Abstract
By August 2015, the new Organic Statute of the National University (Costa Rica) came into force. These regulations were developed in the 4th University Congress, being one of the topics of discussion the "democratization" of the Institution. This article ponders over the fundaments of the academic polyarchy, focusing on the figure of the "academic citizen" and the changes that occurred in the relationship with the power and responsibility of managing the University. Showing how the application of the new provisions far from democratizing the University have led to a huge setback in the electoral participation of students and poor progress in the incorporation of interim workers as full political members of the academic community.
Key words: National University; polyarchy; unversity citizenship; elections; power