American University of Puerto Rico

Phase: Formerly Accredited
Status: Approved Institutional Closure
Accreditation Granted: June 25, 1982
Accreditation Ceased: December 31, 2023

On July 10, 2023, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education acted to acknowledge the institutional closure of American University of Puerto Rico effective July 31, 2023. Accreditation for the institution and all of its locations ceased effective December 31, 2023. As of January 1, 2024, American University of Puerto Rico is no longer accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education www.msche.org.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has approved teach-out agreements with (1) Colegio Universitario de San Juan, San Juan, PR; (2) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla Campus, Aguadilla, PR; (3) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo Campus, Arecibo, PR; (4) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas Campus, Barranquitas, PR; (5) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamón Campus, Bayamón, PR; (6) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Fajardo Campus, Fajardo, PR; (7) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Guayama Campus, Guayama, PR; (8) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Metropolitan Campus, San Juan, PR; (9) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce Campus, Mercedita, PR; (10) Inter American University of Puerto Rico San Germán Campus, San Germán, PR; (11) Instituto Comercial de Puerto Rico Junior College, San Juan, PR; (12) NUC University, Bayamón, PR; (13) Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, PR; (14) Universidad Ana G. Méndez - Carolina Campus; Carolina, PR; (15) Universidad Ana G. Méndez - Cupey Campus, Cupey, PR; (16) Universidad Ana G. Méndez - Gurabo Campus, Gurabo, PR; (17) Universidad Central de Bayamón, Bayamón, PR; (18) Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, PR; (19) Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR; (20) University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo, Arecibo, PR; and (21) University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón, Bayamón, PR.

Students can obtain historical records and transcripts at the Puerto Rico Department of State Records Office, which has been designated as the repository of all student records, at Departamento de Estado, P.O. Box 9023271, San Juan, PR 00902-3271.

Accreditation Actions

April 29, 2024
To note the institution did not close in good standing by failing to pay its dues and site dues (Dues and Fees Policy and Procedures).
January 10, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the action of August 28, 2023. To acknowledge receipt of evidence of approval from the Puerto Rico Board of Postsecondary Institutions of the closure of the main campus at Road #2, km 14, Hato Tejas Ward, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and the additional location at Road #2, km 48.1, Cotto Norte Ward, Manatí, Puerto Rico. To note that accreditation ceased on December 31, 2023, for all locations. To note that the Puerto Rico Department of State Records Office has been designated as the repository of all American University of Puerto Rico student records. To note that students may obtain academic records at Departamento de Estado, P.O. Box 9023271, San Juan, PR 00902-3271. As of January 1, 2024, American University of Puerto Rico is no longer accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
August 28, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the Supplemental Information Report due August 1, 2023. To request a Supplemental Information report, due September 25, 2023, providing (1) an update on the status of the institution (Requirement of Affiliation 2) and (2) evidence of approvals from all necessary licensing, regulatory, or other legal entities as necessary, including the Puerto Rico Board of Postsecondary Institutions and the United States Department of Education (Standard II and Substantive Change Policy and Procedures). To remind the institution of its obligation to inform the Commission immediately about any and all significant developments that may impact the institution's closure (Standard VII). To note that accreditation will cease effective December 31, 2023.
July 12, 2023
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to approve the teach-out plan. To approve the following teach-out agreements whose approval was postponed per the Commission's action of July 10, 2023: (1) Colegio Universitario de San Juan, San Juan, PR; (2) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla Campus, Aguadilla, PR; (3) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo Campus, Arecibo, PR; (4) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas Campus, Barranquitas, PR; (5) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamón Campus, Bayamón, PR; (6) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Fajardo Campus, Fajardo, PR; (7) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Guayama Campus, Guayama, PR; (8) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Metropolitan Campus; San Juan, PR; (9) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce Campus, Mercedita, PR; (10) Inter American University of Puerto Rico San Germán Campus, San Germán, PR; (11) Instituto Comercial de Puerto Rico Junior College, San Juan, PR; (12) NUC University, Bayamón, PR; (13) Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, PR; (14) Universidad Ana G. Méndez - Carolina Campus,; Carolina, PR; (15) Universidad Ana G. Méndez - Cupey Campus, Cupey, PR; (16) Universidad Ana G. Méndez - Gurabo Campus, Gurabo, PR; (17) Universidad Central de Bayamón, Bayamón, PR; (18) Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, PR; (19) Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR; (20) University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo, Arecibo, PR; and (21) University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón, Bayamón, PR. To note that the Puerto Rico Department of State Records Office has been designated as the repository of all American University of Puerto Rico student records, and that students may obtain academic records at Departamento de Estado, P.O. Box 9023271, San Juan, PR 00902-3271. To note that accreditation will cease effective December 31, 2023.
July 10, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the institutional closure within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note the institution will close all locations on July 31, 2023. To acknowledge receipt of the institution's notification on April 12, 2023, of its intention to close all locations on July 31, 2023, and cease operations effective December 31, 2023. To note that accreditation will cease effective December 31, 2023. To note the institution will maintain accreditation for the sole purpose of implementing the teach-out plan and agreements. To request a supplemental information report due August 1, 2023, providing (1) an update on the status of the institution (Requirement of Affiliation 2) and (2) evidence of approvals from all necessary licensing, regulatory, or other legal entities as necessary, including the Puerto Rico Board of Postsecondary Institutions and the United States Department of Education (USDE) (Standard II and Substantive Change Policy and Procedures). To remind the institution of its obligation to inform the Commission immediately about any and all significant developments that may impact the institution's closure (former Requirement of Affiliation 14).
July 10, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the teach-out plan and teach-out agreements. To postpone a decision on the teach-out plan and teach-out agreements. To note that the following teach-out agreements are under review by the Commission: (1) EDP University of Puerto Rico, Hato Rey, PR; (2) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla Campus, Aguadilla, PR; (3) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo Campus, Arecibo, PR; (4) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas Campus, Barranquitas, PR; (5) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamón Campus, Bayamón, PR; (6) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Fajardo Campus, Fajardo, PR; (7) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Guayama Campus, Guayama, PR; (8) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Metropolitan Campus; San Juan, PR; (9) Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce Campus, Mercedita, PR; (10) Inter American University of Puerto Rico San German Campus, San Germán, PR; (11) Instituto Comercial de Puerto Rico Junior College, San Juan, PR; (12) NUC University, Bayamón, PR; (13) Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, PR; (14) Universidad Central de Bayamón, Bayamón, PR; (15) Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, PR; and (16) Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
February 17, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include alternative delivery method-distance education within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require written evidence of approvals from all necessary licensing, regulatory, or other legal entities as necessary, including the Puerto Rico Board of Post-Secondary Institutions. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind approval of this substantive change if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision and/or the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2025-2026.
April 16, 2020
To acknowledge receipt of formal written notice from the institution in response to the Commission's request of March 9, 2020. To temporarily waive Substantive Change Policy and Procedures and allow the use of distance education to accommodate students impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) interruptions, in accordance with United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 5, 2020. Continued use of distance education beyond the limitations of USDE guidelines will require substantive change approval in accordance with Substantive Change Policy and Procedures. This flexibility is not available for clock-hour courses that lead to licensure if the licensing body will not accept distance learning courses or hours or give credit for them toward the number of hours a student must complete. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2025-2026.
November 15, 2018
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. To note that a follow-up visit will not be conducted. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2025-2026.
March 15, 2018
To accept the supplemental information report. To request a supplemental information report, due August 1, 2018, regarding the status of the institution. A small team visit may follow submission of the report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2025-2026.
October 19, 2017
To request a supplemental information report due December 1, 2017, regarding the status of the institution.
August 28, 2017
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the first and second Postsecondary Award/Certificate/Diploma (< 1 year) (Business Administration-Human Resources Management and Business Administration-Computers and Networks) within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2025-2026.
July 5, 2017
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the first and second post-baccalaureate certificates (Special Education-Transition to Life and Special Education-Early Childhood) within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2025-2026.
June 22, 2017
To reaffirm accreditation and to commend the institution for the quality of the self-study process and report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2025-2026.
November 21, 2013
To accept the monitoring report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2016-2017.
November 15, 2012
To accept the Periodic Review Report and to reaffirm accreditation. To request a monitoring report, due October 1, 2013, documenting (1) further implementation of a comprehensive, organized, and sustained process for the assessment of institutional effectiveness with evidence that assessment results are shared and discussed with appropriate constituents (Standard 7); and (2) evidence that student learning assessment information is used to improve teaching and learning (Standard 14). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2016-2017.
November 18, 2010
To accept the progress report. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2012.