Florida Atlantic University

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Florida Atlantic University
Motto	Where Tomorrow Begins[1]
Established	1961
Type	Public
Endowment	$168 million[1]
President	Frank T. Brogan
Faculty	1,013
Undergraduates	22,554[2]
Postgraduates	3,440[2]
Location	Boca Raton, FL, USA
Campus	Urban area 850 acres(3.5 km²) 6 other satellite campuses[3]
Colors	Blue, red & silver[4]
Nickname	Owls
Mascot	Burrowing Owl
Affiliations	NASULGC, SACS, AACSB
Website	www.fau.edu

Florida Atlantic University, also commonly referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a coeducational state university located in Boca Raton, Florida. The university has six additional satellite campuses in Florida; located in the cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and Fort Pierce, at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. FAU's seven campuses span 150 miles of Florida's eastern coastline, and serve a seven-county region which has a populace of more than five million people.^[5]

The university opened its doors in 1964, becoming the fifth public university in Florida, and the first university in the nation to offer only upper-division and graduate level courses. Florida Atlantic was established by the Florida Legislature in order to serve the educational needs of the southeastern section of the state. While initial enrollment was 867 students, this number would increase dramatically in 1984 when the university admitted its first undergraduate students.^[6] By 2007, enrollment has grown to more than 26,000 students representing 144 countries, 48 states and the District of Columbia.^[2] Since its inception, FAU has awarded more than 100,000 degrees to 95,000 alumni worldwide.

While historically considered a commuter school,^[7] in recent years FAU has undertaken an effort to increase its academic and research standings while evolving into a more traditional university. Under the direction of former President Anthony J. Catanese, and current President Frank T. Brogan, the university has raised admissions standards, increased research funding, and established notable partnerships with major research institutions.^[8][2][9] These efforts have resulted in not only an increase in the university's academic profile, but also the elevation of the football team to Division I competition status, plans for a on-campus football stadium in 2010, and a partnership with Boca Raton Community Hospital and the University of Miami that built a medical school at the main campus in Boca Raton.^[10]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Beginnings 1.2 University presidents 2 Regional Campuses 3 Academics 3.1 Colleges 3.2 University Programs 3.2.1 Research 3.2.2 School of Medicine 4 FAU record label 5 Notable Professors at FAU 6 Campus Life 6.1 Traditions 6.2 Greek Life 6.3 Clubs/Organizations 6.4 Notable Student Activism 6.5 Housing 6.5.1 Living Learning Communities (LLC) 6.6 On-campus dining 7 Recognition 8 Notable alumni and faculty 9 Athletics 10 FAU Alma Mater 11 Miscellaneous 12 Notes and references 13 External links 13.1 Research Program links 13.2 Medical Program links

[edit] History

Main article: History of Florida Atlantic University

[edit] Beginnings

On July 15, 1961, the Florida Legislature passed an act authorizing the establishment of a new university in southeastern Florida. A 1940s-era Army airbase in Boca Raton, Florida was selected as the site of the new university. In 1962, the Florida Board of Control selected "Florida Atlantic University" as the name of the new institution. Ground was broken on December 8, 1962. FAU opened on September 14, 1964, six days behind schedule because of Hurricane Cleo. The first university in the nation to offer only upper-division and graduate work, FAU had an initial student body of 867. U.S. President Lyndon Johnson dedicated the university on October 25, 1964, and received the first honorary doctorate awarded by Florida Atlantic.

In 1969, the Board of Regents (successor to the Board of Control) approved an intercollegiate athletics program at FAU. The university teams become known as the Owls. FAU expanded to Broward County, Florida in 1971, with the founding of the Commercial Boulevard campus in Fort Lauderdale. During that same year the university was also named a burrowing owl sanctuary. By 1973, fall semester enrollment was 5,632. By the fall semester of 1983, enrollment would reach 9,388. For the first time in 1984, due to a rapidly growing population, Florida Atlantic opened its doors to freshmen and sophomores. In 1985, the Downtown Fort Lauderdale campus opened on Las Olas Boulevard.

In 1989, the Florida Legislature designated Florida Atlantic as the lead state university serving Broward County. The university also reached $10 million in sponsored research activity for the first time. Fall semester enrollment was 13,148. In 1993, FAU was elected to the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, the nation’s oldest higher education professional association. The university's intercollegiate teams also joined the Atlantic Sun Conference and moved to NCAA Division I. In 1995, Florida Atlantic purchased Barry University’s Port St. Lucie facility to establish a campus on the Treasure Coast, in partnership with Indian River Community College. By 1997, sponsored research funding exceeded $24 million.

In 1999, Howard Schnellenberger, a legendary figure in college football, was named Florida Atlantic’s first head football coach. The Barry and Florence Friedberg Lifelong Learning Center opened on the Boca Raton campus. The Jupiter campus also opened and was formally named for the late John D. MacArthur. Sponsored research funding exceeded $36 million. By 2003, fall semester enrollment was 24,961. FAU also has maintained the most diverse student body in the State University System, with minority enrollment of 34.6 percent.

In 2003, the State of Florida awarded FAU $10 million to establish the Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology, a research facility that searches the waters off Florida's coastline for drugs from natural sources that could be used to treat cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses. The Lady Owls softball team won the Atlantic Sun Conference championship for the seventh time and was listed among the all-time greatest teams in college softball history by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. In 2004, FAU admitted its first students to the University of Miami/Florida Atlantic University medical school partnership.

In 2006, FAU enrollment dropped 1.3% which could result in losses of up $2 million in expected student tuition and fees. This pattern mirrors other school districts in the area such as Broward County Public Schools which lost 10,000 students over the past two years and Palm Beach County schools which lost just over 3,000. Officials believe the high housing prices and previous years hurricanes are a factor. [2]

[edit] University presidents

• Dr. Kenneth Rast Williams 1962-1973
• Dr. Glenwood Creech 1973-1983
• Dr. Helen Popovich 1983-1989
• Dr. Anthony J. Catanese 1990-2002
• Frank T. Brogan 2003-current

Frank T. Brogran became FAU's president in 2003. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati and holds a master's degree from Florida Atlantic University. Brogan served as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Florida, under Governor Jeb Bush from 1998-2003.

[edit] Regional Campuses

In addition to the original campus in Boca Raton, FAU also has six other campuses to service the South Florida region. These campuses are located in the cities of:

• Dania Beach
• Davie
• Fort Lauderdale
• Jupiter
• Port St. Lucie
• Vero Beach, at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution

The Boca Raton campus remains the main campus with 69% of FAU's students enrolled there.[3] The Boca Raton campus and the Jupiter campus are residential campuses, whereas the other campuses are strictly commuter due to the fact that they have no student housing. At the present time, four student dormitories are present on the main Boca campus: Indian River Towers, Heritage Park Towers, Algonquin Hall, and the Village Apartments. A fifth facility, patterned after Heritage Park Towers, will be home to 600 more students in Fall 2007. There is additional housing located at the Jupiter campus for the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College.

[edit] Academics

In Fall 2006, FAU admitted only 59% of overall applicants and 54% of FTIC (first time in college) applicants. Graduate admissions was 54%.[4]

Average lecture class size for undergraduates is 32 people, with 11 people as the average lecture class size for graduate students. Student to Faculty ratio is 19:1 (25657:1020). The top three undergraduate majors by enrollment are Elementary Education, Management, and Accounting, respectively. The top three graduate majors by enrollment are Business Administration, Nursing, and Educational Leadership. The average age for first time in college students is 18, however, the average age for all undergraduates is 25. The average age for graduates is 34.[5]

In 1998, more than one-quarter of Florida Atlantic freshmen were "alternative admissions" admitted to ensure diversity in the student body and thus did not meet the state of Florida's minimum admission standards.[6] In 2004, FAU's Board of Trustees raised admission standards for incoming Freshmen. [7] The Board stated a goal for a 3.2 GPA and a 500 score on each section of the SAT for admittance in 2007. Students with lower grades and scores would be required to take remedial courses at a community college before entering FAU. As a result of the increased admissions standards, by 2006, the average freshman entering Florida Atlantic had a 3.3 high school GPA, and scored 1052 on the SAT and a 22 on the ACT.[8]

FAU has two Honors programs. The Boca Raton campus has an Honors Program called the University Scholars Program. It offers special Honors Seminars, Honors Forums, Honors sections of Freshman courses and the option of advanced course substitutions in the freshman year. Thirty-six students are admitted each year, each with a minimum of 3.5 GPA and 1250 SAT/28 ACT. To date, 400 students have graduated from the program.[9]. The Jupiter campus hosts the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College.

Florida Atlantic University operates the largest continuing education program in the United States. Named the Lifelong Learning Society, the program serves the educational interests of senior citizens by providing classes focusing on subjects of interest, and provides audit options for regular university classes. In order to facilitate the growth of this program, in 1999 the Barry and Florence Friedberg Lifelong Learning Center opened on the Boca Raton campus.

[edit] Colleges

The University offers more than 170 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs within its nine colleges:

• The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
• The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
• Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
• The College of Engineering and Computer Science
• The College of Education
• The Barry Kaye College of Business
• The College Of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs
• The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
• The Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science

[edit] University Programs

[edit] Research

Sponsored research at FAU reaches more than $60 million per year.^[11]

Florida Atlantic has two Research and Development Parks (R&D). One is located in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and the other is located on the main Boca Raton campus. The R&D Parks provide outside research companies the ability to interact with the university community and take advantage of its facilities, resources, and expertise. Located inside the R&D Park on the Boca Raton campus is a Technology Business Incubator (TBI). The TBI works to foster the start-up and growth of technology based businesses associated with Florida Atlantic University.[10]

The Scripps Research Institute is currently in the process of developing a sister campus at the Jupiter FAU campus. Scripps Florida now operates with approximately 188 scientists, technicians, and administrative staff at a 40,000 square-foot lab facility.[11] Upon completion Scripps will operate out of a 364,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art biomedical research facility focusing on basic biomedical science, drug discovery, and technology development.

FAU is the home of The Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology. Established in 2003, the University's Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology was selected by Florida’s Emerging Technology Commission as one of three centers in the state to receive $10 million in initial funding. Since receiving the startup funding, FAU has secured an additional $26 million from other sources, including federal and private research grants. As a result, the center has emerged as an academic and industry partnership combining expertise in ocean engineering, marine biotechnology, functional genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. Researchers, scientists, and students at the center are designing technologies to explore the sea, working to discover new medicines, and developing new therapeutics to combat agents of bioterrorism.[12]

Florida Atlantic is also the home of The Imaging Technology Center and NASA Imaging Technology Space Center. Located in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Center specializes in digital imaging research and development for use in both government and commercial applications in the areas of medical technology, surveillance, communications, education, inspection, scientific observation, manufacturing, visual recognition and identification, and motion picture and digital video. Within the Imaging Technology Center is one of 12 NASA Research Partnership Centers throughout the nation which develops dual-use research and development with the participation of NASA and other related industries in the U.S. The center occupies two sets of laboratories and administrative offices on Florida Atlantic’s main campus in Boca Raton and at the Fort Lauderdale Tower campus. The Imaging Technology Center is developing a curriculum for digital imaging and processing, and is establishing FAU as the only university in the nation to offer this technical concentration—a highly valuable resource for national defense and the medical and video industries. [13]

[edit] School of Medicine

In 2004, FAU launched a medical school program in conjunction with the University of Miami (UM). The program is a regional campus of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and as such, is known as the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine at FAU (UMMSM@FAU). The curriculums are identical at both campuses. [14] Enrollment is currently limited to 32 students, with an expansion to 64 students expected in the near future. [15]

Previously, medical students spent the first two years of their education at the Boca Raton campus before transferring to Miami for rotations and receiving their degree from UM. Starting in Fall 2007, UMMSM@FAU medical students will complete all four years of the medical curriculum in Boca Raton. [16]

On June 28, 2006, Florida Atlantic and Boca Raton Community Hospital approved an agreement between the two institutions to implement a land lease for the development and operation of a community-university affiliated teaching hospital.

The hospital, to be called the Charles E. Schmidt Medical Center[17], will serve as the primary teaching hospital for the regional campus of the UM Miller School of Medicine at FAU. Facility construction is expected to begin in 2008 with completion by 2011. Approximately 38 acres of Florida Atlantic land, located on the southeast corner of FAU’s Boca Raton campus, will host the infrastructure for the teaching hospital. This will enable medical students to complete their entire education at Florida Atlantic's Boca Raton campus. The private room, 530-bed hospital will provide FAU facilities and resources to support undergraduate and graduate medical education programs customary to primary teaching hospitals within major academic medical centers. The facilities will include resident/student conference rooms, a conference center with teleconferencing capabilities including an auditorium and small group conference rooms, resident sleeping quarters with lockers, resident dining facilities, a resident lounge, a medical library with state-of-the-art IT systems and increased square footage in other areas of the hospital to accommodate students and residents. [18]

[edit] FAU record label

As part of its Commercial Music program, FAU has a full-service record label. The label, named HOOT Recordings in recognition of the university mascot, began in fall of 2002 under the direction of Michael Zager, professor of music and Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in the Performing Arts. All Commercial Music majors work on the label. Students have the opportunity to work in all creative (recording, producing, graphic design, videos, promotion, etc) and business (A&R, accounting, publishing, artist management, sales, etc) aspects of the music industry. The state-of-the-art studio is the first student-run label of any university in the United States. [19][20][21]

[edit] Notable Professors at FAU

• Dr. David F. Bjorklund, psychology professor, author, pioneer in evolutionary developmental psychology
• Dr. J. A. Scott Kelso, noted neuroscientist and founder of the Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences
• Dr. Robert P. Watson, alumnus of FAU, author, national media commentator, former candidate for the United States House of Representatives. Currently an associate professor of political science.
• Dr. Jie Wu, professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Program Director for the Networking Technology and Systems (NeTS) program of the National Science Foundation. [22][23][24][25]
• Dr. Cecilia Campoverde, associate professor of social work in the College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs; founder and volunteer Director of the Guatemalan Project, Inc. that worked to create a new community in Guatemala called El Triunfo for survivors of Hurricane Mitch[26][27]
• Dr. Ramaswamy Narayanan, bioinformatics expert, Director of GeneChip Core Facility, and Acting Director for the FAU Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.

[edit] Campus Life

[edit] Traditions

• FAU celebrates an annual Homecoming Week called "Owl Prowl" in the Fall semester. Events mostly occur on the Boca Raton campus but the other campuses have their own events. In 2004, events included a 60's-themed costumed dance, laser tag, a giant slide, bowling, a bonfire (where students sang the FAU fight song), football game with Tailgate party, and a comedy show by Bill Bellamy and Orlando Jones. [28][29] In 2006, Owl Prowl included a Breezeway kickoff, velcro wall, Fall Family Fest, Alumni Event, BBQ dinner, bingo, golf cart parade, themed dinner, costume party, "Red Carpet Affair" formal dance, Talon Leadership Awards ceremony, Timucua Pageant, pep rally, Halloween Horror Nights trip, and a tailgate event. The Comedy Show hosted Mo'Nique, DeRay Davis, and Lil Duval.[30][31]

• During the 11-day Weeks of Welcome, residential students square off in various competitions (including volleyball, tug-of-war, and relay races) for the Annual Hall Wars competitions. Started in 2003, Hall Wars are run by FAU Greeks and the Resident Student Association.[32][33]

• The Timucua Pageant is a talent show held on the HPT lawn and hosted by the FAU Department of Housing and Residential Life. In 2006, the 8th Annual Timucua Pageant had 14 competitors from multiple majors competing in 'day wear', 'night wear', and talent exhibitions. Over 100 students attended. Winners were crowned as King and Queen.[34]

• Each Spring semester the College of Engineering and Computer Science holds Engineering Week. These events usually feature free food and a "Brain Bowl" competition between the College's departments. The 2007 theme was "Mardi Gras" featuring flamenco dancing as the main event.

• FAU students wear red to show their support for FAU athletics, made popular by the "Bury the Burrow in Red" marketing campaign of 2007 for the televised FAU-FIU matchup game.

[edit] Greek Life

FAU is home to a number of national fraternities and sororities, however, there are currently no on-campus "frat houses" (the 2006 Boca Raton Campus Master Plan includes plans for 8 Greek Houses to be built within 3 years [35][36]). The inter-fraternity council at FAU is comprised of Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Chi Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Mu, and Sigma Phi Epsilon. The National Panhellenic Conference member sororities on campus are Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Phi Epsilon, Phi Sigma Sigma, and Theta Phi Alpha.

Greek Week is an entire week of themed competitions among FAU Greek organizations during the Spring semester. In 2007, those competitions included flag football, basketball, skit night, volleyball matches in the Housing Volleyball Pit, Olympic Competitions (tug-of-war, three-legged race, swim relay, obstacle course), Greek spirit competition, talent show, alcohol awareness nights, penny wars, dance marathon, a philanthropy event, and a Greek Awards Banquet. [37]

[edit] Clubs/Organizations

FAU has a wide variety of student organizations on the Boca campus, including but not limited to: Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), World of Warcraft club, Psi Chi (the Psychology Honors Society), American Medical Student Association (AMSA), Konbit Kreyol, the Pre-Dental Society, FAU Film Productions, Geology Club, FAU Linguistics Society, National Society of Black Engineers, Philosophy Club, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, Baha'i Club, Caribbean Students Association, Peer Mentoring Program, Fantasy Literature Club, Japanese Animation and Multimedia Society (JAMS), Latin Swing Club, Robotics Club, Fencing Club, Sailing Club.[18].

Additionally, students may get involved with the student newspaper (the University Press), practice politics and financial management as a senator for Student Government, plan/volunteer for on-campus social events like concerts and dinners with the FAU SG Program Board, be a DJ for the student radio station (Owl Radio), or shoot TV/film for Owl TV.

[edit] Notable Student Activism

• Five members of the FAU community took part in a 200-mile humanitarian effort called the Bike2Belarus Initiative, a directive of the Irish Students 10k. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Belarus was ravaged by after effects of the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Ultimately, the bike trip raised a quarter of a million dollars for Belarus, matched by the Irish Government and used for the construction of a hospice and orphanage.[38]
• The Annual FAU 16-hour Dance Marathon raises money for the Children's Miracle network, which in turn benefits the Shands Children's Hospital at the University of Florida. In 2004, thirty-eight dancers ultimately raised $7,000.[39] In 2005, more than fifty volunteers danced the night away to raise $11,500.[40]
• FAU Softball raised $1,400 over a three-day tournament in its effort to "Strike Out Cancer." The fundraiser, noted by the Sun-Sentinel, was held during the FAU Classic softball tournament on Feb.16-18, 2007. Members collected donations for each strikeout. All of the proceeds went to the America Cancer Society for the 2007 Relay for Life that took place at FAU's Boca Raton campus. [41][42][43]
• Over 100 FAU students rallied to form a human chain during the "Save Darfur" event in the hopes of raising awareness of the ongoing genocide crisis. The student-run event was sponsored by FAU's Amnesty International chapter. The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County sponsored an FAU sophomore to participate in the "Save Darfur Now: Voices to End Genocide" rally that took place on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006 in New York's Central Park. [44][45]

[edit] Housing

Boca Raton Campus Residential Housing Facilities include:

• Indian River Towers (IRT) (opened 2001)
• Heritage Park Towers (HPT) (opened 2004)
• Algonquin Hall (what students commonly refer to as "C-block" or "The Gonq") (Opened 1965)
• First Year Experience Hall, exclusively for freshmen, is currently under construction and is identical to Heritage Park Towers layout.[46] (Opening fall 2007)
• The Village Student Apartments, which are considered part of the on-campus housing but are not dormitories.

The following dorms were originally named to honor Native American tribes, but have since been razed.

• Modoc (Opened 1965)
• Mohave (Opened 1966)
• Naskapi (Opened 1966)
• Sekoni (Opened 1968)
• Seminole (Opened 1968)
• Timucua

[edit] Living Learning Communities (LLC)

The LLC program at FAU allows students with similar interests (i.e. majors) and needs to live together and take classes together as a "residential community." The program was established to ease the transition from high school and allow students to make friends from day one at FAU. These residents also recieve special programming and support tailored to their specific needs. LLC participants are committed for one year to the program and must live in Heritage Park Towers to participate.

• Currently, there are six LLC programs available: Engineering and Computer Science, Explore (for undecided freshmen), Global Connections (Language/Cultural Studies), Women's Leadership, Healthy Owls (Wellness), and Music. [47][48]

[edit] On-campus dining

There are various restaurants on the main (Boca Raton) campus including: Starbucks, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Quiznos, Wasabi's (Japanese), Coyote Jack's Grill, and The Hub (kosher cafe, part of the Mildred & Abner Levine and Ruth & Saul Weinberger Jewish Life Center).

In addition, FAU has Outtakes kiosks and an all-you-can-eat buffet called the Centre Marketplace.^[12][13]

Over summer 2007, FAU will completely renovate the Breezeway food court on the Boca Raton campus into a "mall food court"-type of environment. This New Food Court, slated to open for the Fall 2007 semester, will introduce many new vendors including Mamma Leone's and Wendy's.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Recognition

• Sanctuary. The Boca Raton campus was designated a burrowing owl sanctuary in 1971, by the Audubon Society. The owl prefers the campus because there are not many predators other than cats, near the Boca Raton Airport. The feisty bird, traditionally associated with wisdom and determination, serves as the University's mascot.

• Media rankings. Washington Monthly, which publishes an annual ranking of top universities, placed FAU at number 240 in the nation. [49] In the 2006 edition of the U.S. News & World Report rankings of "Best Colleges", FAU was ranked in the fourth tier of national universities. [50]

• Innovations in Ocean Engineering. FAU was the first university in the country to offer an undergraduate degree in ocean engineering. The first class of 35 "Oceaneers" graduated in 1967.[51][52][53]

• Research. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching ranked FAU as a “Research University – High Research Activity” institution.[54][55]

• Accounting. A 2001 report by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy found that students from the FAU College of Business' School of Accounting ranked seventh among all colleges and universities nationwide based on the percentage of candidates passing all four subjects of the Certified Public Accountant examination. In 1998, Florida Atlantic graduate Mindy Tyson placed first in the United States in the CPA exams and was awarded the Gold Medal. [56]

• Business School. FAU's business school is among the 10% of business schools world wide that are Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredited.^{[citation needed]} [57]

• Diversity. Florida Atlantic is ranked as one of the top 50 four-year colleges in the nation for conferring bachelor’s degrees to African-Americans according to a survey in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education; a bi-weekly magazine focusing on current trends and issues in the United States' higher education system. For the 2004-05 academic year, FAU conferred a total of 1,407 bachelor’s degrees in all disciplines for all minorities and ranked 37th, up six percent from the previous year. Among traditionally white institutions, the University was ranked 16th overall in conferring bachelor’s degrees to African-American students.[58]

• Overall Athletics. FAU's Athletic Department was recently ranked 79th in the nation by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) . In conjunction with USA Today and the United States Sports Academy, NACDA recognized the University for its Division I athletic programs and accomplishments. This national ranking places Florida Atlantic in the top 24% of 326 NCAA Division I universities. FAU was the only school in either the Sun Belt or Atlantic Sun conferences that placed in the top 100 and was the 4th highest ranked program in the state of Florida, finishing behind the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Miami. The FAU women’s basketball team was also listed among the nation’s top-10 percent in Academic Performance Rating, while an average of 136 student athletes earned a 3.0 or above GPA each semester.[59]

• Individual Athletics. The FAU Owls athletic teams have garnered numerous accolades for their accomplishments. In 2007 alone: the men's basketball team was recently noted as "one of the Sun Belt Conference's top offensive teams", with a "scary offense" earning it the reputation as the "best shooting team in the conference."[60]. The baseball team is undefeated at home and recently earned recognition as the 27th national ranking according to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.[61] Also, the women's swimming and diving team has won the Sun Belt Conference Championship twice (once in 2006 and again in 2007).[62][63]

• Medical School. The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University (USSM at FAU) is one of 10 United States' medical schools, including Vanderbilt and UCLA, to receive an Association of American Medical Colleges grant, supported by the Josiah Macy Foundation, to enhance medical students’ and medical residents’ ability to care for patients with chronic diseases.[64]

• Medical School SDN Ranking. The Student Doctor Network, a comprehensive pre-health professions resource, recently ranked FAU's medical program at 16th in the nation (out of 141). The rankings were "collected based on the [interview] impressions of premed students from the US and Canada". [65]

[edit] Notable alumni and faculty

Main article: List of Florida Atlantic University people

[edit] Athletics

Main article: Florida Atlantic Owls

See also: Florida Atlantic Owls football

Florida Atlantic University competes in athletics with 18 intercollegiate sports teams on the Division I level in the Sun Belt Conference. FAU has attracted such famous coaches as Howard Schnellenberger (football) and former NBA player Rex Walters (men's basketball).

[edit] FAU Alma Mater

With the Gulf stream breezes blowing

The search for truth goes on.

Seeking, learning, sharing knowledge.

Finding the meaning of the past that is gone.

Where nature beams with pleasant weather.

We strive to learn to work together.

Florida Atlantic, we praise and hail thy name.

[edit] Miscellaneous

• FAU plays in the annual Shula Bowl against in-state rival Florida International University (FIU). FAU has won 4 out of 5 of those games. [66]
• FAU's $168 million endowment is roughly double that of some larger state schools in Florida, including the University of Central Florida and Florida International University. FAU holds the fourth largest in the state. ^[14]
• Due to a larger population of nontraditional students, the average student at FAU finishes their degree in almost six years, while 16% finish in the traditional four years, among the lowest for major colleges in the nation, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The overall graduation rate is just below 50%. [67] FAU has responded in 2007 by tightening their admission standards.
• A joke among some individuals is that FAU stands for "find another university".[68] [69] [70] This false university nickname is considered negative by university supporters.
• The FAU police department has had four sex-related investigations and six police chiefs and upper-command staff resign in the past three years. In March 2006 a captain resigned following the discovery of sexually explicit materials on his office computers and cell phone. In 2005 a lieutenant resigned in part because he allegedly groped an officer on her first day on the job. In 2003 a sergeant was reprimanded for having consensual sex on duty with a woman on the FAU softball team.[71]
• A Master's Thesis for the FAU Commercial Music Program, produced and arranged by Graduate Student Israel Charles, earned a Top 10 spot on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales Chart during its first week out. This feat is unheard of within the music industry.[72][73]
• As of 2007, FAU ranks as one of the less expensive state colleges in Florida, with tuition fees of $3,327 in-state, $16,390 out-of-state, and Room/board of $8,280.[74][75] For comparison, the University of Florida has tuition fees of $3,370, University of Central Florida costs $3,432, and Florida State University costs $3,360 for in-state undergraduate tuition fees.[76][77][78]

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Official History
• Official Athletics site
• University Press FAU's student-run newspaper

• Lifelong Learning Society at FAU
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 26.3712° -80.10166°
  • Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
  • Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth

[edit] Research Program links

• FAU Division of Research
• FAU Research and Development Parks
• Scripps Florida
• NASA Imaging Technology Space Center
• Imaging Technology Center at FAU
• Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology
• Corporate Relations
• Technology Transfer

[edit] Medical Program links

• Boca Raton Community Hospital
• Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
• UMSM AT FAU

Educate. Research. Florida Atlantic University Serve. Prepare.
Campuses	Boca Raton • Dania Beach • Davie • Fort Lauderdale • Jupiter • Port St. Lucie • Fort Pierce
Academics	Florida Atlantic University • Barry Kaye College of Business • Charles E. Schmidt College of Science • Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing • College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs • College of Education • College of Engineering and Computer Science • Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters • Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College • NASA Imaging Technology Space Center • Boca Raton Community Hospital • The Scripps Research Institute at Florida Atlantic University • Frank T. Brogan
Athletics	Owl • Florida Atlantic Owls • Florida Atlantic Owls football • Florida Atlantic Owls baseball • Shula Bowl • FAU Arena • FAU football stadium • Howard Schnellenberger • Rex Walters • Sun Belt Conference
Campus Life	Boca Raton, FL • Palm Beach County, FL • Starbucks • Einstein Bros. Bagels • Pizza Hut • Quiznos • Marleen and Harold Forkas Alumni Center • Greek Life • ΑΕΠ • ATΩ • ΑΦΑ • ΒΘΠ • KAΨ • ΛΘΦ • ΠΚΑ • ΣΑΜ • ΣΦΕ • ΦΒΣ • ΩΨΦ • AKA • ΑΞΔ • ΔΣΘ • ΖΦΒ • ΔΦΕ • ΘΦΑ • ΣΓΡ • ΦΣΣ • ΛΘA

State University System of Florida
Florida A&M University • Florida Atlantic University • Florida Gulf Coast University • Florida International University • Florida State University • New College of Florida • University of Central Florida • University of Florida • University of North Florida • University of South Florida • University of West Florida

Sun Belt Conference
Arkansas–Little Rock • Arkansas State • Denver • Florida Atlantic • Florida International • Louisiana–Lafayette • Lousiana–Monroe • Middle Tennessee • New Orleans • North Texas • South Alabama • Troy • Western Kentucky

Atlantic Soccer Conference
Adelphi • Florida Atlantic • Hartwick • Howard • Longwood • NJIT • Philadelphia