Jacksonville University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jacksonville University

Former name	William J. Porter University (1934–1935) Jacksonville Junior College (1935–1958)
Motto	Fiat Lux (Latin)
Motto in English	"Let There Be Light"
Type	Private University
Established	April 16, 1934; 91 years ago (April 16, 1934)
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	ICUF
Endowment	$59.2 million (2022)
President	Tim Cost
Provost	Sherri Jackson (interim)
Academic staff	180+
Undergraduates	2,938 (fall 2019)
Postgraduates	1,236 (fall 2019)
Location	Jacksonville , Florida , United States 30°21′12″N 81°36′16″W / 30.3532°N 81.6045°W / 30.3532; -81.6045
Campus	Large city, 260 acres (110 ha)
Newspaper	The Navigator
Colors	Green and white
Nickname	Dolphins
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I - ASUN SoCon MAAC SAISA
Mascot	Nellie

Jacksonville University (JU) is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida. This means it is not funded by the government. The school is located in the city's Arlington neighborhood. It was founded in 1934 as a two-year college. It was first called Jacksonville Junior College. In 1956, it began offering four-year degrees and changed its name to Jacksonville University.

The university is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which means it meets high educational standards. Students at JU come from over 40 states in the U.S. and about 45 other countries.

JU has 18 college sports teams that compete in NCAA Division I. The teams are called the JU Dolphins. Some of the most popular subjects for students to study at JU are aviation (flying planes), biology, nursing, business, and marine science (the study of the ocean).

History of the University

The school was started in 1934 by a man named William J. Porter. At first, it was called William J. Porter University. It was a small private college where students studied for two years. The first classes were held in a church building in downtown Jacksonville with only 60 students.

In 1935, the school's name was changed to Jacksonville Junior College. The school moved several times over the next 15 years. After World War II, many soldiers used money from the government (the GI bill) to go to college. This made the school grow quickly, and it needed a permanent home.

In 1947, the college bought land in the Arlington area of Jacksonville. This is where the campus is today. The first building was finished in 1950, and classes began there.

Swisher Gymnasium was an important new building in 1964.

In 1958, the school joined with the Jacksonville College of Music and changed its name to Jacksonville University. A year later, in 1959, the first class of students to complete a four-year degree graduated. By the 1960s, the university was growing fast. More students enrolled, new dorms were built for students to live in, and the Swisher Gymnasium was built.

In 1970, the Jacksonville University Dolphins men's basketball team, led by star player Artis Gilmore, played in the national championship game. This was a very exciting time for the university.

In the 1990s, the university focused more on being a liberal arts college. This means it offered a wide range of subjects in arts and sciences. New buildings were also constructed, including a new cafeteria and student apartments.

In April 2025, the university announced plans to change its academic programs. These changes led to disagreements between the university's president, Tim Cost, and the faculty (the teachers). Some professors lost their jobs, and some students found out their majors would no longer be offered. Students and faculty held protests to show they were unhappy with the decisions.

Academics and Learning

The main entrance of Jacksonville University

Jacksonville University offers over 100 different subjects for students to study. These are called majors and minors. It also offers advanced degrees like master's and doctorate degrees for students who want to continue their education after college.

Getting into JU

In 2024, Jacksonville University accepted about 57% of the students who applied. This means it is a challenging school to get into. Students who were accepted had a high school GPA of around 3.61 on average. Students can submit their scores from tests like the SAT or ACT, but it is not required.

Colleges and Institutes

The university has five main colleges, which are like big departments for different subjects:

• College of Arts and Sciences: This college offers classes in subjects like science, math, history, and education. It is also home to the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), which trains students to become officers in the U.S. Navy.
• Davis College of Business & Technology: This college teaches subjects like business, finance, marketing, and aviation management. It is a well-respected business school.
• College of Fine Arts & Humanities: Students here can study dance, theater, music, and art. The college has its own art gallery.
• College of Law: This is a new law school that opened in 2022. Students can study to become lawyers here.
• Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences: This college focuses on health-related fields like nursing and physical therapy. It has a special STAR Center where students can practice medical situations, like childbirth, on realistic models.

The university also has special institutes for research in marine science, public policy (the study of government decisions), and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math).

University Sports

The Dolphins football team at practice before the program ended.

The JU sports teams, known as the Dolphins, compete in NCAA Division I. This is the highest level of college sports.

The baseball team has been very successful. The team has won six conference championships and has played in nine NCAA tournaments.

The men's basketball program is famous for its 1970 team. Led by future professional star Artis Gilmore, the team made it all the way to the NCAA national championship game before losing to UCLA. The next year, the team was the first in college history to average over 100 points per game.

The university had a football team from 1998 to 2019. The team won two conference championships before the program was ended.

JU also has a top-notch rowing team. The team has won state championships and has even competed in races around the world, including on the Nile River in Egypt.

Life as a Student

JU has many student clubs and organizations. This includes fraternities and sororities, which are social groups for students.

There are also several student media groups on campus. Students can write for the newspaper, The Navigator, or work at the campus radio station, JU108. There is also a student-run TV station called the Dolphin Channel.

The University Library

The entrance to the Carl S. Swisher Library.

The Carl S. Swisher Library is a large, three-story building on campus with beautiful views of the St. Johns River. It was named after Carl S. Swisher, who gave money to help build it.

The library has over 350,000 books, magazines, and music scores. It also has a large collection of digital resources that students can access online. The library offers help with research and provides a quiet place for students to study.

Famous Graduates

Many well-known people have graduated from Jacksonville University. This list includes former students who have become successful in different fields.

Daniel Murphy played for several Major League Baseball teams.

List of University Presidents

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Jacksonville para niños