The university has its roots in the Major Seminary of Popayan, first-rate educational establishment in colonial times had wide impact where the newest ideas of philosophical, political and scientific Illustration in the 18th century on Enlightenment.

Along the 20th century, the University of Cauca was founded in permanent pole attracting students from various regions of the country, mainly in southwestern Colombia.

The Universidad del Cauca, as a public higher education institution faithful to democratic principles, has a management structure made up of authorities of legislative and executive branches.

By regulation should consist of: The teacher and the student elected to the Academic Council shall have a period of two and one year respectively, counted from the date of their choice, while preserving such qualities.

The administrative vice-rector of the Universidad del Cauca is the unit responsible for directing, coordinating and supporting the various activities that require human resource management, economic, technological and infrastructure for development and implementation to achieve the function of social institutions.

The University of Cauca, true to its commitment of providing critical, responsible and creative higher education to the community, offers 43 undergraduate programs through various colleges.

Works on the building in 1729 founded the Marquesa de San Miguel de la Vega, Ms. Denise Perez Manrique and Camberos and which, during its existence was based in the monastery of "Carmen" at the Institute of St. Therese Reformed, School Normal for Boys of the Marist Brothers, the Police Unit and Women's College Franciscan sisters who occupied it from 1952 until 1983, after the earthquake that hit the city, acquired the Universidad del Cauca, where the Library placed Socio-Humanistic all collections of Anthropology, Philosophy, Arts, Music, Literature, History, Geography, Economics, Politics and Administration and Accounting.

Located on the first floor of the Faculty of Health Sciences, serves undergraduate programs in Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Speech and respective postgraduates.

It has 624 square meters in its capacity to accommodate 128 users, and features books, journals, theses, reference databases on CD ROM, microfiche and slides.

Both the CDU management as the coordination of programs, plans, projects and actions related to this area are in charge of the Division of Sport and Recreation, an agency attached to the Vice Presidency Cultural and Welfare Unicauca.

The body responsible for complying with this university decentralization policy is the regionalization of the Center for Open and Distance Education (CREAD), whose headquarters are located in the building of the School of Accounting, Economics and Management.

Through this centre, Unicauca currently provides Agribusiness Technology Program in the municipalities of Santander de Quilichao, Guapi, Miranda, Bolivar and Piendamó (Tuni).

This same program and in Telematics Technology are also offered through the CREAD in Popayan, but are aimed specifically at rural high school of the municipality and the Cauca.

These programs address cultural, academic, research, scientific, news, etc., which are of interest to the university community and citizenship in general.

Univerciudad magazine is a documentary produced by the Communications Division Unicauca from fresh and lively perspective of the university bodies, especially young students.

Unicauca Stereo (HJC20 104.1 FM) is a means of radio communication at the University of Cauca, governed by the constitutional and legal principles of the Republic of Colombia.

The administration, coordination of activities and implementation of content presented at the station in charge of the Division of Communications, an agency attached to the Vice Presidency Cultural and Welfare Unicauca.

These print media account for the academic, research and outreach performed in the university, and many include specialized content about the various areas of knowledge.