Jacksonville University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jacksonville University

Seal of Jacksonville University
Former name	William J. Porter University (1934–1935) Jacksonville Junior College (1935–1958)
Motto	Fiat Lux
Motto in English	"Let There Be Light"
Type	Private
Established	April 16, 1934; 91 years ago (April 16, 1934)
Academic affiliations	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Endowment	$59.2 million
Chairman	Matthew Kane
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	Urban 260 acres (110 ha)
Colors	Green and white
Nickname	Dolphins
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I - ASUN Conference SOCON - Men's Lacrosse MAAC - Women's Rowing

Jacksonville University (JU) is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It's located in the city's Arlington area. The school started in 1934 as a two-year college. It was first known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1956. Then, it began offering four-year university degrees. The first students to earn four-year degrees from Jacksonville University graduated in 1959.

JU is part of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. It is officially recognized by groups like the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Students from over 40 U.S. states and about 45 countries attend JU. As a Division I school, it has 18 varsity sports teams. These teams are called the JU Dolphins. Popular subjects for students at JU include aviation, biology, nursing, business, and marine science.

History of Jacksonville University

The school was started in 1934 by William J. Porter. It was first called William J. Porter University. It began as a private college where you could study for two years. Since there wasn't a permanent campus yet, classes were held in a church building in downtown Jacksonville. Sixty students joined Porter University in its first year.

The school changed its name to Jacksonville Junior College in 1935. Over the next 15 years, it moved three times. One of its locations was in the Florida Theatre building. After World War II, many students joined using the GI bill. This meant the school needed a permanent home. In 1947, the school bought land in the Arlington neighborhood. The first building on this new campus was finished in 1950, and classes started there. In the same year, the school became fully recognized as a two-year college.

Swisher Gymnasium in 1964

In 1958, Jacksonville Junior College joined with the Jacksonville College of Music. That's when the name changed to Jacksonville University. In 1959, the first class of 100 students earned their four-year degrees. By 1961, JU was fully recognized as a four-year university. The 1960s were a time of big growth for the university. More students enrolled, new dorms were built, and two new colleges were created. The Swisher Gymnasium was also built during this time.

In 1970, the Jacksonville University Dolphins men's basketball team made it to the NCAA Division I Championship game. They were led by star player Artis Gilmore. However, when the public University of North Florida opened in 1972, fewer students chose JU. This also hurt the school financially. In the 1990s, Jacksonville University focused more on being a liberal arts college. It also started a big fundraising effort. This helped build new buildings and update the campus.

What You Can Study at JU

The main entrance of Jacksonville University

Jacksonville University offers many different study programs. You can choose from over 100 main subjects and smaller programs for your first degree. They also have 23 master's and doctorate degree programs. These include degrees like Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Arts (M.A.), and Master of Business Administration (MBA). You can also study to become an occupational therapist or a nursing professional.

The university is divided into five main colleges:

• The College of Arts and Sciences
• The Davis College of Business & Technology
• The College of Fine Arts & Humanities
• The College of Law
• The Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences

JU also has three special institutes:

• The Marine Science Research Institute
• The Public Policy Institute
• The STEAM Institute

Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a traditional education in many subjects. It includes the School of Education, Science and Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Humanities. It also has the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). JU has one of the largest NROTC programs in the country. Jacksonville is a city that supports military members and veterans. JU has a special center for veterans and military students.

Fine Arts and Humanities

The College of Fine Arts & Humanities is one of the oldest colleges at JU. It includes the Alexander Brest Museum and Gallery. Here, you can study dance, theater, music, and visual arts. There are also advanced programs in choreography and visual arts. The college hosts many concerts, events, and art shows each year that are open to everyone.

Business and Technology

The Davis College of Business & Technology (DCOBT) is a top business school. It is the only private business school in North Florida that has special AACSB accreditation. DCOBT offers MBA degrees and many undergraduate business degrees. These include accounting, aviation management, business analytics, finance, and marketing. The finance department has a special trading room with a Bloomberg Terminal. Students can manage a real investment fund.

In 2022, Jacksonville University started a new law school. It opened in August 2022 with 14 students. This was the first new law school to open in the U.S. since 2014. In 2024, the school received provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association.

Aviation Program

JU's aviation program is one of the largest in the country. The JU Flight Team competes against other universities in flying competitions. In 2008, the team won the Loening Trophy. This award goes to the best college aviation program in the U.S. The trophy is now on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Healthcare Sciences

The Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences (BRCHS) has many great learning spaces. One is the Simulation Training and Applied Research (STAR) Center. Here, students can practice medical procedures using realistic simulations. The college offers degrees in Kinesiology and Nursing. It also has a Speech-Language Pathology program. BRCHS works with many local healthcare partners.

Public Policy Institute

In 2012, the university started the Public Policy Institute (PPI). It offers the only Master in Public Policy (MPP) degree program in Florida. The institute also hosts political events. These include televised debates for local elections.

In 2022, JU announced a partnership with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. They plan to open a branch of the medical school at the Arlington Campus by 2026.

University Rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranked Jacksonville University #34 (tie) in the Regional Universities South category in 2022-23.

Sports Teams at JU

Dolphins football team at practice

The JU sports teams play in NCAA Division I. Most teams are part of the ASUN Conference. The women's rowing team competes in the MAAC Conference.

Terry Alexander is the most successful baseball coach at Jacksonville. He has led the team to many wins and championships. He has also helped many players get drafted by Major League Baseball teams.

The basketball program has produced famous professional players. These include Artis Gilmore and Otis Smith. In 1970, Jacksonville University's team made it to the NCAA Final Four and the national championship game. They were led by coach Joe Williams. They lost to the UCLA Bruins in the final game. The next season, Jacksonville became the first college basketball team to average over 100 points per game. This was before there was a three-point shot or a shot clock in college basketball.

The football program started in 1998. It won its first Pioneer League title in 2008. The university stopped its football program after the 2019 season.

JU is also known for its rowing program. The women's rowing team won their first MAAC Championship in 2014. This earned them a spot in the NCAA Div I National Championship. JU has expanded its rowing program with the new Negaard Rowing Center. The JU rowing program has been successful for over 50 years. They have competed in places like the Nile River and England's Henley Royal Regatta.

The school added men's and women's lacrosse programs in 2009–2010. In 2016, famous lacrosse players John Galloway and Casey Powell joined to lead the men's lacrosse team.

Student Life at JU

About 15% of students at JU are part of Greek life. This includes fraternities like Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Chi. It also includes sororities like Delta Delta Delta and Alpha Delta Pi.

More than half of all students (53%) live on campus. They live in one of three dorms or eight apartment-style buildings. Most dorms offer fun events and programs. These help new students get used to college life.

The student center, called the Davis Student Commons Building, is a main spot for campus life. It has a fitness center with views of the St. Johns River. It also has a Chick-Fil-A and a game room. This building opened in 2006.

Student life at Jacksonville University includes many different activities and groups. There are groups for different cultures, arts, politics, and community service. There are also religious groups, sports clubs, and academic organizations.

Campus media groups include the student newspaper (The Navigator). There's also a campus radio station (JU108) and a student-run TV station (Dolphin Channel).

The Student Government Association at Jacksonville University helps students. It has representatives from student groups, dorms, and colleges.

Florida Leader magazine ranked JU as having one of the best student life experiences among private colleges in Florida. They noted its small campus, good relationships between students and teachers, and a friendly campus community.

The Carl S. Swisher Library

Swisher Library entrance sign

The Carl S. Swisher Library is a large building with three floors. It offers nice views of the St. Johns River. The library is in the middle of the academic part of campus. Carl S. Swisher, a former leader of JU's Board of Trustees, gave money to build it. The library was built in three stages, starting in 1953 and finishing in 1971. The library has been updated several times, most recently in early 2023.

Today, the Carl S. Swisher Library has over 350,000 books, magazines, music, and other items. It also has many online resources. The library helps students with research and offers learning sessions.

In 2023, the Swisher Library hosted a special exhibit. It was about the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

Famous People Who Went to JU

Daniel Murphy

Many notable people have attended Jacksonville University. Here are a few:

Leaders of Jacksonville University

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Jacksonville para niños

• Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida