The University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn was established on 1 September 1999, in accordance with the new Statute of Sejm signed by the President of the Republic of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, as well as the Minister of National Education, Mirosław Handke, in August of the same year. Its first rector became prof. dr. hab. Ryszard Górecki. The Faculty of Theology was prescribed with the agreement between Polish Episcopate and the government, in the presence of Cardinal Józef Glemp among others. In October the first academic year was inaugurated.