In 1964, a progressive group of men and women united to establish an academic institution that would break new ground in educational excellence and community service. Through the years the pioneering spirit of those founders has remained strong within the university. Today, Nova Southeastern University enters its 40th year of existence from a position of strength as the nation's 6th largest independent institution of higher education, with more than 76,000 alumni and has more than 25,000 students enrolled in classes.

Since I began my tenure as president of Nova Southeastern University more than seven years ago, we have remained steadfast in our goal: to continue to develop and refine quality educational programs that prepare students for leadership positions and the emerging challenges of the 21st century.

This is an especially exciting time for our university, as many of the dreams and projects we have envisioned are coming into reality. The Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, a $43 million, state-of-the art joint-use facility located on our campus is Florida 's largest library. With its high-tech capabilities and its versatility as an educational, research-oriented, and cultural hub, this new library has brought NSU to a whole new level of excellence.

Last year we realized another dream as we opened the Jim and Jan Moran Family Center Village. Our Family Center houses the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies, which has long been recognized as a role model for early education programs nationwide. In its new home, the Mailman Segal Institute, along with the adjacent Baudhuin Preschool, continues to impact children and families throughout South Florida like never before.

In early 2004, we opened the Carl DeSantis Building, home to the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship and the Graduate School of Computer and Informational Sciences. Located on our 300-acre Main Campus, this has given business students and faculty increased access to technology, resources and space, and has served as host to numerous South Florida business lectures and conferences.

This spring we broke ground for our University Center, due to open in winter of 2006. The University Center is designed to be four facilities in one. It will be a sports arena with retractable seating where our NCAA Division II teams will play; a wellness and fitness center for students to enjoy; NSU's student union and community center; and finally, it will be a performing and visual arts venue. This multi-use facility will redefine NSU's relationship with our students, our distinguished faculty, the NSU administration and staff, and the South Florida community at-large.

All of these projects have or will expand the resources available to our students, faculty, staff and administration. They will also strengthen our bonds with the people, businesses, and organizations throughout the community we serve.

As an institution of higher learning, NSU strives to be a valuable part of the communities it serves. In addition to career-specific technical knowledge and skills, we work to instill the qualities of compassion, dedication to service and commitment to community in all of our students.

At the same time, we have been successfully educating and preparing our students for the dynamic, technology-intensive and the highly competitive workplace of the future. As the university continues to make technological upgrades, it works closely with its colleges, centers, and schools, in an effort to nurture and sustain research and enable them to make technological advances of their own. All of this is accomplished within a multidisciplinary academic environment that promotes mutual respect and meaningful interaction across the disciplines.

Our synergistic, multidisciplinary learning environment depends on the continued commitment of each of us, and allows us to continue to provide the highest quality and most comprehensive education to dedicated men and women, wherever they are located.

Everyone associated with this university can take pride in the excellence we have achieved thus far, and look forward to a very exciting future. While we have done so much so quickly, we are still young and growing. We continue to seek and implement ways to better ourselves every day. And we aim to surpass even our own high standards of excellence in academics, research, technology and community service. Excellence is our standard.

Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D.
President

Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D.
NSU President

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