UPR opens bid process for study to determine viability of 11-campus structure

Institutional Transformation Action No. 22 cites demographic decline, enrollment pressures, rising operating costs and administrative duplication as major challenges to the University of Puerto Rico’s viability under its existing structure.

By THE STAR STAFF

The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) has approved the start of a search for an outside firm to evaluate whether its 11‑campus system can remain viable amid declining enrollment, demographic contraction and persistent fiscal strain.

Through a request for proposals (RFP) issued under Certification 115 (2025‑2026), the UPR Governing Board is seeking an independent consultant to conduct a comprehensive sustainability and structural‑alternatives study that could reshape the future of Puerto Rico’s public university system.

The RFP, designated JG 2027‑01, calls for firms with expertise in organizational transformation, financial analysis, governance and higher‑education restructuring. The selected contractor will assess the long‑term viability of each campus, identify inefficiencies and evaluate potential reorganization models -- including campus specialization or grouping campuses into multi‑campus university centers. The study is part of Institutional Transformation Action No. 22, which directs the governing board to examine whether the current structure still serves the institution’s mission and Puerto Rico’s needs.

The document cites demographic decline, enrollment pressures, rising operating costs and administrative duplication as major challenges. “Evaluating the sustainability of the University System, which comprises 11 campuses, and analyzing possible structural alternatives for the future,” is the mandate outlined in Action No. 22.

The move comes after years of public debate over whether UPR should consolidate campuses to stabilize its finances. Several government officials have publicly argued that the system’s size is no longer sustainable.

Former Financial Oversight and Management Board officials have repeatedly said UPR must “right‑size” its operations, with past fiscal plans noting that maintaining 11 campuses “is not financially viable under current demographic trends.” Then-oversight board executive director Natalie Jaresko stated in 2021 that Puerto Rico’s shrinking population and enrollment declines required UPR to “evaluate consolidation options to ensure long‑term sustainability.”

The governing board has not endorsed any specific restructuring model. The RFP emphasizes independence and objectivity, stating that the study “shall be conducted independently and without predetermined outcomes.” The contractor will be required to produce evidence‑based findings, scenario projections and comparative analyses of all viable alternatives. Any implementation decisions will remain solely with the governing board.

The engagement will unfold over 180 days following contract signing, with a detailed work plan due within 15 days. The study will be overseen by the governing board’s Special Committee on Academic and Administrative Restructuring and University Reform and will include structured interviews, surveys and focus groups across the university community.

As Puerto Rico continues to confront demographic decline and fiscal pressures, the results of the study are expected to play a central role in determining how the island’s flagship public university system adapts -- and whether its 11‑campus footprint can be sustained in the years ahead.