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Everglades University

Former names	American Flyers College Everglades College
Motto	Sapientia Veritas Integritas
Type	Private, not-for-profit
Established	1999
President	Kristi Mollis
Academic staff	204
Students	1498
Location	Boca Raton, Florida, United States
Campus	Boca Raton Sarasota Orlando Tampa
Website	www.evergladesuniversity.edu

Everglades University is a small private non-profit university founded in 1999 and based in Florida. Everglades offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs online and on-campus. Everglades University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s and master's degrees. Additionally, Everglades University is a member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). The university has a rolling admission policy. Everglades is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant students and is approved for veterans' training. The Main Campus is in Boca Raton, Florida with additional campuses located in Sarasota, Orlando and Tampa.

History

American Flyers College (now Everglades University) was founded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in September of 1990. The college received national accreditation under from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT) and the Florida State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities (SBICU) licensed it to award Associate of Science degrees. In 2000, the college changed its name from American Flyers College to Everglades College and incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation. Two years later, in 2002, the IRS recognized Everglades College, Inc. as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation with an independent Board of Trustees overseeing the college. In 2004 the school relocated its main campus to Boca Raton, Florida.

In January 2003, the State of Florida's Department of Education granted approval for the school to open a branch campus in Sarasota, Florida. In May of 2003, Everglades College was approved to offer Master’s Degrees in Business Administration, Information Technology, and Aviation Science. In December of 2003, the school officially changed its name from Everglades College to Everglades University. It was also approved to offer a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Technology.

The university opened its first satellite campus, in Orlando in August 2004. In the fall of 2004, Everglades University started offering a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Alternative Medicine. In August 2005, the school was granted approval to offer a BS degree with a major in Construction Management.

In January 2010 Everglades Universitly received accreditation for its bachelor and master degree programs from SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Everglades University was approved In January 2011 to offer a new degree in Alternative and Renewable Energy Management to meet rising demand for jobs in solar energy. In June of that year, the university also began offering a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship. In August 2011, Everglades College Inc., the non-profit entity which owns Everglades University, also purchased Keiser University. In September 2011, Everglades University began offering another new degree program with a focus on Crisis and Disaster Management.

In June 2014, the university began offering two new Bachelor of Science Degrees: one with a major in Land and Energy Management and one with a major in Environmental Policy and Management. In July 2014, it added a Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration.

In September 2014, Everglades University opened its fourth campus: The Off-Campus Instructional Site for the Sarasota campus, located in Tampa, Florida. In October of 2014, Everglades University was granted approval to relocate the Orlando campus to Maitland, Florida.

In July 2015, Everglades University was granted approval to offer the following degrees, all Bachelors of Science: a degree in Surveying Management (for Construction and Roadway), a degree in Hospitality Management, and a degree in International Business. In December 2015, SACSCOC reaffirmed the university's accreditation for another ten years.

Campuses

Everglades University has four different campuses in Florida: Boca Raton, Orlando, Sarasota, and Tampa.

Boca Raton Campus

The university's main campus has been located in Boca Raton, Florida since 2004. The university building is 37,000 square feet and includes offices, classrooms, computer labs, a library and student lounge. Parking is free and the campus is also accessible by Florida Tri-Rail. The staff, faculty, and students at the Boca Raton Campus are active in their community and have participated in the Walk to Cure Arthritis, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, collecting toys for Toys for Tots, and hosted several blood drives with OneBlood. The Boca Raton Campus has also awarded four Frione scholarships to individuals in the community and works with the Green Veteran group, which was cofounded by EU alumnus, Brian J. Sales.

In addition to being the university's primary campus, this location also houses the entire Everglades University Online Division.

Orlando Campus

The Orlando Branch Campus of Everglades University is located in a 28,000 square-foot building on Trafalgar Court, in Maitland, Florida. The campus was officially opened on July 7th, 2015 in a ribbon cutting ceremony which Maitland mayor A. Dale McDonald attended. The facility houses offices, classrooms, a computer lab, a library, faculty lounge and a student lounge. The university expects that due to its proximity to the metropolitan Orlando area that the campus will quickly expand to 1,000 students, making it the largest Everglades University campus. The staff, faculty, and students at the Boca Raton Campus are active in their community and have participated in the Walk to Cure Arthritis, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, collecting toys for Toys for Tots, and hosted several blood drives with OneBlood.

Sarasota Campus

The 20 acre Sarasota branch campus of Everglades University is located in a spacious three-story building just off I-75 and University Parkway which it shares with Keiser University. The building is 75,000 square feet in size of which the university occupies approximately 43,000 square feet of space. This includes classrooms, two computer labs, and a student lounge. The two universities share a library and study area, as well as an auditorium. The 20 acre campus is bordered by Lake Osprey, a protected nature preserve and bird sanctuary. Everglades University holds a membership with Sarasota County Green Business Partnership with an eye towards keeping the campus pleasant and well-kept. In 2014, the Sarasota campus opened a solar energy lab.

The Sarasota campus has a number of energy-saving devices on and around the campus thanks in part to funding from Florida Power & Light (FPL). The campus has two solar trees, which Smart cars can plug into and recharge. There are also multiple rows of solar panels on the roof, as well as a wind turbine at the southwest corner of the campus. The faculty and students at the Sarasota campus utilize these energy-saving devices for research and class projects in the Alternative and Renewable Energy Management program. Phase II was completed in 2014 to expand the solar project to include a teaching lab, which offers several different solar technologies with an outside covered area for holding classes.

Tampa Campus

Everglades University's Tampa location is actually an off-campus instructional site of the Sarasota Branch Campus. It is located in a three-story, 66,000 square foot facility. The Tampa off-campus instructional site offers a library, a computer lab, student lounge, bookstore, 17 well-lit classrooms, 3 laboratories, and 11 offices. Parking is free.

The school is located near the Tampa International Airport and Veteran’s Expressway. Due to its proximity to Tampa Bay, the campus is close to some of the area’s attractions, such as Busch Gardens, The Lowry Park Zoo, Historic Ybor City, and Downtown Tampa.

Local industry professionals from companies such as Duke Energy, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Greenroots Nutrition, and Tampa Fire Rescue attend advisory meetings three times a year, building a strong relationship with staff, faculty, and students, while offering valuable feedback on the academic curriculum. The Tampa campus celebrated its two-year anniversary in January 2017.

Online Division Campus

Housed at the Boca Raton campus, the Online Division is considered by the university to be a fifth campus. The Online Division is the largest campus in terms of student population.

In order to preserve the feel and advantages of a phsyical campus, the Online Division offers students one-on-one tutoring and student counseling sessions. The campus also participates in ongoing outreach and community service activities. This includes community service events and initiatives such as: a Help for Haiti Relief Donation Drive to send vital supplies; fundraising activities to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; and a drive to collect goods for Pet Rescue organizations in South Florida. The Online Division also regularly organizes and participates in blood drives, yearly Toys for Tots collections, and provides ongoing support for Kids in Distress (KID) of Broward and Palm Beach Counties for the work they do in the prevention of child abuse, preservation of the family, and the treatment of abused and neglected children.

The Online Division Campus has also received various awards. Some recent awards and accolades were the Online Division’s inclusion in The Best Schools ‘The 50 Best Online Colleges for 2016’, and the Campus was also recognized as one of The Best Schools ‘The 20 Best Online Bachelor in Business Management Degree Programs’.

Undergraduate Programs

Everglades University offers eight different Bachelor of Science degree programs, some of which have several concentrations or specializations within them, notably the Aviation/Aerospace program. The university requires that the student must complete the last thirty-three credits for a BS degree at Everglades University. Undergraduate transfer credits are granted only for courses in which a letter notation of “C” or higher was earned (2.0 on a 4.0 scale). Undergraduate courses are normally completed in just one month. Classes are small and all classes are also available online.

Undergraduate Programs of Study

For undergraduate students, Everglades University offers Bachelor of Science degrees with specialized majors. The Aviation/Aerospace degrees offer further specific concentrations within that degree program. Here is a list of the undergraduate study programs currently offered by Everglades University:

Alternative and Renewable Energy Management Alternative Medicine Business Administration Crisis and Disaster Management Construction Management Environmental Policy and Management Land and Energy Management

Aviation/Aerospace Concentration in Airport Operations Management Concentration in Aviation Maintenance Management Concentration in Aviation Safety Concentration in Aviation Security Concentration in Flight Operations Concentration in Management

Graduate Programs

Everglades University offers four different Master's Degree programs, some of which have several concentrations or specializations within them, notably the Aviation/Aerospace and Business Administration programs. Upon a student's acceptance into the graduate degree programs, the maximum transfer credits allowed cannot exceed six credits as the final thirty credits must be completed at Everglades University for a Master’s Degree. Graduate transfer credits are granted only for those graduate courses in which a letter notation of “B” or better was earned (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). The university will only accept for transfer graduate-level courses which are applicable to the chosen major. Graduate students normally complete two courses every eight weeks.

Everglades University recently reported that it had 209 grad students, with a ratio of 52% female and 48% male. 54% of its students are full-time with the remainder being part time.

Graduate Programs of Study

For graduate students, Everglades University offers Master's degrees with specialized majors. Here is a list of the graduate study programs currently offered by Everglades University:

Aviation Science Concentration in Aviation Security Concentration in Aviation Operations Management Concentration in Business Administration Business Administration Concentration in Accounting for Managers Concentration in Aviation Management Concentration in Construction Management Concentration in Human Resource Management Concentration in Project Management Entrepreneurship Public Health Administration Concentration in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Student Life

Everglades University enrolls about 1,500 students on any given year. 95% of its students are full time. 38% of the student body are minorities, with the majority of those being Hispanic. The school has 137 teaching faculty.. There is one faculty member for every seven students.

The school's classes and programs of study are geared towards busy professionals. Many classes meet on evenings and weekends and have compressed schedules to facilitate quick completion. All campuses are situated on or very near major highways for ease of access. Access to the school's facilities are available even for online-only students, who are able to make use of the libraries and student lounges.

Admissions and Transfers

Everglades University has a limited admission system. Students are evaluated based on criteria such as GPA and test scores. The school recently changed its admissions criteria to be test optional.

Everglades University has articulation agreements with a number of other academic institutions that allow for easy transfer of credits (see below).

Articulation Agreements

Everglades Universities maintains articulation agreements with a number of other educational institutions. An articulation agreement is a formal agreement between two such institutions describing in detail the transfer policies for a specific academic program or degree in general. A list of Everglades University's articulation agreements follows:

• Aerosim Flight Academy
• The Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine (ATOM)
• Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and Technology
• Europe-American Aviation
• Keiser University
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
  • Early Acceptance Program for College of Medicine
  • Early Acceptance Program for College of Dentistry
• Life University
• National College of Natural Medicine
• Palmer College of Chiropractic
• Parker University
• Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
• Sherman College of Chiropractic
• Southeastern College
• State College of Florida: Manatee-Sarasota

Notable Alumni

• Dawn Burnett (graduated 2009) - Notable wellness strategist, writer, and bestselling author
• Derrick Buchholz (graduated 2013) - Recipient of a GREAT Award
• Jim Williams (graduated 2006) - Recipient of a GREAT Award
• John Craparo (graduated 2011) - World-record-setting pilot
• Leonardo Garcia (graduated 2008) - Successful pilot, educator, police officer, and public speaker.

Scholarships

Everglades University offers a number of needs-based scholarships for students. Everglades University students are also eligible to be recipients of the Florida Bright Futures scholarships. The Best Roofing Scholarship Program offers $1000 every year for one student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree Program with a Major in Construction Management. Additionally, the university offers financial aid and VA benefits to veterans in addition to a wide variety of other benefits.

Awards and Rankings

Everglades University was ranked as one of AffordableCollegesOnline.org’s “Best Online Colleges in Florida” for 2016-2017. It received the Military Friendly Schools Award for three years running, is a consortium member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), and is ranked among the Top 15% of Military-friendly Universities, Colleges and Trade Schools by G.I. Jobs. The university was also ranked as the #3 Florida college by the Women's Choice Award Americas Best Colleges list in 2015-2016. In 2014, The Root listed Everglades University on its "50-50" list of colleges that admit 50% or more Pell Grant students and that also graduate more than 50% black students.

In 2016, Everglades University was the recipient of the 941CEO Green Arrow award for education for their sustainability practices. It also won the 2016 Outstanding Green Community LEEDer at the 2016 LEEDership Awards banquet. The university is also an education partner with the U.S. Green Building Council and Pearson Education.

In 2015, Everglades University was ranked #9 on EdSmart's Most Affordable Online MBA Entrepreneurship Program.. The university was also ranked as the #4 Best Online Environmental Science Degree for 2015-2016.

In 2012, TheBestSchools.org ranked EU as one of the 25 best online colleges. In 2013, U.S. News Rankings put seven Florida universities in the top 100 – Everglades University ranked #75.

In 2016 U.S. News & World Report initially ranked Everglades University as #32 "Regional Colleges South Ranking" It later removed this rating and moved the school to "unranked" when Everglades informed U.S. News that they had submitted incorrect data. Everglades University remains ranked as #11 on U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges for Veterans".

Licensure and accreditation

Everglades University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award certificates and degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels. Everglades University is a member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.

External links

• Official website