Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez (SUAGM - AGMUS) Annual Report 2014-2015

CONTENTS

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4 Introduction 6 Our Guiding Principles 8 Institutional Mission 10 Strategic Vision 2020 12 Board of Directors 13 Message from the Chairman of the Board of Directors 16 Message from the President 18 Steps in our History 20 Development and Alumni Affairs 22 International Affairs 24 Public Policy Institute 26 Alliance Economic for Development 28 Executive Vice Presidency and Administrative Affairs 32 Planning and Academic Affairs 34 Marketing and Student Affairs 38 National and International Affairs 40 Human Resources 42 Financial Affairs 46 Universidad del Este 50 Universidad Metropolitana 54 Universidad del Turabo Universidad Ana G. MĂŠndez 56 Campus Virtual 58 Florida Campuses 60 Sistema TV 64 Organizational Chart Projections for the Year 2015-2016 65 General Information

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Our achievements began as big dreams

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For the past 65 years, the Ana G. Méndez University System has enjoyed a rich history of growth, development, and a firm commitment to higher education, both in Puerto Rico and in key Hispanic markets in the Continental US. During all those decades, we have touched the lives of thousands of people who have made their dreams come true because of a quality education.

With 105,989 alumni, 44,431 students enrolled, more than 300 academic programs, 14 university centers throughout the island, 6 centers in the United States, 3 main campuses, and one fully virtual campus, we have become the number one private higher education institution in Puerto Rico.

Each year, a dedicated and highly competent team of top professionals works restlessly to ensure that we meet all the intended goals in our Strategic Plan. From our Vice Presidencies, down through every echelon in our institutions, our aim is to continue developing educated citizens, capable of competing in today’s demanding local and global environment. You will see our history exposed in every page of this report. And you will see what we have accomplished in that time through sheer toil, determination, and vision. The Ana G. Méndez University System will continue looking towards the future with great optimism, and working even harder to continue offering first-class academic programs in safe, creative, and visionary surroundings.

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Successful history of growth

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The following fundamental principles, on which the Ana G. Méndez University System (AGMUS) was founded 65 years ago, serve as the backbone for a new vision that is being formulated to successfully take AGMUS forward to the year 2020 and beyond.

• In a democratic society, every human being has the right to an education, regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, social status, physical or mental condition, religious, political or social belief.

• The development of human potential requires an open-door policy that allows students to benefit from academic programs to the full extent of their ability.

• All educational institutions should aspire to achieve academic excellence and should commit themselves to fostering such excellence through enlightened approaches to education.

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Principles and values that make the difference

• Academic institutions are integral components of the communities they serve.

• Faculty members must innovate for the benefit of their students and for their own professional growth.

• The real needs of Puerto Rico and Continental US must be understood so that its human resources can be enriched and graduates can make a positive contribution to the progress of society in the work force.

• The educational development of the students should emphasize academic skill and growth that is productive in both daily living and employment.

• The fundamental commitment of the Ana G. Méndez University System promotes a better quality of life for our students, employees and the community at large.

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The Central Administration role is to advise, help and support institutional units in different specialized areas and ensure the proper development and implementation of systemic policies and processes.

To fulfill its mission, AGMUS will develop initiatives and projects within the framework of the following guidelines and general objectives: 1. Establish, develop, manage and supervise institutions and centers of post-secondary and higher education in Puerto Rico, the United States and abroad, that provide academic offerings at every educational level authorized by law, regulations and the corresponding licensing and accreditation entities.

2. Establish, implement and evaluate teaching programs of the highest relevance and academic excellence, according to the needs and interests of the diverse sectors of the communities it serves.

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3. Set up, implement and evaluate programs of continuing education and other non-traditional programs.

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4. Establish and develop academic and scientific research programs, both undergraduate and graduate, aimed at creating knowledge as well as contributing solutions to Puerto Rico’s and Continental US needs.

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5. Develop a leadership role in public service and in the discussion, analysis and effective solution to the social, economic and environmental challenges facing Puerto Rico.

Committed to the development of education in Puerto Rico and Continental US

6. Promote constant innovation by applying the latest emerging technologies to all academic, student and administrative process.

The Ana G. Méndez University System (AGMUS) is a nonprofit higher-education organization whose primary mission is to promote the cultural, social and economic development of Puerto Rican society and sectors of the Hispanic community outside Puerto Rico, by expanding educational opportunities to benefit the communities it serves.

AGMUS operates and develops its educational mission through an integrated multi-institutional system, comprising the following units: • Universidad del Este (UNE) • Universidad de Turabo (UT) • Universidad Metropolitana (UMET) • Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Campus Virtual • Sistema TV (educational television station) • Central Administration • US Campuses 8

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7. Set up ancillary businesses related to academic operations, as well as unrelated business activities that contribute to the financial strength of the organization.

8. Develop and identify new sources of revenue and external funds to increase resources in support of its mission and educational goals.

9. Maintain a sound administration and a fiscally strong and responsible operation to ensure the permanence and development of the organization.

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QUALITY AND INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

ACADEMIC AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

STUDENT SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

ACADEMIA

CLIENT HUMAN RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

FISCAL STRENGTHENING

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PHYSICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

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n2 02 0 Looking ahead with determination

By 2020, the Ana G. MĂŠndez University System (AGMUS) will be recognized as an institution of excellence in learning, research and in public service, with great social responsibility and growing global expansion.

AGMUS will stand out for its decisive contribution to the economic and social development of Puerto Rico and Continental US, providing innovative solutions to the developmental needs of the Island, and will be recognized as the leading institution serving the educational needs of Hispanic communities outside Puerto Rico, in the United States and other communities it serves.

AGMUS will be characterized as a transformative entity of constant innovation and sound financial strength, focused on the human being, and making effective use of its technological, physical and managerial resources in support of its mission.

The AGMUS and its institutions shall guide all of their operations, actions and administrative development under strict compliance with the following values as a rule and parameter of its institutional conduct: Excellence: as the maximum aspiration in all teaching, research and service endeavors.

Freedom: of thought and expression as an indispensable basis in the search and diffusion of knowledge.

Respect: for the diversity and dignity of human beings.

Equality: in recognizing the value of education as an instrument to provide better opportunities and to fully develop the potential of human beings.

Integrity: in all our dealings as an educational entity.

EXCELLENCE - INNOVATION - RESPONSIBILITY

Innovation: a constant to guarantee the pertinence of programs and services.

Social Responsibility: regarding the needs of the community, the country and the humanity of which we are part.

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Message from the Chairman of the Board of Directors The Ana G. Méndez University System has had the good fortune of counting on outstanding Boards of Directors throughout its 65-year history. These boards, all composed of highly competent professionals, have governed over AGMUS’ progress during times of excellence, as well as times full of challenges. And through it all, they have played a key role in making this institution what it is today, the largest private university in Puerto Rico, now for three years in a row.

Having had the privilege of chairing AGMUS’ Board in 2015, there are two words that come to mind when describing our governing body this year: active and engaged. We could even say extremely active and engaged.

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Ramiro Millán Catasús, MBA Félix Rodríguez Schmidt, MD. FAAFP, CCHP José F. Méndez González, Dr.h.c.

Víctor Hernández Méndez, D.M.D. José F. Méndez Jr., MBA Héctor A. Jiménez Ramírez, MA René A. León Rodríguez Rafael A. Nadal Arcelay, Esq. Manuel Agosto García Herminio Martínez Escudero, Ph.D. Wilfredo Cosme Ortiz René A. Soto Torres, DBA

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Our full board and committees held 25 meetings in 2015, the equivalent of a gathering every other week, to discuss and stay abreast of myriad aspects of the operation of the institution. Moreover, we had presence in all graduations this year, not only in Puerto Rico, but also at the mainland US campuses. We were present as well during AGMUS’ annual seminar in Dallas, TX, where AGMUS is expanding its presence in yet another US Hispanic market. Two of our members were also part of the team that traveled to the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, to discuss future cultural and academic exchange programs that we shall soon forge with this renowned institution. And in Phoenix, AZ, four of our board members participated in the annual National Conference on Trusteeship of the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities (AGB), representing AGMUS and bringing back to our institution all the valuable insights and new perspectives that always come out of those productive exchanges.

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A team with commitment and defined objectives

We were equally engaged this year in several aspects of the day-to-day operation of the System, lending our full support and endorsement to the implementation of the Dashboard platform, a fantastic analysis tool that allows instant access to all data concerning enrollment, retention rates, budgeting, and other indicators, to make management more efficient and effective. Likewise, we were actively involved in all the accreditation processes carried out this year by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which incidentally commended both Universidad del Turabo (UT) and Universidad del Este (UNE) for their academic progress and strategic planning procedures.

Another noteworthy achievement in 2015 was the completion of the Governance Handbook that our Government Commission worked on so diligently. This new document creates precise guidelines and a solid foundation for the development of the programs and policies that will guide AGMUS into the future.

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Also in 2015, we completed a strategic move that began in 2013, when we decided to follow Harvard’s lead and bring on alumni as members of our board. Two years ago, we welcomed as a member Mr. Manuel Agosto, a UNE alumni. This year, we had the honor of having Dr. René Soto Torres (UT) and Dr. Wilfredo Cosme Ortiz (UMET) as the new alumni serving on our board. This initiative has brought to our board the unique insights and vision that only alumni can add regarding the institution, where they themselves studied. And for our two newest members, this fresh perspective is even more encompassing, given that they also teach at their respective Alma Maters.

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As we look to next year and beyond, we can anticipate federal financial aid for students getting stricter and more complex in terms of the screening and granting of benefits. As such, we see AGMUS moving toward greater commercialization of its patents and services, looking closer at all its business units and projects that may have commercial potential, taking advantage of that prospective windfall, and making even more strategic investments the System itself.

In all, we can proudly say that we have given our full support to help strengthen the AGMUS name, as well as its scope as a quality institution of higher learning.

And we shall continue in this quest of helping our institution achieve all its goals and aspirations well into the future.

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BOARD COMMITTEES

Management and development of excellence

Herminio Martínez Escudero, Ph.D., Committee Chair Rafael A. Nadal Arcelay, Esq José F. Méndez, Jr., MBA Félix Rodríguez Schmidt, MD. FAAFP, CCHP José F. Méndez González, Dr. h. c.

Ramiro Millán Catasús, MBA FINANCE COMMITTEE Rafael A. Nadal Arcelay, Esq., Committee Chair Manuel Agosto García José F. Méndez, Jr., MBA Herminio Martínez Escudero, Ph.D.

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ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Víctor Hernández Méndez, D.M.D., Committee Chair Héctor A. Jiménez Ramírez, MA Félix Rodríguez Schmidt, MD. FAAFP, CCHP René A. León Rodríguez Wilfredo Cosme Ortiz René A. Soto Torres, DBA AUDIT COMMITTEE

Ramiro Millán Catasús, MBA CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Manuel Agosto García, Committee Chair Víctor Hernández Méndez, D.M.D. Héctor A. Jiménez Ramírez, MA Wilfredo Cosme Ortiz René A. Soto Torres, DBA 14

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This recognition is the latest achievement in a long history of strengthening our teaching and research endeavors in the important fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health sciences. As part of these efforts, we have strengthened our scientific research capabilities, establishing specialized units such as the Puerto Rico Energy and Clean Technologies Center (PREC-ACT), at Universidad del Turabo, the Chem-Tox Laboratory, and the new Puerto Rico Institute of Photonics (PRIP), at Universidad Metropolitana. In addition of helping us to improve our academic and teaching processes, these and other research initiatives expand our service dimension, impacting the scientific and economic development of Puerto Rico. An outstanding evidence of these contributions is the approval of our first three patents for important new scientific developments in the fields of biotechnology (at Universidad Metropolitana), and information systems protection (at Universidad del Turabo).

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Reaffirming the values of social responsibility under our AGMUS-2020 strategic vision, we have expanded the outreach of our allied health programs, establishing specialized outpatient clinics to provide vital services to the communities we serve. The first of these centers was UNE-Salud, with an investment of over $6 million, which is already providing a wide variety of top-quality health services to the surrounding community in Carolina. Building upon this experience, by early spring of 2016, Universidad del Turabo will inaugurate its new, state-of-the-art, $16 million School of Health Sciences, including its TURABO-Salud community clinic component. This is just an example of the may ways our universities make real our deep commitment with the progress and welfare of the community we serve.

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Message of the President

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As we culminate the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Ana G. Méndez University System (AGMUS), it is fitting to celebrate the accomplishments of an academic institution that started with only 19 students in 1949, and has grown to become the largest private higher education institution in Puerto Rico. In these six and a half decades, we have always stayed at the forefront of academic developments, offering a complete range of programs, from short-term technical courses, undergraduate and graduate levels – including an expanding doctoral portfolio – as well as an important adult education component. We have achieved the largest expansion of any Puerto Rican university into the US mainland, through a unique service model to address the educational needs of key Hispanic markets with our proprietary dual-language inmersion programs in Florida, Maryland, Washington D.C. and Texas.

As part of our constant thrive for innovation, we have been pioneers and established our leadership in educational telecommunications, as well as in the field of distance learning, with the creation of the first virtual university in the island. In an achievement of global proportions, we became the first and only university in Puerto Rico to manage the world-renowned Arecibo Observatory, a recognition and responsibility bestowed by the National Science Foundation, in conjunction with our partners of Stanford Research Institute (SRI) and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA).

José F. Méndez, Dr.h.c.

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PRESIDENT

Fiscal Year 2014-15 has remained true to our tradition of steady progress. This year in particular we reached several significant milestones, primarily hitting an all-timehigh enrollment of 44,431 students in our three main campuses and university centers throughout Puerto Rico, and our branch campuses in the mainland. While our new Ana G. Méndez Virtual University delivers a full range of programs and degrees – available to anyone in the world – we keep on target with our internationalization goals, enrolling foreign students from 19 different countries. On the other hand, our foreign exchange internship programs continue to expand, exposing our students to such diverse cultural settings as Finland, Germany, Spain, Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica and China, among others.

On the financial front, our Capital Campaign (2009-2015) has already surpassed our stated goals, achieving 111% of its intended target, for a total of $25.9 million in pledges, and reaching almost $31 million if we consider another $4.8 million in donations to our Annual Fund. This solid support from community leaders and alumni alike has allowed us to invest over $4 million in technological infrastructure upgrades this year, including new computers, plus new software for student services and to improve administrative and financial efficiency.

A transforming vision full of goals and new challenges

Our 65th Anniversary year 2014-15 came to a close with the outstanding news of the granting of full, 10-year reaccreditation to both Universidad del Este and Universidad del Turabo by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE). These reaccreditation statements had the historic singularity that both institutions not only approved all fourteen standards for excellence of MSCHE, but did so without a single requirement from this top regional accrediting agency. There is no better testimony of the level of excellence we have achieved, as recognized by our peers that represent the most distinguished higher education institutions in Puerto Rico and the United States.

In the course of human life the 65th birthday is customarily represent a time for laying back and resting, to slowing down, to live, enjoying and remembering the past. We at the Ana G. Méndez University System will always remember and celebrate our rich history of achievements and milestones that have molded us into what we are today.

But make no mistake. We will not slow down, nor lay back to rest. We will cherish and honor our past by building upon it, by keeping our commitment with excellence and innovation, by reaching new levels of service in addressing the needs of our constituents, wherever those may be, in Puerto Rico, Continental US, and abroad.

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We are indeed 65 years strong, with a brighter tomorrow awaiting.

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1949

Ana G. Méndez in conjunction with Florencio Pagán and Alfredo Muñiz Souffront co-founded Puerto Rico Junior College, at Río Piedras, Puerto Rico.

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1993

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The Fundación Educativa Ana G. Méndez changes its name to Sistema Universitario Ana. G. Méndez (SUAGM).

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A new campus of the Puerto Rico Junior College is inaugurated at Cupey, Puerto Rico. The institution later assumed the name 1967 of Colegio Universitario Puerto Rico Junior College Metropolitano, (CUM). at El Valle del Turabo is established at the municipality 1969 of Gurabo.

The Puerto Rico Junior College Foundation officially 2003 became the Fundación Sistema Universitario Educativa Ana G. Méndez, a Ana G. Méndez’s nonprofit organization. expansion had no land boundaries or sea frontiers, therefore the Metro Orlando Campus in Florida became the 2006 first SUAGM’s campus SUAGM officially in the United States, opens its South Florida offering the first and Campus at Miramar. only dual language 2010 education program at a Tampa Bay Campus university level.

Inauguration

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1972

The Puerto Rico Junior College at El Valle del Turabo officially assumes the name of Colegio Universitario del Turabo, which later on became Universidad del Turabo.

2011

The Universidad Metropolitana (UMET) becomes the administrator of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

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IN O

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1974 José F. Méndez González is designated as president of the institution by the Board of Directors of the Fundación Educativa Ana G. Méndez.

L U F ESS 1980

Capital Area Campus inauguration at Wheaton, Maryland.

1990 Puerto Rico Junior College revises its mission and becomes Universidad del Este, with the inauguration of new facilities at Avenida Baldorioty de Castro in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

1985 WMTJ-TV Canal 40, now better known as Sistema TV, was inaugurated.

As a result of a petition made by the Fundación Educativa Ana. G. Méndez, the Puerto Rico Council of Higher Education authorizes the Colegio Universitario Metropolitano to officially become Universidad Metropolitana (UMET).

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SUAGM is accredited as the first private institution of postsecondary education in Puerto Rico, according to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

2015

SUAGM inaugurates a new campus in Dallas, Texas.

2014 The Universidad del Este inaugurates its Culinary Arts Program lab facilities in Washington, DC. SUAGM celebrates both its’ 65 years in history and the 40 year long and standing leadership of Doctor José F. Méndez as President of the institution.

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It would be fair to say that this positive evolution has served as a solid platform for all the initiatives we have developed this fiscal year to boost awareness and educate all our associates concerning our fundraising efforts. We have offered workshops for our deans and other faculty members, so that every player in the system can get a better understanding of the processes involving the donations and pledges that fund many of our programs and institutions. Additionally, to ensure continuity, we restructured our organizational chart to include a full-time Director of Alumni Affairs in each of our three main campuses.

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We have also been particularly active this year in serving as advisors and holding conferences on fundraising strategies for organizations and institutions such as the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association, Palmas Academy, Robinson School, the Institute of Museums and Libraries Services, and private schools. We co-sponsored the 4th edition of the islandwide Study of Non-Profit Organizations, which is a comprehensive investigation developed to present a clear and accurate picture of what the non-profit sector contributes to the economy in terms of employment, commercial activity and social welfare benefits.

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Development and Alumni Affairs

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There is no better honor for an academic institution than to have its alumni pay tribute to their Alma Mater. It is a sign that the institution has grown and matured, making a notable positive difference in the future success of its graduates.

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At AGMUS, and particularly this year for our 65th Anniversary, we are proud to say that our alumni are getting more involved than ever in the affairs of the universities that allowed them to launch their professional careers. The participation of our alumni in AGMUS’ undertakings, which had been previously confined mainly to certain activities and annual recognition events, has now expanded to include a plan for their active involvement of alumni in internships, motivational workshops, fundraising drives, employment fairs, open house initiatives, and even in the accreditation process of many of our programs. But perhaps more telling, our Board of Directors, which last year welcomed the first AGMUS alumni as a member, now has three former students serving as full members, representing each of our main institutions: UNE, UT, and UMET. This progress can certainly be a clear indication of the growth of the university system throughout the years, expanding beyond its main campuses in the San Juan Metro Area to include university centers that serve every corner of the Island, as well as the Hispanic Communities in the Continental US. It is also the result of the increasing recognition of AGMUS as an institution that delivers quality in education.

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At the national level, we continue with our active involvement with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). And internally, our strategic focus is to enhance our prospect research and cultivation processes in order to engage with high-level prospects. Many in this prospect pool are eyeing Puerto Rico as an investment venue due to the island’s steady incursion into the aerospace and high-tech industries, and all of whom see the potential of AGMUS’ diverse educational offer, which includes –aside from myriad engineering and technical programsresearch institutions like the Arecibo Observatory, the Photonics Institute, and the Puerto Rico Energy Center.

Encouraging new experiences for all

The results of these comprehensive efforts are starting to show. Our Capital Campaign has surpassed expectations, already reaching 111% of its original target for a total of $25,953,790, several months before its December 2015 deadline. Likewise, collections for this fiscal year have exceeded the established benchmark by 16%, with a total of over $4.8 million. Our annual Golf Tournament for Sistema TV, a favorite amongst many of our supporters, continues to deliver ever more pledges each year. But particularly noticeable in 2015 has been the surge of direct donations to specific campaign projects, as well as the significant increase of donations received in the form of unique art pieces, such as paintings, sculptures and crafts, that add a refreshing diversity to our portfolio at the Dr. Josefina Camacho de la Nuez Museum and Center of Humanistic Studies at Universidad del Turabo.

Looking to the future, we envision an increase in scholarship funding, mainly for international programs aimed at foreign students wishing to study in Puerto Rico, with support from their local Consulates. We also see further diversification of sources of funding, continued heavy involvement of our alumni in university affairs, plus repeating the achievement of surpassing the 100% benchmark of our Capital Campaign.

As we continue sharpening our strategy of cultivating active prospects and putting in practice new and proven models of capturing potential funds, we can expect AGMUS to lead the way in private education in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean for another 65 years and more.

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International Affairs

Regarding international student recruitment, over the past year we participated in the Education USA Fairs which are sponsored by the Department of State and the Embassies of the United States in Latin America. In addition, for the second consecutive year, AGMUS is offering over ten international scholarships for citizens of the member states of the Organization of American States. Information regarding those scholarships was disseminated through Campus Puerto Rico, an initiative from the Puerto Rico Department of State to entice international students to enroll in local universities. More detailed information regarding our academic programs and scholarships was provided through the International Student Guide, and our first international recruitment webpage: intl.suagm.edu.

A world of possibilities without borders

As a result of the implementation of the above mentioned strategies, this year AGMUS has increased the number of international students in all its institutions.

Young men and women from Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and 19 other countries have chosen AGMUS campuses as their alma mater.

Additionally, the number of students participating in bilateral exchanges has increased, primarily with institutions from Spain, Argentina, Finland, and Germany.

We have also expanded our study abroad program to include countries such as Costa Rica, Italy, China, and Brazil. These academic and cultural exchanges will enrich our students’ curricular and extracurricular experiences.

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The creation of collaboration agreements with educational institutions and organizations throughout the globe is also one of our internationalization priorities.

Thus, we have developed or strengthened our relationships and agreements with several international agencies and organizations, including among them the Organization of American States, the American Council of Education, Partners of Americas, Universia, Education USA, NAFSA -International Education Association, Virtual EDUCA and the Conference of the Americas for International Education.

Our participation in international events and our relationships with international organizations have produced more than 23 agreements in different parts of the world. Hence, AGMUS has increased its presence exponentially in different continents.

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Since 2002, the Ana G. Méndez University System has focused on the internationalization process as a critical factor that will contribute to its future expansion and success. During the 2014-2015 academic year, the Associate Vice presidency for International Affairs was established. Its main responsibility is to oversee the implementation of our Internationalization Plan and the international student recruitment efforts. At the same time, our universities now have Directors of International Affairs, whose offices are responsible for the development and implementation of initiatives that are directly aligned with our systemic plan, and that address each of its six dimensions: infrastructure, curriculum and co-curriculum, faculty policies, student mobility and collaborations.

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This year was marked as well by several cultural enrichment activities. UMET, for instance, made a cultural trip to Cuba, another one to Greece, and hosted the Folkloric Ballet from Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara.

Universidad del Turabo successfully held the International Fest of Latin American Cinema, and made a cultural trip to Europe. Likewise, Universidad del Este held an International Culture Festival, the Chinese New Year Festival, and the Open Air International Movie festival, among many other initiatives.

It was indeed a year of enhancing international initiatives and opening the doors to new possibilities for agreements and activities that will strengthen the internationalization process across of all our institutions.

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Our Public Policy Institute

Actively participating in matters affecting the country

Aside from Energy, the topics of Public Safety, Education and Economic Development continue to be recurring themes of the numerous conferences, meetings, symposiums, and forums we hold throughout the year. Our Diálogo Social Forum, aimed at bringing social workers into the broader conversation of social wellbeing, was dedicated this year to Special Education, but more specifically to how special education should actually become inclusive education. On the subject of economic development, we conducted a public conversation on business incubators and regionalization as a preamble to the 4th Annual Regionalization Forum, in which we co-participated with our Office of Alliances for Economic Development.

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This was the third year we celebrated an Energy Forum, under the sponsorship of the Puerto Rico Energy Center (PREC) at Universidad del Turabo. While the discussion in this forum normally covers renewable and alternate sources of clean power to reduce energy production costs, this year’s agenda centered on the regulatory framework to provide this vital utility, given that the Puerto Rico Senate was working to implement a comprehensive reform of the local Power Authority. Senate President Eduardo Bhatia participated as a panelist, as did our special guest, Mr. Daniel Greif, President of the Regulatory Unit of the Energy and Water Services of Uruguay. Mr. Greif’s visit to Puerto Rico stemmed from our participation in a similar forum last year in Uruguay. Because of this productive relationship, the Puerto Rico Energy Commission has now become a member of the Ibero-American Association of Energy Regulators.

Regarding Public Safety, our main contribution to the subject is our Ley & Orden magazine, which covers topics concerning law and crime, the Police Department, new public safety equipment, and other related subjects. This quality publication has a paper circulation of 13,000, and is distributed to all state and municipal Police headquarters, the courts system, the Department of Justice, the Fire Department, the Corrections Department, and other law and justice public agencies. Its online version enjoys a local and international readership of over 3 million.

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Fu tur e

While our Public Policy Institute (PPI) is a recent addition to the storied 65-year history of the Ana G. Mendez University System, our mission shares the institution’s main objective of exchanging knowledge and ideas. We thrive to unite experts in academia, the government, and the private sector so they can discuss views from multiple disciplines, and openly communicate their findings, so that constructive public policy can be developed to solve relevant issues affecting Puerto Rico, as well as specific communities where AGMUS has significant presence.

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Other meetings and conferences this year covered women’s affairs, during the Espacios Prohibidos (Forbidden Spaces) conference; urban planning and development, during the “Smart Cities” conference; and even the political referendum on Catalonia’s independence.

All the information related to these exchanges of ideas and perspectives can be readily found in our digital platforms, including our webpage (www.institutodepoliticapublica.org), which receives over 19,700 visits a year; and our space at www.issuu.com, which offers a compilation of all our publications.

Beyond our 65th anniversary, we foresee our Institute of Public Policy further engaging in public safety concerns, energy, education and economic development, but also in the demographic changes and water supply issues that Puerto Rico continues to face.

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Alliances for Economic Development

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Since their inception, the Alliances for Economic Development have played a key role in fostering economic activity in different regions in Puerto Rico.

Iniciativa Tecnológica Centro Oriental (INTECO), Iniciativa Tecnológica del Noreste (INTENE), Iniciativa Tecnológica del Norte (INTENOR), and Desarrollo Integral del Sur (DISUR) continually deliver new creative ideas, as well as new businesses that serve their community, and the island as a whole.

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This past year, each one of the alliances registered significant advances in their individual operations, and continued to be the epicenter of regional economic growth. One great success story in this regard were the business incubators that have helped so many businesses take that first step in their commercial endeavor. INTECO helped 42 new businesses, out of which 15 are already successfully competing in the marketplace, creating 983 jobs in the east-central region of the island. INTENOR served as an incubator to 18 new entrepreneurs, who generated 168 jobs. Meanwhile, DISUR developed its new Incubator for Creative Arts and Industries, while INTENE created three new companies out of its INTENEWEB program.

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Contributing to the economic development of our regions

Staying true to its public service function, the Alliances for Economic Development office signed an agreement collaboration with Fuerza PYME, an initiative from the Puerto Rico House of Representatives aimed at promoting the development of small and medium sized businesses by giving them the necessary tools for growth. Additionally, the office held its 4th Regionalization Forum, where economist José Joaquín Villamil presented highly relevant data regarding Puerto Rico’s economic growth.

Each one of the regions was busy all year long , participating in activities to positively impact the residents within their particular geographic areas.

DISUR, for instance, held the Science and Technology Congress, the Summit of Professional Leaders from the South, and the From a Crisis to Opportunities workshop. In the northern region, INTENOR participated in the initiative Junte Empresarial Echar Pa’lante (Entrepreneurial Gathering to Move Ahead), held the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Culture Gala, inaugurated its new incubator building, and developed the first PYMES Expo.

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The Alliances for Economic Development continue to positively serve their communities. They are helping to bolster entrepreneurial and technological development, and they are fostering the progress and economic strength of each region they serve by addressing their particular needs.

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wa y th e

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As has been the case throughout our 65-year history, 2015 was a year of continued growth and improvements for AGMUS’ main campuses and university centers. Particular attention was paid this year to streamlining operations, introducing new technologies, and reinforcing our most productive academic offerings.

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Executive Vice Presidency and Administrative Affairs

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Top on this list has been the inauguration of the School of Technical Studies at Universidad del Este, which will now be in charge of housing and developing all the technical studies programs offered by that institution. This new school will also serve as a model for future AGMUS developments in this regard. Judging from current enrollment in technical programs that surpassed projections by 700 students, we can foresee this educational offer becoming a veritable powerhouse for our institution.

On the technology front, we partnered with Microsoft to create our new Technological Classroom Aula Tecnológica. This is a one-year pilot project launched at four of our university centers (Jayuya, Yabucoa, Bayamón, and Arecibo) to create a fully digital learning environment for students. Aside from using online resources and web-based tools, this futuristic classroom replaces traditional books, tests, and lecture materials with digital versions that learners can access via their tablets, laptops or other electronic means.

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Creating innovative initiatives that bring new resources

José F. Méndez, Jr., MBA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

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This type of initiative is being made possible through the efforts of our off campus University Center Task Force, the Associate Vice Presidency of University Centers, and our System’s Board of Vice Presidents Board, all of which work on special projects in their respective areas aimed at the continued development and implementation of organizational and management improvement strategies at all levels.

Regarding our individual university centers, we have seen a slight increase in enrollment, especially in Arecibo, which is very positive news considering the current adverse environment of the economy and the prospect of a declining population of our main market. More positive news come from the number and amount of scholarships granted this year, totaling over $13M, with a good concentration of them awarded to our nursing and health services students.

As we look to 2016 and later in the future, we can foresee an increase in enrollment at our university centers throughout the island, more regular faculty tending to this growing number of students, and a more solid financial position for AGMUS. 30

2014-2015 Annual Report

During this year we had a continuous improvement in the areas of quality and institutional effectiveness, human resources, infrastructure and finance. We completed 57 projects with an investment of about $ 4,763,409. Some of the projects that stood out were the remodeling of the offices of the Vice Presidency of Finance and the Vice Presidency of Planning and Academic Affairs. Also the inauguration of the Universidad Ana G. Méndez Campus Virtual instalations, the remodeling of UMET Bayamón, the office of Social Work Program at UNE, and the center of the UT in Cayey among others.

We strengthened our recycling program exceeding our expectations in terms of collecting materials. We managed in the same way, the reduction of 11% electricity consumption accounting for the past five years, representing savings of $ 777.500.

Our Vice Presidency also managed to save 12% in costs of insurance policies and increase the contribution of the printing office to reach a net income of $ 1,136,530.

We maintain a safe environment and putting in place strategies that will help us to be ever more efficient in the use of our resources.

If the past 65 years are any indication of the success of our system, we can easily predict that more progress awaits our AGMUS family.

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Similarly, our Instituto de Seguridad y Protección (ISEP) has kept growing every year. Total enrollment in this specialized school has increased from 322 students in 2012, to 761 this year, a 136% increase. And for 2014-15, its new Bachelor program has proven to be a needed service, addressing the critical need for professionalizing Puerto Rico’s police and public order officials.

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Another indicator of academic achievement and substantial improvement can be seen in the percentage of graduates from our Schools of Education that successfully completed the local Teacher’s Certification Exam (or PCMAS, as they are known in Spanish), as required to obtain a teaching license. For a fourth consecutive cycle, education students from all three institutions earned their respective schools a solid “Satisfactory” classification this year, as compared to the “At Risk” classification obtained back in 2006, when testing began. Part of this success can be attributed to the “Capstone Courses” required to all Education students to pass in order to qualify for their classroom practice. This requirement not only serves as a filter to identify the strongest candidates, but also helps students hone their skills before taking their Certification Exam.

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Planning and Academic Affairs

Planning plays a pivotal role in AGMUS success. That’s why we set out this year to develop a comprehensive evaluation of the enrollment trends between 2004 and 2013 for all our markets, including Puerto Rico, and Continental US, and other complementary segments. The results of this study were compiled in a special report titled Enrollment Roadmap, which laid out several perspectives, basic assumptions, and strategies to strengthen enrollment, in addition to identifying specific opportunities for growth in Puerto Rico, Hispanic communities in the mainland, as well as the virtual and international segments.

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In 2014-2015, SUAGM has continued improving and achieving what would otherwise seem unattainable in an economic environment mired with challenges. Yet, as our 65 years of history can attest, visionary planning and strategic long-term initiatives have always proven to be the best way to move forward in uncertain times.

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Perhaps one of the most telling achievements in this regard is our current first- year student retention rate, which improved over the previous year, standing now at 71.9% (2013 Cohort, FT Bachelor), making this the third year in a row that we have scored over the 70% benchmark. Likewise, this year we have experienced our third consecutive increase in the official graduation rates (150% of the term) at all three institutions, with a 9-point increase at Universidad Metropolitana (UMET), followed by Universidad del Turabo (UT), and Universidad del Este (UNE) showing significant improvements in this particular metric (2008 v. 2004 cohorts).

Jorge L. Crespo Armáiz, Ph.D. VICE PRESIDENT FOR PLANNING AND ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

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Another successful policy tool has been the assessment process of our Strategic Development Guidelines (GEDs) 2011-2015. This document established key vectors of institutional quality and effectiveness, as well as specific goals to be attained during each of the academic periods evaluated for all our units, including not only our three institutions, but also Sistema TV, AGMUS Virtual Campus, and all branch campuses in the US mainland. Our assessment revealed that we accomplished 85% of all proposed goals and strategies for 2011-15 period. Based on this analysis, next year we will be elaborating new strategic guidelines for the next four years.

Continuos review of our strategic planning

In today’s information-driven world, good planning must depend on reliable databases and technology tools. Our new Dashboard platform has allowed us to integrate all of AGMUS’ operations into a single analysis tool that can be used by all management personnel throughout the entire System. Dashboard allows access to real time accurate data on enrollment, admission rates, and other indicators regarding academic programs, budgeting, and overall performance, which permit lets unit directors, deans, and chancellors get a more precise picture of which academic programs are the most productive, how they may compare to similar offerings in other campuses, or which ones may need to be revisited or enhanced.

As part of our responsibility of supporting and enhancing research activity throughout all academic areas, during this academic year our intellectual property unit was eagerly working with at least eleven (11) projects with high potential for obtaining patents and further commercialization. These include three (3) patents already approved and protected in domestic and international markets.

The year ended with a series of commendations on behalf of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. These commendations were part of MSCHE’s final accreditation reports for Universidad del Este and Universidad del Turabo.

As we close the celebration of our 65th anniversary, SUAGM reaffirms its commitment to sound planning and long term approaches to support its decision making processes, as well as to guide its path to future growth and quality development.

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Vice Presidency of Marketing and Student Affairs

ut i ve Yea r

AGMUS has enjoyed 65-year history of growth and transformation, touching the lives of thousands of graduates and helping many more turn their dreams into reality. This year in particular marks the third consecutive year that our institution has earned its status as the largest private university in Puerto Rico in terms of enrollment.

Considering the adverse economic environment and population decrease facing our main local marketplace, the fact that we have maintained a steady growth of enrollment, reaching 44,431 students in academic year 2014-2015, speaks volumes about the quality and diversity of education that AGMUS has to offer.

The student services we provide similarly serve to enhance the positive experience that AGMUS undergraduates and graduates enjoy while growing academically. We have improved our Student Contact Center, as well as our BlackBoard system to provide information online regarding courses, deadlines, classes cancelled, emergencies on campus, special activities and other topics of interest. Our Internet access for students also affords them the capability to apply online for scholarships and grants, get information on their grades, see their Grade Point Average or their particular curriculum, and even fully enroll and pay for their courses without ever having to physically visit their campus.

We are in essence redefining the way the public perceives the college experience, and AGMUS is delivering on that promise of providing a friendlier, more intimate relationship between the students and their higher education.

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Enrollment exceeding expectations and continuously improving the student experience

This high-visibility approach has proven successful in all communities and regions we serve in Puerto Rico and in our mainland markets. It is also helping to promote Puerto Rico as a higher education hub for foreign students who see in AGMUS’ programs the opportunity to pursue an academic career in a dual-language, bi-cultural environment not readily available to them back home. This is especially true of our campuses on the mainland USA, but also of our Virtual AGMUS campus, which allows distance learning via the Internet from anywhere in the world, at any time, affording students the flexibility to get a quality education that can be adapted to their particular schedules and needs.

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Our marketing efforts to present the academic offer to our target audiences has kept the AGMUS brand top-of-mind not only in the students considering our institutions for their higher education needs, but also in parents, counselors, and other key players that could influence the decision to enroll in our programs. Our regular media campaign, our incursion in the agenda of the Department of Education and the College Board examinations, as well as our aggressive digital and social media efforts, have created a first-hand exposure not only to our courses and programs, but also to the kind of close-knit and family-like environment that today’s students seem to prefer in their university.

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Mayra Cruz Rivera, Ed.D. VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARKETING AND STUDENT AFFAIRS

After 65 years of expansion and positive change, we are certainly poised to continue transforming lives and making dreams a reality for thousands of students more, and for many decades to come.

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n ls I oa ir G Th e

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rd Student Enrollment Growth 45,000

44,286

44,429

2012

2014

42,129

40,000

37,954

35,000

30,797

30,000 25,000

22,754

20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0

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2003

2006

2009

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Vice Presidency of National and International Affairs

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Given the 65-year history of growth, development and stability that AGMUS commemorates this year, it is only fitting to include in that celebration several significant milestones achieved in 2015.

What started 12 years ago as a wild dream for AGMUS to have presence in key Hispanic communities in mainland USA, this year that vision became a reality for the 5th time since 2003. In February 2015 we inaugurated our Dallas, Texas Branch Campus, joining our other three campuses in Florida (Orlando, Miami, and Tampa), and the one in the Maryland/DC area. With a modest enrollment of 154 students, we opened the doors of yet another academic campus, offering quality duallanguage immersion education to fulfill the specific educational needs of the local Hispanic community. While we have representation from 9 different countries in our student body there, 60% are of Mexican origin. Most of them are pursuing a degree in Education, and the balance in Business, which are two of the highest job demand fields in the Dallas area.

The positive acceptance of our mainland campuses can be attributed to our novel approach to teaching courses in two languages, especially in communities where possibly 40% of the population may not speak English fluently. Our DisciplineBased Dual Language Immersion ModelÂŽ not only helps students improve their English language skills, but also helps them develop into fully bilingual professionals. This academic year, we paid particular attention to redesigning our entire sequence of English and Spanish courses to give our students a stronger foundation in both languages. These improvements were made as the number of full-time faculty members continues to grow in our branch campuses. From having only two full-time faculty when we began this journey, we now have 13, and this number will certainly continue to grow. This increase in full-time faculty will help in the development of our different curricula, in addition to generating more research activity, and providing extra support for students.

Transforming the dreams of the Hispanic community in Continental US

Moreover, we strengthened our relationship with the National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE). This organization has been a key national partner in helping us promote bilingual education across state lines, and establish the notion that dual language education is far more than just about learning English, it is about providing students with the skills that will help them become fully bilingual professionals. We are pleased to host NABE’s national executive offices at our Capital Area Campus in Maryland.

Luis J. Zayas Seijo VICE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

While we are convinced that our academic offer is delivering positive results, it is always better to support such claims with empirical evidence. Based on independent surveys conducted amongst our mainland branch campuses graduates, 80% stated that their experience in our institutions was a very positive one, while over 90% affirmed that their skills in both languages improved significantly.

Looking ahead to our next anniversary and future milestones, we foresee the Dallas campus growing exponentially, perhaps even surpassing our Florida campuses in terms of enrollment, once we expand into other Texas communities.

We also expect to collaborate closely with the different school districts in the communities we serve to help prepare future teachers in those areas. And as we continually analyze the changing realities of local labor markets, as well as new technology tendencies appearing in the near horizon, we will be adjusting our academic offer to meet those needs.

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Vice Presidency of Human Resources We were proud to celebrate this year far more than the 65th anniversary of the Ana G. Méndez University System. We also celebrated many accomplishments that allowed us to meet our central goal, as envisioned by our President: making the great people of this institution feel like they belong to a very special family.

That feeling of satisfaction with the workplace has to do with more than fair compensation. It has to do with the way employees are treated, the benefits they receive, the type of work environment provided by the employer, and the level of flexibility allowed on the job. In terms of all these factors, we can say that AGMUS has delivered.

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Our pension plan, which is the main benefit enjoyed by AGMUS faculty and staff, is solidly financed at 100% and has a portfolio investment of $52M. Likewise, our Employee Savings and Investment Plan exceeds $22.5M investment portfolio, surpassing last year’s benchmark by more than $1M.

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The healthcare plan for employees was fully renewed and is doing equally well as our other benefits, with all its technical and IT components already integrated to comply with the new federal regulations and requirements established under the Affordable Healthcare Act. Additionally, over 1,200 employees took advantage this year of the preventive health program we offer, whereby they can visit the doctor for routine and specialized care, as well as a nutritionist to help them establish healthier lifestyles.

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In terms of professional development, we offered 229 workshops and team integration activities to help our faculty and staff improve their essential, technological and interpersonal skills. Additionally, we completed the first phase of the revision of our entire technological platform, including all levels of compensation and positions. Also we have implemented a new electronic work plan and performance evaluation system. This new technological tool will facilitate the preparation of the annual work plan and will allow for more precise and easier evaluations of overall performance of faculty and employees.

More than 5,000 jobs created and developing our human capital

All these initiatives were successfully accomplished while generating overall savings. As part of our cost-control measures, we limited part-time employees to 25 hours a week, yielding savings of nearly $400K in this item alone. Meanwhile, our Position Control Committee managed payroll savings of over $600K.

Victoria De Jesús, Ed.D. VICE PRESIDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES

For next year, we are planning to launch our new Human Resources Portal, in order to provide all managers and employees full access to all HR information and digital services they may need. They will have instant access to their health plan information, as well as information on their 401K and other benefits.

They will be able to access all policies and guidelines updated in real time, and they will even be able to complete a job application.

The legendary management guru, Peter Drucker, once said that you will achieve the greatest results in business and career if you drop the word “achievement” from your vocabulary and replace it with “contribution.

We, at SUAGM, appreciate the contribution of all our people.

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Vice Presidency of Financial Affairs

Ch all en gin gT ime s

When faced with a local economic environment full of challenges, the only way to move forward is to continue developing new ways to ensure a solid fiscal position for the institution. This has been true throughout our 65 year history, and in 201415, AGMUS has made a special effort to reinvent its fiscal policies to strengthen its financial growth and development.

With these initiatives, we have been able to change the vision that most of our educators used to have of the Financial Affairs Vice Presidency. Whereas before the perspective used to be “Finance won’t let us develop this project”, now the new outlook is “How can we work together to make this project possible.”

Managing our fiscal resources with excellence and efficiency

Aside from developing a culture of financial responsibility, we invested wisely in specific capital improvements that would help solidify and streamline operations, plus lend support to projects that are poised to become solid profit centers for the institution. We negotiated credit for new technology, equipment and furnishings for our Arecibo, Ponce, and Yauco university centers ($3M); for our Institute of Public Safety ($1.2M), as well as for the new Student Center at Universidad del Turabo ($1.4M) and AGMUS’ printing press ($500K). Our Bioequivalence Characterization Center also received over half a million dollars in specialized equipment. Likewise, a new business structure is being created so our Health Services Centers (UNE and UT) can grow beyond their academic and public service missions to become profitable units on their own.

Given that 90% of our funding comes from Title IV and student loan sources, we improved our technological systems and operations to speed up the receipt of these federal funds, as well as improve transparency and accountability to meet and exceed established government guidelines. In line with these technological improvements, we also upgraded AGMUS’ entire IT systems to fully integrate Office 365 software for all desktops, laptops, tablets and smart phones in use at all our institutions. Additionally, we upgraded our Dashboard suite to allow us improved performance measurements of all our systems.

Fin an ce s in

We began by developing an institutional culture of fiscal responsibility, creating a Division of Financial Analysis and Productivity to open the channels of communication between Financial Affairs and our Deans, Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, and even faculty. By doing so, all levels of management throughout our institutions have gained a deeper understanding of the costs and productivity of a particular educational program offering. Terms like “production unit” and “productivity index” have become familiar terminology closely linked to our academic endeavors, as has been the “Student Breakeven Point”, a new metric exclusive to AGMUS that allows us to pinpoint the number of students needed to make a course or program financially sound. The same can be said of the development of feasibility studies and business plans for all new projects presented, which are now required so that everyone can have an enhanced awareness of the amount and source of the funds needed for each venture.

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Alfonso L. Dávila VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

We foresee the challenges of the current economic environment extending beyond next year. As such, we will continue adapting operations to new demands, especially from the local and federal governments. We will work to take our endowment funds from the current $62.7M to our $66M goal, and we will certainly continue expanding upon our success strategy of developing a new culture of fiscal responsibility to ensure growth for many years to come.

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Back in 1959, Ana G. Méndez had the good sense and vision of getting the Puerto Rico Junior College accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges, known today as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Doña Ana had a clear understanding that an accredited institution was an assurance of quality because of the rigorous standards that must be followed to earn and to maintain that recognition. It is the kind of standard that fosters continuous improvement of the faculty and the curriculum, and allows students a greater mobility after graduation.

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We are proud to say that one of the key accomplishments for Universidad del Este (UNE) this year has been, precisely, the experience of new specialized accreditations, the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) for the teacher preparation programs, and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for the Master of Social Work. The efforts during the last years were also to reaffirm quality with the reaccreditation of the Culinary Arts programs by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF), as well as the reaccreditation of our university with highly positive commendations by MSCHE. The new specialized accreditations increase the number of accredited programs in the institution, added to the ones previously accredited in Hospitality and Business by the Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA) and the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). These seals of approval serve us as a proud reminder that the pursuit of quality must always remain as a key component of our growth and development agenda.

Qu a li ty

Alberto Maldonado Ruiz, Esq. Chancellor UNIVERSIDAD DEL ESTE

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An institution in constant growth and development

In line with the continued improvement of our educational offer, this is the fifth year in a row that we experienced an increase in regular faculty members, as well as in the number of professors with a doctoral degree.

Moreover, to advance faculty development, we fully implemented our software platform to track and document the academic professional and scholar activities of our entire faculty.

Improvements in educational standards are often accompanied by an increase in academic publications and research. UNE’s publishing activity experienced an unprecedented level of production with four (4) books published. Among them, Dr. Jorge L. Crespo Armáiz’s, El Regalo de Prometeo and Dr. Manuel S. Almeida’s, Ese idiota llamado Sócrates: Teoría política, crítica, democracia. Furthermore, the institution has been strengthening and promoting research and scholar activities among its faculty and students.

As a result, we have positioned Ámbito de encuentros, our peer-reviewed and indexed academic journal, as one of the current platform for academic publication in Puerto Rico.

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At the undergraduate level, students’ achievements made headlines in 2015. Several of our Culinary Arts students won first place in international chef competitions, as well as other cooking competitions locally and nationally. Other Culinary Arts students were recruited to gain experience in several exchange programs abroad in Italy, Finland, and even the world renowned The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Students from our IEN Business School were also busy this year, earning the 3rd place in ENACTUS’ 2015 National Competition.

They also showed in the local television program Hit3001, a new platform for young entrepreneurs to present their business ideas, granted Business Administration student Franklin Martinez a $30,000 award for his brilliant exposition of his new webpage and business venture 1zapato.com. Topping this list, the annual AGMUS’ Accounting Bowl was won this year by UNE’s Luis Fernández Hernández.

On the internationalization front, UNE continues to increase its presence in programs and internships the world over, while it continues to attract foreign faculty and students to our main campus and university centers. This year 30 UNE students –four (4) of them with full scholarships- are pursuing studies abroad, in countries as diverse as Canada, South Korea, Finland, China, Chile, and Peru, while 46 students from 12 different countries were enrolled at UNE. Likewise, one of our faculty members taught at Sichuan University in China, and eight (8) foreign visiting professors shared their knowledge and global perspective in our classrooms.

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2014-2015 Annual Report

Our academic offer continued expanding this year, with eight (8) new programs approved by the Puerto Rico Council of Education, and our Technical Studies programs grew in popularity and enrollment.

The public projection of our institution was reinforced by ten (10) years of uninterrupted educational programming through UNE Visión, showing through SISTEMA TV. To this television show, another two internet programs, Utopística and Paliqueando, were in continuing production, including highly rated interviews initiatives.

As I conclude my 28 years as Chancellor, after more than four (4) decades of academic career at AGMUS, I look not so much at UNE’s outstanding accomplishments of the past, but rather its unquestionable potential to become an educational powerhouse in the future. Our current accreditation agenda will move forth, lending increasing credibility to our academic offer. We will inaugurate the Jesús T. Piñero Gubernatorial Library and Social Research Center next year, creating yet another top research and think tank opportunities within our main campus. UNE Salud, our pioneering working health services facilities will soon ensure both UNE’s and AGMUS’ lead in the future development of this specialized field. And our upcoming Culinary Arts Incubator holds great promise for the future entrepreneurs.

It is a prospective vision of educational achievements and increasing academic quality that pays tribute to the foresight of Ana G. Méndez, when she launched the higher education institution that has become the largest private university system in Puerto Rico.

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Universidad Metropolitana For three and a half decades, Universidad Metropolitana (UMET) has distinguished itself for the diversity of its educational programs -especially in the Health and Environmental Studies fields- and for its intellectual productivity, reflected in the amount of research conducted and the number of patents acquired as a result of these academic and scientific investigations.

In 2014-15, UMET stayed true to its history with 16 new academic offerings presented to and/or authorized by the Puerto Rico Education Council, including 4 technical certificates, 2 bachelor, and 7 master-level programs. These offerings encompass a wide variety of fields, ranging from specialized health services, to business administration, speech therapy and pathology, to physical education, criminal justice, and even a technical specialization in lasers and photonics. To support this academic expansion, the number of full-time professors also increased to a total of 215.

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UMET also runs 2 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs funded by the National Science Foundation. The REU in chemistry continued to strengthen the research network it has established and hosted 11 students at 5 universities around the island, and also sent students to conduct research at leading research sites, including the Center for Materials Science and Engineering of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Cornell High Energy Synchotron Source of Cornell University. The REU in astronomy, based at the Arecibo Observatory, hosted 10 undergraduate students from various universities in the Continental US and Puerto Rico who conducted research in radio astronomy, atmospheric sciences, and electrical engineering.

Evolving with innovation

Adding to its academic diversity, UMET’s Puerto Rico Photonics Institute (PRPI) launched this year its first educational program aimed at further developing the potential of this emerging science in Puerto Rico and beyond its shores. The core curriculum of the PRPI centers on the principles of optics and photonics, including lasers, fiber optics, development of devices and instruments, spectroscopy, remote sensing, and optical design, all within a framework of innovation and commercialization of the discoveries made by the Institute.

But perhaps one of the most meaningful achievements this year for UMET has been its involvement in civic affairs, mainly in environmental issues, public education, economic development, and special community projects. Regarding environmental matters, the 3rd edition of Perspectivas magazine was dedicated entirely to the issue of managing waste waters in Puerto Rico, which has been a serious concern for many years on the island due to its ecological impact and potential public health hazards. This topic was reinforced with a public forum hosted by the newly organized Institute of Water and Health (IDAS, in Spanish) and conducted by Dr. Mauricio Pardon of the Pan-American Health Organization.

The forum centered on innovative projects that communities can establish in this regard.

Other eco-friendly ventures include the production of Green Infrastructure videos on urban forestation and the proper maintenance of trees in an urban environment, as well as an open symposium on food sustainability aimed at families and single-mother households, with the support of the Permaculture Institute and the Aquaphonics Club.

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Di ve rsit y

On the research front, UMET currently has 45 on going academic and scientific research projects throughout its schools and university centers, funded by nearly $14 million in external funding received this year for this purpose. This activity has produced 10 patents with commercial potential, out of which 3 have already been secured, 5 are pending and 2 are under evaluation.

2014-2015 Annual Report

Regarding public education, UMET hosted a forum titled Being a Teacher Today: Rescuing the Vocation of Educators, conducted by Rafael Román, Puerto Rico Secretary of Education, with the participation of 4 former secretaries. It also initiated the implementation of a joint research project cosponsored by the Puerto Rico Department of Education, Proyecto Valores, in partnership with the University of Granada in Spain.

This project will identify the emerging values of 15-19 year olds in the public school system of the island and host a congress in Puerto Rico to disseminate the findings.

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Carlos M. Padín, Ph.D. Chancellor UNIVERSIDAD METROPOLITANA

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With respect to economic development, UMET hosted 5 different forums and conferences this year on economics, entrepreneurship, and the profile of the Puerto Rican worker, with the active participation of former Puerto Rico governors Luis Fortuño and Rafael Hernández Colón, former governor of Florida Jeb Bush, and former Puerto Rico Secretary of Labor, Miguel Romero.

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As it has done over the past several years, UMET continues to lend its support to very significant community projects such as Encendido por la Cura and Sigue Mis Pasos, to help cancer research and patients; Manos al Cafetal, to help in the coffee harvest; the Life-Link Foundation, to increase the number of organ donations; as well as food drives and clothing donation campaigns.

Looking back at UMET’s 35 years of growth within the 65-year history of the university system, we can certainly feel proud of UMET’s many achievements. Starting out as a small college in 1980, UMET has become a full-fledged university, offering graduate degrees, serving as an academic leader in environmental issues, managing a world-class facility for aerospace research, and establishing the first institute for the emerging science of photonics in Puerto Rico. In addition, it is the first AGMUS institution to offer a PhD in Education and has remained a pioneer in commercial patents stemming from its research.

In the years to come, we foresee further growth of our academic offerings, with specialized accreditation of our Schools of Education, Social Sciences, and Health, as well as the restructuring of our general education programs to better fit the needs of the local marketplace. We also anticipate an expansion of our internationalization efforts with greater student exchanges, attracting more students from other countries, and bringing in more foreign professors, as well as sending more of our faculty abroad to broaden their research assignments.

We are indeed celebrating great accomplishments and looking to achieving even more going forward.

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Ahead of today’s challenges

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Dennis Alicea, Ph.D. Chancellor UNIVERSIDAD DEL TURABO

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We can proudly say that 2015 has been another year of delivering educational quality and enjoying continued growth, as we celebratethe significance of reaching the 65th year milestone in the history of our AGMUS family.

We can proudly say that 2015 has been another year of delivering educational quality and Our current offer includes 15 programs, ranging from Private enjoying continued growth, as weeducational celebrate the significance ofnew reaching the 65th year milestone Investigators, Dental Assistants, and Forensic Psychologists, to an AA degree in in the history of our AGMUS family.

Forensic Investigations, BA degrees in Medical Technology and Digital Journalism, as well as Masters in new Computer Engineering Administration with a Our current educational offerprograms includes 15 programs, ranging and fromBusiness Certificates for Operation Concentration in Finance and Human Resources.

Additionally, we have presented another Room Technicians, Private Investigators, Dental Assistants, and Forensic Psychologists, to an programs for approval by the Puerto Rico Council on (CEPR) AA degree14 in different Forensic Investigations, BA degrees in Medical Technology andHigher DigitalEducation Journalism, in such diverse fields as Criminal Justice, Fashion Design, Speech and Language Therapy as well as Masters programs in Computer Engineering and Business Administration with a and Electrical in Engineering. learning also continues toweexpand at UT, withanother 71 new14 courses Concentration Finance andDistance Human Resources.

Additionally, have presented designed, 69 professors trained on teaching online courses, and 172 online sections offered. different programs for approval by the Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education (CEPR) in such diverse fields as Criminal Justice, Fashion Design, Speech and Language Therapy and Electrical Engineering.

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Of utmost importance during 2015 was the comprehensive process of undertaking our self-study, as mandated by the reaccreditation process promulgated by the Middle States Association, which integrated all institutional units, faculty and associates in a unified effort. The reaccreditation process led to commendations by the Middle States Association, which praised the quality of our academic programs, faculty commitment, student services, Virtual Library, and culture of assessment, as well as the efforts of our additional locations.

Likewise, we received the reaccreditation of our nursing programs by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), in addition to the candidacy of the Naturopathic Medicine Program by the Council of Naturopathic Medical education (CNME). Our institution was also immersed in the professional accreditation process for the BS in Chemistry, the MA in Architecture, and the Bachelors program in Social Work.

Regarding research and publications by our faculty, a new benchmark in production was established in 2015, evidenced by an increase in scientific publications totaling 91 for the year, coupled with 176 presentations in different academic and scientific venues.

As an example, the Puerto Rico Energy Center (PREC) research team was highly active in presenting peer-reviewed publications such as: Dr. Lisandro Cunci in reference to research on the microchip designed by his research team to help detect cancer cells.

Dr. Yazan Hijazi presented his work on Spintronic-Based Radiation Sensors, while Dr. Francisco Márquez shared his research on Carbon Nanotube Based Radiation Sensors.

Other significant research included Dr. Yahya Masalmah’s Development of Serial and Parallel Signature Extraction Algorithms from Hyperspectral Images (HSI); Dr. Amaury Malavé’s Analysis of Combustion Efficiency in Oil Based Biofuels, as well as Dr. Roberto Callarotti’s Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROI) Models. It is worth noting that these investigations hold great potential for future commercial development. In the forefront of public affairs, the Pedro Rosselló Gubernatorial Library and Museum published its third book this year El Último Enclave del Colonialismo written by former governor Pedro Rosselló, a current UT professor and recent doctoral graduate from our School of Education, who will also be publishing his doctoral thesis on the Internationalization of Higher Education and the Global Citizen.

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Our campus is also expanding its internationalization efforts evidenced by the signing of collaboration and exchange agreements such as with four foreign universities (Universidad de Guadalajara, Universidad Autónoma de México, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Universidad Autónoma de República Dominicana). UT professors delivered 45 international conferences, 24 of them conducted in 14 different countries around the world. We continue to enroll more students from abroad, and more of our students and professors are also traveling overseas to participate in cultural and educational programs and/or conferences.

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The physical plant of our campus also experimented major changes this year with the completion of several structures among those being the School of Health, the Student Services Center, the Accelerator for Clean technologies, and the remodeling of the home of our Resident Artist. These improvements are aligned with the AGMUS and UT commitment to academic excellence, student services and research. Another major accomplishment was the redesign of our website, the restructure of our Virtual Library, and the creation of Ars Medicina, the new digital magazine from our School of Health, developed with the collaboration of the Manatí Medical Center.

Looking forward, we can expect to continue on the road to expansion and setting new standards in the level of education we provide to our students. In the academic environment, we are confident to achieve the accreditations we have worked hard to attain, as well as those contemplated for in the near future. In research we foresee positive outcomes from all the on-going investigations and those promulgated for the future. In student services, we pledge a full commitment to furthering assessment to improve the quality of the services offered. The 65-year trajectory that has made AGMUS what it is today will undoubtedly continue to be an inspiration for Universidad del Turabo as we celebrate many future milestones in the history we have yet to make.

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It is fair to say that the success enjoyed this year by Universidad Ana G. Méndez Campus Virtual is a clear reflection of the progress that the Ana G. Méndez University System has achieved over its 65-year history.

What started as the Center for Televised Studies in 1978, has become today a University dedicated to distance learning and online higher education.

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We fueled this success by moving to a new building, a process that has reinforced our new standing as an educational institution in and of its own.

And we have made it a point to evolve from only managing the online courses and students from SEDUE, UMET, UT, UNE, and mainland campuses, to offering our own courses and enrolling our students as well, including 33 from foreign countries. Aside from all the courses we manage for other institutions, Universidad Ana G. Méndez Campus Virtual now offers four (4) different academic programs, with 18 re-designed, revised, and newly-designed courses. In 2015, we served 1,266 students, delivering over 3,800 contact hours of study, plus our continuing education sessions, workshops, certifications, and webinars served 266 participants, surpassing last year’s enrollment by 50.

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Migdalia Torres, Ph.D. Chancellor UNIVERSIDAD ANA G. MÉNDEZ CAMPUS VIRTUAL

This progress can be attributed to several factors. First, the marketplace is certainly pointing to a growing need for online educational offerings. But what differentiates Universidad Ana G. Méndez Campus Virtual from other distance learning schools is the variety of courses and programs, including bachelors and masters degrees, plus dual language courses, which have become a favorite choice of students seeking a solid bilingual education. Additionally, we can point to our faculty, which is recruited based on their qualifications and certifications as distance educators. We can also mention the new technologies we have acquired (Taskstream, Turnitin, and BioSid-ID) that helps us not only authenticate the students taking the online courses, but allows for better assessment of the students’ work and their academic progress, and provides valuable data in determining if any adjustments may be needed to improve any of the courses or programs. Lastly, we can look at our promotional and marketing efforts this year, which included regular media outlets, as well as an aggressive social media blitz, and presence in the annual conventions of key business and academic organizations, among them the Chamber of Commerce, the College Board, and two Virtual Educa meetings, one in San Juan and the other in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Education without borders

As the virtual education market continues to evolve in our current technologydriven world, we foresee further growth of Universidad Ana G. Méndez Campus Virtual. We are in the process of attaining our MSCHE accreditation, and are on course with our reaccreditation as an IACET authorized provider. Additionally, we have presented all documentation to the Federal Student Aid Administration to begin offering Federal Title IV assistance to students wanting to further their higher education online.

After being part of AGMUS’ 65-year history of academic evolution, Universidad Ana G. Méndez Campus Virtual is certainly poised to continue delivering the same quality of education for a growing generation of technologically advanced learners, anywhere in the world.

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Florida Campuses

As we have done ever since we opened our first campus in Florida,we continue lending our spaces for meetings, seminars, lunches, expos, business missions and other gatherings to make the community know that our campuses are their home. This year, Metro Orlando Campus was involved in 99 different activities attended by top business, political and community leaders from all fields, including Congressman Alan Greyson, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who held a fantastic workshop in the Orlando campus regarding women’s equality. We also entered into a collaboration agreement with Valencia College regarding our Criminal Justice program and had a book presentation from Professor Luis Pastrana to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. We also offered workshops on the health reform, in addition to several community and job fairs, among many other events. We can say with pride that we have opened the doors of our campuses to the community, and AGMUS’ commitment in this regard is getting noticed. This kind of community involvement also happened in the South Florida and Tampa Bay Campuses with over 175 activities combined.

When we inaugurated the Tampa Bay Campus, our president, Dr. José F. Méndez, said that we were now entering the big leagues, that from that day on things would be very different. He was right; things for SUAGM Florida have indeed turned for the better. With three campuses, over 2,600 students, more than 325 facilitators, 105 employees and a continuously growing Hispanic population in the state, SUAGM has not yet reached its full potential.

Looking ahead to the next decade and beyond, we can anticipate a continuous revision of our academic programs to respond even more effectively to the changing demands in the market by offering programs that meet those needs.

And we can certainly foresee continued growth for AGMUS Florida in terms of external resources, new proposals, enrollment, physical facilities, and academics, especially in the health sciences field, as well as education.

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This level of success can be further quantified by the fact that we have stabilized the fiscal operations in all three campuses, and as an educational institution, we have developed a more formal and solid presence in the marketplace.

More qualified support for our academic offer can also be found in our level of enrollment, which continues upwards every year, now standing at 2,638 for all Florida Campuses (Metro Orlando, Tampa Bay, and South Florida). The same can be said for our retention rates, which range between 82% and 92% for our Bachelors and Masters programs; and for the number of our students who complete their degrees, now totaling 2,966. Moreover, some of these alumni are demonstrating excellent professional qualities in their field upon graduation, such as our first group of 29 Family Nurse Practitioners who graduated last year, all of them passed their bar examination. Hence, it is perhaps not surprising that our BSN and FNP nursing programs from Universidad del Turabo got reaccredited until 2020, and that the Florida Department of Education recognized our commitment to higher standards by renewing our license again this year without any contingencies.

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After 12 years of delivering academic excellence to the Hispanic communities in Florida, we continue to prove that dual language education is the way to go, not only in communities where the Latino population is growing exponentially, but also in our new globalized world. This claim is supported by surveys conducted at the end of each course, which indicate that our programs received between 85% and 97% approval in terms of the effectiveness of educational modules, the quality of our faculty and academic resources, as well as the improvement perceived by our students in both their English and Spanish competencies.

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Luis Burgos, Ed.D. Chancellor FLORIDA CAMPUSES

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Sistema TV This has been a special year at Sistema TV. Not only do we commemorate 30 years of delivering top quality educational programming along with the 65th anniversary of AGMUS, but we also celebrate several achievements that position us as the top educational channel on the island.

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Our regular programming continues to break new ground in investigative reporting, and social and public policy analysis. The team at Sistema TV Informa, was the first television newscast in Puerto Rico to report from Cuba after the December 2014 announcement of normalizations of relations with the US. The team received praise for its five reports under the title Cuba ¿en ruta al cambio? (Cuba, On the Road to Change?), which covered the impact that the new thawing of tensions between Havana and Washington could bring to the people of this island-nation and for those reports received an Emmy Award. This same news team also made an impact in local coverage of key issues in Puerto Rico, especially with special reports on gender equality and the effect of the new Value Added Tax (on the economy and education).

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Along the same lines, our new weekly investigative program, Sistema TV Investiga, is the first of its kind in our lineup, and continues to receive excellent public acceptance and feedback. Covering such provocative topics as poverty, Police reform, mortgage foreclosures, the aging population, and human trade, the investigative journalists (with the participation of the recognized journalists Ramón Enrique Torres, Margarita Aponte, Yolanda Vélez Arcelay, Ada Monzón, among others) are pushing forth the conversation on the relevant issues that many other broadcasts in Puerto Rico fail to cover. La Nueva Pobreza was finalist for this year’s Overseas Press Club excellence award in the Human Interest category.

Likewise, Jugando Pelota Dura, our top-rated public policy and socio-economic analysis program has taken its high-level interviews outside the studio. Broadcasting special events such as the Chamber of Commerce Annual Convention, the Retailers Association meeting and the Manufacturer’s Association Convention, the program has given its analysis a new face, showing the audience how key players in economics, industry, and politics work in real time, in their own environments.

Sistema TV also continues to be number one in collegiate sports coverage. The audience for the Intercollegiate Association Games (Justas LAI, as they are known locally) keeps growing, surpassing 289,500 TV viewers, to which we can add 1,418,311 page views (245,384 single visits) on our webpage from all over the world - the Continental US, South America and as far away as China and Europe. On Facebook, we received 380,725 hits, with 6,559 new “likes”, and our Twitter account got 199,700 hits. In all, we transmitted 454 total hours of athletics, including 49 live games and competitions, and 6 special reports -interviewing 2 athletes from each of our 3 institutions- showing how sports can create better students.

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Our collaboration with AGMUS educational undertakings was stronger than ever in 2015.

We covered special events at all campuses, especially graduations; produced educational and professional training videos for students and faculty alike, and produced14 special reports on key educational and research initiatives being undertaken throughout our university system, providing the general public new insights into the work and the quality of education that AGMUS has to offer.

These achievements could not be made possible were it not for the acquisitions and improvements made this year regarding our technical equipment through federal grants.

A new mobile satellite station, the expansion of our fiber optic capacity, and a new digital archive and library for our news production are only a few of the additions that helped us stay ahead of the game in 2015.

Margarita Millán, Esq. VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER SISTEMA TV

It it not surprising, therefore, that our list of clients keeps growing, and has increased their level of support, rising from just over $500,000 last year to over $658,000 now. Similarly, our external funding grew to nearly $2.5 M, with 11 new proposals approved this year alone.

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If our past history and this year’s achievements can serve as an indication of things to come, we can certainly expect to celebrate many more fantastic anniversaries going forward.

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“The future of education awaits us with open arms, because with our clearly defined goals, optimism and perseverance we will achieve always our objectives” José F. Méndez, Dr. h. c.

President

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Our Organization

Board of Directors

SUAGM President

Chancellor Universidad del Este

Executive Vice President

Chancellor Universidad Metropolitana

Vice President Planning and Academic Affairs

Internal Auditor

Chancellor Florida Campuses

Chancellor Universidad del Turabo

Vice President Marketing and Student Affairs

Vice President National and International Affairs

Chancellor UAGM Campus Virtual

Vice President Administrative Affairs

Vice President and General Manager Sistema TV

Vice President Human Resources

Our 2015-2016 Projections Over the past 65 years, the Ana G. Méndez University System has maintained a solid and continuous growth. Thousands of students that at one point in their lives had the aspiration to go to college, have made their dreams a reality. And now, with effort and dedication, they contribute daily to improving the quality of life in Puerto Rico and Continental US. As a forward-thinking institution, we follow a strategic plan that offers a clear pathway to achieving our goals. We continue with our transformation in an orderly fashion, looking forth to completing the following projects next year: • The new School of Health Sciences at Universidad del Turabo ($17 m) • The Jesús T. Piñero Library & Social Research Center ($9 m) • Expansion of the UNE Yauco University Center ($800 k) • Expansion of the UT Ponce University Center ($1.1 m) • UNE New Culinary Incubator Building ($2 m) In addition, we are working on academic and administrative reforms that will help us improve our metrics even further: • New, revised and updated GED’s 2016-2020 • Design and launch of AGMUS’ Dashboard • Implementation, dissemination, and training for the new Faculty Handbook and Evaluation System • Development of new strategies to comply with Gainful Employment regulations and the enhancement of our technical programs • Culminating the 2009-2015 Capital Campaign • Implementation of strategies to strengthen and support our Health Sciences programs, including clinical practices These are just a few of our projections for next year. And just like in all the previous years throughout our history, we will be meeting these goals to ensure the continuous growth of the Ana G. Méndez University System.

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Vice President Financial Affairs