Puerto Rico’s public higher education system operates under a two-tier governance model led by the Puerto Rico Council of Education (Consejo de Educación de Puerto Rico, CEPR) and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) System’s Board of Governors.
The CEPR is responsible for licensing and regulating all postsecondary institutions—public, private, and proprietary. CEPR sets education standards, issues institutional licenses, and approves academic programs for non-UPR institutions.
The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) system includes 11 campuses and is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor. UPR follows a shared governance model: each campus has its own Administrative Board and Academic Senate, which advise the Chancellor. Chancellors report to the system President and Board of Governors, who oversee academic and strategic decision-making across the system.
Together, CEPR and the UPR Board share responsibility for higher education oversight. CEPR ensures institutional compliance and program quality, while UPR manages internal governance and operations across its campuses.
