UAEMéx student protests over faculty reinstatement

In early August 2026, the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx) reinstated former rector Carlos Eduardo Barrera Díaz as a full‑time professor in the Faculty of Chemistry. Students reacted strongly, recalling past corruption allegations and a six‑month strike during his tenure. The controversy was amplified by the university’s decision to withdraw a 12 % tuition discount for re‑enrollment, which student groups denounced as a rollback of free education.

Two days later, students occupied the Faculty of Economics building, threatening to continue the strike unless their demands were met. After a dialogue table was convened between student representatives, faculty, and central administration, the occupation ended and classes resumed. The university announced investigations into alleged fraudulent certifications that had cost students large sums, imposed administrative sanctions, and pledged continued cooperation with judicial authorities.

The sequence shows a rapid escalation from protest over a faculty appointment and tuition policy to a broader confrontation involving accusations of fraud, followed by a negotiated resolution that restored academic activities while promising accountability measures.