Tomás Frías Autonomous University

Officially created by Supreme Decree of October 15, 1892, which in the first Article states. University Districts of Potosi and Oruro are erected. "Se erigen los distritos Universitarios de Potosí y Oruro"

It began operating from the Free Faculty of Law in 1876, subordinated to Cancelariato of Chuquisaca.[1]

On November 30, 1892, is issued a Regulatory decree by which provides that the departments of Potosí and Oruro are independent of cancelariatos of Chuquisaca and La Paz respectively, and while the law does not give more space to university councils, are restricted to their Faculties of Law.[2]

On February 3, 1893, the University Council of Potosi was installed, under the leadership of chancellor and president Dr. Nicanor Careaga.

Officially in October 1937, it recognizes the autonomy to the university district of Potosi, the first Autonomist Rector was Dr. Alberto Saavedra Nogales.[3]

Statue in honor of Dr. Tomás Frías Ametller located in the Tomás Frías Autonomous University

By Act of November 29, 1924 (enacted on December 2, 1924) by the President of the Republic of Bolivia Dr. Bautista Saavedra Mallea, Potosí University bears the name of eminent intellectual born in Potosí, Dr. Tomás Frías Ametller, recognizing their contribution to the organization of the Bolivian University.

Currently Tomás Frías Autonomous University is one of the 15 universities Recognized by CEUB (Executive Committee of Bolivian Universities), the maximum authority in the Bolivian University.[4]

It has twelve Faculties with 42 Schools.

Panoramic view of the Central Campus of the Universidad Autónoma Tomás Frías

The Central Campus of the Tomás Frías Autonomous University is located at "El Maestro" Avuenue - "Cívica" Avenue, is home for many of the Faculties, other Faculties and the School of Medicine have own buildings distributed in the central area of the Potosi city, currently is under construction a University Citadel that will work with different faculties.

The citadel will be a modern building complex comprising five blocks properly equipped. The perimeter on which is seated, reaches 80 thousand square meters, is currently running the facility for lithium carbonate production "Technikum", which is dependent of the Tomás Frías Autonomous University and Freiberg University of Mining and Technology.[5]

The university has the following colleges

• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Agricultural and Animal Sciences
• Faculty of Economics, Finance and Administration
• Faculty of Pure Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Geology
• Faculty of Mining Engineering
• Faculty of Technology
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine

• Technikum lithium carbonate production facility
• Bolivian Institute for High Altitude Biology
• Mining Environmental Research Center (CIMA project)

• Florencio Ruck Pozadas Cordero, Musician, percussionist and composer
• Carlos Medinaceli, Writer and literary critic

• The Official Website of Tomás Frías Autonomous University (Spanish)
• Tomás Frías Autonomous University Brochure (Spanish)
• Tomás Frías University School of Medicine (Spanish)
• Executive Committee of Bolivian Universities (Spanish)