Nova Southeastern University: A Comprehensive Overview

Nova Southeastern University (NSU), a private research university with a main campus in Davie, Florida, has a rich history and a strong presence in higher education. Chartered by the state of Florida on December 4, 1964, NSU has grown into a comprehensive institution offering a wide array of programs and contributing significantly to research and community engagement.

Historical Development

The university, originally named Nova University of Advanced Technology, was chartered on December 4, 1964. A significant turning point occurred on June 23, 1970, when the board of trustees voted to enter into a federation with the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). Alexander Schure, PhD, the president of NYIT, became chancellor of Nova University, while Abraham S. Fischler assumed the role of president. The university charter was amended, dropping "of Advanced Technology" from its corporate name.

In 1972, NSU introduced its first off-campus course of study in education. The university opened a law school in 1974, with an inaugural class of 175 students. The law school was named after Shepard Broad, one of the university's founders. That same year, the university began offering evening courses on campus for undergraduates and changed its name to Nova University.

The early 1980s saw a significant financial boost with a $16 million gift from Leo Goodwin Sr. In 1981, a group of osteopathic physicians established the Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in North Miami Beach, aiming to enhance medical education in the region. Rapid expansion led to the addition of new programs, including pharmacy and optometry.

During the 1990s, both Nova University and Southeastern University expanded, adding a dentistry program and increasing distance education programs. In 1994, Nova University merged with Southeastern University of the Health Sciences to form Nova Southeastern University (NSU), adding the colleges of osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, optometry, and allied health to the university. Following the merger, many of the health programs relocated to their current location on the Davie campus.

Campus Development and Facilities

The William and Norma Horvitz Administration Building, a two-story 62,000-square-foot (5,800 m2) postmodern structure, was built at a cost of $3 million. This building houses the office of the president and numerous other administration departments. In 2001, the Alvin Sherman Library for Research and Information Technology Center was completed, serving as the largest public library facility in the state of Florida.

In 2004, the Carl DeSantis Building opened, housing the H. In 2006, the 344,600-square-foot (32,010 m2) University Center opened, which includes a 5,400-seat arena, a fitness center, a performance theater, art gallery, a food court, and a student lounge. Five residence halls on the main campus serve undergraduate, graduate, health professions, and law students, with a capacity for housing 720 students in approximately 207,000 square feet (19,200 m2) of living space.

Academics and Programs

Through its 14 colleges, the university awards associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees. The university offers 37 degrees at the doctoral level, and master's degrees are offered in 58 subjects. NSU is among the universities offering both M.D. and D. O. medical programs. NSU is the top provider of physicians in Florida (counting D.O.s, M.D.s only; more than double that of University of Miami, which is second in Florida).

Campus Locations

The main campus consists of 314 acres (127 hectares) and is located in Davie, Florida. The main campus includes administrative offices, classroom facilities, library facilities (including the Alvin Sherman Library), health clinics, mental health clinics, Don Taft University Center, residence halls, cafeterias, computer labs, the bookstore, athletic facilities, and parking facilities. The campus is home to both the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which confers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, and the College of Allopathic Medicine, which confers the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. This makes Nova Southeastern University the first institution in the Southeast to grant both M.D. and D.O. The main campus hosts NSU University School, a fully accredited, independent, college preparatory school that serves grades pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

The Dania Beach campus is located on 10 acres (4.0 hectares) in the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park and houses the NSU Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center. The Dania Beach campus includes the Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Research.

Read also: The success of Nova SBE

The North Miami Beach campus, also known as the Southern campus, is located on 18 acres (7.3 hectares) and serves as the main location for the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. The College of Education is named after Abraham S. Fischler, who served as the second president of Nova University (prior to merging with Southeastern University).

The Tampa Bay regional campus is a newly constructed 27-acre (11 ha), 325,000-square-foot (30,200 m2) campus located in Clearwater, Florida. Construction began in March 2018 and was completed in August 2019. The Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Family Foundation committed to a $200 million donation to support the development of the campus. The former Tampa Bay regional campus was previously located in Brandon, Florida. Approximately 1,200 students will be registered for classes during the Fall 2019 semester.

In 2014, NSU opened a new campus in Puerto Rico, with master and doctoral programs.

Student Life

In Fall 2024, 20,910 students were attending Nova Southeastern University, including undergraduates, graduate students, and professional programs. About 71% of undergraduate students are female, and 29% are male.

There are a total of 20 student government associations that form PanSGA with the addition of the College of Allopathic Medicine. The Nova Southeastern University's Undergraduate Student Government Association is the primary organization for the government of the undergraduate student body. NSU's student-run newspaper, The Current, is published weekly. The school-sponsored, student-run radio station, "WNSU Radio X", broadcasts in the evenings and weekends on 88.5 FM WKPX, a station owned by Broward County Public Schools. Radio X was established in 1990 and began broadcasting over WKPX in 1998. Sharks United Television (SUTV) is a student-run media outlet at NSU.

About 26% of students at NSU live in university owned or operated housing. Rolling Hills Apartments is a renovated residence hall that was originally the "Best Western Rolling Hills Resort." This residence hall is for graduate and doctoral students.

Lecture Series

The Distinguished Lecture Series offered by NSU's Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship provides students, faculty, and interested members of the business community with the opportunity to get a glimpse into the minds of distinguished lecturers. The Life 101 series brings leaders from business, entertainment, politics, and athletics to Nova Southeastern University to share their life accomplishments and "life lessons" learned. From 2003 to 2018, the Farquhar Honors College hosted the Distinguished Speakers Series, which brought experts and notable persons from diverse fields to the campus.

Athletics

The Nova Southeastern University athletic teams are called the Sharks. Since joining the NCAA in 2002, the NSU Sharks have produced several NCAA All-Region selections and NCAA All-Americans and have been nationally ranked in numerous sports. The Sharks have won 14 NCAA national championships, including clinching the 2023 Men's Basketball NCAA Division II Championship. The NSU Sharks have won four straight championships in women's golf from 2009 to 2012.

Alumni

NSU has produced over 216,000 alumni from all 50 US states and over 115 countries worldwide. Alumni work in various fields, including academia, government, research, and professional sports.

Research and Innovation

NSU is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities â Very High research activity" and as a "community engaged" university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. As of January 2025, more than 250 research projects are underway at NSU. NSU Health David and Cathy Husman Neuroscience Institute, which includes the Cathy J. The Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine aims to advance the science of treatment for individuals with neuro-inflammatory diseases via integration of education, research, and patient care.

NSU's Center for Collaborative Research (CCR) is a 215,000-square-foot, six-story facility equipped with advanced wet and dry labs, high-performance computing environments, and access to Florida LambdaRail, designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration in health care, bioinformatics, technology, cybersecurity, and business. The CCR houses multiple research institutes focusing on cancer research, cell therapy, neuro-immune medicine, and ocean sciences, connecting researchers, students, and industry partners to develop innovative solutions. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command-Army Research Lab, a team of NSU researchers is studying how to drive tech-savviness through targeted skill assessments and training. NSU faculty are funded by extramural grants of over $107 million for various projects to advance research works, academics.

NSU Health

NSU Health is a university-affiliated health care network that provides comprehensive, patient-centered care at the Fort Lauderdale-Davie campus and across Florida. NSU Health leverages the university's cross-disciplinary research, translational approaches, and unique academic environment to offer integrated treatments to patients of all ages.

Broward College Partnership

Broward College students can benefit from an agreement between the College and NOVA Southeastern University (NSU). Broward College PHPS certificate programs are designed for those who already have a bachelorâs degree and are seeking a pathway into graduate professional health science programs at NSU. For students to be offered an admission interview for the NSU Pharm.D. program they must complete a Pre-Health Professional Studies (PHPS) Certificate from the College with a minimum GPA of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and successfully complete or are in progress of completing all admission requirements and all application procedures for the NSU Pharm.D. Broward College students who complete a PHPS Certificate may be required to complete additional courses, based upon NSUâs required courses and academic assessment of the studentâs transcripts, in order to satisfy the prerequisites of the Pharm.D. NSU representatives will be on the Broward College campus for visits as well as virtual information sessions to provide more information about the Pharm.D.

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