Colegial de Número

This is the greatest distinction to which a Rosarista can aspire. The Colegiatura is comprised of fifteen active students with excellent academic merits, high moral qualities, superior conduct and, above all, a broad sense of belonging to the Colegiatura of Colegiales de Numero. As they are known as active undergraduate students, they represent the fundamental role that students have in the government of Rosario and keep the will of the Founder alive.

Historical Antecedents

This institution, which is one of the pillars of the University Government, was conceived of by Friar Cristobal de Torres in 1653, the foundation year of the College, and has its origins in medieval times, emulating the salamantine educational model. The University since its foundation was given to the students, being a revolutionary concept for its time and that has remained valid throughout the more than three centuries of its history.

The Chairs of the Colegiales

On December 18, 1653, Friar Cristobal de Torres, Archbishop of Santa Fe, inaugurated the Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, to which he contributed his personal patrimony. He made public the names of the first Colegiatura "we chose everything for the first time clarified in nobility that there is in this city, and in this kingdom, after long attentions, which come to be the following: Cristobal Venegas de Torres y Trebo, Jeronimo de Berrio and Mendoza de Berrio, Fernando de Mendoza y Espeleta, Cristobal de Figueroa Orozco y Palencia, Juan Montoya y Guerrero, Francisco de Mosquera y Nuguerol y Sotelo, Jose de Vargas y Alarcon, Enrique de Guzman Saavedra y Solanilla, Alonso de Mesa y Villoria, Juan de Mosquera Nuguerol y Sotelo, Enrique de Caldas Barbosa y Santiago, Nicolas de Guzman Saavedra y Solanilla, Cristobal de Torres Bravo, Juan de Chinchilla y Canizares and Juan Salgado de Castro y Velasquez ".

These are then the names of the fifteen initial students who would attend the Colegio Mayor, after studies in Arts or Philosophy, Jurisprudence, Medicine or Theology.

Continuing this tradition, each one of these students, called the Colegiales of the First Foundation, gives name to the chairs assigned to the Colegiales de Numero.

While all undergraduate students can aspire to be Colegiales, the Constitutions determine that to be a Colegial the aspirant must:
 

• Combine high moral and behavioral qualities.
• Have completed regular studies for at least two years at Universidad del Rosario.
• Show academic performance being in the top third of their course.

After a rigorous selection process on the part of the academic councils of the different faculties and schools, the Colegiales necessary to complete the fifteen vacancies required by the university government are chosen jointly by the University President and the Consiliatura.

The institution of the Colegiatura has a transcendental value in the university life of the Rosaritas, since it is the students who govern the University, with fresh and innovative ideas and new challenges to be achieved.

When elected as a Colegial de Numero, students receive a distinction that will accompany them for the rest of their lives. Once they finish their undergraduate studies, they stop being Colegiales de Numero and become simply Colegiales, since this recognition is for life. Additionally, Colegiales de Numero enjoy a full scholarship during the remainder of their academic program, and have additional benefits such as exemption from the payment of graduation rights and the possibility of holding a private degree ceremony in the Aula Maxima of the University Claustro campus.

It is important to emphasize that the primary responsibility of these young students of Universidad del Rosario is the election of the University President, the Consiliatura and the board of directors of the University. The fifteen Colegiales de Numero together with the five Consiliarios conform the Electoral College of the University President, and in turn, the fifteen Colegiales de Numero and the University President make up the Electoral College of the Consiliarios.

Among other functions, the duties of the Colegiales de Numero are:

• Conserve those qualities and virtues for which they were chosen.
• Maintain excellence and academic responsibility.
• Fulfill the oaths made on the day of their consecration as Collegiate.
• Participate in the Academic Councils of each faculty.
• Develop projects for the benefit of students and institutional strengthening.
• Consolidate the Rosarista community.
• Strengthen economic support and incentive policies.
• Strengthen debates and actions to build a better University and country.