Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PCUPR) is a private, tax-exempt educational institution located in Ponce, Puerto Rico, that serves as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and minority-owned business. The university provides specialized academic and research services to the federal government through federal grant awards, focusing on educational advancement, workforce development, and scientific innovation. As a private university with a commitment to serving underrepresented populations, PCUPR leverages federal funding to develop comprehensive programs that address both academic needs and specialized professional training in critical fields.

PCUPR has demonstrated substantial federal grant activity across multiple agencies and program areas. The institution currently manages several active grants from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which awarded $238,921 for a Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program (October 2025 – September 2026) designed to prepare professionals in vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities. The National Science Foundation's Division of Human Resource Development has funded two significant STEM education initiatives: a $200,000 grant for developing six virtual reality physics experiments and hands-on modern physics labs (September 2024 – August 2026), and the "Race for Success in STEM" project addressing foundational academic skills and retention among first-year Hispanic STEM students (completed July 2024). The Office of Postsecondary Education has supported two concurrent programs—the PCUPR UB Site and Upward Bound Program (both September 2022 – August 2026)—along with the "Pioneros" initiative promoting inclusive opportunities in research-oriented sciences (October 2024 – September 2026). Additionally, PCUPR received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the Encarnación Valdés Library Collection Restoration (April 2024 – March 2025) and entered a cooperative agreement with the DOI Fish and Wildlife Service for developing propagation protocols for an endangered orchid species (October 2021 – September 2026). The institution has also received multiple sub-grant awards primarily from Puerto Rico's Governor's Authorized Representative and other local agencies, including funding for disaster recovery and emergency protective measures following natural disasters, domestic violence prevention services, and COVID-19 response initiatives, demonstrating PCUPR's role as a community resource during emergency situations.