Florida Atlantic University, a member of the state University System of Florida, was established in 1961 and opened its doors to students in 1964. Its total enrollment is 23,000 and more than 66,000 men and women are FAU alumni.

FAU's commitment to serving students is complemented by its dedication to serving the needs of the South Florida community through its Lifelong Learning Society and the Division of Open University and Continuing Education. More than 16,000 mature men and women pursue intellectual stimulation, personal growth and cultural fellowship as members of FAU's Lifelong Learning Society, the largest such organization in the world. Thousands more residents take courses, seminars and workshops offered through Open University and Continuing Education as degree-seeking and non-degree seeking students.

In addition to its 850-acre campus in Boca Raton, FAU campuses are located in Broward County at Fort Lauderdale, Davie and Dania Beach, in northern Palm Beach County at Jupiter and in St. Lucie County at Port St. Lucie.

The University is organized into nine colleges; the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Honors College, and the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs. The nation's first successful upper-division and graduate university. FAU added lower-division studies, in 1984, when a charter freshman class of highly qualified students was admitted.

FAU offers undergraduate programs in 54 fields of study and master's degree programs in 46 disciplines. The University confers 15 doctoral degrees, including business administration, comparative studies complex systems and brain sciences, computer engineering, computer science, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, electrical engineering, exceptional student education, mathematics, mechanical engineering, ocean engineering, physics, psychology, and public administration.

Playing an important part in furthering the mission of the University are more than 20 centers and institutes dedicated to specific fields of academic or research pursuits. The Center for Complex Biological Systems and brain Sciences for instance, is staffed by individuals known throughout the world for their pioneering research. FAU's Department of Ocean Engineering, the first such program in the country and one of five Programs of Distinction within the State University system, co-sponsors the international Human-Powered Submarine Races, held every two years.

Other areas of specialized pursuits can be found in the FAU/FIU Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems, the Florida-Israel Institute, the Stuart-James Research Center, with on-line access to business data including census tract information, the Geographic Information Systems Laboratory, and the center for Electronic Communication.

The University's vast research community also works closely with industry and local, state and federal governments on projects such as jet engine fault detection, bridge load and stability testing, high-temperature superconductor development, electro-magnetic testing design of autonomous underwater vehicles, and implementation of elementary and community education programs.

FAU has fully funded Eminent Scholar Chairs in engineering, business, community education, environmental studies, performing arts, science, social science, nursing, marine biology, philosophy and Holocaust studies.