José F. Méndez Dr.hc

Universidad Metropolitana (UMET) has carveda niche among universities in the San Juanmetropolis, becoming the leading institutionin undergraduate research in Puerto Rico. UMEToffers programs that promote science and technology,undergraduate scientific research and sustainability.The new School of Health Sciences, inaugurated in May20, 2010, is the sixth school under the UMET banner,joining the School of Social Sciences, Humanities &Communications, Business Administration, Education,Science & Technology and the Graduate School ofEnvironmental Affairs (SEA).SEA is one of the university’s great strengths,developing courses and projects in sustainableenvironmental practices. A group of 26 students,teachers, municipal planners, architects and engineersmade an educational trip to Portland, Oregon, thisyear for lessons in strategies for sustainability, whichcovered land use planning, building healthy, climatefriendlytransportation systems and making towns safeand healthy. Based on the Portland regional model,El Vocero, one of Puerto Rico’s three local Spanishlanguagedailies, published a 17-article series onsustainable development and its application to PuertoRico. The newspaper also wrote an editorial in which itcredited UMET’s initiative.The Sustainable Development Studies Center wasawarded the 2009 Environmental Quality Award bythe federal Environmental Protection Agency. Lastyear’s “bestseller” Hacia el desarrollo inteligente:10 principios y 100 estrategias para Puerto Rico(Towards Smart Growth: 10 Principles and Strategiesfor Puerto Rico) continues to generate buzz. Thisyear, the Architects and Landscape ArchitectsAssociation worked together with the university todesign a continuing education course in sustainabledevelopment. Universidad Metropolitana’s School ofEnvironmental Affairs and SistemaTV collaborate onthe prize-winning series Aventura Científica (ScientificAdventure) filmed on location.UMET made academic history when graduating itsfirst Doctor of Philosophy in Education this year. UMETis first in Puerto Rico to offer this degree – a Ph.D., inaddition to a doctorate in education (Ed.D.). The goalis to develop researchers in education to stimulateour public school system of education to do a betterjob of teaching and learning. The program boasts36 graduate students. In addition, 160 students aredoctoral candidates in education.UMET administers three off-campus universitycenters from its well-manicured campus in Cupey, abreath of fresh air in the midst of urban sprawl. Onelearning center is smack in the middle of metropolitanBayamón and two are located outside the metropolitanarea in the towns of Aguadilla and Jayuya. TheBayamón university center houses the new School ofHealth Sciences, which offers three master’s degrees innursing, accredited by the National League for NursingAccrediting Commission (NLNAC) in October 2009. Theprograms are in the areas of adult critical care, childcritical care and case management.At the school’s inauguration, a $43,000 SIM, acomputer-driven mannequin that simulates healthconditions, stole the show. UMET’s health sciencesschool at Bayamón also offers the island’s onlyprogram to prepare bilingual nurses. A primary reasonis to fill a demand for bilingual nurses who can respondto instructions in English or Spanish. In the future,the school expects to expand diagnostic imagingcapabilities.Through its academic programs and economicoutreach efforts, UMET promotes a culture ofresearch and development in Puerto Rico. UMET isa participant in the northern technological initiativeIntenor, an economic development organizationcomprising 14 municipalities, AGMUS and privateindustry firms. UMET is collaborating with Intenorand the Municipality of Barceloneta to establish aninnovative research project at the Intenor SciencePark in Barceloneta.55