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|name = Florida Institute of Technology
|name = Florida Institute of Technology
|native_name =
|native_name =
|image_name = FIT Seal.svg
|image_size = 200px
|caption = Florida Institute of Technology University Seal
|latin_name =
|latin_name =
|motto = ''Ad Astra Per Scientiam''
|motto = ''Ad Astra Per Scientiam'' <br/> "To the stars through science."
|mottoeng = "To the stars through science."
|tagline = High Tech with a Human Touch
|tagline = High Tech with a Human Touch
|established = September 22, 1958
|established = September 22, 1958
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|mascot = Panther
|mascot = Panther
|fightsong =
|fightsong =
|athletics = [[National Collegiate Athletics Association|NCAA]] [[Division II (NCAA)|Division II]] – [[Sunshine State Conference|SSC]], [[Gulf South Conference|GSC]] (football)
|athletics = [[Division II (NCAA)|NCAA Division II]], [[Sunshine State Conference]], [[Gulf South Conference]] (football only)
|affiliations = [[Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida|ICUF]]<br>[[National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities|NAICU]]<ref>[http://www.naicu.edu/member_center/members.asp NAICU – Member Directory]</ref><br>[[Oak Ridge Associated Universities|ORAU]]
|affiliations = [[Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida]]
|nobel_laureates =
|nobel_laureates =
|website = http://fit.edu
|website = http://fit.edu
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|footnotes =
|footnotes =
}}
}}
The '''Florida Institute of Technology''' (commonly referred to as '''Florida Tech''' or '''FIT'''), is a [[private university|private]] research university located in [[Melbourne, Florida|Melbourne]], Florida, United States. Florida Tech has five academic divisions with strong emphases on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Its 130-acre primary campus is located near the Kennedy Space Center and the Florida Tech Research Park, which hosts numerous high-tech companies, and a large concentration of technology-sector jobs in the USA.<ref name="Florida Tech Research Park Overview">{{cite web |url=http://www.fit.edu/researchpark/#.UJhJ14aRYco |title=Florida Tech Research Park Overview |publisher=Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Florida Tech Research Park Companies">{{cite web |url=http://www.fit.edu/researchpark/about.php#.UJhKtIaRYco |title=Florida Tech Research Park Companies |publisher=Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref>
The '''Florida Institute of Technology''' (commonly referred to as '''Florida Tech''' and '''FIT'''), is a private doctoral/research university in [[Melbourne, Florida]].<ref name="princetonreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.princetonreview.com/FloridaInstituteofTechnology.aspx|title=Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="carnegie">{{cite web|url=http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/lookup_listings/view_institution.php?unit_id=133881&start_page=index.php&clq=%7B|title=Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> Florida Tech has five academic divisions with emphases on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).<ref name="colleges">{{cite web|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/florida-tech-1469|title=Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> The university's 130-acre primary, residential campus is located near the Melbourne International Airport and the Florida Tech Research Park; it is about 50 miles from Kennedy Space Center and 75 miles from Orlando.<ref name="Florida Tech Research Park Overview">{{cite web |url=http://www.fit.edu/researchpark/#.UJhJ14aRYco |title=Florida Tech Research Park Overview |publisher=Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Florida Tech Research Park Companies">{{cite web |url=http://www.fit.edu/researchpark/about.php#.UJhKtIaRYco |title=Florida Tech Research Park Companies |publisher=Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref>
Founded in 1958 as Brevard Engineering College, the university has been known by its present name since 1966. As of 2013, Florida Tech had an on campus student body of 4,633, almost equally divided between graduate- and undergraduate-level students, with the plurality of them focusing their studies on engineering and the sciences.<ref name="FactCard">{{cite web |url=http://fit.edu/about/factcard/ |title=2013-2014 Fact Card |publisher=Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=December 5, 2013}}</ref>


The university was founded in 1958, as Brevard Engineering College, and has been known by its present name since 1966. In 2013, Florida Tech had an on-campus student body of 4,633, almost equally divided between graduate- and undergraduate-level students, with the plurality of them focusing their studies on engineering and the sciences.<ref name="FactCard">{{cite web |url=http://fit.edu/about/factcard/ |title=2013-2014 Fact Card |publisher=Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=December 5, 2013}}</ref> Across the 2012-2013 academic year, the university served approximately 16,000 students in total.
Despite its small size and young history, Florida Tech is consistently ranked among the best national doctoral-granting universities in the US.<ref name="US News">{{cite web|title=U.S. News & World Report|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities|accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref> Florida Tech has more than 60,000 alumni, including a National Teacher of the Year recipient, director of a NASA center, five astronauts who have flown on the Space Shuttle, several astronaut candidates, the first female four-star general, two other four-star generals and nearly two dozen other generals, a 1992 Olympic medalist, a major league pitcher, and thousands that serve as scientists, engineers, pilots, and managers in many high-technology enterprises.<ref name="FactCard" />

Florida Tech is ranked among the best national doctoral-granting universities in the US <ref name="usnews">{{cite web|title=U.S. News & World Report|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities|accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref> and the world's best universities.<ref name="worldrankings">{{cite web|title=Times Higher Education World Rankings|publisher=Times Higher Education|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2013-14/world-ranking/institution/florida-institute-of-technology|accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref> The university has more than 60,000 alumni, including a [[National Teacher of the Year]] recipient, director of a [[NASA]] center, five astronauts, several astronaut candidates, the first female four-star general, two other four-star generals and nearly two dozen other generals, a 1992 Olympic medalist, a major league pitcher and others that serve as scientists, engineers, pilots, and managers in many high-technology enterprises.<ref name=FactCard></ref>


==History==
==History==
[[File:FlTechMillerBldgCLOSE.jpg|right|thumb|Miller Building]]
[[File:FlTechMillerBldgCLOSE.jpg|right|thumb|Miller Building]]
The Florida Institute of Technology was founded as Brevard Engineering College by Dr. Jerome P. Keuper in 1958.<ref name="fithistory"> {{cite web|url=http://www.fit.edu/about/history.php|title=Florida Tech History|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> In 1961, the university moved its location to [[Melbourne, Florida]].<ref name="spacecoastdaily">{{cite web|url=http://spacecoastdaily.com/sub-page/florida-tech-history/|title=Florida Tech History|date=March 12, 2013|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> During the 1960's additional classroom and laboratory buildings, a library, the Denius Student Center, Hedgecock Gymnasium, Gleason Auditorium and several dormitories were constructed.<ref name=fithistory></ref><ref name=spacecoastdaily></ref> The university was accredited by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] in 1964.<ref name=spacecoastdaily></ref> The university officially changed its name to Florida Institute of Technology in 1966.<ref name=fithistory></ref>
When Florida Institute of Technology was founded in 1958, classes were held in leased classrooms at [[Brevard County School District#Eau Gallie|Eau Gallie Junior High School]] (now Westshore Junior/Senior High School at 250 West Brevard Avenue) and at University of Melbourne's lone building on Country Club Boulevard. Classes were moved from [[Brevard County School District#Eau Gallie|Eau Gallie Junior High School]] to Melbourne Methodist Church on Waverly St. in 1959 after the school district disapproved of two black students using the junior high school classrooms.

In 1961, Brevard Engineering College purchased the property of the University of Melbourne (Florida)<ref>not to be confused with the University that bears the same name in Australia</ref> which became the main campus in the heart of Melbourne, Florida. The only existing building at the time was the current Ray A. Work building. The next building to be built was the Keuper building, originally used as a library. Today it houses the Admissions, Financial Aid and Student Employment departments. In the 1960s and 1970s many buildings were constructed on the main campus.

Since 1996 the university has been in the midst of much construction and expansion. Following a $50 million grant given to them by the F. W. Olin Foundation, Florida Tech has constructed three new facilities for their engineering, life science, and physical science departments.

In the early 1990s Florida Institute of Technology changed its promotional identity from FIT to Florida Tech, to avoid confusion with the [[Fashion Institute of Technology]] at the [[State University of New York]]. This name change created some confusion in the [[Orlando, Florida]] area with the existing [[Florida Technical College]] and Florida Technological University, the former name of the [[University of Central Florida]].


[[File:Florida Tech F-610.jpg|left|thumb|Historic sign from Florida Tech Alumni Association and Florida Department of State.]]
[[File:Florida Tech F-610.jpg|left|thumb|Historic sign from Florida Tech Alumni Association and Florida Department of State.]]
In 1972, the university launched its first off-campus program at the request of the United States Navy.<ref name=fithistory></ref><ref name="edumaritime">{{cite web|url=http://www.edumaritime.com/florida-fl/florida-institute-of-technology-at-melbourne-florida-logistics-transport-ocean-engineering-education|title=FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AT MELBOURNE, FLORIDA |accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref>
As part of Florida Tech's 50th Anniversary celebration, new constructions began in summer of 2006 with the construction of the Panthereum, a concert and lecture venue located adjacent to the Homer Denius Student Center. The south campus began expansion as well. A new, three-building residence hall complex, Harris Village,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oxblue.com/pro/open/?webPath=mhwilliams |title=OxBlue Pro Construction Cameras |publisher=Oxblue.com |accessdate=April 18, 2012}}</ref> was completed in time for the fall 2008 semester.<ref>[http://activities.fit.edu/crimson/issues/fall2007/090707.pdf ]{{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref>

More south campus construction began in 2008 with the start of the Scott Center for Autism Treatment and the Harris Center for Science and Engineering. Construction will begin in 2009 on a new dining center, parking complex, and NCAA-certified swimming pool and diving center. On the main campus, the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts is rising quickly next to Evans Library.

===Geographic history===
[[File:FlTechPanther.jpg|right|thumb|Florida Tech Panther]]
The northern part of Florida Tech's main campus contains some rich history. The headwaters of [[Crane Creek (Melbourne, Florida)|Crane Creek]] are located here, and the creek begins in the Botanical Gardens southeast of Columbia Village Suites. These Botanical Gardens, colloquially referred to as 'The Jungle' or yet more informally, 'The Swamp,' occupy much of the northeastern part of the main campus and are home to a wide variety of local species, with transient visits from alligators and manatees. Crisscrossed by several trails (the main one is named for Dent Smith), they contain a collection of many varieties of palm trees and other flora. Numerous bridges on campus provide crossings over two of the three streams that feed Crane Creek. The third stream comes south from the Roberts Hall and Columbia Village Suites area to the north.

The Jungle is colloquially divided into the "near Jungle" and "deep Jungle", with the former consisting of the area near campus with paved or wooden paths and bridges and the latter consisting of the more distant portions in which trails are simply worn paths through the vegetation. The plants and structures of the near Jungle are actively maintained by campus, while the deep Jungle has reverted to primarily Florida wilderness. Small wooden pagodas are scattered through the deep jungle, and students have previously set up hammocks. There are numerous "regions" of the deep jungle, characterized by their flora, including a heavily wooded area lacking significant undergrowth and an area directly behind Evans Dormitory replete with extremely large [[Epipremnum aureum|pothos]].


The Evans Library was completed in the early 1984.<ref name="fitlib"> {{cite web|url=http://lib.fit.edu/library-displays/200901.php|title=History of the Evans Library (1984 - 2009)|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> The following year the original library was renovated and dedicated as the Jerome P. Keuper Administration Building.<ref name=fithistory></ref> In 1988, the Homer R. Denius Student Center was renovated, the student plaza completed and the applied research laboratory building was acquired.<ref name=spacecoastdaily></ref> The Claude Pepper Institute for Aging and Therapeutic Research and Skurla Hall, home of the School of Aeronautics opened in 1990. In 1997, the university received a $50 million grant from the [[F. W. Olin Foundation]].<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/06/us/largest-gift-ever-endows-a-new-college.html|title=Largest Gift Ever Endows a New College|author=William H. Honan|date=June 6, 1997|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> An engineering and a life sciences building were opened in 1999 in result of the grant.<ref name="orlandosentinel1"> {{cite web|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1999-10-15/news/9910150021_1_life-sciences-building-engineering-building-newman|title=Florida Tech Gets Ready To Show Off 2 New High-tech Buildings|date=October 15, 1999|author=Lynne Bumpus-Hoope|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="orlandosentinel2"> {{cite web|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1997-06-04/news/9706031168_1_olin-foundation-endowment-fund-million-gift|title=$50 Million Gift Is Big Vote On Future Of Florida Tech|date=June 4, 1997|author=Lynne Bumpus-Hooper|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref>
This area around Crane Creek was known as Cathead in the early 20th century after numerous panthers that lived in this area.


Seven new residence halls were completed in 2003.<ref name=fithistory></ref> Each resident hall was named after one of the seven fallen astronauts of the [[Shuttle Columbia disaster]] and dedicated to their memory.<ref name=fithistory></ref> In 2005, the F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Center center opened.<ref name=fithistory></ref> Construction on the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research at Melbourne International Airport began in 2008.<ref name="hometownnews">{{cite web|url=http://myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=55300|title=FIT's Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training now open|author=David Kearns|date=March 5, 2009|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> The following year, the College of Business became the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research at the Melbourne International Airport, the Scott Center for Autism Treatment, the Harris Center for Science and Engineering and the Harris Institute for Information Assurance opened.<ref name=fithistory></ref>
Melbourne's first (one-room) wooden school house is here, at the end of the Dent Smith Trail, northwest of the Evans Library.


The university established its football program in 2010.<ref name="gscsports">{{cite web|url=http://www.gscsports.org/news/2011/8/19/FB_0819113313.aspx|title=GSC Adds Florida Tech To Its Football Membership|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> The Panther Aquatic Center was opened a year later.<ref name=fithistory></ref> In 2011, the university partnered with the Brevard Art Museum and established it as the Foosaner Art Museum.<ref name="foosanerartmuseum">{{cite web|url=http://www.foosanerartmuseum.org/museum-history.php#.U9KinvldVyU|title=Foosaner Art Museum History|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=rename>[[Brevard Business News]]. ''Florida Tech announces $1 million gift, renames Brevard Art Museum the Foosaner Art Museum'' (Melbourne, Florida: Brevard Business News, August 8, 2011), p. 15.</ref>
The railroad of the [[Union Cypress Company]] traveled from east to west here just south of the Crawford Science Tower. It carried lumber from cypress swamps to the west, to the former mill town of Hopkins, just south of Crane Creek and [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. 1]].


===Jensen Beach Campus===
===Jensen Beach Campus===
Florida Institute of Technology (Jensen Beach Campus), also known as School of Marine and Environmental Technology or (SOMET), was a specialized Florida Institute of Technology branch campus located on the former campus of [[Saint Joseph College of Florida]] on the [[Indian River Lagoon]] in [[Jensen Beach, Florida]], approximately 50 miles south of the university’s main campus.<ref>{{cite web | title = U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2013 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2012 to FY 2013| work = 2013 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowment Results | publisher = National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund Institute | url = http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/Endowment%20Files/2013NCSEEndowmentMarketValuesRevisedJan232014.pdf | format = PDF | date = January 28, 2014 | accessdate = January 28, 2014}}</ref> The campus attracted oceanography, underwater technology and other assorted marine biology students. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had more officers that are graduates of FIT in Jensen Beach than from any other campus or college in the country. The SOMET was transferred to the main campus and became the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences (DMES). The campus closed after the transition in 1986.
{{main|Florida Institute of Technology (Jensen Beach Campus)}}
In 1968, the Hydrospace Technical Institute (HTI) was chartered in a donated building in Cocoa Beach. In 1972, the campus of [[Saint Joseph College of Florida]] located on the [[Indian River Lagoon|Indian River]] in [[Jensen Beach, Florida]] was purchased with the support of [[Ralph Evinrude]], owner of [[Outboard Marine Corporation]] and husband of [[Frances Langford]]. The HTI was moved to Jensen Beach, and became the School of Marine and Environmental Technology(SOMET). The Jensen Beach campus closed in 1986 and SOMET was transferred to the main campus to become the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences(DMES). An [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] program had been started on the campus and it was continued for a time in rented quarters on East Ocean Boulevard in [[Sewall's Point, Florida|Sewall's Point]]. The campus in Jensen Beach was subsequently sold. The dormitories and cafeteria located on the hill west of N.E. Sewall's Point Road were torn down and replaced by an assisted living facility. The rest of the campus lying east of Sewall's Point Road is now owned by the [[Martin County, Florida|Martin County]] government and is now the [[Martin County, Florida|Martin County]] Indian Riverside Park. The old chapel building is being converted into the [[Children's Museum of Martin County]] while the former administration building (once a home called [[Tuckahoe (Florida)|Tuckahoe]]) located on [[Mount Elizabeth Archeological Site|Mount Elizabeth]], which is actually a Native American [[midden]], is being restored by the Friends of Mount Elizabeth. The library and classroom buildings and the old metal building were all demolished.

===Sponsored events===
Florida Tech has been sponsoring and hosting a "Business Ethics Competition" since 1996 for Brevard County high schools.<ref>SHS students win ethics competition, ''The Beaches Hometown News'', March 23, 2007, page 1</ref>

===Arts===
In 2009, Florida Tech opened the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts.<ref name=rename>[[Brevard Business News]]. ''Florida Tech announces $1 million gift, renames Brevard Art Museum the Foosaner Art Museum'' (Melbourne, Florida: Brevard Business News, August 8, 2011), p. 15.</ref> In 2011, Florida Tech merged with the Brevard Art Museum to form the [[Foosaner Art Museum]].<ref name=rename/>


==Campus==
==Campus==
[[File:FlTechPanther.jpg|right|thumb|Florida Tech Panther]]
The university's 130-acre main campus is located in [[Melbourne, Florida]] which is known as the Space Coast of the Atlantic Ocean.<ref name=colleges></ref> The university offers multiple student services, including tutoring, health service, and health insurance.<ref name=colleges></ref> Florida Tech has six residence halls and three apartment style accommodations for on-campus living.<ref name="fitlife">{{cite web|url=http://www.fit.edu/life/|title=Campus Life|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> It also has five different dining locations.


===Off-campus sites===
<!---Probably should be shortened more. Original format moved into bottom of "FIT dormitory" article, still formatted in case someone wants to try to resuscitate it----->
Florida Tech offers specialized graduate degree programs through sites in [[Huntsville, Alabama]], [[Fort Eustis|Fort Eustis, Virginia]], [[Fort Monroe|Fort Monroe, Virginia]], [[Fort Lee (Virginia)|Fort Lee, Virginia]], [[Alexandria, Virginia]], [[Quantico, Virginia]], [[Dover, New Jersey]], [[Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst]], [[Lexington Park, Maryland]], [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]], [[Kennedy Space Center]], [[Rockledge, Florida]] and [[Orlando, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uc.fit.edu/es/locations.html |title=Florida Institute of Technology University College Site Locations |publisher=Uc.fit.edu |accessdate=April 18, 2012}}</ref>
<!---The history of naming is important, as this individuals contributed to the future of this university--->

===Main campus===
[[File:FlTechCrawfordBldg.jpg|right|thumb|Crawford Building]]
Florida Tech's main campus is located in [[Melbourne, Florida]].
:''For a list of residence halls at Florida Tech, see [[Florida Institute of Technology housing]].''
*[[Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom|Grissom]] Hall – First floor contains classrooms and some faculty offices, especially humanities professors. Grissom Hall's basement is home to Florida Tech College Radio (formerly WCRR), Crimson, and FITV. Its second and third floors are used as residence.
*Evans Hall - First floor contains [[Ratskeller|rathskeller]]. Second Floor houses the offices for Student Government Association, FITSSFF, College Players, Anime Club, Alpha Phi Omega, and Players in Harmony. Its third and fourth floors are used as residence.
*Homer Denius Student Union Building (SUB)- First Floor houses the SUB Café, Florida Tech Bookstore, Florida Tech Mail Annex. Second Floor houses the Office of Student Life, Campus Activities Board, Student Ambassadors, and the Greek Life Office. Second Floor also contains the John and Martha Hartley Room.<!---DO NOT TAG ORGANIZATIONS HERE. SEE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR INFO, NOT HERE--->
*Shepard Hall – Classrooms used for math, science, and English, houses the department of science/mathematics education.
*[[Edwin Link|Link]] "Engineering" Building – Department of Marine and Environmental Systems and the Florida Tech Hydrogen Center.
*[[George M. Skurla|Skurla]] Hall – School of Aeronautics.
*[[Frederick C. Crawford|Crawford]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fit.edu/visitors/tour/historic/crawford.php|title= Historic Tour: Crawford Building (1969)|date= c. 2010 |publisher= Florida Institute of Technology|accessdate=May 15, 2011}}</ref> "Science" Tower -Humanities and Math department offices and University College offices.
[[File:FlTechOPS.jpg|left|thumb|Olin Physical Sciences Building]]
*[[William Lansing Gleason|Gleason]] Performing Arts Center<ref>[http://auxservices.fit.edu/gleason.html Gleason Center]</ref> – for plays,<ref>[http://cp.fit.edu College Players]</ref> WFIT concerts, and special performances on campus.
*Charles and Ruth Clemente Center for Sports and Recreation – contains a dining facility, two large gymnasiums, and a racquetball court.
*[[F. W. Olin Foundation|F.W. Olin]] Engineering Complex – (Not to be confused with the [[Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering]], which was founded by the same foundation) Engineering Departments of Mechanical/Aerospace, Electrical/Computer, Engineering Systems, Civil and Chemical.
*[[F. W. Olin Foundation|F.W. Olin]] Life Sciences Building – Biological Sciences programs.
*[[F. W. Olin Foundation|F.W. Olin]] Physical Sciences Building – Chemistry Department and the Physics/Space Sciences Department. One notable feature is a large telescope dome on the roof of the building that houses a 32" telescope (the largest optical telescope in the state of Florida).
*Harris Center for Science and Engineering, which houses the Harris Institute for Assured Information and the Computer Sciences Department.
[[File:FIT Clemente-1.jpg|right|thumb|Clemente Center]]
*Frueauff Building – Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, Engineering Material Sciences Laboratory.
*Evans Library – A member of the Federal Depository Library Program.
*Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research at [[Melbourne International Airport]].

===Extended Studies Sites===
Florida Tech also has Extended Studies Sites at [[Huntsville, Alabama]] (Redstone Arsenal Graduate Center), [[Fort Eustis, Virginia]] (Hampton Roads Graduate Center – Fort Eustis) (Army Education Center), [[Fort Monroe, Virginia]] (Hampton Roads Graduate Center – Fort Monroe) (Army Education Center), [[Fort Lee, Virginia]] (Fort Lee Graduate Center), [[Alexandria, Virginia]] (National Capital Region (NCR) Graduate Center – Alexandria), [[Quantico, Virginia]] (National Capital Region (NCR) Graduate Center – Quantico), [[Dover, New Jersey]] (Northeast Graduate Center – Picatinny Arsenal), [[Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst]] (Northeast Graduate Center – Lakehurst), [[Lexington Park, Maryland]] (Patuxent River Graduate Center), [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]] (Aberdeen Graduate Center), [[Kennedy Space Center]] (Spaceport Graduate Center – KSC) (The Center for Space Education), [[Rockledge, Florida]] (Spaceport Graduate Center – Rockledge), and [[Orlando, Florida]] (Orlando Graduate Center).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uc.fit.edu/es/locations.html |title=Florida Institute of Technology University College Site Locations |publisher=Uc.fit.edu |accessdate=April 18, 2012}}</ref>

==Organization==
[[File:Fl tech sign.jpg|right|thumb|Florida Tech sign on [[Florida State Road 507|Babcock Street]]]]
Florida Tech’s administration is headed by the Executive Council,<ref>[http://fit.edu/president/officers.html University Officers]{{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref> consisting of President and CEO [[Anthony J. Catanese]], Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President T. Dwayne McCay, Senior Vice President for Financial Affairs and Chief Financial Officer Robert Niebuhr, and Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer Susan St. Onge.

Under COO McCay are the six individual college deans, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Garry Hamme, Vice President for Research Frank Kinney, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students Rodney Bowers, Vice President for Facility Operations Greg Tsark, Vice President for Information Technology Eric Kledzik, Director for Facility Security P. Porche, Registrar Charlotte Young.<ref>[http://fit.edu/faculty/orgchart/orgchartweb2006.pdf ]{{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref>

Academic Affairs covers the graduate and international programs, study abroad programs, institutional research, the university safety office, and the Evans Library.<ref>http://www.lib.fit.edu Florida Institute of Technology Evans Library Homepage</ref> Enrollment Management covers undergraduate and graduate admissions as well as financial aid and scholarships office. Vice Provost for Research covers sponsored programs, Institute for Energy Systems, Intellectual Property, Institute for Computing and Information Systems, Institute for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National Center for Hydrogen Research, Institute for Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Women's Business Center,<ref>http://wbc.fit.edu/ Florida Institute of Technology Women's Business Center Homepage</ref> and Institute for Marine Research. Student Affairs covers the Office of Student Life, which includes Residence Life and student organizations, Career Services and Cooperative Education, International Student and Scholar Services, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Campus Ministry, and the Holzer Health Center/OMNI Health Care. Auxiliary Enterprises include the Clemente Center, Athletics, Food Services, Campus Services, Bookstore, and ELS Language Center.

The college had a $200 million budget for 2012–2013. It employed about 1,410 people.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Florida Tech eliminates 17 jobs | url=| newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 8C | date=February 26, 2011 | id= }}</ref>


==Academics==
==Academics==
Line 236: Line 177:
The university offers a number of national and international Honor Societies including the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, Chi Epsilon a Civil Engineering Students honor society, Delta Mu Delta business honor society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society for freshman class academic achievement, Phi Kappa Phi general academic honor society, Psi Chi honor society of psychology, Tau Beta Pi national engineering honor society and Upsilon Pi Epsilon computing and information systems honor society.<ref>{{cite web|work=Florida Institute of Technology|url=http://www.fit.edu/honors-societies/|title=Honors Societies|accessdate=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
The university offers a number of national and international Honor Societies including the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, Chi Epsilon a Civil Engineering Students honor society, Delta Mu Delta business honor society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society for freshman class academic achievement, Phi Kappa Phi general academic honor society, Psi Chi honor society of psychology, Tau Beta Pi national engineering honor society and Upsilon Pi Epsilon computing and information systems honor society.<ref>{{cite web|work=Florida Institute of Technology|url=http://www.fit.edu/honors-societies/|title=Honors Societies|accessdate=June 24, 2011}}</ref>


==Notable people==
==Alumni==
<!---Changed to sortable table on 5-30-12--->
{{Main|List of Florida Institute of Technology people}}

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!style="background-color:#cfcfcf;" align="center" |Name!!Class Year!!Notability!!References
|-
|[[Richard Adams (inventor)|Richard Adams]]||1976||Inventor||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exoticsciences.com/ra_scrpbk/musicx.htm |title=Richmond, Leigh, "Computer hums its own music" Evening Times Melbourne FL Monday November 11, 1974, A1 |publisher=Exoticsciences.com |date=October 22, 2008 |accessdate=April 18, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|[[Lela E. Buis]]||1991||America author, poet and playwright||
|-
|[[Charles Craig Cannon|Charles C. Cannon]]||1976||[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|20px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] USA, (Ret)||
|-
|[[Albert Scott Crossfield]]||1982||[[United States Air Force|USAF]] [[Astronaut]], Honorary Doctorate of Science, 1982||
|-
|[[Ann E. Dunwoody]]||1987||[[File:US-O10 insignia.svg|40px]] [[General (United States)|General]] USA, M.S., First female four-star general in the military||
|-
|[[Wassim Michael Haddad]]||1987|| IEEE Fellow and Full Professor at [[Georgia Institute of Technology]], B.S./M.S./Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soliton.ae.gatech.edu/people/whaddad/|title=Dr. Wassim M. Haddad |publisher=Georgia Tech|accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Richard Hatch (Survivor contestant)|Richard Hatch]]||||Original winner of the [[CBS]] [[Survivor (U.S. TV series)|Survivor]] Television series||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0368746/bio |title=Biography for Richard Hatch |publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 30, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|[[Catharina Haynes]]||1983||Federal Judge||
|-
|[[James L. Herdt]]||1992||9th [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]]||
|-
|[[Larry L. Hereth]]||1992||Commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District of the [[United States Coast Guard]]||
|-
|[[Joan Higginbotham]]||1992||American engineer, [[NASA]] [[Astronaut]], M.S. Management Science, 1992, M.S. Space Systems, 1996||
|-
|[[Kathryn P. Hire]]||1991||[[NASA]] [[Astronaut]] ([[STS-90]])||
|-
|[[Galen B. Jackman]]||1983||[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|20px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] USA, (Ret). Chief of Legislative Liaison, [[U.S. Army]] ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hqda.army.mil/ocll/DOC/JackmanGalenB.doc |title=The Office of The Chief Legislative Liaison |publisher=Hqda.army.mil |accessdate=April 18, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|[[David A. King]]||1991||Director, [[NASA]] [[Marshall Space Flight Center]]||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2005/05-133.html |title=NASA – NASA'S Marshall Center Director David King Receives Presidential Rank Award – Nation's Highest Honor for Federal Service |publisher=Nasa.gov |accessdate=April 18, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|[[Prince Louis of Luxembourg]]||||Third son of [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke Henri]] (monarch of [[Luxembourg]], 2000–present). Studied Aeronautics and Aeronautical Management for two years (c.2009-2011)<!-- These dates based on cable (2009) and other sources (published 2010-11 implying study was at present time). Sources published 2012 use past tense "studied". --> at FIT.||<ref>{{cite web|title=Viewing cable 09LUXEMBOURG325, LUXEMBOURG SOLDIER DIES IN KOSOVO|url=http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/11/09LUXEMBOURG325.html|website=wikileaks.org|accessdate=12 June 2014|quote=NOTE: Prince Louis and his family are currently in the United States in F-visa status, while Prince Louis is studying at Florida Institute of Technology. END NOTE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Prince Louis taking to Florida skies|url=http://gpdhome.typepad.com/royalblognl_news_summary/2010/08/prince-louis-taking-to-florida-skies.html|website=royalblog.nl|accessdate=12 June 2014|date=3 August 2010|quote=Prince Louis...is studying Aeronautics and Aeronautical Management at teh Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Grand Ducal Family|url=http://lux-arazzi.blogspot.com/p/grand-ducal-family.html|website=Lux-arazzi|accessdate=12 June 2014|quote=After living and attending university in Florida for two years, the family now lives in London.}}</ref>
|-
|[[Stephen Lee Morgan]]||1980s||COO of CLS America||
|-
|[[Jim Quinn]]||1988||Engineer at [[Orange County Choppers]], B.S. in Mechanical Engineering||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orangecountychoppers.com/team |title=Team |publisher=Orange County Choppers |accessdate=April 18, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|[[Waleed a. Samkari]]||1988||[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|10px]] [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]]. Former director of the Jordanian Maintenance Corps||
|-
|[[Stephen R. Speed]]||1993||Former mayor of [[Dover, Delaware]]||
|-
|[[Felix Soto Toro]]||1990||[[Astronaut]] applicant, developed the advanced payload transfer measurement system for [[NASA]]||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/people/bios/space/soto_toro.html |title=NASA Quest > Space Team Online |publisher=Quest.arc.nasa.gov |accessdate=April 18, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|[[Tom Stuart (Mississippi politician)|Tom Stuart]]|| ||[[List of mayors of Meridian, Mississippi|mayor of Meridian]], [[Mississippi]], 1973 to 1977||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.franklincountytimes.com/2001/11/19/tom-stuart-former-mayor-dies/|title=Sheila Blackmon/Meridian Star, Tom Stuart, former mayor, dies|publisher=''Franklin County Times''|accessdate=June 5, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Tim Wakefield]]||||Drafted by professional baseball in his junior year||
|-
|[[Johnnie E. Wilson]]||1977||[[File:US-O10 insignia.svg|40px]] [[General (United States)|General]] USA, (Ret)||<ref>[http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/integrate/wilsonarticle.htm African-American Ascends from Private to Four-Star General]{{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sunita Williams]]||1995||[[NASA]] [[Astronaut]]||
|-
|[[George D. Zamka]]||1997||[[NASA]] [[Astronaut]] ([[STS-120]])||
|}


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 05:27, 24 November 2014

"Florida Tech" redirects here. For other uses, see Florida Tech (disambiguation).

Florida Institute of Technology
MottoAd Astra Per Scientiam
"To the stars through science."
TypePrivate
EstablishedSeptember 22, 1958
Endowment$54.5 million[1]
PresidentAnthony J. Catanese
ProvostT. Dwayne McCay
Academic staff
664[2]
Students8,985[2]
Undergraduates5,582[2]
Postgraduates3,403[2]
Address
150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL, USA 32901
,
Melbourne
,
Florida
,
United States

28°03′56.78″N 80°37′28.14″W / 28.0657722°N 80.6244833°W / 28.0657722; -80.6244833
CampusSmall city[2]
130 acres (.53 km²)[3]
ColorsCrimson   and Gray  [4]
NicknamePanthers
AffiliationsIndependent Colleges and Universities of Florida
MascotPanther
Websitehttp://fit.edu
File:Florida Tech logo.jpg

The Florida Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Florida Tech and FIT), is a private doctoral/research university in Melbourne, Florida.[5][6] Florida Tech has five academic divisions with emphases on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).[7] The university's 130-acre primary, residential campus is located near the Melbourne International Airport and the Florida Tech Research Park; it is about 50 miles from Kennedy Space Center and 75 miles from Orlando.[8][9]

The university was founded in 1958, as Brevard Engineering College, and has been known by its present name since 1966. In 2013, Florida Tech had an on-campus student body of 4,633, almost equally divided between graduate- and undergraduate-level students, with the plurality of them focusing their studies on engineering and the sciences.[3] Across the 2012-2013 academic year, the university served approximately 16,000 students in total.

Florida Tech is ranked among the best national doctoral-granting universities in the US [10] and the world's best universities.[11] The university has more than 60,000 alumni, including a National Teacher of the Year recipient, director of a NASA center, five astronauts, several astronaut candidates, the first female four-star general, two other four-star generals and nearly two dozen other generals, a 1992 Olympic medalist, a major league pitcher and others that serve as scientists, engineers, pilots, and managers in many high-technology enterprises.[3]

History

Miller Building

The Florida Institute of Technology was founded as Brevard Engineering College by Dr. Jerome P. Keuper in 1958.[12] In 1961, the university moved its location to Melbourne, Florida.[13] During the 1960's additional classroom and laboratory buildings, a library, the Denius Student Center, Hedgecock Gymnasium, Gleason Auditorium and several dormitories were constructed.[12][13] The university was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1964.[13] The university officially changed its name to Florida Institute of Technology in 1966.[12]

Historic sign from Florida Tech Alumni Association and Florida Department of State.

In 1972, the university launched its first off-campus program at the request of the United States Navy.[12][14]

The Evans Library was completed in the early 1984.[15] The following year the original library was renovated and dedicated as the Jerome P. Keuper Administration Building.[12] In 1988, the Homer R. Denius Student Center was renovated, the student plaza completed and the applied research laboratory building was acquired.[13] The Claude Pepper Institute for Aging and Therapeutic Research and Skurla Hall, home of the School of Aeronautics opened in 1990. In 1997, the university received a $50 million grant from the F. W. Olin Foundation.[16] An engineering and a life sciences building were opened in 1999 in result of the grant.[17][18]

Seven new residence halls were completed in 2003.[12] Each resident hall was named after one of the seven fallen astronauts of the Shuttle Columbia disaster and dedicated to their memory.[12] In 2005, the F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Center center opened.[12] Construction on the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research at Melbourne International Airport began in 2008.[19] The following year, the College of Business became the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research at the Melbourne International Airport, the Scott Center for Autism Treatment, the Harris Center for Science and Engineering and the Harris Institute for Information Assurance opened.[12]

The university established its football program in 2010.[20] The Panther Aquatic Center was opened a year later.[12] In 2011, the university partnered with the Brevard Art Museum and established it as the Foosaner Art Museum.[21][22]

Jensen Beach Campus

Florida Institute of Technology (Jensen Beach Campus), also known as School of Marine and Environmental Technology or (SOMET), was a specialized Florida Institute of Technology branch campus located on the former campus of Saint Joseph College of Florida on the Indian River Lagoon in Jensen Beach, Florida, approximately 50 miles south of the university’s main campus.[23] The campus attracted oceanography, underwater technology and other assorted marine biology students. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had more officers that are graduates of FIT in Jensen Beach than from any other campus or college in the country. The SOMET was transferred to the main campus and became the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences (DMES). The campus closed after the transition in 1986.

Campus

Florida Tech Panther

The university's 130-acre main campus is located in Melbourne, Florida which is known as the Space Coast of the Atlantic Ocean.[7] The university offers multiple student services, including tutoring, health service, and health insurance.[7] Florida Tech has six residence halls and three apartment style accommodations for on-campus living.[24] It also has five different dining locations.

Off-campus sites

Florida Tech offers specialized graduate degree programs through sites in Huntsville, Alabama, Fort Eustis, Virginia, Fort Monroe, Virginia, Fort Lee, Virginia, Alexandria, Virginia, Quantico, Virginia, Dover, New Jersey, Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, Lexington Park, Maryland, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Kennedy Space Center, Rockledge, Florida and Orlando, Florida.[25]

Academics

Student demographics

In fall 2013, Florida Tech enrolled 4,633 students at the main campus; 1,160 at off-campus locations; and 3,466 online for a total of 9,112 students.[3] The male to female ratio in the student body was 73:27. 69% of all students came from the United States, representing 47 states; 38% of those were from Florida and 31% of all students came from 101 other countries. 92% of new full-time freshmen had 3.0 or above high school GPA; SAT I average for freshmen is 1150, compared to the national average of 1010.

2013-2014 On Campus Enrollment Breakdown[3]
College of Engineering 55.34%
College of Science 15.07%
College of Aeronautics 8.42%
College of Business 10.28%
College of Psychology and Liberal Arts 9.68%
No College Designated 1.22%

Colleges

The university offers degrees in a wide variety of science and engineering disciplines, and is one of the few universities to offer an aviation degree. Florida Institute of Technology is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools(SACS). The Engineering programs are also accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The Computer Science program is accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board. Florida Tech’s chemistry program is accredited by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. Aeronautical Science and Aviation Management programs are accredited by the Council on Aviation Accreditation. The Clinical Psychology PsyD program is accredited by the American Psychological Association, and the graduate Behavior Analysis programs by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). The university is divided into five colleges: College of Aeronautics, College of Engineering, Nathan Bisk College of Business, College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, and College of Science.

Rankings

The Times Higher Education ranks Florida Tech as one of the top 200 Universities in the World, making it one of three universities in Florida ranked in the top 200.[11] The U.S. News & World Report ranks Florida Tech a first-tier national university and among the four best universities in Florida, joining University of Miami, University of Florida and Florida State University.[10] U.S. News & World Report ranks Florida Tech the second best private Florida university and #160 among all national universities. In 2013, based on research citations, Florida Tech was ranked #10 in the world by the Times Higher Education.[11]

Florida Tech was listed as #3 of the 20 fastest-growing campuses, 2000-2010, among private nonprofit research institutions in the Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac 2012.[26]

In 2012, Bloomberg Businessweek rated Florida Tech as the best Florida college in return on investment (ROI).[27] PayScale also rates Florida Tech highly in ROI, ranking it as the #2 best in Florida.[28] According to PayScale, Florida Tech graduates also receive the highest starting salaries and have the highest mid-career salaries among all Florida university graduates.

Barron's Guide rates Florida Tech a "Best Buy" in College Education.[3] Florida Tech is one of the top 13 technical institutions in engineering and one of the nation's top 18 technological institutions in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2009.[3] In 2009, Washington Monthly ranked Florida Tech's ROTC program first in nation and rated Florida Tech as the top private university in Florida; listing research impact as one of the ranking criteria.[29]

Academic rankings
National
Forbes[30]357
U.S. News & World Report[31]167
Washington Monthly[32]262
Global
THE[33]197

Research

As of 2012, Florida Tech had research sponsored projects valued over $94 million.[34] From 2009 to 2012, the number of Florida Tech faculty who serve as principal investigators increased by 100% including four recipients of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Career Awards.[34] During this time period, five new interdisciplinary research institutes were initiated that are the focal point for Florida Tech undergraduate and graduate research. These new research university institutes include the Indian River Lagoon Research Institute, Human-Centered Design Institute, Institute for Energy Systems, Institute for Marine Research, Institute for Materials Science & Nanotechnology and Institute for Research on Global Climate Change. Other research facilities include the Harris Institute for Assured Information, Institute for Computing and Information Systems, National Center for Hydrogen Research, Institute for Biological and Biomedical Sciences and the National Center for Small Business Information.

In the college of engineering, faculty performs research as part of numerous departmental laboratories and research groups. These include Robotics and Spatial Systems,[35] Laser, Optics, and Instrumentation Laboratory,[36] Wind and Hurricane Impact Research Laboratory,[37] Wireless Center of Excellence,[38] Information Characterization and Exploitation Laboratory,[39] BioComplex Laboratory,[40] Computer Vision Group,[41] Laboratory for Learning Research,[42] Software Evolution Laboratory,[43] Center for Software Testing Research,[44] and others.

Faculty and students in the Physics/Space Science department conduct research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, High Energy Physics (experimental particle physics), Lightning, Solid State and Condensed Matter Physics and Space and Magnetospheric Physics. In 2012, Florida Tech's endowment was approximately $49.6 million.

Athletics

Main article: Florida Tech Panthers
File:FloridaTechPanthers.png
Florida Tech's athletic logo

Florida Tech's athletic teams are known as the Panthers.[45] The school fields 22 sports, 11 each for men and women, at the NCAA Division II level and is a member of the Sunshine State Conference.[45] The sports include: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's crew, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, men's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming & diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track & field, and women's volleyball.[46] The university added the men's and women's track & field team to the athletics program in spring 2011.[47] The men's and women's swimming & diving teams were added in fall 2011 and men's lacrosse in Spring 2012.[48] In 2010, the university announced plans to create a football program that held its inaugural season in 2013, and went on to win its first game, its first homecoming game and its first bowl game.[49][50] The football team plays in the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference as an affiliate member.[51]

Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield attended Florida Tech and set the home run record in 1987 as a first baseman.[52][53] His number (3) was retired in 2006.[54]

Florida Tech won the NCAA Division II National Championship in Men's soccer in 1988 and 1991.[55]

Florida Tech's Daniela Iacobelli won the National NCAA Division II Woman's Golf Championship in 2007.[56]

Student life

On-campus housing

Florida Tech has seven traditional residence halls, an eight-building Southgate Apartments complex, the seven-building Columbia Village suites and the three-building Harris Village suites.

Student organizations

Student Union Building
Inside of the Homer Denius Student Union Building (1st Floor)

Florida Institute of Technology has 132 active student organizations on campus.[57] The university-sponsored student organizations, such as Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board, the Homecoming Committee, FITV (CCTV Channel 99 on campus), and The Crimson (student-run university newspaper) operate in primary university funding.[57] Some organizations are run by membership dues, such as the many fraternities and sororities on campus, as well as certain professional organizations like American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), IEEE and AIAA. Other organizations are operated via Student Activities Funding Committee funding, overseen by the Student Government Association Treasurer. Organizations like Residence Hall Association, ACM, Anime Club, and others are operated by SAFC funding. Arts, media, and performance organizations include: Amateur Radio Club, Belletrist, College Players, Dance Association, Film Society, FITV, Florida Tech Pep Band, The Crimson and WFIT.[57]

Students at Florida Tech have the opportunity to participate in a number of club and intramural sports in addition to the varsity athletics programs.[58] The university offers intramural sports Flag Football, Ultimate Frisbee, martial arts, paintball, Disc Golf and Judo.[58] Sport clubs include ice hockey, soccer, table tennis, Collegiate wrestling and baseball.[57] The Florida Tech ice hockey program is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, playing at that organization's Division 3 level. The Florida Tech ice hockey program is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, playing at that organization's Division 3 level.[59]

Greek life

Florida Tech has a number of Greek life opportunities for students. The university's fraternities include Alpha Tau Omega, Lambda Chi Alpha, Chi Phi, Delta Tau Delta, Lambda Chi Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Lambda Phi, Sigma Tau Gamma and Tau Kappa Epsilon.[60] Its sororities s include Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta and Phi Sigma Sigma.[60] Florida Tech also has the Alpha Gamma Rho Chapter of the Nation's Largest Service Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega. Squamish, a co-ed fraternal organization, also exists on campus, although it is not Greek life affiliated.[61]

Honor societies

The university offers a number of national and international Honor Societies including the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, Chi Epsilon a Civil Engineering Students honor society, Delta Mu Delta business honor society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society for freshman class academic achievement, Phi Kappa Phi general academic honor society, Psi Chi honor society of psychology, Tau Beta Pi national engineering honor society and Upsilon Pi Epsilon computing and information systems honor society.[62]

Alumni

Name Class Year Notability References
Richard Adams 1976 Inventor [63]
Lela E. Buis 1991 America author, poet and playwright
Charles C. Cannon 1976 Major General USA, (Ret)
Albert Scott Crossfield 1982 USAF Astronaut, Honorary Doctorate of Science, 1982
Ann E. Dunwoody 1987 General USA, M.S., First female four-star general in the military
Wassim Michael Haddad 1987 IEEE Fellow and Full Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S./M.S./Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering [64]
Richard Hatch Original winner of the CBS Survivor Television series [65]
Catharina Haynes 1983 Federal Judge
James L. Herdt 1992 9th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Larry L. Hereth 1992 Commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District of the United States Coast Guard
Joan Higginbotham 1992 American engineer, NASA Astronaut, M.S. Management Science, 1992, M.S. Space Systems, 1996
Kathryn P. Hire 1991 NASA Astronaut (STS-90)
Galen B. Jackman 1983 Major General USA, (Ret). Chief of Legislative Liaison, U.S. Army [66]
David A. King 1991 Director, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center [67]
Prince Louis of Luxembourg Third son of Grand Duke Henri (monarch of Luxembourg, 2000–present). Studied Aeronautics and Aeronautical Management for two years (c.2009-2011) at FIT. [68][69][70]
Stephen Lee Morgan 1980s COO of CLS America
Jim Quinn 1988 Engineer at Orange County Choppers, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering [71]
Waleed a. Samkari 1988 Brigadier General. Former director of the Jordanian Maintenance Corps
Stephen R. Speed 1993 Former mayor of Dover, Delaware
Felix Soto Toro 1990 Astronaut applicant, developed the advanced payload transfer measurement system for NASA [72]
Tom Stuart mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, 1973 to 1977 [73]
Tim Wakefield Drafted by professional baseball in his junior year
Johnnie E. Wilson 1977 General USA, (Ret) [74]
Sunita Williams 1995 NASA Astronaut
George D. Zamka 1997 NASA Astronaut (STS-120)

See also

References

  1. ^ "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2013 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2012 to FY 2013" (PDF). 2013 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowment Results. National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund Institute. January 28, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e "College Navigator". U.S. Department of Education. Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "2013-2014 Fact Card". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  4. ^ "Graphic Identity Manual" (PDF). Florida Institute of Technology. February 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  5. ^ "Florida Institute of Technology". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "Florida Institute of Technology". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Florida Institute of Technology". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
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  11. ^ a b c "Times Higher Education World Rankings". Times Higher Education. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
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  13. ^ a b c d "Florida Tech History". March 12, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AT MELBOURNE, FLORIDA". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  15. ^ "History of the Evans Library (1984 - 2009)". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  16. ^ William H. Honan (June 6, 1997). "Largest Gift Ever Endows a New College". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  17. ^ Lynne Bumpus-Hoope (October 15, 1999). "Florida Tech Gets Ready To Show Off 2 New High-tech Buildings". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  18. ^ Lynne Bumpus-Hooper (June 4, 1997). "$50 Million Gift Is Big Vote On Future Of Florida Tech". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  19. ^ David Kearns (March 5, 2009). "FIT's Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training now open". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  20. ^ "GSC Adds Florida Tech To Its Football Membership". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  21. ^ "Foosaner Art Museum History". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
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  33. ^ "World University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education. September 27, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
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  35. ^ "Robotics and Spatial Systems Lab". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  36. ^ "Laser, Optics, and Instrumentation Laboratory". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  37. ^ "Wind and Hurricane Impact Research Laboratory". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  38. ^ "Wireless Center of Excellence". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  39. ^ "Information Characterization and Exploitation (ICE) Laboratory". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  40. ^ "BioComplex Laboratory". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  41. ^ "Computer Vision Group". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  42. ^ "Laboratory for Learning Research". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  43. ^ "Software Evolution Lab". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  44. ^ "Center for Software Testing Research". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
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  50. ^ "Florida Tech Football 2014 Season Tickets Now On Sale". March 20, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  51. ^ DeCotis, M. (June 16, 2011). "Englehart Florida Tech Panthers' first football coach". Florida Today. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  52. ^ "Florida Institute of Technology Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  53. ^ Matthew Pouliot (February 17, 2012). "Tim Wakefield ranks with Red Sox legends". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  54. ^ "Fenway's Best Players". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
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  56. ^ Parsons, Mike (May 13, 2007). Iacobelli's eagles land NCAA title. Florida Today.
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  58. ^ a b "Student organizations". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
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  60. ^ a b "Chapters at Florida Tech". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
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  62. ^ "Honors Societies". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  63. ^ "Richmond, Leigh, "Computer hums its own music" Evening Times Melbourne FL Monday November 11, 1974, A1". Exoticsciences.com. October 22, 2008. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  64. ^ "Dr. Wassim M. Haddad". Georgia Tech. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  65. ^ "Biography for Richard Hatch". IMDb. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  66. ^ "The Office of The Chief Legislative Liaison". Hqda.army.mil. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  67. ^ "NASA – NASA'S Marshall Center Director David King Receives Presidential Rank Award – Nation's Highest Honor for Federal Service". Nasa.gov. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  68. ^ "Viewing cable 09LUXEMBOURG325, LUXEMBOURG SOLDIER DIES IN KOSOVO". wikileaks.org. Retrieved June 12, 2014. NOTE: Prince Louis and his family are currently in the United States in F-visa status, while Prince Louis is studying at Florida Institute of Technology. END NOTE
  69. ^ "Prince Louis taking to Florida skies". royalblog.nl. August 3, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2014. Prince Louis...is studying Aeronautics and Aeronautical Management at teh Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.
  70. ^ "The Grand Ducal Family". Lux-arazzi. Retrieved June 12, 2014. After living and attending university in Florida for two years, the family now lives in London.
  71. ^ "Team". Orange County Choppers. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  72. ^ "NASA Quest > Space Team Online". Quest.arc.nasa.gov. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  73. ^ "Sheila Blackmon/Meridian Star, Tom Stuart, former mayor, dies". Franklin County Times. Retrieved June 5, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  74. ^ African-American Ascends from Private to Four-Star General[dead link]

Further reading

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