Accreditation
Jacksonville University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master and doctoral degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Jacksonville University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Inquiries about admission requirements and financial aid should be directed to the Jacksonville University Vice President of Enrollment Management. Inquiries about academic programs should be directed to the Jacksonville University Provost and Chief Academic Officer.
Aviation
The School of Aviation 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).
Business
The Davis College of Business & Technology is North Florida’s only private business school accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Jacksonville University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is accredited through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Dance
Jacksonville University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), and the curricula in dance meets association standards.
Law
Consistent with accreditation protocol dictated by the American Bar Association (ABA), the Jacksonville University College of Law will begin the accreditation process in the spring of 2023. Our goal and highest priority is to achieve provisional accreditation by the time our first class of students graduates. The College of Law is not currently approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the ABA and makes no representation to any applicant that it will receive approval from the Council before the graduation of any matriculating student.
Music
Jacksonville University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the curricula in music meets association standards.
Nursing
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post graduate APRN certification programs at Jacksonville University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, C/O AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is WWW.ACOTEONLINE.ORG
Orthodontics
The School of Orthodontics Advanced Specialty Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Respiratory Care
The entry-level Master of Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care: 264 Precision Blvd., Telford, TN 37690, USA. Phone: (817) 283-2835. Program Number: 200644.
Speech-Language Pathology
The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology {residential, distance education, satellite location} at Jacksonville University has been placed on probation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. A program on probation is not currently in full compliance with the accreditation standards. Programs on probation remain accredited but must demonstrate compliance with the standards within one year. Council on Academic Accreditation Decision Page Link: https://apps.asha.org/eweb/ashadynamicpage.aspx?site=ashacms&webcode=caalisting&caacat=recent
University Profile
Jacksonville University is a distinctive institution built on engaged learning, the integration of thinking with doing, and the combination of professional preparation with a strong liberal arts foundation. As an intimate, comprehensive, independent university community, JU provides personalized service, close student-faculty interaction, and an extensive array of educational and co-curricular programs, including select graduate programs designed to build on the campus’ unique location and strengths. We help students realize their full potential and prepare them for lifelong learning and growth through our investment in them as individuals.
As a private and 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 to succeed in meaningful careers, advance their studies at the graduate level, and function as well-educated and engaged global citizens. This balanced educational approach allows students to respond confidently to evolving personal and professional opportunities. Jacksonville University offers a rigorous curriculum that addresses the diverse interests, curiosities, educational, and intellectual needs of the total person. While its Core Curriculum exposes students to the broad spectrum of human thought and accomplishment, each major offers specialization for specific career or life pursuits.
As a community that prizes personal interaction among faculty, staff, and students, Jacksonville University recognizes the importance each individual brings to campus. Domestic and international students are admitted with the expectation that they will successfully complete meaningful academic work; faculty offer exceptional instruction while undertaking impactful research and discovery; and staff enhance the learning environment and overall community by supporting the institutional mission and our students. Our institution operates through shared governance and works to ensure the academic freedom of all community members.
Located on the banks of the St. Johns River in the historic Arlington neighborhood, Jacksonville University is located in a vibrant, urban setting, rich with opportunities for students to engage in applied learning while also providing community-oriented service. Located in a diverse area with students from across the globe, the JU residential community aims to prepare students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Jacksonville University is a community in which students, faculty, and staff will be individually recognized and prepared for lifelong success—where knowledge, experience, and compassion come together to benefit all.
The College of Arts and Sciences, the Davis College of Business & Technology, the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts & Humanities, the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences, the College of Law, the Marine Science Research Institute, and the Public Policy Institute conduct JU’s traditional undergraduate and graduate academic programs. Offering more than 50 undergraduate 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 Aviation Program is offered in cooperation with L3 Harris Flight Academy, owned by L3 Commercial Training Solutions.
Graduate programs in Business, Choreography, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Exercise Science, Health Informatics, Implant Dentistry, Law, Marine Science, Medical Sciences, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Orthodontics, Speech Language Pathology, and Visual Arts 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.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers the Master of Arts/Master of Science degree in Marine Science. Students may pursue a 5-year combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Arts degree in Marine Science.
The Davis College of Business & Technology has a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) offered in both traditional and executive programs. The Davis College of Business & Technology also offers a Master of Science in Organization Leadership, a Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics, and a Doctor of Business Administration degree program. A 4+1 undergraduate degree/Master of Business Administration degree is offered through the Davis College of Business & Technology. Also, dual Masters degrees are offered in cooperation with the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences, and the Public Policy Institute. Through the School of Aviation, a Master of Science in Aviation Leadership is available online.
The Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts & Humanities & Humanities offers the Master of Fine Arts degree in Choreography and in Visual Arts.
The Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences offers a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) with cognates in Clinical Nurse Educator, Health Quality and Safety, Nursing Informatics, Leadership in Healthcare Systems, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Practitioner, and a dual degree program with the Davis College of Business & Technology: Master of Science in Nursing & Business Administration, as well as Master of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology, Health Informatics, Medical Sciences, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Respiratory Care. The college also offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in both a post MSN to DNP program and a BSN to DNP program, and a new Doctor of Occupational Therapy, which started in the Summer of 2018. The School of Orthodontics offers a combined Orthodontics Certificate and Master of Science in Dentistry, a combined Comprehensive Oral Implantology Certificate and Master of Science in Dentistry, and a Fellowship in Clinical Orthodontic Research.
The Public Policy Institute offers a unique interdisciplinary Master in Public Policy degree. Additionally, the Institute offers the following dual degrees: a Master of Public Policy/Master of Business Administration (MPP/MBA) degree in cooperation with the Davis College of Business & Technology; and a Master in Public Policy/Master of Arts in Marine Science (MPP/MA) or Master of Science in Marine Science (MPP/MS) degree in cooperation with the Marine Science Research Institute.
The strength of our programs is a function of the University’s nationally recognized faculty, some of whom are 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 full-time professors is committed to classroom teaching.
A low student-to-faculty ratio assures students of individual attention and meaningful interaction with professors and classmates. JU’s average class size is 16. Although JU faculty place high priority on teaching, they also 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.
Jacksonville University embraces diversity, including geographical and cultural diversity. Half of our students hail from out-of-state, mostly from the east coast. Our current population represents all 50 states and territories, including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 51 foreign countries. In the traditional undergraduate program, women comprise 61% of JU’s student body; men, 39%. Approximately 93% of JU’s traditional undergraduate student body attends full-time and the majority of our students live on campus.
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 Florida’s First Coast.
History
Jacksonville University’s modest beginnings in 1934 included “an opportunity for citizens of Jacksonville and vicinity to obtain a standard collegiate education without leaving the city’’ and “to fill the need for a center of culture for Jacksonville.’’ The William J. Porter University opened its doors as a two-year community college. Within a year, the institution was renamed Jacksonville Junior College to identify more accurately with its city and programs.
The College’s first ten years were a struggle for survival, but by 1944, the first full-time president and faculty had moved into the Kay Mansion in Jacksonville’s fashionable Riverside area. With returning World War II veterans swelling the student ranks and projected enrollments increasing, plans for another move were soon underway.
In 1947, the Board of Trustees commissioned a master plan for development of a new campus in suburban Arlington. In 1950, the College relocated to its present site in its first permanent structure, the Founders Building. With the decision to expand into a four-year program in 1956, Jacksonville Junior College became Jacksonville University. Shortly thereafter, the Jacksonville College of Music merged with the University. In 1961, JU was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the College of Music was renamed the College of Fine Arts due to the addition of programs in drama, art, and fine arts.
In May 1967, the College of Arts and Sciences was established by combining the academic divisions of business administration, education, humanities, science and mathematics, and social sciences. The Davis College of Business opened in 1979. Graduate studies leading to the Master of Business Administration degree began the following year and the Doctor of Business Administration degree started in the fall 2014. The Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences is home to the Nursing program (BSN, MSN, DNP degrees and post graduate APRN certificate programs) as well programs and degrees in the areas of Kinesiology, Communication Sciences Disorders, Health Informatics, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Occupational Therapy, and Sport Management.
In 1983, JU established its Division of Aeronautics, now the School of Aviation. The division now offers careers in aviation management or aviation management plus flight operations. The Davis College of Business added the Executive MBA program in 1984. In 1986, an adult studies program was established as the College of Weekend Studies under the administrative supervision of the Davis College of Business. This program is now the JU Adult Degree Program.
In 2003, the School of Orthodontics was established and is now part of the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences. The two-year Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics received full accreditation without reporting requirements from the Commission on Dental Accreditation in August of 2006. The initial program offering consisted of a C.A.G.S., Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies. Currently, a one-year Fellowship in Clinical Orthodontic Research program and a combined Certificate in Orthodontics and a Master of Science in Dentistry is offered.
In 2012, JU created a Public Policy Institute (PPI), offering the first and only Master of Public Policy (MPP) program in the state of Florida. PPI seeks to prepare graduate students for leadership roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors through the in-depth study of public policy. As the Institute celebrates its sixth year, the development of core skills in policy analysis, quantitative methods, management, and leadership spans across multiple program offerings, including dual degree combinations with Master of Business Administration and Master of Science.
In Fall 2017, Jacksonville University returned to its roots in Downtown Jacksonville establishing Jacksonville University Downtown at 76 S. Laura Street. JU Downtown was created with the adult working professional in mind and with the belief that a high-quality university education should not be limited by bricks and mortar, geographic proximity, or traditional classroom hours. The downtown campus is home to the Nathan M. Bisk Center for Professional Studies. The mission of the Center for Professional Studies is to collaborate with Jacksonville University’s academic units to develop and provide quality, rigorous educational programs utilizing online, hybrid, and cohort delivery models. The center serves to support students in achieving their academic and professional goals, support faculty utilizing innovative pedagogy, and support the community by ensuring graduates are workforce ready.
As part of JU Downtown, the Center shares the Downtown campus vision. Jacksonville University believes that education shapes every aspect of a person’s life, brings communities together to solve complex problems, and creates the vision for a future filled with innovation. The Downtown Campus and the Center for Professional Studies aims to connect citizens of Jacksonville to global society through higher education. In Spring 2022, JU created its fifth college--the College of Law--to begin welcoming students to its Downtown Campus in Fall 2022. Further, the Davis College of Business was rebranded as the Davis College of Business & Technology while the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts became the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts & Humanities to accurately reflect a reorganization of academic programs.
Board of Trustees
The Jacksonville University Board of Trustees can be found
here.
Administration
President
Timothy P. Cost ’81
President
Scott Bacon
Senior Vice President, Strategic Operations
Allana Forte
Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and Legal Counsel, Chief People and Culture Officer
Randal Freebourn
Senior Vice President, Financial & Facilities Management, Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Kristie Gover
Senior Vice President & Dean of Students
Alex Ricker-Gilbert
Senior Vice President, Athletic Director
Dr. Christine Sapienza
Senior Vice President, Provost, Chief Academic Officer
Scholarships and Financial Assistance
Jacksonville University offers students a comprehensive financial assistance program that is administered through the JU Office of Student Financial Assistance. Financial assistance may be granted on the basis of academic or talent qualifications or on the basis of calculated financial need. The financial assistance programs are administered in accordance with University equal opportunity guidelines and the federal definition of demonstrated financial need. Any student who applies for admission to Jacksonville University may request financial assistance, although all new students must be accepted for admission before financial assistance may be awarded. In most cases, students receiving financial assistance must maintain at least half-time status and satisfactory academic progress. Most federal, state, and institutional grant assistance is restricted to students who are completing their first bachelor’s degree.
While Jacksonville University welcomes students from other countries, those who are not United States citizens or are not permanent residents of the U.S. are not eligible for federal and state need-based financial assistance offered through the JU Office of Student Financial Assistance. Prior to a student’s enrollment, the Office of Admissions provides a special Financial Information Sheet for International Students. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy requires international students to furnish evidence that they will have sufficient funds for their education in the United States.
This information is accurate as of the publication date of this Catalog. However, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures are subject to change by the University, the Federal government, and the states. When this occurs, updated requirements take precedence over the information contained herein, and reasonable efforts will be made by the University to communicate such changes to the affected students. Jacksonville University reserves the right to cancel or amend any portion of a student’s financial assistance award at any time. Awards may also be canceled or amended in the event that anticipated funding becomes unavailable.
Campus and Student Life
Jacksonville University places a priority on a campus environment that is comfortable, safe and conducive to living and learning. JU actively promotes a well-rounded program of co-curricular activities and experiences to supplement and complement its academic programs. A majority of these activities are initiated, organized, and administered by students. Students are encouraged not only to attend, but to take part in co-curricular programs and activities, including clubs and organizations, student media, recreation and athletic competition, and cultural and entertainment offerings.