Inter American University

Inter American University of Puerto Rico

Inter American University Seal
Type	Private
Established	1912
President	Manuel J. Fernós
Students	50,000
Location	San Germán, Puerto Rico, United States Multiple Campuses, Puerto Rico
Colors	Green and Yellow
Athletics	• Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria  • NCAA Division II
Mascot	Tiger
Website	www.inter.edu

San Germán, Puerto Rico, United States

The Inter American University of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico; abbreviated UIPR) in Spanish, and often referred as "Inter"— is an ecumenical Christian university in San Germán, Puerto Rico. The UIPR is a private co-educational university system in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1912 in San Germán, Puerto Rico. The University has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Bayamón, Fajardo, Guayama, Ponce, San Juan, and San Germán. The school also has three professional schools: School of Optometry, School of Law, and the School of Aeronautics. The Inter offers academic programs in 11 teaching units. The San Germán campus is also the home to the Inter American School, a private co-educational college-preparatory school.

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 Germán in land now occupied by the University's San Germán 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.

The governing body of the Inter American 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.