Florida International University (FIU) History and Academics

History

The history of Florida International University (FIU) dates back to 1943, when then-Senator Ernest Graham presented the initial proposal for the creation of a public institution of higher learning in South Florida to the state legislature. Although Senator Graham’s bill did not pass, he was persistent in presenting the proposal to his colleagues, counselling them on the state’s need for its own university. Senator Graham felt that the creation of a public university was absolutely necessary in order to serve the increasing population of the city.

Florida Senator Robert M. Haverfield introduced Senate Bill 711 in 1964. The bill instructed the Board of Regents and the state Board of Education to start the process for the establishment of a state university in Miami. Governor W. Haydon Burns signed the bill into law in June 1965, thus marking Florida International University’s official founding.

The Board of Regents appointed the founding president of FIU, Charles “Chuck” Perry, as FIU’s founding president in July 1969 after conducting a national search. At just 32 years of age, Perry was the youngest president in the State University System’s record and at that time, he was also the youngest university president in the nation. Perry went on to recruit 3 co-founders, Donald McDowell, Nick Sileo and Butler Waugh. The founders located FIU’s campus on Tamiami Airport’s original site. The airport’s deserted air traffic control tower became Florida International University’s first building. The tower initially had no drinking water, no phone and no furniture. Charles Perry made a decision that the tower should NEVER be demolished, the building still remains on FIU campus, where it is referred to as the the Tower Building, Public Safety Tower, and Ivory Tower. The building is also the former site of the Florida International University Police Department.

Videos

Information Summary

Ranks 13th in Florida and 367th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	89.0
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$23,506
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	27 / 1260
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	27 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	90% / 87%
Enrollment Total (all students)	57,942

Academics

Programs Offered

Florida International University offers students the opportunity to earn degrees in 191 academic programs; FIU also offers 82 master’s degree programs, 74 baccalaureate programs, 30 doctoral degree programs, 2 professional programs and 3 specialist programs in its 26 schools & colleges. At FIU, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in many different areas.

Accreditation

Florida International University is accredited to award baccalaureate degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SAC).

Most Popular Fields of Study

Gallery

Admissions

FIU seeks students who have a solid educational background along with ideal test scores. Applicants who wish to be accepted into Florida International University should meet the following admission requirements:

Applicants must graduate from an accredited high school or present their GED

Applicants must complete 18 academic units in an institution of higher learning’s preparatory curriculum. The distribution of the 18 units is as follows: 4 units of English (3 units should include a reasonable writing component), 4 units of maths (algebra I or even higher), 3 units of natural science (2 with labs), 3 units of social sciences, 2 units of similar foreign language and 2 units of academic electives.

For applicants who are Florida high school graduates, FIU honors the new 3-year 18 credit institution preparatory program and the conventional 4-year 24 credit standard program

Applicants should submit authorized SAT I (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or ACT (American College Test) scores. In order for applicants to have their SAT I scores sent to Florida International University, they should use the institution’s College Board SAT I code number, available at www.collegeboard.org. Applicants can have their ACT scores sent to Florida International University by simply contacting the American College Testing program www.act.org.

Financial Aid

Florida International University offers its students the opportunity to receive financial assistance in order to get an education that will open doors in their chosen careers and provide other wonderful opportunities.

In order for students to qualify for financial aid at FIU, they will need to meet the following standard eligibility prerequisites: applicants must demonstrate financial need; applicants must be United States citizens or an eligible non-citizens; applicants must be signed up with Selective Service if necessary; applicants must not be in default on any prior student loan or be owing a refund on a prior federal financial aid award that he or she received at any institute; applicants must be enrolled in a qualified course of study – some financial aid programs are only available to students studying full-time; applicants must maintain an acceptable academic progress.

Please Note: Additional requirement may apply, depending on the financial aid program awarded to the student.

Sources of Financial Aid

Financial assistance comes from a variety of agencies to assist students meet the expenses of getting a college education—state, federal and local governments, private organizations, individuals, and community organizations. Financial aid includes gift aid, which comes in form of scholarships and grants; as well as student loans and work-study programs.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4309th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Florida.

Students

Students who wish to live on campus will be glad to know that FIU offers quality campus housing. Arrangements are even in progress to acquire Miami Fairgrounds’ land in order to construct a housing and entertainment mini city, which will have four to five housing towers, 2 new parking garages, a shopping complex in between the Wertheim Performing Arts Center and the Florida International University Stadium.

Students can have a great time participating in Greek life on FIU campus. Florida International University has more than thirty fraternities and sororities which are grouped into 4 governing councils: NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council), IFC (Inter-fraternity Council), MGC (Multicultural Greek Council) and PC (Panhellenic Council).

FIU Student Superstitions and Legends

Florida International University has a multitude of traditions from its student spirit groups, student spirit events and alumni association occasions. The institution’s largest student spirit group is the Panther Rage, which can be seen at every athletics event.

Other Florida International University traditions are not related to spirit groups:

Every semester, hundreds of FIU students line up in order to spin the large cube that is in front of Deuxieme Miason building because it is said to give good luck in tests and examinations to all those spin it.

The Turtle Pond, located between the Green Library and the Ryder Business Building is where the FIU’s Kissing Bridge tradition takes place. Legend is, if one kisses another on the bridge, that person will stay with the other person forever!

The Green Library’s top floor is said to be haunted by a friendly ghost.

Another FIU superstition that new students will find interesting deals with the seal that is engraved in front of the Graham Center on the FIU main campus, and the seal that is engraved in the WUC at the FIU campus located in Biscayne Bay. It has been said that stepping on the seals will delay a student’s graduation for several years, or reduce the student’s chance of graduating at all! That is why even on very crowded days, students at FIU are known to go around the seals in order to avoid stepping on them!

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

FIU has 17 varsity athletics teams known as the Golden Panthers. The name of their mascot is Roary the Panther. Blue and gold are the athletic colors of the Golden Panthers. The FIU Golden Panthers participate in all NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference sports, excluding men’s soccer, for which the school participates as an affiliate member in Conference USA.

Three major sporting facilities serve as home venues for the FIU teams’ athletics.

Additional School Information

Florida International University has been used as the set of many different films, music videos and TV shows. Miami Vice,The Fix, and Burn Notice are just some of the productions that have been shot at Florida International University.

Bibliography

College Prowler. ”Florida International University”. 2011.

Campus Explorer, Inc. ”Florida International University School Description”. 2011.

Florida International University website. ”Admission Requirements”. 2011.

Lianza. ”FIU to Graduate one of Its Youngest Students”. News at FIU. 2011.

Florida International University