Organic Act

Cuando pensamos en una Universidad, visualizamos una comunidad de personas que, asociadas de manera libre, se encargan de generar conocimientos que contribuyen con el desarrollo de la sociedad a la que pertenece. La manera de lograrlo es realizando sus funciones principales: la creación de conocimiento, la formación de profesionales y, la difusión de la cultura. Para ello, una institución de la magnitud de la nuestra, ha de regirse ordenadamente, regulándose por su marco legal, es decir, las Leyes Orgánicas.

Ley Constitutiva de la Universidad Nacional de México de 1910

El proyecto de creación de la Universidad, presentado por el maestro Justo Sierra desde 1881, se hizo realidad hasta el 26 de mayo de 1910, cuando Porfirio Díaz, presidente constitucional de México, dictó la Ley Constitutiva de la Universidad Nacional de México, que en sus artículos, la instituía como un cuerpo docente cuyo objeto primordial sería realizar, en sus elementos superiores, la obra de la educación nacional. De igual manera, decretaba que estaría constituida por la reunión de las Escuelas Nacionales Preparatoria, de Jurisprudencia, de Medicina, de Ingenieros, de Bellas Artes (en lo concerniente a la enseñanza de la arquitectura) y de Altos Estudios. El jefe de la institución era el Ministro de Instrucción Publica y Bellas Artes; además, el gobierno de ésta estaba a cargo de un Rector y un Consejo Universitario. El Rector de la Universidad era nombrado por el Presidente de la República.

The Act of 1929 did not signify a mere policy shift with regard to the university, though it ultimately addressed many of the university community’s interests and longings. On the contrary, it was driven by enthusiasms of student for diverse causes and informed by a history of advocacy among the faculty and students, and in some cases by administrators, in favor of the university’s autonomy.

The Organic Act of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, drafted by President Emilio Portes Gil, was passed July 22, 1929.

In addition to providing higher education and organize scientific research, the 1929 Act charges the University with the duty of offering university extension programs to serve the people who are unable to attend schools of higher education. Additionally, it modifies the institution’s governance, establishing a form of shared responsibilities and powers among the University Board of Regents-- as the highest authority-- Rector, Deans of the faculties, schools and research institutes, professors and student representatives of the Academies.

The Organic Act of 1929 was advocated ostensibly to secure the university’s autonomy; however, it did not achieve this goal because of the following issues:

a) Though the Board of Regents was empowered to appoint the University Rector, candidates for the post were limited to a “short list” complied by the President of the Republic. This situation effectively kept university governance in the hands of the State.

b) Under the terms of the Act, University employees became federal employees.

c) Additionally, the University was required to submit annual activities reports to the President, Congress of the Union and the Secretariat of Public Education.

d) The Secretariat of Public Education held a non-voting seat in the University Assembly for the purpose of reporting.

e) The President held veto power over resolution issued by the University Congress, and

f) The University budget and expenditures were subject to audit by the Comptroller of the Federation.

This Act, signed into law by President Abelardo Rodríguez, recognizes the full autonomy of the University and defines it as a corporation whose purpose is to provide higher education to supply the nation the professionals and technicians it needs, while organizing scientific research on national affairs and concerns, and extending the benefits of culture to the wider population. The Act defines the scope and respective authorities of the Board of Regents, Rector, deans of faculties, schools and institutes, and of students and professors representing the Academies.

Unlike previous organic acts, the Act of 1933 provides for a Rector nominated to lead and carry out the executive administration of the institution. Moreover, the Rector presides over the University Board of Regents, which is the university’s highest authority and is charged with establishing the rules and regulations needed to organize and define internal governance.

This concise Act, consisting of only nine articles, provides for the issuance of statutes, which for the first time in the history of the University establish a structure of governance guaranteeing the permanent interface of the community’s governing bodies with the community itself.

The spirit of the Act of 1933 is informed by the awareness of its complete autonomy. It asserts that the university community as a whole, through its governing bodies, is the sole source of authority and is empowered to determine the procedures and mechanisms needed for internal governance.

In point of fact, this Act transfers full autonomy to the University, stripping it of its status as a public institution and in effect privatizing it. The Act endows the University with a one-time influx of funds, freeing it to generate income to underpin its operations.

The Lázaro Cárdenas administration did not improve the University’s position. The institution and the president were often at odds over policy and politics. President Cardenas finally ordered Rector Fernando Ocaranza to abide by Article 3 of the Constitution and restructure the university along revolutionary lines. Ocaranza subsequently resigned and a series of new Rectors, Luis Chico Goerne, Gustavo Baz and Mario de la Cueva, who enjoyed a better working relationship with the administration, were appointed. It was not until the nomination of Rector Manuel Ávila Camacho, however, that university life experienced deep changes in its organization.

The Founding Board of Trustees, presided by Dr. Alfonso Caso (who was elected in compliance with the rules established by the University Committee of Ex- Rectors), discussed and approved the current Organic Law.

University Rector Caso presented the 33-member Board the draft project for the Law on November 22, 1944, which after revision by the Statute Commission was debated and approved on December 18 of that year. It was subsequently remitted to the President and to Congress for approval.

In the exposition of rationale, Dr. Caso stated that the previous Organic Act was an impediment to carrying out the deep reforms needed to reorganize the University along technical lines. Thus, the new ordinance is based upon the principle of reorganization of the institution on technical rather than political lines. This thrust is expressed in three fundamental tenets:

Under these principles, Caso posits the separation of the political and technical spheres, whose conflation Caso believes is the main cause of the UNAM’s disorganization. As such, this draft project of the Organic Law creates two types of authority, the technical-legislative body and the executive administration. The former admits participation of students and professors, while the latter is staffed by persons of high scientific and moral authority, who are completely disinterested in the immediate interests of professors and students. Thus, the authorities included in this draft project are as follows:

a) A Board of Governors to appoint persons to positions and resolve controversies.

b) A University Board of Regents, the supreme technical and legislative body.

c) A Rector, the highest executive authority.

d) The Directors of the faculties, schools and institutes, as well executive authorities subordinate to the Rector, and

e) The Mixed Academies, serving as consulting bodies.

In other words, the University Board of Regents lost the power to appoint the Rector and the directors of faculties, schools and institutes. This power is turned over to the Board of Governors. The University Board of Regents is limited to technical functions regarding discussion and approval of budget reports, organizational matters and appointments to the Board of Governors. Finally, the University Patronage Trust is charged with administering the university’s assets and properties.

This Act was published in the Official Federal Gazette on January 6, 1945 and took effect on January 9, 1945.

La ley de 1945 consolida el carácter nacional y público de la Universidad, evitando la confusión de funciones técnicas y actividades políticas, que en las Leyes anteriores no eran completamente iinteligibles. Además, esta Ley proporciona estabilidad, procurando la participación y autorregulación de la comunidad, a través de órganos universitarios internos.

Estas Leyes dieron a la Universidad el carácter de pública, autónoma y nacional, y en este sentido es importante señalar que la autonomía a la que se hace referencia se inscribe en los siguientes aspectos: