| Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi (UASLP) | |
| Native Name: | Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi (UASLP) |
| Motto: | Siempre Autónoma por Mi Patria Educaré |
| Mottoeng: | "Always autonomous, for my fatherland's sake, I shall teach." |
| Established: | 1923 |
| Type: | Public university |
| President: | Alejandro Zermeño |
| City: | San Luis Potosí |
| State: | San Luis Potosí |
| Country: | Mexico |
| Students: | 32,775 (2020) [1] |
| Undergrad: | 30,823 (2020) |
| Postgrad: | 1,952 (2020) [2] |
| Affiliations: | ANUIES, CUMEX, CONAHEC |
The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí (in Spanish; Castilian: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, '''UASLP''') is a public university in Mexico. It is the largest, oldest, and most comprehensive university in the state of San Luis Potosí, as well as one of the most important ones in Mexico.[3] Among other historic milestones, in 1923, UASLP was the first university in Mexico to have autonomy constitutionally granted.[4]
The oldest antecedent of UASLP is a Jesuit college founded in 1624 in the city of San Luis Potosí to teach literacy, as well as secondary and high school studies.[5]
In 1825, governor Ildefonso Díaz de León was directly involved in the creation of the Colegio Guadalupano Josefino. Opening on 2 June 1826, the college initially included academic programs in Humanities, Philosophy, Theology, and Law. A Medicine program was added six years later. The first rector was Manuel María de Gorriño y Arduengo.[6] Unfortunately, teachers were not always available and due to political and civil unrest there were times, especially in the 19th century, the college had to suspend classes on a temporary basis. Also, in 1855, the Colegio was closed, in conjunction with the expulsion of Jesuits from Mexico.
In 1859, authorities and local leaders reopened the institution under the name of Scientific and Literary Institute of San Luis Potosi, as a non-denominational higher education institution. However, since this event happened at the same time that the country was experiencing the Reform War (1858-1861), activities were limited during the first years of operation.[7]
On 10 January 1923, governor Rafael Nieto issued Decree No. 106, which established the University of San Luis Potosí. The academic structure of the new institution included the faculties of Medicine, Law, Chemistry and Business. It also included the Civil Hospital, the San Luis Potosí Public Library, the State Meteorological Observatory, and the normal school for training teachers. The 1923 Decree granted autonomy to the University.[8]
More recently, in 1949, the Decree Number 53, under Article 100 the Political Constitution of the State of San Luis Potosí, changed the name of the institution into its current one of Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí.[9]
UASLP is organized in faculties (schools that offer postgraduate education), schools, coordinations, academic units and departments; it is divided into 15 faculties, 1 school, 4 coordinations, 1 department, 7 institutes, 12 research institutes, and 2 academic units for different and specific areas. Both undergraduate and graduate studies are available on each faculty. To date, UASLP has a student population of more than 32,000 people, and offers 99 undergraduate programs and 88 postgraduate programs.[10]