The University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Spanish: Universidad de Santo Tomás de Aquino) is, from an historical perspective, the first university founded in the Americas. It was established by the papal bull In Apostolatus Culmine, issued by Pope Paul III on October 28, 1538, at a time when royal approval through a “pase regio” was not yet required. It was later officially recognized by the Spanish Crown through a Royal Provision on February 23, 1558. Its main headquarters were located in the Church and Convent of the Dominicans.
The university has not operated continuously, as it suspended classes on several occasions due to wars that affected the island of Santo Domingo during the 19th century: it was closed during the Haitian occupation in 1801 and again in 1823.