Universidad Veracruzana - History

History

The University of Veracruz was formally established on September 11 1944. Its foundation was the consolidation of the colleges of Higher Education in the region. It continued the activities of existing middle and high schools along with nursing and midwifery academies from Orizaba, Xalapa and Veracruz. Immediately after, the Law School, the School of Fine Arts, the Archaeology Department, the Superior School of Music and the University radio station, XEXB, were founded.

During the 50’s, the University entered into a stage of institutional constitution, growth and disperse: New faculties were founded, new programs were developed and new high schools were created, not only in Xalapa but also in Veracruz and Orizaba. This stage didn’t end until 1968, when secondary education was separated from the Universidad Veracruzana by decreed.

The institution’s growth and expansion characterize the 70’s, as it has happened to other Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the country. The regionalization of the University becomes consolidate, more schools were created and the first graduate programs were developed. Research activities fostered the creation of new institutes and the Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital. In addition, the arts diffusion was boosted when art groups were created giving recognition to our University.

In the next decade, expansion and growing of the different academic entities decreased, new academic plans and programs were approved and the university’s initiation stage disappeared.

In the 90’s, the Universidad Veracruzana, faced new challenges which represented the changing conditions in the social, economical and political environments, beside of dealing with the international competition and as with the deficiency of finance aid, all which made public universities reconsider their academic organization structure. Thus, its current educational development plan is based upon the General Development Plan 1997-2005.2 In this context, the institution got into an innovation process with the Programa de Consolidación y Proyección hacia el siglo XXI, 1997-2003 (Consolidation and Projection towards the 21st Century program, 1997-2001).3 In 1997, The State Government recognized the right of the institution to have a new social and legal status and awarded the institution with autonomy. The same year, Doctor Víctor Arredondo becomes the universities President.

It is also in the current decade, that the institution strengthens through his Consolidation and Projection towards the 21st Century program, in which two main issues are brought into focus: the present and future of the university. In the present the University aims to build a solid future; through the interpretation of the future it seeks the transformation of some aspects of the present.

For almost sixty years of existence, the Universidad Veracruzana has expanded its services to every spot of the state of Veracruz. Present in five of the most important economic regions of the state with schools in 14 cities: Xalapa, Veracruz, Boca del Río, Orizaba, Córdoba, Río Blanco, Amatlán, Nogales, Camerino Z. Mendoza, Poza Rica, Tuxpan, Minatitlán, Coatzacoalcos and Acayucan. Only few universities in the country have this accelerated geographical development. By the year 2006, its conversion into a University System of the State were an academic and administrative reality with five integrated campuses on each one of the regions.