Catholic University of Salta

Catholic University of Salta Overview

The Universidad Católica de Salta (UCASAL) stands as a prominent private Argentine university, founded on Catholic principles, operating as a nonprofit institution, and granted autonomy under the prevailing legislation of the Argentine university system.

With a legacy spanning over half a century, UCASAL upholds the spirit that gave birth to its establishment, echoing the words of Pope John Paul II, who described the university's fundamental mission as "the constant pursuit of truth through research, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge for the betterment of society."

Nestled within the province of Salta in northern Argentina, the university enjoys a strategically privileged location, bordered by five Argentine provinces and neighboring countries like Bolivia, Paraguay, and Chile. This strategic positioning continually ushers in new challenges, fostering ties with MERCOSUR, Latin America, and the world at large. The spirit of federalism and integration is vividly reflected in the university's presence throughout Argentina, facilitated by its Distance Education System, enabling students from even the most remote areas of the country to pursue their higher education aspirations.

UCASAL is an integral part of the university system, offering a diverse academic spectrum of 80 university programs spanning undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels.

Institutional Overview: Historical Background: The University Católica de Salta's roots trace back to the historic aspiration of breaking the state monopoly on university education, an endeavor primarily championed by the Catholic Church, an institution that had founded the country's earliest universities, later expropriated. A clear precursor in this regard is José Manuel Estrada.

Around the mid-20th century, due to the decision of the Christian Democratic Minister of Education, Atilio Dell'Oro Maini, legislation supporting private education was enacted through Decree-Law 6403 on December 22, 1955. This decree paved the way for the establishment of private universities with the authority to confer degrees, thereby cementing university autonomy. Consequently, on June 8, 1956, the University Católica de Córdoba was established, among other private higher education institutions.

However, during the presidency of Arturo Frondizi in 1958, a secular movement gained momentum with the passage of two significant laws: the approval of the Teacher Statute and the law permitting private universities to grant professional degrees. The latter, in particular, triggered a student protest known as "Laica o libre" (Secular or free). Eventually, a coalition of Frondist radicals, Christian Democrats, Catholic nationalists, and allies led by President Frondizi successfully advocated for this reform, resulting in the legal recognition of new universities.

When the Law 14557 was passed in 1958, enabling the creation and operation of private universities, Dr. Robustiano Patrón Costas crystallized the vision of then Archbishop of Salta, Monsignor Roberto José Tavella. With the enthusiasm characteristic of the late prelate, the idea of founding the University Católica de Salta was realized.

Dr. Patrón Costas allocated the benefits of provincial tax exemption emerging from Law 3643/61 to partially finance this ambitious project. He pledged the donation of 100 million pesos, disbursed in twenty annual installments from 1961 onward. Simultaneously, Monsignor Tavella engaged in securing the approval of the Holy See and meeting other legal requirements for the university's functioning.

The initial contacts with the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), paving the way for the establishment of a private university, were made with Father Jean Sonet S.J. during his visit to Salta. Subsequently, Father Cándido Gaviña, S.J., provincial of the Society of Jesus in Argentina, arrived in the city. He explicitly held discussions with Archbishop Tavella and the Administrator of Ingenio Tabacal, Engineer Eduardo Patrón Costas. These meetings laid the foundation for the university's establishment, with its administration entrusted to the Jesuit fathers.

The efforts toward gaining approval from the Holy See bore fruit on October 27, 1962, when Father Juan B. Janssens, the superior general of the Society of Jesus, authorized Jesuit fathers, including Father Juan Schak and José Lally, from the University Católica de Wisconsin (USA), to lend support to the Jesuit province of Argentina for the ongoing initiative. To facilitate this, Fathers Gabiña, Burns, and others traveled to Salta to conduct a final environmental assessment before the conclusive proceedings.

On February 20, 1963, President José María Guido, Federal Interventor of Salta Félix Remy Solá, and his Minister of Government, Holver Martínez Borelli, journeyed to Salta to formally request the establishment of the Catholic University of Salta. The application was made in a special audience.

From February 22 to the early days of March 1963, Archbishop Tavella traveled to Rome to expedite the procedures for the Catholic University's favor. On March 9, he called a press conference to announce the university's opening.

Archbishop Tavella decreed the creation of the University Católica de Salta on March 19, 1963. His concluding message resonated, stating, "Therefore, it is in the hands of the people of Salta to support this endeavor in all its aspects, for its benefits will reverberate over the entirety of Salta, which will once again, as in glorious times, become the intellectual capital of the north." His pastoral career concluded, as shortly thereafter, he passed away on May 21 of the same year at the age of 70.

The new Archbishop, Monsignor Carlos Mariano Pérez Eslava, continued the initiatives set in motion by his predecessor. Ingenio Tabacal, through its administrator, increased the donations to a sum of one hundred and fifty million pesos. Thus, the Cultural Center of Northwestern Argentina was established, endowed with legal personality.