Jacksonville University

About Jacksonville University

Jacksonville University combines the advantages of a liberal arts college with the strengths of an urban comprehensive university. Its academic programs and resources prepare students for success in their chosen careers and for advanced study at the graduate level. Connections with area businesses and civic organizations provide meaningful internships and educational opportunities outside of the classroom.

History

Jacksonville University was founded in 1934 in downtown Jacksonville as a junior college offering night classes. It quickly became a four-year, co-ed institution and moved to its present location in the Arlington area of Jacksonville in the early 1950s.

Academic Programs

Jacksonville University offers 7 bachelor’s degree programs and more than 70 majors, programs and concentrations. There are graduate programs in nursing, business, education and orthodontics. The Adult Degree Program offers classes during evenings and weekends for nontraditional students.

Colleges

The College of Arts & Sciences offers traditional liberal arts and science majors, plus programs in nursing, education, and pre-professional education. The College of Fine Arts has outstanding programs in art, dance, music and theater. The Davis College of Business occupies a new, technologically advanced facility.

Engaged Learning

The University promotes Engaged Learning throughout the curriculum. Students are encouraged to take charge of their own education and seek out experiential learning opportunities in the classroom, but also through research, service and student-centered activities.

Distinguished Programs

Among Jacksonville University’s enrichments offerings are outstanding programs in community service learning, study abroad, Navy ROTC, undergraduate research, and leadership. Students find excellent opportunities for learning outside the classroom.

Demographics

Most JU students are from Florida and the southeastern and northeastern United States. They represent 45 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 50 foreign countries. The male-female student ratio is about 1 to 1.

Campus Life

The University’s residential campus is home to a great variety of social, cultural, Greek, religious, performance and service organizations. The Kinne University Center and the new Davis Student Commons provide an array of facilities for students to enjoy campus life. Students live in residence halls and on-campus apartments.

Athletics

Jacksonville University has 17 Division I athletic teams. Nearly 400 JU students compete in an intercollegiate varsity sport. The athletic facilities include a ballpark overlooking the river, new tennis and softball complexes, plus a football, soccer, and track & field complex.

Location

Jacksonville University is located in a beautiful riverfront setting in suburban Jacksonville, across the St. Johns River from downtown and just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. The 190-acre campus includes a half-mile of riverfront, oak-lined paths, and a mix of historic and new campus buildings.

Scholarship Aid

Jacksonville University has a phenomenal scholarship program that generously awards students for previous academic achievements. More than 90% of freshmen receive scholarships. The “sticker price” compares favorably with other schools, and the scholarship program makes the cost of attending very affordable.

General

Jacksonville University is proud of its heritage as a private, independent institution. The University offers a balanced approach to coeducational higher education, combining the best attributes of the liberal arts and sciences tradition and professional studies. As a result, students are equipped not only to succeed in meaningful careers and advanced study at the graduate level, but also to function as well-educated, well-rounded citizens in our modern society. This balanced educational preparation further enables students to respond confidently to changing and evolving career and personal opportunities. Jacksonville University offers a rigorous curriculum that addresses the diverse interests, curiosities, and educational needs of the total person. While its Core Curriculum exposes students to the broad spectrum of human thought and accomplishment, specialization for specific career or life pursuits is provided within the major.

The College of Arts and Sciences, the Davis College of Business and the College of Fine Arts conduct JU’s traditional undergraduate and graduate academic programs. Offering more than 40 majors, the University confers the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education. Pre-professional studies are available for students interested in dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. The Aeronautics Program is offered in cooperation with Delta Connection Academy, owned and operated by Delta Air Lines.

Jacksonville University maintains a legacy of service to the community. It has been an ardent supporter and provider of cultural and educational programs that enhance the quality of life for Jacksonville and Florida’s First Coast citizens. Recognizing the educational needs of working adults, JU also created baccalaureate programs offered during evening hours, on weekends, at off-campus locations, and in accelerated formats that assist nontraditional students to continue or complete college degrees.

The Accelerated Degree Program administers degree completion options for nontraditional and adult learners. The eight-week accelerated class options offer intensive studies during weekday evenings and on weekends. Students enrolled may earn Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Social Sciences or a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree with majors in Business Administration, Marketing and/or Management.

Graduate programs in business, education, math and nursing infuse the community with highly skilled professionals who are instrumental in strengthening the local economy, improving the quality of elementary and secondary education, and meeting the health care requirements of our citizens. School of Education graduate programs include a 5 year progam leading to a Masters of Education (B.A/M.Ed.) in Elementary Education, as well as a Master of Education (M.Ed.) program with concentrations in Instructional Leadership, Sport Management & Leadership, and Educational Leadership. The School of Nursing offers an RN-MSN program, along with a Master of Nursing (MSN) with concentrations in Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner with Emergency Nurse Specialization and a joint program with the Davis College of Business: Masters of Nursing & Business Administration. The College of Arts and Sciences offers a Masters of Arts (M.A.) in Mathematics. The Davis College of Business has a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) offered in two formats; the evening MBA program and the Executive MBA program

SPECIAL ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Jacksonville University and the Florida Coastal School of Law (FCSL) have entered into an agreement that will allow selected JU students who have met the requirements to enter FCSL after completing only three years of undergraduate study at JU. Participants will earn both a baccalaureate degree and a J.D. under the 6-year program.

Dual-degree baccalaureate engineering programs are offered in cooperation with Columbia University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Florida, the University of Miami, Washington University in St. Louis, Mercer University, and Stevens Institute of Technology.

The strength of their programs is a function of the University’s nationally recognized faculty, some of whom have been honored by such organizations as the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the Pew National Fellowship Program, the Fulbright Scholarship Program, and the American Council on Education. Each of Jacksonville University’s 158 full-time professors are committed to classroom teaching; JU does not use graduate or teaching assistants in its classrooms.

Comfortably sized classes assure students of individual attention and meaningful interaction with professors and classmates. JU’s average class size is 16, and the University has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. Although JU faculty place high priority on teaching, they pursue research and writing projects not as ends in themselves, but as means to maintain and enhance the quality of instruction. This concern for students is an incalculable advantage to those who seek an academic environment that is both stimulating and supportive.

Although most students are from Florida and the southeastern and northeastern United States, the University embraces cultural diversity. Included among its student population are persons from 45 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 50 foreign countries. Women comprise 51 percent of JU’s student body; men, 49 percent. Approximately 79 percent of JU’s students attend full-time. More than half of JU’s traditional undergraduate students live on campus.

MISSION, VALUES AND VISION

The Mission, Values and Vision of Jacksonville University, a private, independent institution offering baccalaureate and selected master’s degrees, are articulated in the following statements approved by the Board of Trustees.

MISSION

The Mission of Jacksonville University is to prepare each student for lifelong success in learning, achieving, leading and serving. This mission will be accomplished as a small, comprehensive, independent university community located within a vibrant urban setting. The University serves an ethnically and geographically diverse, predominantly undergraduate student body, as well as adult learners in selected undergraduate and graduate programs. The Jacksonville University learning community will provide personalized service, close student-faculty interaction and an extensive array of educational and co-curricular programs. Their learning experience will emphasize engaged learning, the integration of thinking with doing, and the combination of professional preparation with a strong liberal arts foundation.

VALUES

In the Jacksonville University learning and living community they value:
· students and the quality of their learning/living experience as the highest priority;
· faculty and student engagement in teaching, learning and extending knowledge within an environment of excellence and academic freedom;
· service to the University, community and society; and
· honesty, integrity and mutual respect.

VISION

Jacksonville University will be known for developing graduates who are distinctively well prepared for lives of continuous learning, achievement, leadership and service. The focus of Jacksonville University will be on creating a complete learning environment where students can develop and experience academic, social, and personal success. Students will feel that Jacksonville University is their academic home; a home in which they feel safe, secure, appreciated and involved. The foundation of this effort will be the full-time undergraduate program, complemented by selected professional and graduate programs.

ACCREDITATION

Jacksonville University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Jacksonville University.

AERONAUTICS

The Division of Aeronautics holds accreditation from the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) for the Bachelor of Science degrees in Aviation Management & Flight Operations (AVO) and Aviation Management (AVM).

DANCE AND MUSIC

Jacksonville University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the National Association of Schools of Dance, and the curricula in music and dance meet association standards.

EDUCATION

Teacher Education Preparation Programs are approved by the Florida Department of Education.

NURSING

The School of Nursing holds accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing degrees.

ORTHODONTICS

The School of Orthodontics offers an Advanced Specialty Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthodontics that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.