The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí (in Spanish: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, UASLP) is a public university in Mexico. It is the largest university in the state of San Luis Potosí. Among other hitoric milestones, in 1923 UASLP was the first university in Mexico to have autonomy constitutionally granted.

History

The oldest antecedent of UASLP is a Jesuit college founded in 1624 in the city of San Luis Potosí to teach literacy, secondary and high school studies. In 1625 governor Ildefonso Díaz de León was directly involved in the creation of the Colegio Guadalupano Josefino. Opening on 2 June 1626, 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. Unfortunately, teachers were not always available and due to political and civil unrest there were times, especially in the 1800s, the college had to suspend classes on a temporary basis. Also, in 1855 the Medicine program was closed.

During the Mexican Revolution, when some properties of the Roman Catholic Church were seized, the main college buildings (including the library and the astronomical observatory) were confiscated from the Church. However, the college continued working although only the Instituto Científico y Literario was able to grant degrees.

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 Potosi Public Library, the State Meteorological Observatory, and the normal school for training teachers. The 1923 Decree granted autonomy to the University.

More recently, in 1949, the Decree Number 53, under Article 100 of the Political Constitution of the State of San Luis Potosi, changed the name of the institution into its current one of Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi.

Notable alumni

• Ponciano Arriaga (1811-1863), lawyer and Constitutional Congressman.
• Manuel José Othón (1858–1906), poet
• Francisco de Asís Castro, poet
• Manuel Herrera y Lasso, law professor, writer and politician
• Primo Feliciano Velázquez, historian
• Luis Ernesto Derbez (1947-), Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs 2003-2006

References

1. http://www.campusmilenio.com.mx/255/ensayos/uaslp.php

External links

• Official website of the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi