University of Santiago, Chile

Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Universidad de Santiago de Chile seal
MottoLabor Lætitia Nostra (Latin)
Motto in English
Work is Our Joy
TypePublic
EstablishedJune 21, 1849; 175 years ago (June 21, 1849) (EAO)
April 9, 1947 (UTE)
March 21, 1981 (USACH)
FounderIgnacy Domeyko
RectorRodrigo Vidal Rojas
Academic staff
2762
Students21,520
Undergraduates20,546
Postgraduates974
Location, ,
CampusUrban (340,000 m2)
Majors55
MascotLion
Websitewww.usach.cl

The University of Santiago, Chile (Usach) (Spanish: Universidad de Santiago de Chile) is one of the oldest public universities in Chile. The institution was born as Escuela de Artes y Oficios (Spanish: School of Arts and Careers) in 1849 by Ignacy Domeyko, under the government of Manuel Bulnes. It became Universidad Técnica del Estado (Spanish: Technical University of the State) in 1947, with various campuses throughout the country. In 1981, as a consequence of a reform on higher education under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, it became what is now known as Universidad de Santiago de Chile, with all activities centered in a single 340,000 m2 campus in the capital Santiago.