Organization
Florida Institute of Technology is an accredited, coeducational, independently controlled and supported university. It is committed to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and research in the sciences, engineering, high-tech fields, business, psychology, liberal arts, aviation and related disciplines, as well as providing the challenges that motivate students to reach their full academic and professional potential. Today, over 9,400 students are enrolled in programs on and off campus, and online. More than 5,000 students attend class on the Melbourne campus and more than 1,000 at Florida Tech’s off-campus sites, while more than 3,000 students are enrolled in online programs. Florida Tech offers over 200 degree programs in science, engineering, aviation, business, education, humanities, psychology and communication. Included are doctoral degrees offered in 26 disciplines and 100 degrees at the master’s level.
Because of the moderate size of the student body and the university’s dedicated faculty and staff, a student at Florida Tech is recognized as an individual. Acting as individuals or as members of student organizations, students are encouraged to express their opinions on ways in which academic programs and student life might be made better for all. An active student government and student court play a meaningful part in matters affecting student life.
Many students enrolled in graduate programs, as well as undergraduates, take part in sponsored research programs and make significant contributions to project results. Florida Tech houses a number of research institutes and centers that, in collaboration with academic departments, aid in the students’ training. These institutes and centers are described more fully under “Research” in this section.
The university is organized into six academic units: the College of Aeronautics, Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, College of Science and the Human-Centered Design Institute.
The College of Aeronautics offers bachelor’s degrees in aeronautical science, aviation administration (off-site), aviation management and aviation meteorology, each with flight and nonflight options, and the bachelor of arts in aviation management (online). The college offers the Master of Science in Aviation (MSA) in airport development and management, and applied aviation safety on the Melbourne campus, and the MSA aviation management and aviation safety online. There are two master of science programs offered by the college: aviation human factors and human factors in aeronautics (online). The college offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation Sciences in one of twelve aviation-related specializations.
The Nathan M. Bisk College of Business includes the Department of Extended Studies and its off-campus sites; and offers online associate degrees in accounting, business administration, healthcare management and marketing; bachelor’s degrees on the Melbourne campus in business administration (variety of specialized areas), business and environmental studies and information systems, and online in accounting and in business administration (variety of specialized areas). The master of business administration is offered on campus, at off-campus sites and online in a variety of specialized areas. The master of science in information technology is offered online in the areas of cybersecurity, database administration and enterprise resource planning. Degrees offered off-campus through the Department of Extended Studies provide a number of specialized master’s degrees, and the master and doctor of business administration. Extended studies students may also take some of their courses online through the department’s Virtual Site.
The College of Engineering includes eight departments: biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science and cybersecurity, electrical and computer engineering, engineering systems, marine and environmental systems, and mechanical and aerospace engineering. Programs offered in addition to those included in the department names are biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, coastal zone management, computer information systems, construction management, earth remote sensing, engineering management, environmental resource management, environmental science, geological oceanography, information assurance, meteorology, ocean engineering, physical oceanography and software engineering.
The College of Psychology and Liberal Arts includes the School of Arts and Communication, the School of Behavior Analysis and the School of Psychology and the military science program (Army ROTC). The college offers bachelor’s degrees in applied behavior analysis, communication, humanities, forensic psychology and psychology, and master’s degrees in applied behavior analysis, global strategic communication, industrial/organizational psychology and organizational behavior management. Doctoral degrees are awarded in behavior analysis, clinical psychology and industrial/organizational psychology. In addition to the programs offered on campus, the college offers associate degrees in applied psychology, liberal arts and criminal justice and bachelor’s degrees in applied psychology and criminal justice through Florida Tech University Online, and the master of arts degree in professional behavior analysis in a combination of online and on-site study and practice.
The College of Science is composed of the departments of biological sciences, chemistry, education and interdisciplinary studies, mathematical sciences, and physics and space sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are offered in all of these areas and in applied mathematics, biochemistry, biomathematics, interdisciplinary science and sustainability studies. Master’s degrees are offered in applied mathematics, biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, conservation technology, education (also including educational technology, elementary science, environmental, mathematics and science education), interdisciplinary science, operations research, physics, space sciences and teaching. Advanced degrees include the Specialist in Education, and doctoral degrees in applied mathematics, biological sciences, chemistry, mathematics education, operations research, physics, science education and space sciences.
The School of Human-Centered Design, Innovation & Art offers master’s and doctoral degrees in human-centered design, and is the university’s newest degree-granting division.
The Evans Library and Learning Commons provides information resources and assistance to students and researchers in all Florida Tech disciplines, in a welcoming environment, in-person and online.
Open study spaces, a teaching auditorium, and reservable multimedia rooms encourage collaborative learning, and our technology lending program enables students to access, share and present information campus-wide. The Applied Computing Center on the second floor offers a 50-computer lab complete with high-speed Internet access, digital video processing, and a full suite of academic and statistical analysis software. The Academic Support Center in the library pavilion offer’s tutoring services and study groups invaluable to student success.
Bibliographic resources include over 100 databases with access to journal articles, eBooks, conference proceedings, and other scholarly periodicals; curriculum-focused print and multimedia collections; and government documents provided via participation in the Federal Depository Library Program. The Harry P. Weber University Archives and Historical Timeline document Florida Tech’s history, and special collections include the papers of Edwin A. Link, Major General Bruce Medaris and poet laureate Edmund Skellings. Florida Tech researchers’ scholarly papers, theses and dissertations are collected and distributed through the open-access Scholarship Repository at Florida Tech.
Librarians and staff guide students through the research process with expertise, and offer reference service and research assistance both in the library and online via chat and email. Course-integrated, for-credit, and informal instruction is offered year-round by dedicated instruction librarians, and a Graduate Research Workshop is available each fall and spring, both on campus and on the library website.
Florida Tech University Online is the partnership between Florida Tech and University Alliance, whose mission is to prepare adult students, wherever they may be, for rewarding and productive professional careers in a work environment that is increasingly global in scope, driven by rapidly changing technology and focused on quality. In pursuit of this mission, Florida Tech University Online seeks to provide students with the finest possible education using the most appropriate delivery technology. Florida Tech University Online offers an education reflective of current best practices and taught by instructors who are fully qualified academically and by the virtue of professional practice. The partnership provides nontraditional students invaluable online access to a quality education.
Through the partnership, Florida Tech brings the classroom to the student with instructor-led, interactive programs that offer the same high-quality programs online that are offered to on-campus students. Associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees can be earned anytime, anywhere. The superior interactive delivery allows easy work-life balance with the ability to schedule classes around a busy lifestyle. No actual classroom attendance is ever required in order to receive the same degree as on-campus students, with the option to participate in the Melbourne campus commencement exercises.
Accreditation and Memberships
Florida Tech is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Florida Tech. The commission requests they be contacted only if there is evidence that appears to support an institution’s significant noncompliance with a requirement or standard.
The university is approved by the Office of Education of the U.S. Department of Education.
The university is a member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, the American Council on Education, the College Entrance Examination Board and the American Society for Engineering Education.
The College of Engineering has nine programs accredited by ABET (www.abet.org). The undergraduate programs accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET are aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, ocean engineering and software engineering. The undergraduate computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Florida Tech is approved by the Florida Department of Education to offer the STEM Education bachelor’s degree when completed with another STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) major.
The undergraduate program in chemistry is certified by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. Students may obtain ACS-certified degrees by following a prescribed curriculum.
The aeronautical science and aviation management programs are accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI).
The Doctor of Psychology, Clinical Specialization, is accredited by the American Psychological Association. The graduate programs in applied behavior analysis are accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI).
The Nathan M. Bisk College of Business is an accredited member of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). A list of accredited business programs can be found at http://cob.fit.edu/accreditation.php. The master of business administration-project management degree program is also accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC).
Florida Tech is certified to operate at off-campus sites in Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Florida Tech programs at the Aberdeen site are approved by the Maryland State Higher Education Commission.
Florida Tech is registered as a private institution with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions.
Operation and Control
Florida Tech was granted a charter as a nonprofit corporation by the State of Florida in December 1958. The corporate charter established the school as an independent institution of higher learning with academic programs leading to undergraduate and graduate degrees. The charter ensures the university will be coeducational in character and admission will be open to all qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Under the corporate charter, control of the university is vested in a self-perpetuating board of trustees. Members of the board are selected based on outstanding ability, integrity and personal interest in the development and preservation of the university.
The university is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Florida Tech provides access to higher education for persons with disabilities through the Academic Support Center. Individuals are encouraged to contact the office at (321) 674-7110 to obtain information about the process of registering for accommodation and services.
Campus Environment
Florida Tech’s campus is located in Melbourne, a residential community on Florida’s Space Coast. The area offers a delightful year-round subtropical climate and inviting ocean beaches. The campus is within an hour’s drive from the entertainment areas in Central Florida and is part of the Florida High Tech Corridor.
The university’s location gives it a unique place in the academic world. Corporations whose scientists and engineers are making tomorrow’s technological breakthroughs for the U.S. space program surround the Kennedy Space Center. The space center’s proximity allows easy interaction between space center personnel and the university community. Moreover, the growing number of innovative high-tech businesses and industries in the Melbourne area help to make Florida’s business environment one of the most promising and exciting in the nation, and helps university professors to stay abreast of the latest challenges and developments in the scientific, technical and business worlds. With both the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean nearby, students in the oceanography, aquaculture, environmental science and marine biology programs have ready access to the beaches and waters for a variety of field experiments and research projects. Overall, Florida Tech’s location is ideal for keeping pace with developments in science, technology and business.
Facilities
The Botanical Garden is a lush Florida forest of palm, water oak and tropical vegetation on campus. Visitors can enjoy leisurely walks on the pathways through this garden. One path, the Dent Smith Trail, is named in honor of the man who founded the Palm Society and contributed significantly to the university’s palm collection. More than 200 species of palm, some quite rare, are found on the campus.
The Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust provided Florida Tech with $1.5 million to fund the operations center for FIT Aviation, to both house its flight training programs and to run its training facility. Located at Melbourne International Airport, the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research includes a 50-seat multipurpose/ training room, a lobby with displays to showcase Florida Tech’s aviation achievements, student lounge with airfield viewing, instructors lounge, briefing rooms, weather/flight planning room and general operation offices.
The Nathan M. Bisk College of Business building is located north of the campus on Babcock Street, and houses offices for business faculty and administrators, and a Student Resource Center.
The Center for Aeronautics and Innovation (CAI) features multipurpose conference space with lobby displays to showcase aeronautics at FIT and the Florida Tech Research Park. The center houses the main office for FIT Aviation including the EASA and Air Carrier Training programs, various simulator high bays, and training rooms and classrooms. Offices for the Florida Tech Research Park, external relations and economic development are also located in this building to facilitate outreach to businesses and the community and to promote colocation for high-tech companies. CAI also houses the home office for the NCAA Sunshine State Conference
The seven-story Frederick C. Crawford Building provides space for modern laboratories, classrooms and faculty offices for the mathematical sciences and the School of Arts and Communication. Also in the Crawford Building are the offices of the director of graduate programs, vice president for research, associate vice president for information technology and chief information officer, and assistant vice president for institutional compliance.
Florida Tech merged with the former Brevard Art Museum through a $1 million gift from the Foosaner Foundation to form the Foosaner Art Museum at 1463 Highland Avenue in the Eau Gallie Arts District in Melbourne, Florida. The museum complex encompasses over 28,000 square feet and includes the Art Museum with galleries, a gift shop, collections storage and administrative offices; the Harris Community Auditorium, used for lectures, demonstrations, meetings and performances; and the Renee Foosaner Education Center, composed of painting, drawing and pottery studios, and the Frits van Eeden Gallery.
The Foosaner Art Museum seeks to stimulate thought, inspire creativity and enrich the community by offering diverse, high-quality visual arts exhibitions and educational programs, and by augmenting, preserving, and presenting its world-class permanent collection. Admission is free for Florida Tech students, faculty and staff.
The Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts is dedicated to furthering the understanding of cultural and creative achievements in the textile and fiber arts through public exhibitions and educational programs.
The center’s growing permanent collection includes more than 1,200 objects. Highlighting the collection are traditional handmade textiles, embroidery, garments and related accessories from Africa, Japan, India and Central Asia; European and North American embroidery and samplers from the 17th through 20th centuries; and contemporary wearable art and fiber arts. The two-story center features 3,000 square feet of exhibition space.
The Ruth Funk Center preserves and displays an international collection of textiles through rotating public exhibitions and educational programs including free lectures and events for the campus community, work study and volunteer opportunities for students and free admission for the general public.
The 500-seat W. Lansing Gleason Performing Arts Center is designed for stage plays, musical productions, scientific displays, lectures, seminars, camps and conferences. It is equipped with a complete control booth for professional stage facilities, lighting and sound. The facility is equipped with both C- and KU-band, and digital satellite downlink services that can be incorporated into productions and viewed on a large screen. Situated in the central portion of the campus, the center is a cultural asset to the university and surrounding community.
A $5 million gift from Community Foundation of Brevard and Harris Corporation funded the Harris Institute for Assured Information housed in the 29,000-sq.-ft. Harris Center for Science and Engineering (see “Research” in this section). The center houses department and staff offices of the computer science and cybersecurity, and biological sciences departments.
The new Harris Student Design Center is a result of a $1 million gift from the Community Foundation of Brevard and Harris Corporation. The 11,500-sq.-ft. structure serves College of Engineering and College of Science seniors completing capstone design projects. Construction began in February 2015.
The Edwin Link Building accommodates the departments of biomedical engineering, and marine and environmental systems, and is also home to the construction management program.
The F.W. Olin Engineering Complex houses all departments of the College of Engineering with the exception of the departments mentioned above. This three-story facility includes 26 specialized research and teaching laboratories and the 145-seat Lynn Edward Weaver Auditorium.
The F.W. Olin Life Sciences Building is the home of the biological sciences programs. This two-story facility contains eight teaching laboratories and 12 research laboratories designed with flex-space for customizing the areas to meet the needs of specific activities.
The F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Center houses the office of the dean of the College of Science; chemistry, physics and space sciences offices and laboratories; a high-bay research area; an observatory dome; and a rooftop deck area that can accommodate up to 15 additional telescopes. An 0.8-m telescope, the largest research telescope in the state of Florida, was installed in the observatory dome in November 2007 (see research in the physics and space sciences department in the Degree Programs section).
The F.W. Olin Sports Complex provides state-of-the-art baseball and softball diamonds, a soccer field, and an intramural field for all students. A new resource for Panther Athletics, the 12,600-sq.-ft. Varsity Training Center is located in the F.W. Olin Sports Complex. It is home to the football coaching staff offices and includes a large meeting room, locker room, laundry and equipment facilities, athletics training room and a weight training room.
The Panther Aquatic Center opened in June 2011. Located between the Clemente Center and the Panther Dining Hall, the 32,000-sq.-ft. facility features a competition pool and a recreation pool. The competition pool includes nine 25-yard lanes complete with one- and three-meter diving boards. The depth ranges from 5.5 to 13 feet. The recreation pool varies in depth from three to six feet and includes three 25-yard lanes, stair entry and wading benches. Both pools are equipped with geothermal heating and cooling systems. Varsity locker rooms and a public changing room are located on site. Covered seating is available adjacent to the competition pool.
The Scott Center for Autism Treatment is dedicated to providing the highest quality treatment, training and applied research to enhance the functioning and improve the quality of life of children with autism and related disabilities in Central Florida. The center provides empirically supported behavioral and allied health care diagnoses, assessments and treatments for children and their families; intensive training and supervision in treatment for autism and related disabilities to students enrolled in the Florida Tech behavior analysis graduate programs and to other professionals and paraprofessionals who will be working with this population; and an ongoing program of research directed toward improving clinical and behavioral outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and developing technological treatments and teaching aides for this population. Community Psychological Services on the second floor provides psychological evaluations and treatment.
The Shephard Building is the home of the education and interdisciplinary studies department that offers programs in sustainability, general science (nondegree), interdisciplinary science and athletics coaching.
George M. Skurla Hall houses the College of Aeronautics. It is a modern two-story building that includes faculty offices, classrooms, laboratories in air traffic control, advanced systems and computers, and a 125-seat auditorium. The flight training department is located nearby at the Melbourne International Airport.
University residence halls provide a variety of accommodations including single-sex and coed halls, with community, private or shared bathrooms. All residence hall rooms and apartments are equipped with two Ethernet connections to the university’s fiber-optic network. Southgate Apartments offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for upper-division students. Located on the edge of the Botanical Garden, Columbia Village offers fully furnished four-bedroom suites with efficiency kitchens. The Columbia Village commons building features a meeting room, laundry facilities, resident assistant office and a resident director’s apartment. Harris Village Suites offer one-, two- and four-bedroom apartments with full kitchens, and laundry and recreation areas. Priority for all housing is given to undergraduate students. Mary Star of the Sea - Newman Hall is an all faith based residence hall with apartment-style living for 148 students. The furnished one-, two- or four-bedroom apartments encourage students to grow in their faith while pursuing academic excellence. Panther Bay Apartments is an international FIT Aviation pilot and Greek life apartment complex, featuring five-bedroom apartments with private bathrooms, fully appointed kitchens, living and dining areas and a laundry room. The complex also features a clubhouse with meeting space, a computer lab, swimming pool, and basketball and volleyball courts.
Services
The Academic Support Center (ASC) helps undergraduates with academic difficulties by providing tutoring and counseling directed toward both their studies and campus life as it relates to their studies. The staff responds to students’ academic concerns by offering information and referral services.
The All Faiths Center is located on the southern end of campus. It houses the Protestant Campus Ministry and the Catholic Campus Ministry. These ministries offer free dinners, daily Mass, Bible studies, community service, social activities, retreats and pastoral care.
The Campus Services Office provides services related to student housing, residence life, meal plan administration, ID card services, residence hall electronic door access, student health insurance enrollment, and domestic and international student health insurance waivers.
Florida Tech’s campus dining service is committed to providing the campus community with quality food and services in a clean, comfortable and friendly atmosphere. Services include traditional all-you-can-eat and á la carte locations, catered affairs, pizza delivery and grocery services. All locations accept the meal plan, cash, checks and major credit cards. For more information, visit www.fit.edu/food. Campus dining locations are:
Black Kats Café: Late night coffee house and lounge is located adjacent to the Rathskeller and is open daily until 1:00 a.m.
Center Court: Located in the Clemente Center on the south side of campus, Center Court offers freshly made smoothies along with grab-and-go sandwiches and salads for lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday. Center Court serves a special concessions menu for varsity sports events.
Library Café: Located at the north entrance to Evans Library, the coffee shop features freshly brewed coffee and flavored iced coffee along with pastries, sandwiches and gourmet bottled beverages.
Panther Dining Hall: Is an “all you care to eat” residential dining facility open seven days per week. It features international, salad, home-style entrées, pasta, grill and comfort food stations with display cooking; the adjacent grocery store features canned and dry packaged goods with fresh and frozen foods, a slice-to-order deli, sandwiches, and hot and cold entrées to take out.
Rathskeller: Provides late night dining in a social atmosphere. The “Rat” also houses a convenience store. It is located on the ground floor of Evans Hall and is open seven days per week for lunch and late night activities with pool tables and televisions.
SUB Café & Deli: Located in the Denius Student Center building in the center of campus, the SUB is open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch, and offers a restaurant-style specials menu along with a grill, deli, gourmet coffee and desserts.
The Office of Career Management Services personnel assist students in obtaining employment while they are enrolled at the university through the Office of Student Employment (OSE), and professional, career-oriented, permanent employment upon graduation. Assistance in résumé writing, interviewing techniques and career counseling is available. An updated Career Resources Library is also available for student use. Current job listings are posted in prominent areas throughout the campus, in major academic units and on the career management services website. As part of career services, a résumé referral program is available for all students registered with this office. Relevant workshops are presented throughout the year.
Career management services maintains an interview schedule throughout the academic year. Students must be registered with the office for on-campus interviews with recruiters from companies seeking employees with specific academic backgrounds. Career management services annually presents two career fairs that highlight professionals, agencies, corporations and services from throughout the United States.
Summer internships are also listed by the Office of Career Management Services, and assistance is provided for local, national and international searches of internship listings and information on employers. Credit for internships can be arranged through the cooperative education program.
The cooperative education program at Florida Tech is designed to prepare students for professional careers through productive work experiences in fields related to their academic or career goals. It provides progressive experiences in integrating theory and practice. The co-op goals are to provide curriculum-related employment opportunities for students before their graduation; to provide a program containing structured work experience that will be beneficial to students in terms of both their personal and professional growth; and to assist employers in the recruitment process. Co-op is a partnership among students, educational institutions and employers.
The cooperative education program is open to all majors. Two co-op plans are offered to students, as well as the engineering Protrack co-op program for engineering majors (see College of Engineering in the Degree Programs section). The conventional plan integrates alternating periods of full-time paid work experience with full-time academic study. The parallel plan incorporates part-time paid work experience simultaneously with a part-time academic course load. In addition, students can receive credit for approved one-term experiences or back-to-back work terms.
Students participating in the university’s cooperative education program (CWE 1001, CWE 2001, CWE 3001 and CWE 4001) receive free elective credits. College of Engineering students can use CWE 3003 for a maximum of three credit hours of technical elective. All participating students are classified as full-time students when working full time.
Availability of co-op employment opportunities varies considerably from field to field. For further co-op information, contact the assistant director in the Office of Career Management Services.
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program is a federally funded program providing students with part-time, on-campus employment. Only students who receive financial aid are eligible for this program. Work-study awards are made by the Office of Financial Aid based on need and dependent on available funds, so it is highly recommended that a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) be submitted early. Students receiving FWS employment report to the Office of Student Employment at the beginning of each academic year. There are a variety of work-study job opportunities (see “Scholarships and Financial Aid” in the Financial Overview section).
The FWS Community Service program exists within the Federal Work-Study program. It provides off-campus part-time jobs to eligible students in nonprofit community organizations. Available positions vary each semester, and may be major-related or clerical.
The Florida Work Experience Program (FWEP) is a state-funded program open to FWS students who are Florida residents. FWEP provides degree-related experience as well as income for the student.
The College Roll program provides on-campus employment for currently enrolled students. Positions are temporary part-time jobs and are not based on student need.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) promotes the best possible academic, vocational and emotional health for Florida Tech students by providing a variety of support services including individual, couples and group counseling; career assessment; psycho- educational evaluations; psychiatric consultation and medication management; outreach and consultation; and crisis intervention. All services are offered on the Melbourne campus at the corner of University Boulevard and Country Club Road, adjacent to Holzer Health Center. Additional information about CAPS services and other resources are available at www.fit.edu/caps.
Whether from secondary schools or higher education institutions, the First Year Experience (FYE) office assists new students on the Melbourne campus in their transition to the university by providing advising and coordinating programs throughout the first year. The office coordinates orientation events on campus and the two student success courses (ASC 1000 University Experience and ASC 1005 Strategies for Success at Florida Tech).
FYE advisors provide academic advising to all first-time-in-college students who enter the university with less than 30 earned credit hours. The associate director of transfer and transition programs provides academic advising to transfer students with less than 30 earned credit hours, and assists transfer students with 30 or more credit hours with non-academic issues. After the first year, students transition to their appointed faculty advisors in their academic departments.
Holzer Health Center is operated by OMNI Healthcare, a private medical provider. All full-time and part-time students may use this facility and receive free office visits and consultations. Students may use their university student health insurance or third-party insurance (in accordance with their health insurance policy provisions) along with personal funds to pay for any additional services provided by OMNI Healthcare. Students are required to present their Florida Tech Student ID cards to be seen at the health center.
The health center provides medical services covering a wide range of health care needs including routine illness, minor injuries, radiology and diagnostic services, and works to protect the student body from the spread of communicable diseases. The health center cannot accept responsibility for prolonged illness or chronic diseases. When necessary, students are referred to other medical specialists and/or hospitals in the Melbourne area.
All students must provide a completed medical history report, certified by the signature of the student’s health care provider, including proof of the required immunizations, whether or not they plan to use the health center. Exemptions to the immunization policy shall apply only if a student submits a written statement signed by their church, hall, temple or spiritual leader that the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with their religious tenets or practices, or a licensed physician submits written certification that the student should be exempt from the required immunization, based on valid clinical reasoning or evidence demonstrating the need for an exemption, and indicating when the student would no longer be exempted from immunization. If the medical exemption no longer applies, the student must comply with the policy within 30 days. Any medical exemption will be reviewed by the university’s medical director.
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is dedicated to advancing Florida Tech’s focus on student success and quality educational experiences by representing the needs and interests of its international community and providing a wide range of services and programs for international students, faculty, scholars, staff and their dependents.
ISSS provides advising and interpretation of U.S. government regulations; serves as liaison with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, sponsoring agencies, community cultural organizations and foreign embassies; provides orientation and informational programs; and promotes intercultural exchange programs between international students and the university community. (See “Admission Guidelines” for international students in the Academic Overview section)
ISSS has a close working relationship with numerous international student cultural organizations on campus that assist with welcoming new students and fostering cross-cultural appreciation. ISSS also works with Florida Tech departments to facilitate the hiring of international faculty and staff, process H-1B employment visas, and advise on permanent residence sponsorship policy.
It is mandatory that all students who are in F1 or J1 non-immigrant status (without legal permanent residence) check in with their immigration documents at the Office of International Student and Scholar Services on their arrival. New vocational flight students in M1 status should check in at FIT Aviation.
The Math Achievement Center provides personalized help in mathematics at all levels for Florida Tech main campus students. The center is open Monday through Friday and is located in the academic quad near the president’s office. See www.fit.edu/mac for schedules and to make appointments.
The Military Science Program has coordinators available to assist any qualified student to achieve a Senior Army ROTC scholarship. More information about the Florida Tech military science program can be found under the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts in the Degree Programs section.
The Office of Military Affairs for Melbourne campus students is located in the Office of Financial Affairs and has a coordinator available to assist veterans and their dependents with both university and VA-related matters. Florida Tech University Online students should contact the military veterans affairs coordinator at (321) 674-8204 or by email to uava@fit.edu, and extended studies students, the site director at their location.
Study-Abroad
Several study-abroad opportunities are available to students at Florida Tech through the Office of Graduate and International Programs. Some of these diverse programs are discipline-specific and target either undergraduate or graduate students. Consult the Florida Tech website for an overview of available international programs.
A short-term summer program is also available for students interested in studying at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. The Florida Tech at Oxford program offers numerous core curriculum courses and is open to all student levels and majors. Students earn six credit hours while studying at Oxford University. Reduced tuition is available. Additional information about studying abroad is available from the Office of Graduate and International Programs.
Research
Institutes, Centers and Major Laboratories
Over the past decade, Florida Tech has made major additions and improvements to facilities that enhance the research components of nearly all aspects of undergraduate and graduate education. Along with these facility improvements, a number of research centers have been established to focus on particular areas of study and in many cases encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. These centers and the facilities where they are located represent a significant research capability that supplements the various department- and program-related activities and facilities described in this catalog.
The Florida Tech campus has been transformed in the past ten years into a world-class research center. Spring 2013 saw the complete renovation of the Edwin Link Building into a 30,000-sq.-ft. research and educational facility for the departments of marine and environmental systems and biomedical engineering. The university also officially designated the Florida Tech Center for Aeronautics and Innovation to serve as the central office for the Florida Tech Research Park. During the Fall 2013, Florida Tech accepted a donation of five acres of property located in nearby Palm Bay, Florida, containing a 100,494-sq.- ft. research and development center designed for manufacturing, office space and cleanroom facilities, establishing the Florida Tech Research and Development Center. In 2012, Florida Tech Commons was completed and offers 2,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art research laboratories for the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts. The research area includes data analysis laboratories, subject testing areas, applied behavioral analysis rooms and a dedicated conference room for faculty-sponsored research. Completed in 2009, the Harris Center for Science and Engineering provides 29,000 square feet for computer science, aquaculture and fish biology research programs. The Harris Center also houses the nationally recognized Harris Institute for Assured Information. The 22,000-sq.-ft. Scott Center for Autism Treatment opened in 2008 and provides the highest quality treatment, training and applied research to enhance the quality of life of children with autism spectrum disorders.
Two teaching/research buildings were completed on the Melbourne campus in 1999: the F.W. Olin Engineering Complex and the F.W. Olin Life Sciences Building. The engineering complex is a 68,500-sq.- ft. facility housing 26 specialized research laboratories. The 37,000- sq.-ft. life sciences building houses 12 research laboratories designed with flex-space to meet the needs of specific activities. The 70,000- sq.-ft. F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Center, completed in 2004, houses the departments of chemistry, and physics and space sciences and includes numerous specialty and teaching labs.
Particularly noteworthy is the multidisciplinary Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) located less than two miles from the Melbourne campus. The ARL houses research in ocean engineering, advanced materials, polymer flammability, lasers and electrooptics, psychology, neural network-based autonomous sensing systems and high magnetic-field physics.
Florida Tech has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance-Research (CAE-R) by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Designed to recognize schools that integrate research activities into the curriculum and classroom, and maintain a high quality of information assurance research, Florida Tech is one of only two universities in Florida with this distinction.
In just the past two years the university has seen a major resurgence in the number of proposals for funded research. The current value of research and sponsored projects is over $122 million. University research faculty expended $21 million to buy equipment, support students, pay salaries and cover general expenses. In addition to over a dozen research centers, ten new interdisciplinary research institutes provide focal points for Florida Tech undergraduate and graduate research. Brief descriptions of Florida Tech’s research institutes and centers follow. Not included here is research within the various degree-granting academic units, described by department in the Degree Programs section.
Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)
Since 1989, students and faculty of Florida Tech have benefited from its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). In 1946, ORAU began as an outgrowth of the Manhattan Project. Over the years, through its university consortium, it has provided opportunities for the nation’s leading scientists. Since those early years both the mission and reach of ORAU have grown significantly. What began with fourteen universities in the southeast has grown to over 100 top research institutions located in the U. S. as well as one international university.
ORAU provides innovative, scientific and technical solutions to its customers, which include the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 20 state and federal agencies and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, by advancing national priorities in science, health, education and national security. This is accomplished by integrating unique laboratory capabilities, specialized teams of experts and the research prowess of consortium members. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which supports government agencies that value an integrated solution incorporating state-of-the-art science and technology in an era of consolidated government contracts requiring research informed delivery of critical services.
In addition to support for government agencies, ORAU provides opportunities for teachers and students through a variety of fellowships, grants, scholarships, workshops and joint faculty appointments. Many of these programs are designed for minority students pursuing degrees in science and engineering fields. Participation and financial support for science education and workforce development programs is now nearly $8,500 participants and $241 million. The ORAU University Partnerships Office supports new faculty just beginning their careers through the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, individual faculty collaboration with other scientists at member universities and ORNL, and member schools with larger collaborative efforts.
For more information about ORAU and its programs, contact the Florida Tech ORAU Councilor and Associate Vice President for Research, Tristan J. Fiedler at (321) 674-7723; Monnie E. Champion, ORAU Corporate Secretary at (865) 576-3306; or online at www.orau.org.
Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA)
Daniel P. Batcheldor, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Head (Interim), Physics and Space Sciences, Director. SARA is a consortium of twelve universities founded by Florida Tech that operates one-meter-class automated telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory in Chile and the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) on the Canary Islands. The SARA members are Florida Tech, East Tennessee State University, Valdosta State University, Florida International University, Clemson University, Ball State University, Agnes Scott College, University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Valparaiso University, Butler University, Texas A&M-Commerce and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The observatories can be operated by an astronomer on-site as well as remotely from the SARA institution campuses. These facilities support faculty and student research activities in a wide variety of areas such as planetary science, stellar astronomy and active galactic nuclei.
Research Institutes
Fatigue Management Institute
Thomas H. Harrell, Ph.D., Professor, School of Psychology, Director. The institute serves as the national focal point for integrating emerging research findings with techniques for day-to-day management of fatigue associated with chronic medical disorders. The institute conducts research on fatigue and fatigue management interventions, provides fatigue management training and disseminates summaries of national and international research findings related to fatigue and its management in chronic medical conditions. The current long-term initiative of the institute is the National Fatigue Survey.
Harris Institute for Assured Information (HIAI)
Marco Carvalho, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Computer Science and Cybersecurity, Director and Richard A. Ford, Ph.D., Harris Professor for Computer Science in Assured Information, Associate Director. The mission of the Harris Institute for Assured Information is to promote interdisciplinary approaches to computer security and trustworthy computing through education, research and outreach by providing a single point of contact for students, faculty, funding agencies and businesses, and by crossing traditional academic disciplines to promote innovation. Information assurance is the discipline dedicated to providing users with trustworthy data. As such, the institute focuses on new technologies for protecting people and organizations from vulnerabilities that can lead to theft of information, malicious code infection or data destruction. The institute is the university’s designated computer security research institute, and supports Florida Tech’s designation as an NSA/DHS National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance-Research.
Human-Centered Design Institute (HCDI)
Guy Boy, Ph.D., University Professor, Director. HCDI members are faculty, permanent and visiting research scientists and graduate students conducting research in cognitive engineering, advanced interaction media, complexity analysis for human-centered design, life-critical systems, human-centered organization design and management, and modeling and simulation. The mission of the HCDI is to promote interdisciplinary research to science, engineering, arts, human and social sciences through education, research and outreach, by providing a single point of contact for students, faculty, funding agencies and businesses, and by crossing traditional academic disciplines to promote innovation, leadership and design thinking.
Indian River Lagoon Research Institute
Robert J. Weaver, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Ocean Engineering, Executive Director; Jonathan M. Shenker, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biological Sciences and Kevin B. Johnson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Oceanography, Co-Directors. The mission of the IRLRI is to develop and implement sustainable solutions for the revitalization and maintenance of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), with solutions applicable beyond the IRL. The institute addresses the causes of coastal water quality degradation by engineering sustainable solutions that will restore a healthy resilient ecosystem. The IRLRI focuses on engineering technologies to remove the muck and nutrients from the water in the lagoon, better understanding the flow (circulation modeling and forecasting), supporting policy changes to reduce the amount of nutrient and fine sediments, restoring habitat in the lagoon (seagrass, oyster, mangrove and salt marsh), restoring the invertebrates and fisheries, developing effective management practices, and community outreach and education.
Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences (IBBS)
Julia E. Grimwade, Ph.D., Professor, Biological Sciences, Director. The mission of the IBBS is to promote novel and interdisciplinary efforts toward solving problems in basic and applied science and engineering, with the goal of developing technologies that improve human health. The IBBS seeks to foster collaborative research projects that cross traditional academic disciplines, as well as provide educational and outreach programs in biotechnology and biomedical science. The IBBS also serves as a major point of contact with biotechnology companies and organizations in Florida and elsewhere.
Institute for Cross-Cultural Management (ICCM)
Richard L. Griffith, Ph.D., Professor, I/O Psychology, Director. The institute’s mission is to create new knowledge and educational opportunities to help professionals develop global management skills. To effectively reach its mission goals, ICCM is organized into two directorates, research and professional development. ICCM research concentrates on issues that affect daily business conduct such as cross-cultural competency, managing multicultural work groups, expatriation/repatriation and global leadership. This research informs the professional development activities, which train global leaders in the corporate and military sectors to effectively manage cultural challenges.
Institute for Energy Systems (IES)
Y.I. Sharaf-Eldeen, Ph.D., P.E., Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and M.H. McCay, Ph.D., P.E., Research Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Co-Directors. The mission of the IES is to provide an intellectually stimulating environment for faculty and students to conduct funded research in areas of national need. National energy policy identifies these needs to be: (1) increasing domestic energy supplies; (2) increasing America’s use of renewable and alternative energy; (3) increasing energy conservation and efficiency; (4) developing a comprehensive delivery system; (5) enhancing national energy security and international relationships; and (6) sustaining the nation’s health and environment.
Institute for Marine Research (IMR)
Junda Lin, Ph.D., Professor, Biological Sciences, Director. The mission of the IMR is to advance marine research, education and outreach by coordinating shared facility management, recruiting scholars and students, encouraging interdisciplinary research, and promoting collegiality and cohesiveness within the university. The shared facility includes the Ralph S. Evinrude Marine Operations Center and the Vero Beach Marine Laboratory (VBML). The Marine Operations Center is a 3.5-acre facility on the Indian River Lagoon where the university houses a fleet of boats for research and education, and the office for diving operations. VBML is located on four acres of oceanfront property in nearby Vero Beach. This facility serves as a field station for the university in support of research and education in the marine sciences.
Institute for Research on Global Climate Change
Robert Van Woesik, Ph.D., Professor, Biological Sciences, Director. Over the next century, the Earth’s average surface temperature is predicted to rise above temperatures that have not been experienced for over 400,000 years. Such a change in climate will increase the risk of drought, erratic weather, sea-level rise, ocean warming and wildlife diseases. The mission of the institute is to: (1) foster climate-change research that will lead to improved decision-making, from local to international levels; (2) provide world-class research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate researchers; and (3) promote interdisciplinary collaborations leading to new understandings of climate change and adaptation. Since the end of 2009 when the institute was initiated, researchers have published over 75 scholarly articles on climate change in international journals.
Sportfish Research Institute (SRI)
Jonathan M. Shenker, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, Director. SRI is dedicated to studies of the sport fishery species that are tremendously important to Florida and the restoration of depleted populations. Research currently focuses on the use of the Indian River Lagoon as a nursery habitat for juvenile tarpon and other fishes, identification of snapper spawning sites, and behavioral training of aquacultured juvenile red drum to enhance their survival after being released into wild habitats. As one of the core organizations of the Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative, additional effort is being spent on establishing broodstock of vital fishery species at the Vero Beach Marine Laboratory. In addition to field and laboratory research, SRI personnel present talks and provide information to local and regional sport fishing organizations and publications. Funded in part by state and local grants, SRI also seeks funding and participation from corporations associated with the fishing industry and from private individuals.
Research Centers
Center for Aviation Human Factors (CAHF)
John E. Deaton, Ph.D., Professor, College of Aeronautics, Director. CAHF was founded to facilitate aviation-related research, master’s level thesis work, classroom instruction and conferences. The center focuses on applied research that enhances aeronautical systems to improve human performance, safety and pilot training. Assets available through CAHF include various flight simulators housed in the nearby Center for Aviation and Innovation. These devices range in sophistication from part-task trainers to Level 5 Flight Training Devices, including full motion RedBird MCX with interchangeable displays, tabletop devices Redbird TD with interchangeable displays, Level 6 Frasca 242 (Seminole cockpit), RedBird crosswind trainer and, in early 2014, a Level 5 737-800 Flight Training Device. The CAHF also has full access to a flight-training facility, FIT Aviation, LLC. This facility housed in the Emil Buehler Center for Training and Research consists of a large flight school and is a full-service fixed based operator (FBO). It has a fleet of various single- and multi-engine aircraft such as Piper Warrior equipped with Aspen and Avidyne glass cockpits, 2013 Piper Archers equipped with Garmin G-1000 glass cockpits, Piper Arrow and Avidyne-equipped 2009 Piper Seminoles. At least one aircraft is configured for Flight Test and Evaluation activities. In addition, within the College of Aeronautics is an Air Traffic Control Laboratory that is suitable for human factors studies. It has a traffic simulation capability and students train in pre-determined scenarios at various volumes of traffic and in varied complexities of airspace.
Center for Corrosion and Biofouling Control (CCBC)
Geoffrey W.J. Swain, Ph.D., Professor, Oceanography and Ocean Engineering, Director. The mission of the center is to understand the processes of biofouling and corrosion, and to develop and apply innovative solutions for control and prevention. Its objectives are to advance the state-of-the-art in corrosion and biofouling control; to establish mutually beneficial collaborative relationships with local, national and international university, government and industrial partners; and to provide graduate and undergraduate students a world-class research and educational experience that prepares them for both academic and industrial professional opportunities. Current research activities include testing and evaluation of antifouling systems; investigation of hydrodynamic performance of ship hull coatings; the development of autonomous underwater hull cleaning systems; investigating the mechanisms of adhesion and release of fouling to novel biocide-free coating systems; and monitoring the performance of antifouling coatings through dry dock inspections.
Center for Entrepreneurship and New Business Development (CENBD)
Robert Keimer, M.I.A., Instructor, Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, Director. The Center for Entrepreneurship and New Business Development integrates entrepreneurial education, training and research in pursuit of enterprise creation, sustainability and growth. The center fosters partnerships among students, faculty, community members and entrepreneurs. These partnerships support an educational environment bridging theory and practice in pursuit of early-stage innovation, business leadership and new business ventures. The center encompasses weVENTURE (formerly the Women’s Business Center), the Student Business Incubator (SBI) and the Entrepreneurial Training Services (ETS) program. weVENTURE is funded in part by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, offering technical assistance for nascent entrepreneurs and small businesses. The incubator offers students physical space, resources, guidance and mentorship, access to financial capital and education directed at assistance in launching student-owned businesses. The ETS program offers entrepreneurs intensive training on business development, supported by business faculty, community leaders and business area experts.
Center for High Resolution Microscopy and Imaging (CHRMI)
Michael Grace, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Science and Professor, Biological Sciences, Director. The center is a multidisciplinary laboratory providing state-of-the art light and fluorescence microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy and x-ray microanalysis of natural and artificial materials. The CHRMI contains necessary equipment and expertise to prepare almost any kind of sample for microscopic evaluation, to image sample surfaces and cross-sections at very high resolutions and to analyze elemental compositions of materials. Support staff maintains instrumentation and trains users in sample preparation and analyses of microstructure and microchemistry. Image collection is both film-based and digital. Support platforms provide detailed image analysis capabilities.
Center for Lifecycle and Innovation Management (CLIM)
Abram Walton, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, Director and Michael Grieves, D.M., Research Professor, Assistant Director. The mission of the Center for Lifecycle and Innovation Management (CLIM) is to serve as an interdisciplinary center integrating product design, engineering, manufacturing, support and disposal functions for the development of international applied research on, and the dissemination and education of, the use of Innovative Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) concepts, processes and practices in industry. The objectives of the CLIM are to be the preeminent independent source of expertise and knowledge regarding the development and use of PLM and innovation strategies in creating and assessing value for product organizations, providing thoughtful leadership in setting the direction and standards of innovation and PLM, and educating and training organizations in the concepts and capabilities of people, processes, practices and technologies as it pertains to PLM and innovation.
Center for Medical Materials and Photonics (CMMP)
Larry L. Hench, Ph.D., University Professor of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Director. Biomedical engineering faculty and international collaborators have initiated an innovative center for medical materials and photonics that provides world-leading programs in: third generation bioactive materials including bioactive materials for regenerative medicine, load bearing orthopedic and dental devices, intelligent wound care systems and materials for sports medicine repair and reconstruction; medical photonics including laser and bio-Raman-based cancer detection and therapeutics, human cell-based screening for toxicology, pharmaceutical and biomaterials screening, and patient specific diagnosis and therapy analyses. The center will provide education and research opportunities at the undergraduate, graduate and post-doctorate levels. A unique feature of the center will be a broad range of continuing education online learning courses offered on a modular basis that can be tailored by biomedical engineers, clinicians and other professionals in the health care field to achieve individual career objectives on a time and cost effective basis.
Center for Organizational Effectiveness
Lisa A. Steelman, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean and Associate Professor, College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, Director. The Center for Organizational Effectiveness is a research and consulting center managed by industrial/organizational psychology faculty and graduate students. The mission of the center is to provide human capital measurement and talent management strategies to promote effective organizations. Its customized solutions help organizations hire, train and retain high-performing employees. The center conducts research and provides consulting services in all areas of industrial/ organizational psychology including selection and assessment, training and development, survey research and organizational development, and career development and succession planning.
Center for Remote Sensing (CRS)
Charles R. Bostater Jr., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Physical Oceanography and Environmental Sciences, Director. The center’s purpose is to encourage excellence in the development and application of remote sensing science and technology. It is organized as a collaborative center among and between faculty within the College of Engineering, College of Science and College of Aeronautics. Under the authority of the Space Grant Act of 1988, Florida Tech is a member of the Southeastern Space Consortium and the Florida Space Grant Colleges Consortium. The center has consulted and provided services to defense contractors, NASA centers and contractors, the Department of Energy and its subcontractors, state of Florida water management agencies, the Department of State and U.S. Department of Education, and is affiliated with foreign institutions and organizations. Facilities for remote sensing teaching and research include the ERDAS Image Analysis System, Evans Library, the Geographical Information Systems Laboratory, the Marine and Environmental Optics Laboratory and the Synoptic Meteorological Laboratory. Various laboratories and facilities in academic and research computing; computer science; aerospace, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering; physics and space sciences; and space systems are also available. Field studies can be conducted through the College of Aeronautics’ fleet of aircraft. The university operates several small boats and charters a well-equipped vessel for offshore, estuarine and river work. Center faculty offer a wide variety of courses at the graduate and undergraduate level, including environmental satellite systems and data, hydroacoustics, digital image processing, and environmental optics for remote sensing.
Center for Software Testing, Education and Research (CSTER)
Cem Kaner, J.D., Ph.D., Professor, Computer Science and Cybersecurity, Director. The mission of the center is to create effective, grounded, timely materials to support the teaching and self-study of software testing, software reliability and quality-related software metrics. With support from the National Science Foundation, Texas Instruments and IBM, the center has been able to develop an extensive collection of course materials, with more video-based lectures on the way. Current research includes high-volume test automation, the practice and psychology of exploratory testing, failure mode and effects analysis for software and the development of testing related metrics. Course materials developed at the center are freely available for reuse under a Creative Commons license, enabling faculty at other schools and companies to base or enhance their courses with them.
Collaborative International Research Centre for Universal Access (CIRCUA)
Gisela Susanne Bahr, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Industrial/ Organizational Psychology, Executive Head. The Collaborative International Research Centre for Universal Access (CIRCUA) is an international research center with worldwide membership that promotes universal access and e-inclusion. CIRCUA’s motto calls for removing barriers to modern technology in the information society. CIRCUA’s objectives are: (1) advancing research and development for an inclusive information society; (2) leading the systematic growth of interaction science by drawing on expertise in cognitive and computer sciences; (3) creating global partnerships that result in international collaborations and products; and (4) networking and fusing multidisciplinary expertise globally. CIRCUA’s international center head is Florida Tech’s Dr. Bahr. CIRCUA’s European center head is Dr. Ray Adams, University of Middlesex, London, and Churchill College, Cambridge, both in England.
College of Engineering Center for Space Commercialization
Daniel R. Kirk, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Interim Director. The mission of the College of Engineering Center for Space Commercialization is to identify, promote and support the use of space to provide goods or services of commercial value, and to support U.S. aerospace industries and NASA needs toward a profitable commercialization of space. The center seeks to foster multidisciplinary collaboration among researchers from highly diversified scientific, engineering and business communities including universities, businesses and government entities.
Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation
Samuel T. Durrance, Ph.D. Professor, Physics and Space Sciences, and Daniel R. Kirk, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Co-Directors. The center is a partnership of academia, government and private industry addressing the current and future challenges for commercial space transportation. The center encompasses four primary research areas: (1) space traffic management and operations; (2) space transportation operations, technologies and payloads; (3) human spaceflight; and (4) space transportation industry promotion.
Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for General Aviation
Stephen K. Cusick, J.D., Associate Professor, College of Aeronautics, Director. The center is a partnership of academia, government and private industry addressing a broad spectrum of general aviation safety issues including airport technology, propulsion and structures, airworthiness, flight safety, fire safety, human factors, safety management systems and weather.
Florida Center for Automotive Research (FCAR)
Gerald J. Micklow, Ph.D., P.E., Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Director. The mission of the Florida Center for Automotive Research is to develop an automotive engineering program with both research and educational components in order to leverage its engineering research capability in the development of highly fuel-efficient hybrid or conventional vehicles. The center will provide the academic research capability to support hybrid vehicle production. The center will also provide solutions to challenging technical problems encountered in design and manufacturing, enhance Florida’s reputation for automotive research and attract automotive supplier/original equipment manufacturer (OEM) operations to Florida.
National Center for Hydrogen Research (NCHR)
Mary H. McCay, Ph.D., Research Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Director. The NCHR has recently developed an interdisciplinary hydrogen and fuel cell technology academic program under the sponsorship of Department of Energy (DOE). The objectives of this program are to develop undergraduate modules, enquiry-based laboratory experiments and a graduate area of specialization academic program that will enable the growth of research and development in the arena of hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Currently, the NCHR is developing a renewable energy plan to build a training airport facility. Research being conducted in the high heat flux and plasma spray facilities includes the production and testing of high temperature materials for use in turbines. Faculty associated with the center are currently conducting research in computational modeling of fuel cells, fiber-optic sensors suitable for safety applications and systems monitoring, hydrogen storage mediums, the interaction of hydrogen with materials, and hydrogen purification techniques.
Ralph S. Evinrude Marine Operations Center
Captain Timothy Fletcher, Director, Marine and Outdoor Operations. The center houses small outboard-powered skiffs and medium-sized workboats. These vessels and adjoining support facilities are available to graduate students and faculty for teaching and research use in the tributaries and the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). The IRL is a national estuary and is the most biodiverse estuary system in North America. The scientific dive training program, dive locker and diving safety office are located at the center. The dive program is taught every spring and is available to students, staff and faculty who wish to use SCUBA or compressed gas in the pursuit of research or education. The diving locker contains a full suite of equipment including cylinders, BCDs, regulators, wet suits and emergency oxygen cylinders that are available for those who have completed the dive training program. The facility is located on a 3.5 acre site at the confluence of Crane Creek and the IRL, approximately 1.5 miles from the main campus. The Florida Tech challenge course operations office, national champion crew team, champion concrete canoe team and Sailing Club are housed at the center.
The Scott Center for Autism Treatment
Michael E. Kelley, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Executive Director; Ivy Chong, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Director, Autism Services and Training; Barbara Paulillo, Psy.D., Director, Psychological Services. The Scott Center for Autism Treatment was established to provide state-of-the art service, training and applied research for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families. It is an integral service/research/ training component of Florida Tech’s School of Psychology. Services are provided by faculty and graduate students from psychology graduate programs in applied behavior analysis and clinical psychology and will expand to include other allied health professionals in speech pathology, occupational therapy and medicine. Services provided include: (1) diagnostic and testing services; (2) early intervention services for young children (i.e., 2–9 years of age) with autism, and their families; (3) behavior assessment and intervention services for children, adolescents and adults with autism and/or related disabilities who exhibit challenging behavior (e.g., self-injury, aggression, property destruction, stereotypy); (4) feeding disorder assessment and treatment services for children ages 2–10; (5) social skills’ training for children and adolescents who have autism, asperger’s disorder and related disabilities; (6) counseling and psychological services; (7) training workshops and seminars for parents and teachers who work with children with autism and related disabilities; (8) courses for individuals interested in obtaining certification as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® and/or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.® The Scott Center for Autism Treatment has an ongoing program of research directed at improving clinical and behavioral outcomes for children with ASD.
Wireless Center of Excellence (WICE)
Ivica Kostanic, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technical Director. WICE is devoted to creating a new generation of wireless engineering professionals through education and research. Driven by its academic program, WICE considers wireless to be any system or device that relies on electromagnetic-wave propagation to perform one or more of its functions. This context includes such diverse applications as radar, global positioning, location and sensing, as well as the broader class of communications systems such as satellites, point-to-point/multi-point, WLAN and wireless WAN. In partnership with industry, WICE offers the opportunity for faculty, and undergraduate and graduate students to engage in research and to study wireless concepts in a variety of courses. Research areas include propagation modeling, wireless systems engineering, personal communications systems, wireless sensors and multimedia communications, while also supporting simulation, fabrication and measurement of wireless communications and other systems and components. Laboratory test equipment includes Grayson’s Spectrum Tracker, and spectrum and vector network analyzers, oscilloscopes, microwave amplifiers, oscillators and mixers, signal generators and associated active and passive RF devices. The laboratory performs experimental investigation using the anechoic chamber and screen room facilities. WICE is supported by significant laboratory facilities as described under “Electrical Engineering” in the Degree Programs section.
Major Research Laboratories
Aerospace Systems and Propulsion Laboratory (ASAP)
Daniel R. Kirk, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Hector Gutierrez, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Co-Directors. The ASAP Laboratory’s mission is to support activities related to the development, integration and operation of advanced aerospace systems and propulsion technologies. The laboratory supports research related to a wide variety of aerospace projects including advanced propulsion systems, thermal management of spacecraft, fluid mechanics in microgravity environments, modeling and experimental validation of propellant physical properties, advanced instrumentation and control for flexible aerospace structures, combustion modeling and the integration of thermal-fluid systems with computer-aided instrumentation and real-time control.
Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory (BNL)
Michael Grace, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Science and Professor, Biological Sciences, Director. The BNL is dedicated to the neural mechanisms of behavior in vertebrate and invertebrate animals. Much of the laboratory’s work focuses on vision and other sensory systems, from the molecules of initial sensation through all levels of organization including cellular function, cell-to-cell communication in the nervous system and observable behavior. Molecular biology, biochemistry, high resolution microscopy and analysis of behavior including operant conditioning are used to investigate a variety of sensory issues that include infrared imaging systems in snakes, development of vision in marine fish and endangered sea turtles, pheromonal communication in marine invertebrates and brain organization and function in one of the smallest vertebrate animals on Earth. BNL personnel provide expertise in designing and conducting experiments in both the laboratory and field, and at almost any level of biological organization. The mission of the BNL is to define the neural mechanisms that underlie complex behavior in living organisms and to promote evolved biological solutions to complicated problems as platforms for biomimetic technology development for biomedical, defense and industrial applications. The laboratory actively engages in community outreach from local interaction through international popular broadcasts.
Cognition Applied Research Lab (CARL)
Gisela Susanne Bahr, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Experimental Psychology and Human Cognition, Director. The Florida Tech CARL is a human-computer interaction (HCI) laboratory focused on perception afforded cognition and cognitive tools. The mission is to enhance the quality of life, learning and work by thinking smarter. Current and future research projects include (1) attention and body language during human-computer interaction, (2) security decisions and attention pop-ups, (3) complex knowledge visualizations, (4) map shock, (5) aging and HCI, (6) underwater problem solving, and (7) graying divers.
Dynamic Systems and Controls Laboratory (DSCL)
Hector Gutierrez, Ph.D., P.E., Professor, Mechanical Engineering; Daniel Kirk, Ph.D., Professor, Aerospace Engineering; and Y.I. Sharaf-Eldeen, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Co-Directors. The Dynamic Systems and Controls Laboratory (DSCL) supports research in dynamic systems, real-time control, mechatronics, and characterization, instrumentation and control of aerospace systems. The DSC lab is also the experimental branch of the Aerospace Systems and Propulsion Laboratory, which includes other experimental facilities including the shock tube facility, instrumented rocket thrust stand, spin-slosh test rig (under construction) and the high-pressure chamber for characterization of liquefied propellants. The DSCL supports a variety of research activities in dynamic systems for mechanical and aerospace applications: (1) Real-time monitoring and control of the flexible dynamics in launch vehicles including design, characterization and integration of distributed actuation. (2) Use of Fiber Bragg grating arrays to monitor and control in real-time, multi-modal vibrations in aerospace structures. (3) The design, analysis, characterization and testing of novel electrical machine topologies. (4) Characterization of the liquid slosh dynamics. (5) Research into motion control, computer-based instrumentation and mechatronics. Current and past research activities include: (1) real-time control of structural vibrations based on magneto- rheological (MR) dampers; (2) magnetic suspension systems for high-precision positioning applications; (3) characterization of surface tension and contact angle in novel propellants; (4) rotating machinery monitoring and fault diagnosis, online vibration and angular motion measurements and condition monitoring; and (5) development of an experimental platform on board the International Space Station for characterization of slosh dynamics in microgravity.
Laser, Optics and Instrumentation Laboratory (LOIL)
Kunal Mitra, Ph.D., Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Director and Chelakara Subramanian, Ph.D., P.Eng (UK), Professor, Aerospace Engineering, Co-Director. LOIL is focused on performing research primarily in the field of biomedical engineering. A major research thrust is using short-pulse lasers and optics to develop new techniques for measuring and characterizing tissue and material properties. Biomedical applications focus on minimally invasive techniques for detecting and irradiating cancer/tumors using ultra-short pulsed laser system. Current research is geared towards skin and brain cancer/tumors. Material characterization/processing applications involve detection of defects in materials and thermal response of materials subjected to high-energy radiation. Selective laser melting process is being used for production of medical and dental implants. Another research area focuses on developing a portable and objective noninvasive tool to evaluate physiological cerebral dysfunction in patients who have sustained concussive head injury. A technique has been developed that could be used in clinical evaluations by implementing cerebral oximetry using near infrared spectroscopy and cerebral bioimpedance with novel algorithms to evaluate mechanisms that control cerebral blood flow. The challenge of integrating laser sources, system optics, instrumentation, measurement schemes and data acquisition provides both graduate and undergraduate students with new learning experiences in these areas. Major equipment currently in use includes mode-locked short-pulse laser, Q-switched pulsed laser, short-pulse diode laser, high-power continuous wave lasers, ultrafast photodetectors and oscilloscope, streak camera, high speed CO2 laser engraving cutting machine, miscellaneous optics and optical accessories, thermal camera and image processing systems.
Microelectronics Laboratory
Susan K. Earles, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director. This microelectronics facility is designed to be a teaching laboratory as well as an advanced research laboratory. A microelectronics fabrication course is taught to graduate and undergraduate students. In this course, students complete, fabricate and test a variety of electronic devices such as photovoltaic devices and hydrogen sensors. Research conducted in the facility includes polymer-based and silicon-based electronic and optoelectronic devices. The 3,800-sq.-ft. facility has all support services needed for modern semiconductor research including a 3,000-sq.-ft. clean room and areas dedicated to circuit testing and equipment maintenance. Equipment in the laboratory includes ultraviolet photolithography, diffusion furnaces, a thin-film evaporator, wet chemistry benches, and measurement and inspection equipment. The advanced research laboratory presently features a scanning probe microscope, plasma enhanced deposition and lasers for teaching and research.
Robotics and Spatial Systems Laboratory (RASSL)
Pierre M. Larochelle, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Engineering and Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Director. RASSL is dedicated to the development of robotic mechanical systems that generate spatial (i.e., 3-dimensional) motion and force transmission. RASSL seeks to advance the design methodologies for these challenging systems as well as techniques for their use in industrial and consumer applications. Equipment includes a Motoman SV3 XRC robot, an Adept/Mobile Robotics PowerBOT and several systems developed by RASSL.
Vero Beach Marine Laboratory (VBML)
Junda Lin, Ph.D., Professor, Biological Sciences, Director. VBML is located on four acres of oceanfront property in nearby Vero Beach. This facility serves as a field station for the university in support of research and teaching in the marine sciences. The beachfront location of VBML provides ready access to field study sites for work on the biology of coastal organisms and for studies of physical and geological processes of the coastal zone. Major research efforts at the laboratory are related to mariculture and marine biology/ ecology. A two-story building, equipped with seawater tables and a flow-through system, supports research on mariculture and ecology of marine organisms. Several greenhouses and large tank systems are available for studying aquaculture, behavior and ecology of marine animals. Classrooms, offices and dry laboratory facilities are provided in the main laboratory building.
Wind and Hurricane Impacts Research Laboratory (WHIRL)
Jean-Paul Pinelli, Ph.D., P.E., Professor, Civil Engineering, Director. WHIRL is dedicated to the study of the effects and impacts of windstorms including hurricanes, tornadoes and thunderstorms, and other related meteorological hazards (e.g., flooding and tidal surges) on the natural environment and manmade structures. The laboratory involves a multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists. It takes advantage of a geographic location in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast to serve the needs of industry, government and the public in wind hazard mitigation. The laboratory’s activities include research on mitigation of losses of life, property and the environment; education of the public through dissemination of information; and the development of a multidisciplinary program of study focused on wind engineering and wind-related socioeconomic studies and analyses. Research topics in the laboratory include action of strong winds and storm surges on structures; evaluation of codes, standards and retrofitting techniques for buildings and infrastructure systems; risk assessment for existing structures; development of remote sensing tools for assessing and monitoring hurricane wind pressures and wind speed; fundamental wind and meteorological research; and testing; and analysis of economic impacts and development of potential damage maps for hurricane hazards in Florida.
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