FIU’s University Park campus has five residential complexes: University Park Apartments, University Park Towers, Everglades Hall, Lakeview Hall (partitioned into North and South), and Panther Hall. University Park Apartments is on the eastern edge of campus; the other four dorms are on the southern edge. As reported by Iris Febres ’10:
“The University Park Towers is one of the largest facilities for on-campus residents, and houses up to 495 students. The complex has three wings—North Tower, South Tower, and West Wing. Included are laundry facilities, a pool, and a sand volleyball court. There are three room choices for the Towers - a four-bedroom apartment suite, a two-bedroom suite with a shared bathroom, or a studio single with a private bathroom.
The University Park Apartments complex has ten buildings. Opened in 1986, these apartments have a variety of set-ups, though most offer single and double occupancy rooms with up to four bedrooms per apartment. These apartments are geared toward upperclassmen, but are subject to availability.
Panther Hall, which houses up to 410 students, is comprised of three wings. These buildings feature double occupancy rooms in a two-bedroom suite. Shared bathroom and refrigerator are included. These dorms also have a program called FYRST (First Year Residents Succeeding Together) for incoming freshmen, which creates a small community for residents that includes study sessions and other events.
Like Panther Hall, Everglades Hall—which opened in fall 2002—is divided into three wings. Inside, there are classrooms, lounges, laundry facilities and a computer lab for printing. There is one unit type available at Everglades Hall, which is organized into three furnished single bedrooms and a fully-equipped kitchen. Upperclassmen have the option of living in Honors Place (if they have been admitted to the Honors College prior), where a community of on-campus honors students is housed. There are also accommodations for Leaders in Residence.
Lakeview is the newest installment to the housing stock, finished in fall 2006. The complex, which includes two buildings, Lakeview Hall North and Lakeview Hall South, houses up to 825 students. Lakeview includes laundry facilities, lounge spaces, and an academic resource room, which includes computer access and tutoring. There is also a courtyard with a volleyball court and swimming pool. Two room types are available: a private room in a four-bedroom suite and a double occupancy room within a two-bedroom suite. Furnished bedrooms and full refrigerators are included. Lakeview also participates in FYRST (including a separate program for Arts and Architecture majors), and also has an Honors Place community.”
Modesto A. “Mitch” Maidique, FIU’s fourth president, took office in 1986. His term as president—thus far, 22 years long—is the longest of any Florida university president. Maidique was born in Cuba and his father, a Cuban politician, was assassinated during his infancy. Maidique received a bachelor’s degree (1962), a master’s degree (1964) and a PhD (1970) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all in electrical engineering. He graduated from Harvard University’s Program for Management Development in 1975. He also served as a Harvard professor and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Under Maidique's presidency, FIU’s enrollment has more than doubled (it’s now over 38,000, making FIU the largest university in South Florida), and its budget has grown to over $600 million. Maidique oversaw the establishment of the Honors College in 1990.
Cecilia Maria Altonaga (1983) is the first Cuban-American woman to serve as a US federal judge.
Liz Balmaseda (1981) writes for the Miami Herald and won two Pulitzer Prizes for her journalism.
Carlos Alberto Arroyo Bermudez (attended) is the fifth Puerto Rican to play in the NBA.
Andy Garcia (attended) is an Academy Award-nominated actor who starred in The Godfather: Part III, the Untouchables and Ocean’s Eleven, among other films.
Elsa Alina Murano (1981) is the 23rd president of Texas A&M University.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (1975) has served as representative of Florida’s 18th congressional district since 1989, and is now the most senior Republican woman in the US Congress.
