During his 40-year career at the Interamerican University and during his tenure as president, Fernós managed to increase the academic offering to more than 200 programs.
By THE STAR STAFF
Former Interamerican University President Manuel Fernós, who presided over the institution for 23 years, passed away on Saturday. He was 76 years old.
The announcement was made by current Interamerican President Rafael Ramírez Rivera, who regretted the passing of the institution’s tenth president.
“For more than 40 years, Mr. Fernós dedicated himself to promoting, through university education, the professional training of thousands of graduates of the Interamerican University,” said Ramírez Rivera.
Before entering the field of education, Fernós worked professionally in the private sector and also in public service in the Department of Justice and in the Commission to Combat Crime in Puerto Rico. In the educational field, he was a professor, dean of Studies (1982-1985) and dean of the Faculty of Law (1985-1992); chancellor of the Metropolitan Campus (1992-1999) and president of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (1999-2022).
During his 40-year career at the Interamerican University and during his tenure as president, he managed to increase the academic offering to more than 200 programs, including associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorates, such as the doctorate in Theological Studies, Business and Management Development, and Psychology.
Of these programs, he managed to create more than 70 online offers. He also started eight technical careers programs in which certificates are offered, and today Intertec offers more than 30 programs.
As president of the Institution, Fernós established the Vice Presidency of Religious Affairs. In addition, the institution achieved an expansion of more than 50 million dollars in construction projects, including a building for the School of Optometry at the Bayamón Campus, a building for the Center for Computer Science and Telecommunications at the San Germán Campus, a Student Center at the Barranquitas Campus, the construction of dormitories at the Bayamón Campus, as well as expansion of facilities at the Aguadilla, Arecibo, Fajardo, Guayama and Ponce campuses, and at the Faculty of Law and student residences at the Metro Campus.
On the other hand, he achieved the review of the consortia of exchange and international cooperation programs, including agreements with the University of Oxford in England, the Beijing School of Communications in China, with universities in Spain, Chile, the Dominican Republic, the consortia with the Latin American Network of University Cooperation, UNIVERSIA and HETS, among other agreements. With these initiatives, he promoted the internationalization of university education, using distance education and the exchange of teachers, students and educational resources. In addition, he continued the development of Educational Centers abroad, such as those established in the city of Orlando, Florida, and Panama, and more recently as manager of the Inter Philadelphia Educational Center.
Despite his long list of achievements, Interamerican’s Board of Trustees removed Fernos from the position, which led to a legal battle.
The university community of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico expresses condolences to his wife, nephews, relatives, friends and prays that the peace and comfort of the Almighty be with them all. President Ramírez Rivera indicated that as a sign of mourning for the death of Fernós, the flags at the University will fly at half-mast for seven days, the school said.
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