitness facilities, indoor stadium, tennis court, Olympic pool, meeting rooms and cafeteria.

Among the major academic resources at the disposal of the University, can be singled out the library, laboratories, Communication and technology education, science laboratories, languages, nursing and television studios and recordings.

Accreditation and Affiliations

The University of the Sacred Heart is accredited by the following Institutions:

• Council of Higher Education of Puerto Rico
• Council on Social Work Education (Social Work Program)
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (Program Medical Technology)
• National League for Nursing (Nursing Program)

The institution is, among others affiliated with the following entities:

• Alliance Franscaise
• American Library Association
• American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
• American Association for Higher Education
• American Medical Association
• American Association of University Administration
• Association for Educational Communications and Technology
• Association of Private Colleges and Universities
• Manufacturers' Association of Puerto Rico
• Association of University Presidents of Puerto Rico
• Association of Universities and Research Institutes in the Caribbean
• Association of American Colleges
• Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
• Association of Colleges and Universities Auditors
• Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
• Chamber of Commerce of Puerto Rico
• College Entrance Examination Board
• Council of International Education
• International Federation of Catholic Universities
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
• Institute of Internal Auditors
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• National Association of Colleges and University Business Officers
• National Association of Colleges and Universities
• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• National Association of Student Financial Aid
• National Student Exchange.

External links

• www.sagrado.edu - Official Site (In Spanish)

References

1. ^ Official Site
2. ^ (Spanish) Cangrejos - Santurce - Authors; Aníbal Sepúlveda, Jorge Carbonell, Centro de Investigaciones CARIMAR, Oficina Estatal de Preservación Histórica, (1988) (Spanish)

	Puerto Rico portal
	Education portal

Bibliography

• (English) Puerto Rican Houses in Sociohistorical Perspective Author; Carol F. Jopling - (1988)The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. ISBN 0-87049-543-7 / ISBN 0-87049-763-4