Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico

The Importance
the UPR in the
Midst of Fiscal
Crisis.
Position paper regarding the Fiscal Plan and the University of
Puerto Rico

Christian Arvelo Forteza

The Importance the UPR in the Midst of Fiscal Crisis.

November

18th,

2016

To:
Members of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto
Rico
From:Christian Arvelo Forteza
Re: The UPR and the Fiscal Plan presented by the Government of Puerto
Rico

Greetings,
My name is Christian Arvelo Forteza and I am a Law and Public
Administration student at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). During the past
years I have served as a member to several boards in the UPR and have
occupied various leadership positions within student government.
Let me begin by being clear about two things: First, I am here neither to
represent the UPRs student body nor to speak in the Universitys name. I
come before you only as a citizen concerned about the future and direction
of his Alma Mater.
Second, the students who sent the letter three days ago (on November 15 th)
reaffirm our opposition to P.R.O.M.E.S.A. because we strongly believe that it
undermines our democratic institutions.1 As a matter of fact, before its
approval by the House of Representatives, one of the students who signed
the document, Guillermo J. Guasp Prez, went to Congress with the intention
of communicating to federal lawmakers the student bodys stance on the
bill.2 Nonetheless, we consider that conveying our concerns regarding the
Fiscal Plan presented by the Government of Puerto Rico is a matter of utmost
importance, especially with regards to its effect on the UPR.

1 The students who signed the letter are Guillermo Guasp, Hannah Ortiz, Christopher Torres, Anbal
Lpez and Christian Arvelo (for more information, see appendix A).

2 For more information about the meetings with the members of congress, visit the following link
http://dialogoupr.com/delegacion-de-estudiantes-de-upr-cabildea-contra-promesa-en-washington/.

The Importance the UPR in the Midst of Fiscal Crisis.

Our University plays an essential role in the economic and social
development of Puerto Rico. At the moment, the institution is home to
several ongoing research projects such as the development of a vaccine for
HIV and alternative treatments for cancer. In addition, the Aguadilla campus
serves as the epicenter of the commercial agreement put in place by the
United States Department of Commerce and Lufthansa Technik.
In fact, even in spite of a sharp decline in the share of younger
demographics, there has been an increase in the amount of applications
from that cohort to pursue higher education at the UPR. The majority of
these applicants hail from public schools and low-income communities. For
many of them, the UPR represents an affordable opportunity to achieve
social mobility.
Recent history has shown us that when the UPR receives budget cuts and the
student tuition rises, the number of students enrolled in the institution
declines. For example, based on a study in progress made by Anbal Y. Lpez
Correa, after the elimination of the eight hundred dollars ($800.00) special
tuition fee and the restitution of the 9.6% formula, there has been a steady
increase in the number of applicants and enrolled students in the UPR. In the
2011-2012 academic year, the UPR had nearly fifty seven thousand (57,165)
students. Last year we had more than sixty thousand (60,334) and for the
present academic year we had more than eighteen thousand (18,000)
applications of high school students, nearly a thousand (1,000) more than
last year. The majority of those students (58.5%) studied in public schools. 3
An increase in tuition costs would undoubtedly restrict this students access
to higher education. For that reason, we oppose any budgetary cuts
regarding the UPR and we defend maintaining in place the formula that
determines the institutions state appropriation. As a matter of fact, we
believe that a freezing of the current formula should be struck down.4
Also, the UPR has the potential to contribute to solving our fiscal issues. The
students have proposed that the UPR should be given priority in the
procurement of consulting or research services solicited by the Executive and
3 The data shown on this paragraph is information provided by the office of the UPRs Vice President
for Student Affairs and a study made by Anbal Y. Lpez Correa, titled Las Instituciones de Educacin
Superior ante los retos econmicos y fiscales de Puerto Rico (appendix B) (Lpez Correa is one of the
students who signed the letter sent on November 15 th, 2016).

4 The UPRs formula is frozen as a result of the approval of Puerto Ricos Act. 66-2014. The Law has a
disposition regarding the freezing of funds granted to the UPR.

The Importance the UPR in the Midst of Fiscal Crisis.

Legislative Branch. The institution could support the Government of Puerto
Rico in providing academic advising, as well as take part in the training of
current and future professionals in several areas. This fact has also been
recognized by Governor-elect Rossell Nevares 5, who has publicly
condemned the tuition increase6.

In short, our Alma Mater is not limited to several classrooms and the
exchanges between students and professors. Its more than that. The UPR is
a School of Medical Sciences that serves those who seek medical attention
without having the resources to afford health care. The UPR is a School of
Social Work that deals with systemic problems affecting numerous local
communities. The UPR is a Law School that provides legal assistance to those
who cant afford it. The UPR has served Puerto Rico well and can do more
still. Shrinking this project would be a mistake, mainly because it would
undermine the chances of real long-term economic and social improvement
for the island.
Thank you for your time.

5 Metro, Rossell promete inyectar hasta 450 millones a UPR, Metro Puerto Rico, September 19th,
2016, https://www.metro.pr/pr/noticias/2016/09/19/rossello-promete-inyectar-hasta-450-millones-aupr.html.

6 Ricardo Rossell Nevares, Inversin y Desarrollo, El Nuevo Da, August 7th, 2016,
http://www.elnuevodia.com/opinion/columnas/inversionydesarrollo-columna-2228086/.