Jacksonville University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jacksonville University (JU) is a private university located in Jacksonville, Florida, on the shore of the St. Johns River. JU was founded in 1934 as William J. Porter University (actually a two-year college). The school changed its name to Jacksonville Junior College in 1935. The college became Jacksonville University in 1956 after having moved to its current location six years earlier.
JU's colors are forest green and white, with black and gray as tertiary colors. JU's school mascot is the Dolphins. The school is believed to be the first sports team to chose Dolphins as a mascot. About 2,600 students attend Jacksonville University from 47 states and 19 different countries.
In 2006, in the U.S. News and World Report list of "America's Best Colleges", Jacksonville University placed in the first tier among more than 150 master’s universities in the South for the fourth year in a row. The category includes colleges and universities that offer a full range of undergraduate programs and provide graduate education, but few, if any, doctoral programs. JU continues to be recognized in the rankings for small classes, a small student-to-faculty ratio, quality faculty, competitive admission policies and rising alumni giving rates.
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[edit] Academics
Jacksonville University is known for its aeronautics program. Unique to such a university program, JU has joined forces with Delta Connection Academy, owned and operated by Delta Air Lines, to provide high quality flight training to its aviation students. A leader in the regional airline industry, Delta Connection Academy has hiring agreements with the largest regional airlines including Atlantic Southeast Airlines, American Eagle Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines, Comair Airlines, and Trans States Airlines.
In addition, the Jacksonville University Flight Team competes in National Intercollegiate Flying Association Regional and National Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) against other universities. JU Flight Team has qualified from Regional competitions to earn spots in the National competitions for the past four years, but has not done well in National competitions. The best team performance came in 2004, as it was the only time that JU Flight Team finished 2nd in Regional Competition, ahead of Florida Institute of Technology. The best individual performances came from Tim Merenda, who ranked 1st as collegiate flight instructor in 2003 National SAFECON, as well as Lok Lee, who was named Region IX Top Pilot in 2005 Regional SAFECON and subsequently ranked 2nd as collegiate flight instructor in 2006 National SAFECON.
Jacksonville University also has a renowned nursing program, dance program, marine science program, as well as the second-largest NROTC program in the nation. A new Davis Student Commons center will open in October 2006, and the long-dormant Swisher Theatre will open to performances in October 2006. In addition, new residence halls will be opening in Fall of 2007. Jacksonville University President Kerry Romesburg describes this as, "An exciting time to be at Jacksonville University."
[edit] Athletics
JU sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (I-AA for football) in the Atlantic Sun Conference, except for football, in which they compete in the Pioneer Football League (the Atlantic Sun Conference does not sponsor football).
JU has been noted for its basketball program, which has produced professional stars such as Artis Gilmore, Otis Smith and Dee Brown. In 1970, JU became the smallest school (by enrollment) to ever make it to the Final Four. After defeating St. Bonaventure in the national semi-finals, the team that starred Gilmore, Pembroke Burroughs and Rex Morgan, lost to Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, and UCLA in the National Championship Game. The following year, JU became the first school to average 100 points per game but could not repeat their miracle run in the tournament.
As of January 2, 2007 the Dolphins named Kerwin Bell their new football coach. Bell previously coached at Trinity Catholic High School(Celtics), in Ocala, FL with ex-Florida Gator wide reciever Ricky Nattiel.
[edit] Greek Life and Student Life
The school's Greek system, consisting by some estimates of 30% of the school, includes the Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, FIJI, Sigma Nu, Alpha Phi Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternities and the Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Delta Pi, Gamma Phi Beta, Alpha Kappa Alpha,Delta Sigma Theta, and Gamma Eta sororities.
Fifty-three percent of all students live on campus in one of five different residential halls and 8 different apartment style housing. Most residence halls provide academic and social events as well as host programs that acclimate incoming students to the college experience.
While Greeks do offer some social events, many residence halls host their own events, though alcohol policies are strictly enforced. The school has one of the lowest number of binge drinking documentations in the country, but does not restrict alcohol on campus.
The student center of the University (The Davis Student Commons Building) includes a state-of-the-art fitness center overlooking the St. John's River, a sports-themed dining facility named Nellie's (after the school mascot), a game room for all campus community members, and serves as a focial point for campus life. The facility opened in October 2006.
Student life at Jacksonville University includes opportunities in a diverse range of activities and organizations. Besides fraternities and sororities, there are multicultural groups, arts groups, political and social action groups, service and professional groups, religious groups, sports and recreation groups, academic and professional groups, and special interest groups. Campus media organizations include the student newspaper (The Navigator), the campus radio station (WFIN), the literary and arts magazine (The Aquarian), and the yearbook (The Riparian). The Student Government Association also serves the needs of the students through the 26 senators elected from each class at the school.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Tom McMillan - former Major League Baseball shortstop and member of the inaugural 1977 Seattle Mariners team.
- David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States
- Artis Gilmore, NBA Basketball Star in the 1970s
- Otis Smith, NBA Basketball Star in the 1980s and 1990s and currently the General Manager of the Orlando Magic.
- Dee Brown, NBA Boston Celtics, former Dunk Contest Winner and now Community Ambassador for the Orlando Magic.
- Bob Moore, composer and conductor (but not the bass player!)
- Tony Steve, composer and percussionist
- Bill Boston, composer and orchestrator
- Frank Pace, Hollywood Producer
[edit] External links
| Atlantic Sun Conference |
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| Belmont • Campbell (Campbell Fighting Camels) • ETSU • Florida Gulf Coast* • Gardner–Webb • Jacksonville Kennesaw State • Lipscomb • Mercer • North Florida • South Carolina Upstate* • Stetson * Future member effective 2007-2008 academic year |
| Pioneer Football League |
|---|
| Butler (Butler Bulldogs) • Davidson • Dayton (Dayton Flyers) • Drake (Drake Bulldogs) • Jacksonville • Morehead State • San Diego • Valparaiso (Valparaiso Crusaders) |
