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UPR president tells Senate proposed governance bill risks accreditation and adds bureaucracy
Summary
University of Puerto Rico leaders told a Senate committee that Proyecto del Senado 172 would transfer key governing powers, risk compliance with Middle States accreditation standards and increase bureaucracy without dedicated funding; senators pressed about campus support and legal limits on collective bargaining.
Dr. Jado, president of the University of Puerto Rico, told a Senate committee that Proyecto del Senado 172 would shift significant powers from the current Board of Trustees (Junta de Gobierno) to a proposed Consejo Universitario and, as drafted, could jeopardize regional accreditation and federal funding. "El proyecto del Senado ... propone cambios significativos en la composición y responsabilidades de la junta de gobierno," he said, and warned the transfer of authority could conflict with accreditor expectations.
The university presented three central concerns: a risk to accreditation under Middle States standards if the governing body is not composed of external members free of institutional conflicts; an increase in bureaucracy that would slow decision-making the administration says it has already streamlined; and a lack of guaranteed funding to implement the proposed governance changes. "No podemos avalar el mismo conforme fue redactado," Dr. Jado said after outlining the administrations analysis.
Senators pressed the university on whether it had participated in drafting the proposal and whether the memorial explanatory was endorsed by the Junta de Gobierno. The commission chair asked whether UPR participated in the creation and drafting of the measure; Dr. Jado said the administration participated in some fora, including the Junta Universitaria, but that some governance bodies were not officially convened. Dr. Cf3rdoba, the universitys accreditation and academic affairs official, confirmed that while some campus bodies were consulted, the administration did not participate directly in every convening required by internal regulation.
Sen. Bernabe9, representing the Partido Victoria Ciudadana, said he had a list showing nine of 11 campus academic senates have expressed support for Proyecto 172 and asked why the university claimed uncertainty about campus sentiment. "Me consta que ... nueve de once senados acade9micos ... se han pronunciado a favor," he said. Dr. Jado acknowledged that some representative bodies have endorsed the measure, but reiterated that Article 3.2 of the UPR law assigns the formal consultation role to the Junta de Gobierno, and he questioned whether the legislative process had followed that statutory route.
The university also discussed finances and federal oversight. Witnesses told the committee that since 2016 the Fiscal Oversight Board has certified fiscal plans that together reduced UPRs annual budget by roughly $333 million (about 40% of central allocations). Dr. Jado provided a preliminary financial snapshot noting that roughly 80% of students benefit from external or institutional aid, that tuition income is around $170 million, and that the institution could face an estimated additional $60 million in needs depending on enrollment and aid dynamics.
On labor provisions, the administrations legal adviser told the panel that certain measures proposed in the bill, including recognition for collective bargaining by faculty, would not be implementable under current law without further statutory change. "Ahora mismo no se puede hacer," the adviser said, characterizing the limits of existing statutes on that issue.
The hearing closed without a committee vote. Members thanked the university leadership and said the matter would remain under consideration as the legislature continues its deliberations.
