Nova Southeastern University history

On June 23, 1970, the board of trustees voted to enter into a federation with the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). The president of NYIT, Alexander Schure, PhD, became chancellor of Nova University, and Abraham S. Fischler became the president of the university.

In 1971, Nova University received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

In 1972, the university introduced its first off-campus course of study in education.

In 1974, NSU opened a law school, with an inaugural class of 175 students.

The following year, in 1975, the law school received approval from the American Bar Association.

In 1981, outside of Nova University, a group of osteopathic physicians, wanting to enhance medical education in the region, established the Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in North Miami Beach.

In 1985, NSU ended its collaboration with NYIT and began offering its first online classes.

Originally founded in 1986 and located in Fort Lauderdale, the museum focuses on contemporary art work, particularly of the cultures of South Florida and Latin America.

In 1993, the Miami Dolphins opened a training center on campus.

In 1994, Nova University merged with Southeastern University of the Health Sciences to form Nova Southeastern University (NSU), adding the colleges of osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, optometry and allied health to the university.

In 2001, the Alvin Sherman Library for Research and Information Technology Center was completed and also serves as the largest public library facility in the state of Florida.

In 2004, the Carl DeSantis Building opened at a cost of $33 million, which houses the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

In 2006, the 344,600-square-foot (32,010 m) University Center opened, which includes a 5,400-seat arena, a fitness center, a performance theater, art gallery, a food court, and a student lounge.

In 2007, a 501-bed residence hall called "The Commons" opened.

In 2008, NSU, in partnership with the National Coral Reef Institute and the International Coral Reef Symposium, held the largest coral reef symposium in the world, which included representation from 75 countries in attendance.

In 2014, NSU opened a new campus in Puerto Rico, with master and doctoral programs.

In April 2015, NSU announced a significant restructuring of its schools and colleges, adopting an all-college framework, to take effect the following July.

In January 2018, the university opened the NSU Write from the Start Writing and Communication Center in the Alvin Sherman Library on the main campus in Davie.

Following a $50 million donation from the Dr Kiran C Patel Foundation, NSU's Tampa Bay campus was relocated to Clearwater. It now houses the second DO degree program, which accepted its first class in fall 2019, along with several additional allied health programs.

In March 2020, NSU received criticism for hosting 150 visitors on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite known cases of confirmed COVID-19 on campus at the time.