Universidad Americana de Acapulco

The Universidad Americana de Acapulco (UAA) was a private higher-education institution based in the port city of Acapulco, in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Founded in 1992, it grew into one of the most recognized private universities in the state and was notable for being the only private school in Guerrero incorporated into the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Its academic offer spanned high-school (preparatoria), undergraduate, and postgraduate programs, with a strong emphasis on law, health sciences, business administration, tourism, and communication. The university operated a main campus in Acapulco and a second campus in Chilpancingo, the state capital, and also ran affiliated primary and secondary schools as well as a music school. UAA positioned itself around the slogan "Excelencia para el desarrollo" (Excellence for development) and marketed itself as "la mejor Universidad de todo Guerrero" (the best university in all of Guerrero). It offered UNAM-incorporated careers as well as programs with RVOE (official recognition of validity of studies) from the SEP and the state of Guerrero. Its curriculum included architecture, computer engineering, law, digital sciences, health sciences, psychology, nutrition, physiotherapy, nursing, business administration, tourism administration, information technology administration, communication sciences, international trade, public accounting, gastronomy, and marketing, alongside executive bachelor's degrees and a range of master's programs. The institution's history was closely tied to the political and social life of Guerrero. It was founded in 1992 by José Francisco Ruiz Massieu, then governor of the state, and its inaugural ceremony drew national figures including the rector of UNAM and the secretary of public education. Over three decades it became the alma mater of many young people from Acapulco and Guerrero. However, on 24 October 2023, Hurricane Otis struck Acapulco with catastrophic force, severely damaging the university's main building. The UAA closed its doors, a decision that sparked controversy because the rector, Mario Mendoza Castañeda, did not issue an official statement and the community learned of the closure through unofficial channels. Students and parents protested over advance payments and the uncertainty of their academic records, while faculty and administrative staff demonstrated for severance and unpaid wages. Despite efforts by local political actors and student groups to keep it open, the UAA closed definitively in January 2024.

The Universidad Americana de Acapulco (UAA) was founded in 1992 by José Francisco Ruiz Massieu, then governor of the state of Guerrero. Its origins trace back to October 1991, when the Facultad Libre de Derecho was created; in March 1992 it was transformed into the Universidad Americana de Acapulco, and on 31 August 1992 it was consolidated as a private higher-education institution with an inaugural ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Governor José Francisco Ruiz Massieu, the rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the university's general counsel, Secretary of Public Education Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León, Secretary of Tourism Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, and Mexico's ambassador to the OAS, Alejandro Carrillo Castro, among other figures. From 1991 to 2023, the UAA remained active and gained recognition as the highest-quality private university option in Acapulco and the state of Guerrero. It became the alma mater of many young people from Acapulco and Guerrero who found opportunities to develop in various fields of knowledge. Gradually, the UAA expanded its educational offer, which initially was limited to social sciences, and began offering bachelor's degrees in health sciences and communication. In Acapulco, the university also operated high school and secondary school campuses, founded in 1993 and 2004 respectively, located near the main campus. In Chilpancingo, the state capital, there was also a university and high-school campus. The UAA was the only private school in Guerrero incorporated into UNAM, the country's largest university. Its academic programs included UNAM-incorporated careers such as Administration, Architecture, Accounting, Law, Computer Engineering, and Psychology, as well as programs with RVOE from the SEP and the state of Guerrero, including Tourism Business Administration, Communication and Public Relations, and Gastronomy. It also offered associate professional degrees, master's programs, and doctoral programs, and possessed a music school and affiliated primary and secondary schools. However, due to the damage left by Hurricane Otis on 24 October 2023 to the university's main building, the UAA was forced to close its doors. The decision generated controversy among local public opinion and collective anger among students, professors, and administrative staff. The way the rector, Mario Mendoza Castañeda, handled the closure — he never gave an official statement and the community had to find out through unofficial media — caused students and parents to confront him, many worried about advance payments made to the institution and the uncertainty regarding their studies. These grievances led to student demonstrations demanding that the university not be closed or that they be given certainty that they could validate the academic merits earned so far at other universities. Subsequently, professors and administrative staff held demonstrations demanding basic labor benefits such as severance and unpaid wages. This cause attracted the interest of local political actors who tried to negotiate with local and federal authorities to keep the university active; in turn, groups of students organized to prevent the definitive closure of the UAA. Despite the efforts, the institution could not be kept active, and in January 2024, the UAA closed definitively.

• Facultad Libre de Derecho created, precursor to the university.

• Facultad Libre de Derecho transformed into Universidad Americana de Acapulco.

• Inaugural ceremony consolidates UAA as a private higher-education institution.

• High school (preparatoria) campus founded in Acapulco.

• Secondary school campus founded in Acapulco.

• Hurricane Otis damages the main university building, forcing closure.

• UAA closes definitively after protests and failed efforts to keep it open.

Private university in Guerrero, Mexico, incorporated into UNAM; marketed as the best university in Guerrero with a focus on excellence for development.

• Preparatoria UNAM

  High school program incorporated into UNAM.

• Licenciatura en Derecho

  Bachelor's degree in Law, incorporated into UNAM (Inc. UNAM 8852-09).

• Licenciatura en Arquitectura

  Bachelor's degree in Architecture, incorporated into UNAM (Inc. UNAM 8852-03).

• Licenciatura en Ingeniería en Computación

  Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, incorporated into UNAM (Inc. UNAM 8852-16).

• Licenciatura en Psicología

  Bachelor's degree in Psychology, incorporated into UNAM (Inc. UNAM 8852-25).

• Licenciatura en Gastronomía

  Bachelor's degree in Gastronomy with RVOE SEG /025/2011.

• Maestría en Administración de Negocios

  Master's program in Business Administration.

• Doctorado en Derecho

  Doctoral program in Law with RVOE SEP 2024290.

• Controversial closure after Hurricane Otis

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• Closure of the universityOther

1. 1Universidad Americana de Acapulco – Excelencia para el desarrollouaa.edu.mx
2. 2Universidad Americana de Acapulco - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Universidad Americana de Acapulco - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org