2019 NSU Fact book

36 NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Historical Highlights • The U.S. Public Health Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded a three-year, $4.2-million grant to a consortium spearheaded by Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-COM), in partnership with Broward Community College. NSU’s Center for Bioterrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness will pre- pare the local health care workforce to react efficiently and skillfully. 2006 • The new, state-of-the-art, 366,000-square-foot University Center was dedicated. The facility features three NCAA competition courts in the main arena, as well as two intramural courts, group fitness and instruc- tion rooms, cardio and weight training areas, squash courts, a rock climbing wall, and The Flight Deck. • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) signed an agree- ment with Nova Southeastern University, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Florida, creating the South Florida Science Consortium. The consortium will facilitate collaboration among the four research facilities of the Greater Everglades Restoration—the largest environmental restoration in the world and the largest public works project in U.S. history. 2007 • NSU’s newest residence hall, The Commons, opened its doors to students on the Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus. This new living and learning facility has a capacity of 525 beds, configured in single and double rooms. It also has 5 classrooms, 2 conference rooms, 16 community living rooms, and 16 study rooms. The Office of Residential Life and Housing is located at The Commons, as well. • The U.S. Department of Education awarded NSU a $2.8-million Title V—Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions grant for its Fischler School of Education and Human Services undergraduate program. The grant, paid over a five-year period, will provide sup- port to develop research-based programs targeted at increasing Hispanic student engagement and leading to academic success. • Shannon Sawyer (softball); Teofilo Cubillas, Jr. (soccer); David Riley (basketball); Abraham S. Fischler (NSU president emeritus); and Charles “Sonny” Hansley (former NSU athletic director and head coach) were enshrined in the inaugural NSU Athletics Hall of Fame class. • The Rolling Hills Hotel was purchased for conversion to graduate student housing. 2008 • The Rolling Hills Graduate Apartment Complex, desig- nated for graduate student housing, opened its doors to students. The complex can accommodate up to 373 graduate students in fully furnished, single and quad rooms. • Nova Southeastern University signed a merger agree- ment with the Museum of Art—Fort Lauderdale. The merger provides continuing opportunities for apprecia- tion of the arts by the general public, and new educa- tional and collaborative opportunities for NSU faculty members and students. • The University Aquatic Center opened. The center has a 10-lane, 50-meter pool with state-of-the-art starting blocks and a dive well. The center will host swimming competitions for the NSU University School swim team and provide practice facilities. The center will also be hosting NCAA team practices and competitions. 2009 • The University Center was renamed in honor of busi- nessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Don Taft, in recognition of the university’s largest single gift to date, received from The Taft Foundation. • A 19-foot, bronze mako shark sculpture on top of a 10-foot-high water fountain was placed at the entrance to the newly christened Don Taft University Center. This sculpture of the university’s mascot was commissioned by NSU students and created by renowned wildlife sculptor Kent Ullberg. • NSU was one of 22 Hispanic-serving institutions nation- ally, and one of 3 in Florida, to receive the first Title V grants ever awarded by the U.S. Department of Education that are focused specifically on graduate