The Higher Education Inspection and Surveillance Law -Law 1740 of 2014- was approved in a context of discussion regarding the reform to higher education in Colombia. Particularly, the act aimed at solving a problem that arose with the San Martin Foundation, a higher education institution from the private sector. The meaning and scope of the act has given rise to mixed reactions among academics, who argue that it undermines the autonomy of universities. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the implications of the Inspection and Surveillance Law regarding the autonomy of public and private universities in Colombia, with the understanding that autonomy is a necessary condition for universities to carry out their teaching, research and extension mission without any interference. To achieve this purpose, the first section of this paper presents some historical and conceptual elements of university autonomy; then, the authors analyze the impact of this act on university autonomy and, finally, the relationship of said act with the National Development Plan 2014-2018, All for a New Country.