About the Press
The Beginning
At the Universidad Popular de Colima, from its early years, publications were seen as an effective means of bringing the knowledge generated within the institution to society. This mission was outlined in the draft Statute prepared by the General Directorate of Education in 1940. That proposal included twelve schools and six departments, one of which was the Department of Editions and Publications.
In more recent times, the General Directorate of Publications traces its origins to Agreement No. 12 of 1987, when it was established as the Sub-directorate of Editorial Production, initially under the Coordination of Social Communication, later known as the General Coordination of University Extension. The General Directorate of Publications has existed in its current form since the 1980s. Its present organizational structure is based on Agreement No. 18 of 2018, which for the first time identified and detailed its areas of activity as distinct programs: Advertising, Graphic Design, Publishing, and Book and Reading Promotion.
Professionalization of Editorial Work
Among the achievements of the team at the General Directorate of Publications is the establishment of the Editorial Council of the University of Colima and its corresponding regulations in 2001, which have significantly improved the quality of published content. Thanks to our participation in the Altexto network of the Central West region of ANUIES, of which we are founding members, there is now better promotion of books published by our institution.
We especially highlight our coordination of the Altexto Regional Network from 2001 to 2004, as well as the University of Colima’s participation, through this Directorate, in the Editorial Council of LUR (Libro Universitario Regional), the editorial program of EULAC, the Association of University Presses of Latin America and the Caribbean. This involvement opened the door for our books to reach audiences in other countries.
Finally, the design and development of the university publishing system PRED, the Style Manual (editorial standards), and the classification of titles into collections are all fundamental to maintaining high-quality standards and ensuring the proper editorial process for university publications.
Advertising Support
The General Directorate of Publications has supported all university departments through its advertising and institutional stationery division, providing formats for organizational units as well as letterhead sheets, envelopes, business cards, and other materials. In terms of promotional work, the Directorate has produced posters, promotional brochures, hand programs, press originals, tickets, flyers, billboards, banners, and countless other printed materials that support the promotion of academic, social, and sports events, as well as institutional campaigns.
Certified Quality and a Vision for the Future
Currently, the General Directorate of Publications is committed to continuous improvement, having certified its processes under ISO standards. It operates with defined objectives and a mission and vision aligned with the institutional mission and vision of the University. It also works to increase the visibility of the University of Colima’s editorial work, especially in promoting books and reading. More and more titles are being added to its online publications platform, and it is developing a dedicated site with recommended readings for high school students.
Additionally, the Directorate organizes the University Book Fair each year, joining efforts with other university departments.
Based on the extensive experience accumulated over the years, we can affirm that the General Directorate of Publications carries out editorial, advertising, institutional graphic design, and reading promotion tasks with a strong service vocation and quality standards that enable us to offer better products.
