Antillean Adventist University
James and Ellen White
An Overview of Antillean Adventist University
Antillean Adventist University (AAU), known in Spanish as Universidad Adventista de las Antillas (UAA), is a private, Seventh-day Adventist institution situated in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It is part of the global Seventh-day Adventist education system, which is the second-largest Christian school system in the world. AAU emerged from the merging of Puerto Rico Academy, established in 1946 and renamed Colegio Adventista Puertorriqueño in 1957, and Antillian College, which relocated to Puerto Rico due to the Cuban Revolution. In 1989, AAU’s higher education program received accreditation from the Council of Higher Education of Puerto Rico.
Campus and Affiliation
The university is sponsored by and affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its campus spans 284 acres of mountainous terrain with a scenic view of the Atlantic Ocean. AAU offers a range of undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, as well as graduate studies in arts.
Historical Background
Early Roots in Cuba
Antillean Adventist University traces its origins to early 20th-century Cuba. After an initial, short-lived educational effort in 1911, the institution was formally established in 1923. In 1939, the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists relocated the campus to Santa Clara from Bartle in Oriente Province, upgrading it to a junior college. At the time, it was the only institution within the Antillian Union of Seventh-day Adventists offering courses in Spanish beyond primary education. The Antillian Union included regions such as the Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Jamaica.
The Battle of Santa Clara
During the Cuban Revolution, the Battle of Santa Clara in December 1958 took place near Antillian College. Walter J. Brown, the college president at the time, provided an eyewitness account of the events. As the battle intensified, the college community sought refuge and prayed for peace. Remarkably, despite the proximity of the conflict, there were no injuries among the college members.
Relocation to Puerto Rico
On New Year’s Day, 1959, it appeared that Antillian College could continue its operations in Cuba under the new leadership. However, by December 1961, the Cuban government closed the institution, leading to its relocation to Puerto Rico. For the 1961-1962 academic year, Antillian College operated dual campuses in Cuba and Puerto Rico, but by March 1962, the Cuban campus was significantly restricted, while the Puerto Rican campus saw rapid growth as students transferred.
Modern Developments
Antillean Adventist University has grown significantly since its move to Puerto Rico. In a rebranding ceremony on November 17, 2021, the university celebrated 60 years of its founding and introduced its new official name: Antillean University. The institution continues to uphold its mission of providing quality education in line with the values of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.