Fundación Universidad de las Américas, Puebla

Infobox University


name = Universidad de las Américas
motto = "Sapientia, Pax, Fraternitas"
(Latin for: Wisdom, Peace, Fraternity)
established = 1940
type = Private university
president = Luis Ernesto Derbez
endowment =
undergrad = 8,000
postgrad =
faculty = 763
city = Cholula
state = Puebla
country = flagcountry|Mexico
campus = Urban
mascot =
website = [http://www.udlap.mx/ udlap.mx]

The Universidad de las Américas (commonly known as UDLA, English: University of the Americas), is one of the most important private universities in Mexico. Its academic programs, both in the undergraduate and graduate schools have national and international prestige. It is located in Cholula, a suburb of Puebla.

History

* 1940sThe Universidad de las Américas was founded in 1940 by ethan edwards L. Cain and Dr. Paul V. Murray. Its original name was Mexico City College. The institution initially offered Associate degrees in Arts and Sciences. In 1946 the Veterans Administration added the university to its list of "approved universities" which allowed veterans to study in the institution with financing from the United States' government. The Graduate School was created in 1947.

* 1950sThe university was accepted by the Texas Association of Colleges, as an overseas institution in 1951. In 1959 the university became a member of the stoke Colleges and Schools (SACS).

* 1960sIn 1963 the university changed its name to "University of the Americas". The institution was divided into three schools: Mexico City College, School of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School. In 1967 the Mary Street Jenkins Foundation along with the International Development Agency provided the financial resources to build a new campus in San Andres Cholula, Puebla. In 1968 the university decided to change its name to its Spanish translation "Universidad de las Américas".

* 1970sThe Universidad de las Américas moved to its new campus in the city of Puebla. Two more schools were created: the Institute of Technology (now the School of Engineering) in 1971 and the School of Economics and Business Sciences in 1978.

* 1980s The Institute of Advanced Studies was created in 1986 and in 1988 the School of Humanities and Social Sciences became two separate entities. In 1989 the School of Sciences was created.

* 1990sNew Science Laboratories were built, as well as a new building for the School of Humanities. In 1994 the school became connected with a network of voice and data. In 1997 the Library was remodeled and allowed students to "digitally access" it.

* 2000s

New Chemical Engineering Laboratories were built. Two Doctoral programs (PhD) were created, one in Economics and the other in Computer Science. In 2002 the Institute of Public Politics was created as well as the Center of Regional Development. A new laboratory of Optical Communications was built for the Information and Automatization Technology Research Center. The CAIL, Languages Learning and Investigation Complex (Conjunto para el Aprendizaje e Investigación en Lenguas) was finished in 2005. And the Football soccer school of the Real Madrid was established.

* 200611 new Bachelors degrees and 9 Master Programs opened, including the innovative programs at the undergraduate degree on Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering, and Culinary Arts. Launching was announced (for 2007) of academic programs in Health Sciences: Medicine, Odontology and Nursing.

Campus

The campus is made up of 38 buildings on 180 acres (728,000 m²), located 12 miles (19 km) west of Puebla's downtown, and less than 2 miles south of Cholula's downtown. The 38 buildings include 6 classroom buildings, 2 laboratory buildings, 3 on-campus dormitories, 1 off-campus dormitories, 2 soccer fields, 1 football field, 1 baseball field, 2 gymnasiums, tennis courts, 2 cafeterias, 1 library, 1 Student Center, 1 Auditorium, Offices and Professor's Housing. The campus was built on what was originally known as the Hacienda de Sta. Catarina Mártir.

Schools and departments

As of December 2005, the School of Social Sciences and the School of Art and Humanities combined, as did the School of Engineering and the School of Sciences, to form two new schools as part of an institutional plan to offer the students a broader education. Also, the Economics Department joined the Business School, which changed its name to School of Economic and Management Sciences. On March, 2006, the school changed again its name to its current form.

* School of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities ("Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Artes y Humanidades")
* School of Engineering and Sciences ("Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias")
* Business and Economics School ("Facultad de Negocios y Economía")
* School of Graduate Studies and Research
* Department of International Affairs ("Departamento de Asuntos Internacionales")

Sports

Universidad de las Américas football team ("fútbol americano" as it is called in Mexico, and should not be confused with the soccer team), is called "Aztecas". They have won 3 championships in the National League called ONEFA. The University also hosts the third Spanish Real Madrid youth soccer school overseas, and started activities on 7 February, 2005. The UDLA Men's basketball team is the 2006 Puebla state champions.

Current school teams with participation in national tournaments include:
* Football, ONEFA league
* Basketball
* Soccer
* Indoor Soccer
* Tennis
* Swimming
* Volleyball
* Baseball
* Softball
* Track & Field
* Tae Kwon Do

Affiliations

The Universidad de las Américas is affiliated to:

* AMIGOS: Red Nacional de Cooperación Bibliotecaria
* AMPEI: Asociación Mexicana para la Educación Internacional
* ANFEI: Asociación Nacional de Facultades y Escuelas de Ingeniería
* ANUIES: Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Instituciones de Educación Superior
* CLARA: Cooperación Latino Americana de Redes Avanzadas College Board
* CONAHEC: Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration
* CUDI: Corporación Universitaria para el Desarrollo de Internet
* UNIVERSIA

Accreditations

Besides being accredited by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (federal Secretariat of Education), the Universidad de las Américas is also accredited by:

* SACS - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
* FIMPES - Federación de Instituciones Mexicanas Particulares de Educación Superior
* CACEI - Consejo de Acreditación de la Enseñanza de la Ingeniería, A.C.
* CONAET - Consejo Nacional para la Calidad de la Educación Turística A. C.

In December 2006, the Southern Association placed UDLA on Warning, pending investigation of governance and financial issues. [http://www.sacscoc.org/December%202006%20Actions%20and%20Disclosure%20Statements.asp]

In December 2007, the Southern Association placed UDLA on a one-year Probation. [http://www.sacscoc.org/December2007AccreditationActionsandPublicDisclosureStatements.asp]

University facts

* Total Faculty: 763 members, 44% is full-time, 20% belong to the National System of Researchers (SNI)Fact|date=January 2008
* Total Students: more than 8,000; in 2004 1,647 new students were admitted, 250 of them were international. Forty percent of the students receive financial aid from the universityFact|date=January 2008.
* Study Abroad Programs: International study is offered in 182 universities in 29 countriesFact|date=January 2008.
* International Students: 1,114 international students came to the university as exchange students)Fact|date=January 2008.

Honoris Causa degrees

The following is a list of some of the Honoris Causa Degrees awarded by the Universidad de las Américas:

* Dr. William Richardson: Governor of New Mexico, USA
* Dr. Mario Molina: Scientist and Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry
* Dr. Enrique V. Iglesias: President of the Inter-American Development Bank

On-Campus Events

UDLA offers a wide range of on-campus events such as concerts and sporting events, which are open to both students and the local community. Famous Mexican pop-rock groups RBD and Moderatto have recently performed at the school. On May 20th, 2007 Shakira performed on UDLA's football field; it was named the concert of the decade in Puebla. In May 2006 the UDLA campus hosted the popular Mexican variety show Otro Rollo. The live filming was open to both UDLA students and the community. Starting in the summer of 2007, UDLA will host a summer program for rising 8th graders to 10th graders through CTY, the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.

Famous faculty members (Current & past)

*Dr. Enrique Cárdenas Sánchez (ex)
*Dr. Francisco Guerra (current)
*Dr. Miguel Hakim Simón (ex)
*Dr. Jaime Lítvak King (ex)
*Dr. Nora Lustig (ex)
*Ignacio Padilla (current)
*Dr. Jorge Welti Chanes (ex)
*Dr. Jorge Ojeda Castañeda (ex)
*Dr. Victor Vysloukh (current)

External links

* [http://www.udlap.mx/ Universidad de las Américas, Puebla Web Page]
* [http://biblio.udlap.mx/ Digital Libraries Web Page]
* [http://exaudla.udlap.mx/ Alumni Web Page]
*
* [http://www.mexicocitycollege.com/ History of Mexico City College]