See Campus For Yourself

Hi, future fans, I'm Maddie Chin and I'm a management and marketing major here at Jacksonville University. Today I want to show you our campus. 

Let's start with where you'll live. Botts and Williams Hall are exclusively for freshmen. First-year housing is all about the experience. This is more than just a place to sleep, this is where you'll hang out, study, play and make lifelong friendships. There's a kitchenette on the first floor for you to use and laundry is free, just bring detergent. Most students live with a roommate. Each room provides a bed, desk and chest of drawers with endless possibilities of how to set it up. I was nervous about living with a roommate my freshman year, but it was like a fun year-long sleepover. I'm really excited to come back for my fourth year living on campus this fall.  

The Kinney center is where a lot of students hang out between classes to grab some food, study and meet up with friends. It's named after Dr. Francis Bartlett Kinney, the former president of JU. She was the first female president of any university in Florida, and she lived to be 102. Inside is our Riverview dining hall, where you can use your unlimited meal plan and our full-service Starbucks, which is open 80 hours a week. 

Let's head next door to Davis Student Commons. Davis Student Commons is another place to hang out, grab a bite and get in a workout. The fitness center on the first floor features all new equipment and a variety of group exercise classes. Davis Student Commons is also home to our new jax esports club team and gaming room. We have over 130 clubs and organizations at JU for everything from surfing to bass fishing. This is one of my favorite places to study and hang out, the River House. Built in the 1980s, it was originally the JU president's house. In 2014 President Cost converted it into a riverfront hideaway for students and fun campus events. Students hang out by the fire pit, enjoy movie nights or hold club meetings here, and sometimes you can catch a beach volleyball game. The pub offers burgers, sandwiches, and salads, plus beer and wine for those 21 and older.  

JU's Davis College of Business is home to our internationally ranked MBA program. For eight years, CEO magazine has ranked the program among the best in the world. Fun Fact, this is also home to our school of aviation and our world-class aviation simulator. Jacksonville University is a tight-knit community, especially in the classroom. With an 11 to 1 student-to-teacher ratio your professors will know you by name and can offer one-on-one mentoring. Here at JU, classes will never be taught by teaching assistants, only professors with years of experience in their field. JU has 58 majors and 67 minors. Our top five declared majors are nursing, business, kinesiology, marine science and aviation.  

One in every four students at JU is also a division one athlete and dolphin athletics offers modern training facilities that serve as a home away from home for our student athletes. The Rock Lacrosse Center is home to our nationally ranked lacrosse teams. The only division one lacrosse programs in Florida. Here, they can work out, prepare for games, study or just hang out between classes. All athletic events on campus are free to students.  

At JU, we take concerts up a notch by hosting them right on the water. The dolphin green and Larry Strom amphitheater is where we hold some of our outdoor student events. One of my favorite traditions here is Porter fest, held every year on charter day which is JU's birthday. We celebrate with a day of service and a concert just for students.  

This is one of the best-kept secrets on campus the Odeck of the marine science research institute. It's tucked away on the banks of the river making a quiet scenic spot for studying or just relaxing by the water. The institute offers research opportunities for students including a chance to tag and study great white sharks with our partners at OCEARCH. 

Next door is the rowing center, another popular waterfront spot for our rowing teams and the annual rock the docks event. Here at JU, we do things a little differently, even relaxing. With hundreds of sunny days every year, you'll find many students hanging out at areas just like this. It's one of the several recent projects that came from suggestions our students made to President Cost. Areas like Nelms plaza also feature dozens of charging stations for laptops and phones and the hammocks are my prime nap spot. If you plan to pledge a fraternity or sorority, there's a good chance you live here in North hall. Each chapter has a hall for their sophomores, juniors, and seniors chapter president and a fully furnished chapter room. This is also where our faculty in residence lives, serving as a resource for students throughout the year.  

Terry concert hall is one of our fine arts performance spaces on campus where many of our musical ensembles and visiting artists perform throughout the year. This is also where we host political debates, guest lectures, and other major events like our homecoming pageant for Miss Delfina and big man on campus.  

And last but certainly not least meet our two mascots, Nelly and Duncan. These statues were designed and sculpted by JU professor Jim Benedict and his class in 2014 and it's definitely the number one spot on campus for photos. Alright future fins, now you've seen all my favorite spots on campus but before you go you got to learn how to flip your fin. It's easy just hold up your left hand with your thumb pointer and pinky to make the letters j and u. Fins up guys, we're so excited for you to come visit us in person. Sign up at the link below and we'll see you soon.