The proposal by the U.S. president would impact 67% of the research funded by the National Institutes of Health in Puerto Rico’s public university system.
A study among campus students revealed that 62% of them subsist on $500 monthly amid rising food and transportation costs and a shortage of affordable housing near the university.
Outgoing President Luis Ferrao acknowledged that the proposal sought to access part of the $102 million that the Fiscal Control Board has reserved for 2025, but the Board denied specifically having requested a program moratorium as a condition for ensuring financial sustainability.
More than 40 years ago, Alejandro Benítez began training athletes as a routine after teaching in a classroom from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. At 74 years old, and already retired from teaching, he is still a hammer and discus throw coach.
The increase occurs even though the cost of tuition has doubled, there are fewer professors, fewer students, fewer courses available, and fewer academic support staff.
Senate Bill 1068, which had no public hearings, aims to make the University of Puerto Rico Foundation Inc. the organization in charge of promoting the UPR internationally as an ideal place to study.
The nearly $10 million difference for this expense is compounded by the fact that some facilities spent more for this line item due to prolonged breakdowns or unexpected repairs of electrical substations.
The construction and reconstruction of the university dorms will not be ready by August 2023. Students are forced to work multiple jobs to pay for increasingly expensive apartments, and others must commute from their homes daily. In some cases, they can only study part-time.
