In 1945, while he was deputy to the Assembly of Tolima for the period 1944 to 1946, Mr. Lucio Rengifo Huertas, introduced a draft ordinance through which the University of Tolima was created; This was approved by Order No. 05 of 21 May 1945 and went on to sanction of the Governor. University of Tolima was born with the signing of Decree No. 357 of 10 March 1955, which under the Ordinance No. 26 of December 16, 1954 was assigned departmental budget resources. This Decree created the posts of Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. The March 12, 1955 the University of Tolima, on grounds of the Agricultural School of San Jorge (Salesian) officially opened. Shortly after the School of Nursing was established by Decree No. 099 of January 31, 1956 and the School of Fine Arts, established by Decree No. 1236 of 18 October 1955 was annexed.