Para enmendar el Artículo 4, añadir el Artículo 4.1, y enmendar los Artículos 13 y 14 de la Ley Núm. 1 de 20 de enero de 1966, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley de la Universidad de Puerto Rico”, a fin de establecer la Oficina de Internacionalización Virtual de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, con el propósito de, acorde a su autonomía, fomentar su expansión estratégica como una institución educativa virtual de alcance global enfocada en estudiantes fuera de Puerto Rico, especialmente en jurisdicciones de los Estados Unidos, territorios no incorporados, la diáspora puertorriqueña y países de habla hispana; crear el Fondo Especial de Educación Virtual Internacional; establecer definiciones; y disponer reglamentación.

2025-2028 Session

Bill creates UPR virtual internationalization office and special education fund to expand online higher education globally, targeting diaspora and Spanish-speaking markets while maintaining institutional autonomy.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill PC 993 amends Puerto Rico's University Law to establish a Virtual Internationalization Office at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), enabling the institution to expand as a global online educational provider. The bill creates a special fund for international virtual education and defines regulatory frameworks for this expansion, targeting students in the US, US territories, the Puerto Rican diaspora, and Spanish-speaking countries.

Why is this important

This legislation could generate significant revenue for UPR through international online enrollment while leveraging Puerto Rico's educational expertise and Spanish-language capacity in the global ed-tech market. However, it raises questions about resource allocation, whether virtual expansion might cannibalize domestic enrollment, and how quality standards will be maintained across dispersed online operations.

Potential points of contention

Funding clarity: The "Special Virtual Education Fund" lacks detail on revenue sources, whether it relies on student tuition, government appropriations, or private partnerships, and how funds will be managed separately from traditional UPR operations

Mission scope: Expanding UPR's focus internationally via virtual platforms may divert resources from serving Puerto Rico's domestic population, which already faces accessibility and affordability challenges

Regulatory oversight: The bill grants broad autonomy to UPR for virtual operations but doesn't specify accreditation standards, quality assurance mechanisms, or accountability measures for online program delivery