Florida State University-Panama, or FSU-Panama is an

international branch campus An international branch campus (IBC) is a form of international higher education whereby one or more partnering institutions establishes a physical presence in a foreign location for the purpose of expanding global outreach and student exchange. Ge ...

of Florida State University located on the

isthmus An isthmus (; ; ) is a narrow piece of land connecting two larger areas across an expanse of water by which they are otherwise separated. A tombolo is an isthmus that consists of a spit or bar, and a strait is the sea counterpart of an isthmus ...

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...

. FSU has operating a broad curriculum program in

Panama City Panama City ( es, Ciudad de Panamá, links=no; ), also known as Panama (or Panamá in Spanish), is the capital and largest city of Panama. It has an urban population of 880,691, with over 1.5 million in its metropolitan area. The city is locat ...

of the Republic of Panama for over 50 years. The campus, located by the

Miraflores Locks Miraflores is the name of one of the three locks that form part of the Panama Canal, and the name of the small lake that separates these locks from the Pedro Miguel Locks upstream. In the Miraflores locks, vessels are lifted (or lowered) in ...

of the

Panama Canal The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a condui ...

, provides students with many facilities, including the largest English-language library in the Republic of Panama, computer facilities, research facilities, student housing, and athletic facilities. The student population is generally international and comes from the United States, the Republic of Panama and other countries.

History

The first campus was established in 1957 and served as an academic institution where U.S. military and

Zonian Zonians (Spanish: ''Zoneítas'', singular: ''zoneíta'', ''zoniano'') are people associated with the Panama Canal Zone, a political entity which existed between 1903 and the absorption of the Canal Zone into the Republic of Panama between 1979 and ...

s located in the Panama Canal Zone could continue their education while staying in

. In the 1990s, the university was located in the Albrook 808 Building in a former

U.S. Army Air Force The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

station. Courses on international affairs, computer science, psychology, and economics were given. Most of the students were U.S. citizens or relatives. After Albrook was reverted to the Panamanian state, FSU moved to the Chino Panameno School, giving classes at night for people who worked from 1997 to 1999. The campus had various locations in

, but was for many years located in ''La Boca'' (The Mouth), near the mouth of the Pacific entrance to the

. In summer 2009, the campus relocated to the ''Ciudad del Saber'' or the City of Knowledge, a reverted area which was previously a

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

base, Fort Clayton, but was closed in 1999 per the

Torrijos–Carter Treaties The Torrijos–Carter Treaties ( es, link=no, Tratados Torrijos-Carter) are two treaties signed by the United States and Panama in Washington, D.C. on September 7, 1977, which superseded the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903. The treaties guara ...

. In fall 2013, the satellite campus began offering a master's degree in International Affairs. FSU Republic of Panama

Study Abroad Program

Many students take part in FSU's "2+2" program, whereby after completing two years of study at FSU Panama, they can receive in-state tuition at the main campus in Tallahassee. There are a few degrees which can be completed fully at FSU Panama: *Computer Science *Environmental Studies *Information Studies *International Affairs *Latin American and Caribbean Studies These programs are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Facilities

*Largest English-language library in the Republic of Panama *Computer Labs *Chemistry and Physics Labs *Student housing *Athletic facilities **One mile track **Gym **Basketball court **Tennis courts **Baseball diamonds **Olympic sized pool FSU Republic of Panama Library

Student organizations

FSU Panama has its own

student government association A students' union, also known by many other names, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, ...

as well as its own student newspaper, the ''FSU Pananole''. There are many other clubs and groups, such as the Mandarin Club and the Environmental Club.

Sports

*2004 National Football Championship of Panama, FSU-Panama vs USMA *2007 National Football Championship of Panama, FSU-Panama vs Panama Saints

External links

http://panama.fsu.edu
FSU Panama's Official Website
Vimeo Video of FSU-Panama Campus
Interview with Rector and Vice-Rector.

References

{{authority control Universities in Panama Florida State University Education in Panama City Buildings and structures in Panama City