Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Flag of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile —colloquially known as “la Católica”, “la Cato”, “la PUC” or “la UC”— is a traditional private university in that country, a one of the thirteen Catholic universities in the Chilean university system and one of the six traditional Catholic universities in the country. It is considered a complex university, which develops great research activity in numerous areas of knowledge.

It was created 134 years ago, on June 21, 1888, by the Archbishopric of Santiago de Chile. The Holy See granted it the title of "Pontifical" in February 1930. Being a pontifical university, it depends directly on the Holy See and on the Chilean Catholic Church, through the Archbishopric of Santiago. Although it does not belong to the Chilean State, a substantial part of its budget corresponds to state transfers under different concepts. It is part of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), the Cruz del Sur University Network (RUCS), and the G9 University Network (G9).

Its headquarters are located in the commune of Santiago and its regional campus is in the city of Villarrica (Araucanía Region). The University is made up of 34 schools and institutes grouped into 18 faculties, in addition to a general studies program (College UC) and a regional campus (Villarrica), which in 2018 offered a total of 61 majors, 104 undergraduate programs, 97 master's, 35 doctorates, 79 postgraduates, 64 of them in medical specialization and 5 in dental specialties. Until 2018, there were 31,270 regular students (26,197 undergraduate, 3,160 master's, 1,169 doctoral and 744 postgraduate). The academic staff amounted to 3,555 teachers and the administrative staff, 3,273 officials. In general terms, this institution has a total of 11,935 employees.

Currently it is accredited by the National Accreditation Commission (CNA-Chile) for a period of 7 years (out of a maximum of 7), from December 2018 to December 2025. It ranks 1st among the Chilean universities according to the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) 2022 webometric classification. It is also in position 2 according to the AméricaEconomía 2021 ranking. It is one of the four Chilean universities that appear in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, being awarded the 2nd place.Among Chilean universities, it is also among the 11 that appear in the 2020 QS World University Rankings.It is among the 10 that appear in the Times Higher Education 2020 ranking.

History

Background

Abdon Cifuentes, University Driver.

The idea of founding a Catholic university in Chile was promoted by the leaders of Chilean Catholicism at the end of the XIX century and supported both by the mass of Catholic faithful and by the ecclesiastical hierarchy of that time.

Through the foundation of its own, private and autonomous university, the Catholic Church in Chile wanted to respond to the liberal tendencies of the time, such as the secular laws, promoted during the government of President Domingo Santa María, which allowed that Chileans of colonial origin could be born, marry and die without having to go through the altars of the Church, assuming the State the functions of civil registration of people and the rules for burial.

In Chile the same conflicts took place, in terms of religion and secularism, that took place in the rest of the world, despite the fact that the Constitution of 1833, in its article 5, stipulated that the official religion of the Republic was Catholic. However, the first republican governments saw in education the most important instrument to make the country progress. The new republican government, which emerged after the Independence of Chile, founded the National Institute in 1813, organized the Ministry of Justice, Worship and Public Instruction in 1837, and created the University of Chile in 1842, under whose supervision it placed all national education.. In the same way, it later created the Ministry of Public Instruction in order to direct and supervise primary education, which ceased to depend on the University of Chile.

Although the Catholic Church maintained its own convent and parochial schools, it collaborated with the State and accepted its guardianship as long as it was a Catholic State. However, from the middle of the XIX century, secular tendencies that wanted to deprive the Church of all teaching and entrust education to the State.

In 1871, the Ministry of Justice, Worship and Public Instruction was assumed by Abdón Cifuentes, who was a fervent Catholic. On December 15, 1872, the minister issued a decree that empowered private schools to adopt the teaching plans they deemed appropriate, an issue that favored Catholic teaching. Private students would no longer take their exams at the University of Chile, but would do so at their own establishments. However, the decree provoked such resistance that the minister had to resign. His successor established that private schools should take their exams in public schools, which was later reformed when it was established that they should do so before commissions appointed by the Council of Public Instruction.

Foundation and early years

Photograph showing the construction of the Central House of the Catholic University between 1910 and 1914.

Under the leadership of Abdón Cifuentes, in an effort to counteract the push for tax education and with the aim of forming a ruling class educated in Catholic-conservative values, the university was created by decree of Monsignor Mariano Casanova, Archbishop of Santiago, on June 21, 1888 under the name of Catholic University of Santiago de Chile. Its first schools would be those of law and mathematics and its first rector was Monsignor Joaquín Larraín Gandarillas.

In 1894, the house of studies opened its architecture career —founded by the architect Eugène Joannon, among others—, being the first university in Chile to cover this academic field in a formal way, beginning its operation in the Central House for later moved to the Lo Contador campus in the Providencia commune.

The Catholic University and the first half of the 20th century

On February 11, 1930, it was declared a Pontifical University by Pope Pius XI.

Under the direction of Monsignor Carlos Casanueva, the faculties of technology, theology, commerce, philosophy, educational sciences, and medicine were created. Subsequently, the Universidad Católica Sports Club (1937) and the Clinical Hospital of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile were founded.

In 1953 the university was granted full and definitive academic autonomy, since before that year its graduates had to take an exam at the University of Chile to receive their degree. On the other hand, on August 21, 1959, the transmissions of the Television Corporation of the Catholic University of Chile began officially, in charge of a group of engineers from the Department of Scientific and Technological Research of the house of studies. This television house, better known as Channel 13, remained in the property of the university until 2010, the year in which it sold 67% to the Luksic Group, keeping the University, a minority stake of 33%. In 2017 the sale of that final percentage was resolved, completely disassociating itself from the formerly called "Angelito channel".

The 1960s and the university reform

Despite its confessional character and attached to the Church, the university was not immune to the events that took place both at the university, national and international level. Great influence was had, among other factors, by the arrival of former students of that house of studies to important positions in national public life, such as Raúl Silva Henríquez, upon assuming the archbishopric of Santiago and later being named cardinal, and Eduardo Frei Montalva, upon reach the presidency of the Republic.

The university reform had major episodes, such as those experienced in 1967 when the students, grouped in the FEUC (Federation of Students) protested for the continuity of the rector Alfredo Silva Santiago, before which they decided to occupy the building of the Central House. Silva Santiago resigned and a cloister made up of ecclesiastical, academic and student authorities elected Fernando Castillo Velasco, the first non-ecclesiastical to assume this position, in which he was confirmed shortly after by the Holy See. One of the most curious facts was the placement of a huge canvas that read "Chilean: El Mercurio lies", with which they protested against the accusation of the morning newspaper of the same name that accused an alleged intervention of Marxist parties in the protest.

On the political level, the emergence at this university of two political movements that would mark the following years stood out: the MAPU (Movimiento de Acción Popular Unitaria), formed by former Christian democrats who sought a closer relationship with the left, and Gremialismo, leaning to the right and influenced by the doctrine of the Chicago School and from which the UDI (Independent Democratic Union) would emerge.

The university between 1967 and 1973

During Castillo Velasco's rectory, a plan to create research centers was launched, in addition to greater academic recruitment, and the creation of offices in the provinces (Talca, Talcahuano, Temuco and Villarrica) was promoted. During this period, the government of the university was shared by the ecclesiastical, academic, official and student bodies.

After the election of Salvador Allende as president, there was a hidden struggle between the Student Federation, then led by unionism, and the rector Castillo, a Christian Democrat militant, whom they accused of being influenced by the left. Castillo resigned from his position but was re-elected by the university cloister as rector.

After the 1973 coup d'état, the government of the university was assumed by Vice Admiral Jorge Swett Madge as delegate rector.

Situation during the military dictatorship

The 1973 coup d'état in Chile put an end to the period of Fernando Castillo Velasco and the new authorities appointed retired Vice Admiral Jorge Swett Madge as Delegate Rector, who respected the Catholicity of the University and its Pontifical status. During his rectory he had to overcome difficult economic problems, but he promoted the development of teaching and research, in addition to building the appropriate infrastructure for the time, which allowed UC to stand out within the national system.

During that time, the Law School was created at the Talcahuano Regional Headquarters, which today is the Law School of the Catholic University of the Santísima Concepción.

The Catholic University faced deaths of academics during the dictatorship period, who participated in their own way in activities that the military authorities described as subversive. Two were the cases with the greatest impact at the University: that of Jaime Ignacio Ossa Galdames (32), professor of Spanish and militant of the MIR (Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria), arrested on October 20, 1975 and assassinated by the DINA; and that of José Eduardo Jara, a journalism student who had been kidnapped along with Cecilia Alzamora on July 23 by COVEMA, who died as a result of torture on August 2, 1980.

On the other hand, a conflict arose between the ecclesiastical authority of the Archdiocese of Santiago and the rectory of the University due to the fact that the Grand Chancellor and Archbishop, Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez, led the Vicaría de la Solidaridad, which provided assistance and judicial protection for opponents of the regime who suffered persecution and torture. This was not to the liking of the authorities of the military regime or the designated rector, a Navy officer, who asked the Holy See to replace Monsignor Silva Henríquez as Grand Chancellor, a title that corresponded to him by his own right. Thus, Monsignor Jorge Medina Estévez, future bishop and cardinal of the Church, akin to the military regime, was appointed as "pro-grand chancellor". Monsignor Medina left office in 1983, when Silva resigned from the Archbishopric of Santiago for reasons of age. That year, the new archbishop, Monsignor Juan Francisco Fresno, took office as grand chancellor.

At the end of 1984, Jorge Swett resigned and the doctor and academic Juan de Dios Vial Correa was appointed rector. In his fifteen years in charge of the UC, Chancellor Vial promoted the modernization of the University, fostered postgraduate programs, started new undergraduate courses and strengthened the faculty. His leadership led the institution to international academic recognition.

At the request of the rector Juan de Dios Vial, in 1988 the UC developed an extensive program of activities to celebrate its centenary that included the creation of the Extension Center. The occasion brought together the university community, which included, at that time, more than 1,500 professors and almost 15,000 students. In addition, all kinds of tributes and visits were received, such as that of the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI. A year earlier, in 1987, Pope John Paul II had also visited the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: it was the place chosen by the Supreme Pontiff to speak to the world about culture, science and the arts.

Back to democracy, on April 1, 1991, the University experienced the assassination of Jaime Guzmán Errázuriz, then Senator of the Republic and professor at the Faculty of Law, by members of the Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front in front of the Campus East.

During this period, the university carried out a decentralization process that gave autonomy to its regional headquarters, with the exception of Villarrica.

In 2012, WikiLeaks leaked a cable from the US embassy in Santiago de Chile, which points to the alleged complicity of doctors from the Department of Pathology of the Catholic University in the death of the former president of Chile and former student of the university, Eduardo Frei Montalva, which occurred on January 22, 1982:

Less than one hour after his death, doctors from the Catholic University Pathological Anatomy Department came to Clinica Santa Maria and performed an autopsy of Frei without the family's consent. The highly unusual autopsy was allegedly performed in the hospital room where Frei died, using a ladder to hang the body upside down in order to drain bodily fluids into the bathtub. Some organs, and in particular those whose chemical compositions might indicate poisoning, were removed and destroyed, and the body was embalmed.

Less than an hour after his death [of Frei], doctors from the Department of Pathological Anatomy of the Catholic University came to the Santa Maria clinic and performed Frei's autopsy without the authorization of the family. The very unusual autopsy was allegedly performed in the hospital room where Frei died, using a staircase to hang the body head down to drain its fluids into a tub [bathline]. Some organs, and in particular those whose chemical composition might indicate poisoning, were extracted and destroyed, and the body was embalmed.

Secret cable from the US Embassy in Santiago de Chile, December 11, 2009.

On November 23, 2015, Chancellor Ignacio Sánchez held an emotional ceremony with almost a hundred academics who were exonerated from UC after 1973, and invited them to reintegrate into the UC community in different ways. On behalf of the exonerated academics spoke the sociologist Manuel Antonio Garretón.

Regional Headquarters

Since the late 1950s, Catholic higher education institutions began to emerge in regions. The first were Talca and Temuco. But to function they required the support of an established university empowered by law to issue valid professional degrees. In the 1960s, the Catholic University of Chile gave academic tuition to the regional campuses of Talca, Curicó, Concepción, Temuco and Villarrica. Specific agreements were signed with each one. During the rectory of Fernando Castillo Velasco, a unitary policy was defined for these venues and they became dependent on the general academic vice-rector of the university.

In 1981, when new legislation on higher education was enacted, regionalization began to take shape and new local universities began to be born. The Catholic University considered the idea of separating from its sees, but the bishops of the corresponding dioceses did not agree because they feared that this would make the presence of Catholic higher education in regions disappear.

Since the late 1980s, the idea that the regional headquarters were separated had begun to gain ground at UC. The financial and academic problems they presented prompted the conviction that it would be better to establish themselves as independent entities. This finally happened in 1991, when the Universidad Católica del Maule, the Universidad Católica de Temuco and the Universidad Católica de the Santísima Concepción (former Talcahuano headquarters).

The only campus that still remains as part of the Catholic University is Villarrica.

2000s onwards

Juan de Dios Vial left the rectory in the year 2000 and was followed by the doctor Pedro Pablo Rosso, who promoted a new development plan. During his term, he structured a broad and flexible educational project, supported research and doctoral activities, strengthened the UC Pastoral and the link between the University and Society.

In 2010 he was succeeded by another doctor, the then dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ignacio Sánchez Díaz, who currently holds the position.

During the rectory of Ignacio Sánchez, the second visit of a Pope to the University took place. On January 17, 2018, Pope Francis visited the Catholic University meeting with the academic and cultural world at the UC Central House.

Government and authorities

The highest authority of the university is the Grand Chancellor, who is the link between the University and the Catholic Church. However, despite being the highest authority, he is not involved in the government of the university, this task being reserved for the rector, who is the highest authority in that area. He is assisted in this work by the authorities of the Superior Council, which includes representatives of the student body, specifically the president of the FEUC and the superior counselor.

In its statutes, the University determines:

In the event of a vacation from the Archbishopric Headquarters of Santiago or of the Apostolic Administration "will be full" of it, it will perform the functions of the Grand Chancellery, with the title of Pro-Gran Chancellor, the prelate that administers the archdiocese.

The university is organized into different academic units. Among these units are the faculties, which are directed by a dean. Some faculties are made up of smaller academic units, which can be schools or institutes, and which are directed by their respective directors, who are under the authority of the dean of the faculty on which the school or institute depends. For example, the Faculty of Social Sciences groups the Institute of Sociology, the School of Psychology and the School of Social Work.

In addition to the faculties, the Villarrica Regional Campus also counts as an academic unit and, as such, is directed by its director.

Since 1938, students have been organized in the Federation of Students of the Catholic University of Chile (FEUC).

Current authorities

Ignacio Sánchez, rector of the Catholic University since March 2010.

• Grand Chancellor: Monsignor Celestino Aós Braco
• Vice Grand Chancellor: Presbyter Tomás Scherz Take.
• Rector: Dr. Ignacio Sánchez Díaz.
• Prorrector: Guillermo Marshall Rivera.
• Prorrector de Gestión Institucional: Patricio Donoso Ibáñez.
• Secretary General: Cristina Fernández Aretxabala.
• Vice-Rector Academic: Fernando Purcell Torretti.
• Vice-Rector of Research: Pedro Bouchon Aguirre.
• Economic Vice-Rector: Loreto Massanés Vogel.
• Vice President of Communications: Magdalena Amenábar Folch.
• Vice-rector of International Affairs: Lilian Ferrer Lagunas.

Rectors of the Pontifical Catholic University

Since the founding of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, on June 21, 1888, the post of rector has been held mainly by ecclesiastical dignitaries appointed by the Holy See. However, after the university reform, the position has been held by representatives of the secular world. Only in the period immediately after the reform, the post of rector was elected by the university community. The rectors from its foundation to this day have been the following:

Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Catholic University

The official representative of the ecclesiastical authority and of the Holy See at the University is the Grand Chancellor. By own right, this title corresponds to the Archbishop of Santiago who is in office. The great chancellor does not generally participate in the academic part of the University, although he does have a voice and vote in the Superior Council of the University, the body that makes the most important decisions within the institution. In addition, he ensures compliance with the founding Catholic principles of the University in all the tasks it performs.

According to the statutes of the University, the Grand Chancellor may delegate to a Vice Grand Chancellor all or some of the responsibilities and powers of the office.

The great chancellors of the University from its foundation until today have been:

University anthem

Based on a melody used by the fans of the English club Manchester United, Charles Bown Shirer and Alberto Buccicardi, former players of Club Deportivo Universidad Católica and editors of Estadio magazine, and Pedro Fornazzari wrote the lyrics of the sports club's anthem, to which the musical arrangements by Vicente Bianchi would be added. The musical arrangement was composed by Próspero Bisquertt. It was used for the first time in 1937.

This hymn became very popular and in 1969, during the rectory of Fernando Castillo Velasco, it became the official hymn of both the university and Channel 13.

• Wikisource contains the transcript hymn of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

Infrastructure

The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile has four campuses in the city of Santiago: Casa Central, San Joaquín, Oriente and Lo Contador, which add up to a total surface area of 330,741 m² built on 623,692 m² of land. Wireless Internet access is possible in all of them.

In terms of infrastructure for research laboratories and services, the university maintains approximately 13,700 m² built. The spaces for sports and recreation add up to 4,738 m² plus 194,491 m² of courts and sports circuits.

In addition, the University has a Regional Campus in Araucanía: the Villarrica Campus, which has 1,664 m² built on 2,362.5 m² of land.

Likewise, the university has four experimental and teaching stations: marine biology, in Las Cruces; of Mediterranean ecological research, in San Carlos de Apoquindo; of agronomy, in Pirque; and the UC astronomical observatory in Santa Martina, Lo Barnechea.

The university's library system is one of the best in the country. The UC Library System, SIBUC, has 9 libraries, which occupy an area of 21,741 m², with a total of 396,981 titles and 1,669,436 volumes, including books and theses.

On the other hand, the university has extension centers in the cities of Santiago and Rancagua.

Central House Campus

Main exterior facade of Central House.

Before the construction of the current Central House, the university was located in an old building at Calle Agustinas #1038, in the center of Santiago. In 1899, with the creation of the "Institute of Humanities of the Catholic University", it was agreed that it was not advisable for high school students to mix with young university students. In this way, it was decided to provide a new building for the Institute on a property located in Alameda, between Lira and Maestranza streets, the latter currently Av. Portugal, donated by Monsignor Joaquín Larraín Gandarillas, later expanded and in which it would later be built. the University Palace.

Interior of Central House.

Due to the sustained growth experienced by the university in the early years of the XX century, the university authorities decided to pursue a project that would contemplate the construction of the final headquarters for the house of studies. The architectural project was to be developed on the land owned by the university between Alameda, Maestranza, Marcoleta and Lira streets, which occupied an area of 26,000 m².

The construction of the University Palace began in 1910 and ended in 1917. The architect Emile Jéquier, together with his disciple and first architect to graduate from the UC, Manuel Cifuentes, son of Abdón Cifuentes, developed the Plans from the already built «Institute of Humanities». In its architectural line, the monument to the Sacred Heart stands out in the upper part of its façade.

Until the 1960s, almost the majority of the university's faculties and academic units functioned at Headquarters. The great growth of the house of studies caused a collapse in the facilities, for which it was decided that some careers, such as engineering, would be transferred to the new San Joaquín campus.

Currently, the Central House houses the main administrative offices of the PUC, such as the Rectory, the Great Chancellery, etc. Regarding academic units, the faculties of Law, Communications, Biological Sciences and Medicine are present. The Casa Central campus maintains two libraries, the Biomedical Library and the Law and Communication Library, and a central chapel.

Law School Building.

Regarding the distribution of the academic units in the Central House, the Faculty of Law occupies the eastern wing of the building, on the corner of Alameda with Portugal. Behind it is the Faculty of Biological Sciences and the Faculty of Communications, together with the two aforementioned libraries. At the back of the building, on Marcoleta Avenue, are the Faculty of Medicine and the Clinical Hospital of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. The center of the building is occupied by the administrative offices of the University and the central chapel. Lastly, in the west wing of the Palacio Universitario, is the University Extension Center, which occupies the building previously assigned to the "Luis Campino Humanities Institute". Likewise, between 1959 and 1999, the Central House of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, was used as a presentation background for different programs and continuity of the Television Corporation of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Channel 13, especially Teletrece, between 1988 and 1992.

Some existing facilities in the blocks surrounding the main buildings, which belong to the University, are also considered part of the Campus: the Placas Marcoleta (Cancer Center, Rheumatology, Travel Medicine and other departments of the Faculty of Medicine), Carlos Casanueva Medical Center, Kindergarten for children of civil servants and the modern building of the MBA (Master of Business Administration) UC.

San Joaquin Campus

San Joaquín Campus entrance.

The San Luis de Macul farm was donated to the university in 1891 by Honoria Larraín de Gandarillas. Since 1966, most of the races have been established there.

This campus is the largest of all. It has 506,176 m² of land and a constructed area of 124,133 m², 63 buildings, 13 faculties plus the College and a total of 22,405 students. It is located in the commune of Macul, in the southern sector of Santiago. It also has a large area of gardens and sports courts, as well as several libraries and casinos.

East Campus

Campus East.

The East Campus, also called "Campus of the arts", houses artistic careers (Arts, Music and Theater) and, in addition, Pedagogy in Catholic Religion. It opened in 1971.

The facilities were originally the headquarters of the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones de Providencia.As its name indicates, it is located in the eastern part of the city of Santiago de Chile, at Av. Senador Jaime Guzmán Errázuriz 3300, commune of Providencia, on the border with the commune of Ñuñoa.

In this place, Senator Jaime Guzmán taught his lecture, and as he left it he was shot on April 1, 1991 by members of the Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front (Autonomous); currently the street at the main entrance to the campus bears the name of the former professor.

Lo Contador Campus

Campus Lo Contador.

The Lo Contador campus is located in the Pedro de Valdivia Norte neighborhood, in the heart of the Santiago commune of Providencia. It is located exactly on El Comendador 1916 street.

Most of the campus is occupied by the Casona Lo Contador, which is a colonial construction with a rural sub-urban architecture developed around a hacienda. It was built in 1780 by Francisco Antonio Avaria in adobe. For years the house was used as a house for spiritual retreats and as a private residence. However, during the 1930s, Luis Martínez decided to sell the house at a minimal price to the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Sergio Larraín García Moreno, a professor at the house of studies. Larraín García Moreno was the great promoter of the purchase of the land by the university and was the one who finally assured the Martínez family that the house would be kept in good hands.

Before she died, Avaria had ceded the land and the house to her niece, Mercedes Contador. From her last name, the campus took her name. The house was declared a National Monument.^{[citation required]} In addition to the house, there are other buildings on campus, all belonging to the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urban Studies, the only one that occupies the campus. The campus stands out for its modern and magnificent underground library.^{[citation required]}

The Faculty of Architecture moved to the Lo Contador Campus in 1958.

Villarrica Regional Campus

Aerial view of Villarrica.

The Villarrica Regional Campus is currently an Academic Unit of the university located in the city of Villarrica in the Araucanía Region, in southern Chile. This unit is dedicated to the training of teachers of Basic General Education and Kindergarten Education, the improvement of teachers (Diplomas and Postgraduates), educational research and the development of extension programs.

Its origins go back to the time when the Missions that maintained religious in the south of Chile early demanded the collaboration of lay people who could carry out the educational work among the Mapuche population and in the first populated centers that were being formed at the beginning XX century. To train these lay people, the Apostolic Prefecture of Araucanía began to carry out pedagogical preparation courses in 1925. Thus arose the need to systematically prepare teachers so that they could fulfill this task, creating the Normal School of San José de la Mariquina in 1936. That same year, the school was recognized to train teachers. The titles delivered by this entity prevented teachers from developing in public schools, for which reason, in 1952, steps were taken to regularize this situation, obtaining recognition as an institution dependent on the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the Pontificia Universidad Católica. of Chile, on March 14, 1953. Since then, the Villarrica Campus has been part of the university, and the only one that continued to remain after the process of decentralization of the regional headquarters of the house of studies.

The Unit maintains two campuses in the southern city:

• The "Campus Paul Wevering" is located on Bernardo O'Higgins 501, Villarrica. It is a building of modern construction where almost all activity related to academic programs, management and administration takes place. It has modern classrooms, laboratories, workshops, gym, casino, library and a Mapuche ethnographic museum.
• The "Campus Afunalhue", located on the road to Lican Ray, maintains an Educational Farm, a Training Center and a Crafts Quesería where the main activities of the Adult Education and Rural Development Program are developed, as well as extra programmatic and complementary activities. It has accommodation and feeding facilities for 70 people.

Areas of study

Faculties, schools and institutions

Currently, the university has eighteen faculties distributed among four campuses in Santiago:

The School of Government belongs to the faculties of Social Sciences, Law, Economics and Administration, History, Geography and Political Science and Engineering. The School of Veterinary Medicine is under the control of the faculties of Agronomy and Forest Engineering, Biological Sciences and Medicine. The Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering is under the direction of the faculties of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences; while the Institute of Mathematical and Computational Engineering is run by the Faculties of Mathematics and Engineering.

Campus Villarrica is a campus whose mission is "to contribute [...] to the sustainable development of the Araucanía Region and the country in the field of education and local development", where the careers of Pedagogy in Basic General Education and Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education.

Agreements with universities around the world

Currently, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile has 585 agreements with educational institutions in 55 countries around the world. Likewise, there is the possibility of accessing the UC Academic Vice-Rectory (VRA) scholarship, which provides financing to good-performing students who carry out a student exchange abroad. As of 2016, UC had 1,400 students from 42 countries.

Student Organization

FEUC

The Federation of Students of the Catholic University of Chile (FEUC) is the official organization representing the students of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Founded in 1938, it is headed by a board of six members, the superior councilor and the 32 territorial councilors that form the Executive Council who represent more than 25,000 students of the University. The representatives are elected for a period of one year by universal vote of the students.

Outstanding graduates

UC Subsidiaries

The initiative, participation and extension of the University in multiple areas of national interest operates from the Institutional Management Pro-Rector's Office, a unit in charge of supporting the Rector's Office in the control, relationship and institutional implementation, with the purpose of intervening, doing and Being a university and Church with projection, contributing with relevance and fulfilling the UC mission from different areas and from important contributions of the university to society

UC companies

• Canal 13: Corporación de Televisión de la Universidad Católica de Chile (until 2017, when the University sold its property).
• Ceauc
• Dictuc S.A.
• FIUC
• Friends UC
• CDUC Foundation (National Sports Rames) Club Deportivo Universidad Católica
• Fundación Conecta Mayor
• Copec UC Foundation
• Fundación Instituto Profesional DuocUC
• Fundación Hospital Josefina Martínez
• Fundación Juan Pablo II
• Fundación San Agustín
• Fundación de Vida Rural
• UC Catechetical Institute
• Radio Beethoven: radio station located at 97.7 MHz FM dial in Santiago.
• UC Christus Health Network: Health Alliance with Christus Health. Clinical Hospital of the Catholic University and others.

Divisions and Extracurricular Activities

• Preuniversity UC
• UC Theatre
• CITUC: Drug and Drug Information Center
• Centro Mide UC
• Editions UC
• UC Vision
• Media UC
• Radio UC: From the Faculty of Communications.
• Teleduc: Distance Education Center.
• University Vision: UC Daily.
• UC Public Policy Center: linking the university and the country.
• Pastoral UC: Address of Pastoral and Christian Culture.

Bindings

• Archbishop of Santiago
• Episcopal Conference of Chile
• Holy See, Vatican State