The oldest antecedent of the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi (UASLP) is a Jesuit college founded in 1624 in the city of San Luis Potosí to teach literacy, secondary and high school studies.
In 1923, governor Rafael Nieto issued a decree that established the university in faculties, schools, coordinations, academic units and departments. Currently it is divided into 15 faculties, one school, four coordinations, one department, seven institutes, 12 research institutes and two academic units.
Both undergraduate and graduate studies are available in each faculty. UASLP has a student population of more than 32,000, and offers 99 undergraduate programmes and 88 postgraduate programmes.
The university has faculties in the following fields: faculty of accounting and administration, agronomy and veterinary, chemistry, communication, economics, engineering, humanities and social sciences, information sciences, law, medicine, nursing and nutrition, psychology, sciences, stomatology and habitat (for architecture, design and building related studies).
UASLP also has branch campuses in the following locations: Ciudad Valles, Ríoverde and Matehuala. Its 12 research institutes are affiliated with the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institution (ANUIES) in Mexico and the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC) based in Tucson, Arizona.
Notable alumni include Ponciano Arriaga (1811–1863), lawyer and constitutional congressman and Manuel José Othón (1858–1906), a renowned Mexican poet, politician and playwright. Other more current persona includes Luis Ernesto Derbez, Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs (2003-2006).
San Luis Potosí is the favorite destination for those seeking fun and adventure in the Huasteca region, it is difficult to not succumb to the beauty of its rivers, the majestic and imposing Sótano de las Golondrinas (Cave of the Swallows), its countless and sublime blue and green waterfalls, the magic of its charming villages, as well as its peaceful sunsets.
The cathedral of St. Luis, the Plaza del Carmen and the Plaza de San Francisco are a must see. The capital itself has a beautiful, historic city centre, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010.
