Notable Summer Highlights

I extend a warm welcome to those who have been away for all or part of the summer, and I welcome everyone to the new academic year. We are upbeat about the strength of our fall enrollment and look toward one of the largest entering classes in decades.

Over the summer we gained a wonderful aquatic center and elsewhere on campus it’s been a summer of refurbishment. The Freshmen Advising Center in Wood Hall was completed in May. Now we have a central location to provide our newest students with any extra support they may require.

The design for the Evans Dining space is being finalized and work will continue into the semester. When finished, it will be a place for student clubs and organizations to meet as well as a student lounge and study hall. Construction has begun on Florida Tech Commons on the west side of Babcock Street, and we hope to move some of our offices and departments in by mid-2012.

Athletics-wise, we hired a head football coach and held our first football camp for youths. Also new are swimming, starting in October, and lacrosse, to start in spring. At the Royal Henley Regatta on the Thames, we beat Cambridge University and gained incredible pride in our Men’s 8 Team.

The university hosted many events, camps and visitors over the summer, including 20 university students from the Republic of China (Taiwan) for an American Studies Institute.

A notable summer highlight was, of course, the university’ merging of the Brevard Art Museum, and a $1 million gift for what is now the FOOSANER ART MUSEUM. Look for some exciting developments here. 2011–2012 promises to offer many other interesting opportunities for our campus. I wish everyone a great year!