University of Guadalajara

University of Guadalajara is a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It is the second oldest university in Mexico, the fifth oldest in North America and the fourteenth oldest in Latin America. It is regarded as one of the most significant universities in Mexico, only behind the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in student population.

History

The University of Guadalajara has changed its structure, governing boards and goals throughout its 200 year history. Nevertheless it has retained the same educational focus and motivation throughout the years. Due to this consistent focus and motivation, this institution is considered to have its origins during the Spanish colonial period instead of at some point during later reforms which resulted from numerous political and social changes throughout Mexican history.

Beginnings

The creation of the university was a slow process that took approximately 100 years. The first person to request the creation of a university in Guadalajara was Father Felipe Galindo Chávez y Pineda, who asked King Charles II of Spain to elevate the Royal Council Seminary of San José to the rank of Royal University on July 12, 1696.

The second person to take up the cause of the university was Matías Angel de la Mota Padilla, who in 1750 forced the city council to make the founding of a university one of its priorities. Nevertheless it was not until the expulsion of Society of Jesus (Jesuits) from...
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