2008-2009 OWL BOOK - Florida Atlantic University Foundation, Inc.

Florida Atlantic University was established by the Florida State Legislature in 1961 as the fifthuniversity in the state system.When it opened its doors in 1964, FAU was the first university in the country to offer onlyupper-division and graduate-level work. This model was based on the theory that freshmenandsophomore-level collegiate work was best offered through the community college system.In 1968, Algonquin Hall became the first on-campus residence for FAU students. It currentlyremains the oldest residence hall on the Boca Raton campus. Shortly thereafter, in 1971, theBoca Raton campus became a burrowing owl sanctuary and burrowing owls can still be seen oncampus today. The owl eventually became FAU’s mascot.The first sports at FAU were tennis and golf in the mid-1970s. We took it to another level in themid-1980s by going Division I in athletics.In 1984, the University responded to population growth and the need to provide increasedaccess to higher education by admitting its first freshman class. Today, FAU’s campuses serve26,000 students through more than 170 degree programs.In 1999, Howard Schnellenberger, a legendary figure in college football, was named FAU’s firsthead football coach. Two years later, the fighting Owls played their first football game on Sept. 1,2001, at Miami’s Pro Player Stadium against Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. In 2003,FAU football moved to a new home field at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and becamethe youngest Division IAA start-up program to compete in the National Championship Playoffs.In 2007, FAU set another NCAA record by becoming the fastest start-up team to make it to abowl game. The Owls defeated the Memphis Tigers on Dec. 21, in the New Orleans Bowl, afterearning the Sun Belt Conference Co-Championship.FAU’s 10 colleges include the College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs, the DorothyF. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science,the Barry Kaye College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering andComputer Science, the Graduate College, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the CharlesE. Schmidt College of Science as well as the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, which provides aunique and challenging four-year curriculum for the brightest students from Florida and beyond.FAU has Eminent Scholar Chairs in many academic disciplines, and it is the home of nationallyrecognized research centers. The University’s ever-growing research partnerships are facilitatingexciting new research and learning initiatives by bringing high-tech industries into closecollaboration with faculty and students. In recognition of the University’s research funding anddoctoral programs, the Division of Colleges and Universities of the Florida Board of Educationhas designated FAU as a research university. Additionally, FAU has earned “High ResearchActivity” status by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.In 2004, FAU launched a medical school program in conjunction with the University of Miami(UM)—the nation’s first public-private medical school program, which allows student to completeall of their scholastic and clinical medical education in Boca Raton.FAU also runs one of the nation’s largest continuing education programs for individualsof retirement age — the Lifelong Learning Society. The society includes audit options forsenior citizens.For more information, visit www.fau.edu/exploreFlorida Atlantic University is a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association ofState Universities and Land-Grant Colleges and the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States.6 7