The University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Santo Domingo was founded during the reign of the Spanish King Charles V. This was the first (in unofficial status) institution of higher education in the Western Hemisphere.
| University of St. Thomas Aquinas | |
|---|---|
| Universidad Santo Tomás de aquino | |
| Year of foundation | 1538 , 1558 |
| Closing year | 1823 |
| Location | Santo Domingo |
| Site | |
The seminary was established here in 1518. It was originally run by the Catholic monks of the Dominican Order , the institution was reorganized into a university by the papal bull (In Apostulatus Culmine, published on October 28, 1538 by Pope Paul III ); however, it was not officially recognized by royal decree until 1558.
In terms of structure and purpose, the new university was made following the example of the university, which is currently closed, in the city of Alcalá de Henares (Spain). In this capacity, he became the standard-bearer for the medieval ideology of the Spanish conquest of America , and therefore received royal recognition in 1558. In a royal decree, the university was named after St. Thomas Aquinas .
The university ceased to exist in 1823, with the entry of Haitian troops into the country.