Patricia Dávila was removed from her position as secretary general of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) on Aug. 1 [1].

The firing follows the discovery of significant irregularities in the university's online admission-exam process. Because UNAM is one of the most prestigious institutions in Latin America, the integrity of its entry process is critical for maintaining public trust and academic standards.

University officials identified failures in how the online exams were administered. These irregularities led to a statistical anomaly in student performance that raised red flags for administrators [1].

Data regarding the exam results showed a sharp increase in top-tier scores. The percentage of applicants who provided 100 or more correct answers rose from 3.5% to 16.3% in a single year [2].

This spike in high scores suggested that the online format may have been compromised or improperly managed. The university moved to fire Dávila to address the administrative failures associated with the testing cycle [1].

UNAM is now reviewing its digital infrastructure to prevent future breaches. The institution has not yet named a permanent replacement for the secretary general position.

“Patricia Dávila was removed from her position as secretary general”

The removal of a high-ranking official over testing irregularities highlights the vulnerability of digital transition in academic institutions. A nearly five-fold increase in perfect or near-perfect scores suggests a systemic failure in proctoring or security, potentially undermining the meritocratic basis of the university's admissions.