Veracruz UPAV university embroiled in funding and payment dispute

The Universidad Popular Autónoma de Veracruz (UPAV) has been managed for years by private civil associations that received student fees and other revenues, a system critics say turned public resources into non‑auditable private accounts. The state congress transferred administrative and financial control of the university to the government in early 2026, ending the long‑standing model of private patronage.

The Veracruz State Education Secretariat (SEV) denied that there are widespread unpaid salaries for UPAV teachers, asserting that all 2025 payments were completed and that roughly 4,000 teachers received their 2026 installments. It said remaining cases stem from missing documentation or unsigned contracts. Nonetheless, UPAV adviser Alexis Beristain reported that teachers at more than 30 campuses still lack payment for the first and second quarters of 2026, forcing some classes to continue online while staff await funds.