Florida Atlantic University (FAU), established in 1961 and officially opened in 1964, is a public research university located in Boca Raton, Florida. It was the fifth public university founded in Florida and designed originally to serve upper-division and graduate students, complementing the state's community college system[1][2][3][4]. FAU was conceived as a forward-looking institution, aiming to democratize higher education and break from traditional academic models, a vision underscored by President Lyndon B. Johnson at its dedication ceremony[2]. Today, FAU serves over 31,000 students across six campuses in southeastern Florida, including Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Jupiter, Dania Beach, and Port St. Lucie, extending educational access across a broad geographic area[1][4][5]. The university offers more than 170 degree programs through 10 colleges, including notable ones such as the College of Business, College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Medicine, and the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College—the nation’s only free-standing honors college affiliated with a university[3][4]. FAU is recognized for its research activity, classified as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation. It has strategically prioritized areas such as healthy aging, biotechnology, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, coastal and marine issues, and informatics, reflecting its alignment with pressing global and regional challenges[4][5]. The university hosts four major research institutes: the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, and the Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering. These centers foster interdisciplinary innovation and have contributed to doubling FAU’s research expenditures in recent years[3][5]. FAU is also noted for its cultural diversity; it is the most ethnically diverse public university in Florida and a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, supporting strong retention and graduation rates among Pell