Tecnológico de Monterrey campus Saltillo began its activities in August 1974, in a rented mansion located next to the Casino de Saltillo, which is now the casino's parking lot.
From its inception, the university in Saltillo has been sponsored by a group of entrepreneurs who formed a civil association called Educación Superior de Coahuila, A.C. (ESCAC). The first facilities consisted of three classrooms, a consultation and study room, three cubicles, and administrative offices. The student population of what was then called Unidad Saltillo was 96 students, and the director was Ing. Hevelio Villegas Aguilar.
Construction of a dedicated building began and was inaugurated in July 1975. The new facilities included five classrooms, five cubicles, a library, a laboratory, administrative offices, and a cafeteria. That year, Ing. Joaquín Tena Figueroa became the director and, over his 11-year tenure, fostered a strong sense of identification among students with their Unidad Saltillo, as well as excellent unity and harmony among teachers.
During this period, the image of Tecnológico de Monterrey Unidad Saltillo was consolidated within the community. One of the objectives was to demonstrate that the programs offered were on par in quality with those of the broader Tec system. This era saw growth in the student population, the opening of complete degree programs such as Public Accountant and Business Administration, foundational courses in Human Resources, Marketing, and Economics, and the construction of two audiovisual rooms.
In August 1986, the three-year high school program was initiated, following academic modification agreements made every five years within the system.
In 1986, Ing. Víctor Manuel Padilla Pereda, a man of great humanity and dynamism, sought financial resources to continue the development of Unidad Saltillo. He focused on consolidating the professional careers offered and ensuring the community saw Unidad Saltillo as the best option for continuing professional studies without needing to leave the city. Considering the business needs of the region, he initiated the common core for Engineering programs, which still exists today.
That same year, the units of the Tec system changed their designation to campuses, transforming Tecnológico de Monterrey into a "multicampus" system. In 1987, the complete Industrial and Systems Engineering programs were launched.
In 1988, Lic. Salvador Garza Boardman drove the physical growth of the campus, constructing a second building to meet the needs of the student population. In October 1991, he inaugurated the Student Affairs building, in September 1992 the Library and Competitiveness Center building, and in August 1997 the six-story Classrooms III building, which houses the classrooms and laboratories for professional programs. Lic. Salvador also promoted the professional development of the faculty by requiring them to attend training courses during the summer and winter and to pursue master's level education, either via satellite or full-time. His dynamism led to the creation of an Extension Department to offer services to companies through diploma courses, English courses, and a Master's in Administration, which had previously only been available at the Monterrey campus.
Engineer Alfonso Pompa Padilla, who took over as director in 1990, stood out as a great promoter of projects that favored both the educational and physical infrastructure of the campus, facilitating the achievement of one of our main goals: comprehensive education.
Later, in 2001, C.P. Leonel Ibarra Navarro, seeking to continue the campus's master plan, completed the construction of Aulas III and relocated the Preparatory offices to the Aulas IV building, while the old facilities were adapted to become offices, training rooms, and classrooms for the Cultural Diffusion department. During his tenure, the Auditorium, with a capacity for more than 1,500 people, and the Information and Technology Center were inaugurated in 2002. Ibarra stood out for his human quality, conciliatory nature, and charisma, and his constant concern to provide quality service to students, which earned him recognition as one of the best-rated directors and kept the campus at the forefront of the System during his administration.
Ing. Juan Manuel Ruiz Acosta, who later served as Director, focused his efforts on the infrastructural development of the campus. During his administration, the buildings of Aulas IV, the Auditorium, the Maintenance Workshop and Facilities for the Physical Plant staff, and the Information and Technology Center were built. The fourth and fifth floors of Aulas III were also completed and equipped, and new land was acquired. Additionally, in 2005, the soccer and American football field was inaugurated, and the integration of the Administrative Services Center was scheduled, concluding the project in February 2008. In 2009, the cafeteria terrace was built, and in 2010, the cardio gym equipped with ellipticals, treadmills, and spinning bikes was constructed. As for the parking project, parking spaces were expanded to accommodate an additional 216 spaces for students and teachers.
In 2013, Lic. Angelberto Guardado Astorga joined the campus as Director General, and during his tenure, he achieved the updating, modernization, and remodeling of the facilities, including the modernization of spaces, furniture, air conditioning, and the incorporation of voice and data in all classrooms. Spaces were created, areas were remodeled, and furniture was updated in Engineering and Business Laboratories, the Information and Technology Center, Learning Commons, Student Affairs, and the Gym, as well as the Academic and Vision Support Directorate.
In 2018, Dr. Gilberto Tomas Armienta Trejo joined as Director General, and he promoted the campus's linkage with the automotive industry in the southeastern region of the state, giving Campus Saltillo a focus on automotive engineering.
Finally, Engineer Adrián Fernando González Zambrano took over the institution's leadership in April 2022, with the aim of promoting memorable experiences for the student community and for staff and teachers.
The dedication and commitment of each of the directors who have passed through our institution have laid the foundation for what Campus Saltillo is today: The adaptation stage, the consolidation of professional careers, infrastructure development, and financial campaigns have allowed growth to continue. In addition, the strength, enthusiasm, entrepreneurial capacity, and good financial management of the people who are or have left a mark over the years have been part of what our campus is today.
