Johnson University Florida: Programs, History, and Transition
Johnson University Florida (JUFL) was a private Christian university located in Kissimmee, Florida, operating as part of the Johnson University system, which has its main campus near Knoxville, Tennessee, and an online campus. This article explores the history of JUFL, its academic programs, athletic involvement, and eventual closure.
A History of Service and Change
Originally founded in 1975 as Central Florida Bible College, the institution later became Florida Christian College (FCC). During its final decade as FCC, the college encountered increasing financial difficulties, significantly worsened by the Great Recession's onset in 2008. In 2013, Johnson University acquired the Florida campus, providing financial oversight and erasing the college's debt. Following the acquisition, FCC President Bill Behrman stepped down, and David L. Eubanks took over the position.
However, on July 7, 2023, Johnson University announced the closure of its Florida campus, effective June 30, 2024. The university cited a failure to significantly increase enrollment despite implementing a "turnaround plan" in 2021. This plan aimed to revitalize enrollment, improve student retention, and increase income. The university offered students the option to transfer to the Tennessee campus, complete their degrees online, or transfer to other universities in Florida.
Academic Programs and Transfer Options
JUFL offered a curriculum encompassing various majors, with all students required to complete a core set of Bible and theology courses alongside their chosen major. Johnson University offered 14 associate degree programs, 8 of them completely online.
To facilitate student transitions, Johnson University developed transfer agreements with several institutions in Florida, ensuring students could continue their education seamlessly. The university also offered a "last-dollar" tuition program for students transferring to the Tennessee campus, covering tuition costs after grants and scholarships were applied. Additionally, a 50% tuition discount was offered to students who wished to complete their degrees online. All programs offered at the Florida campus were available at the Tennessee campus, with most also available 100% online.
Read also: Intellectual Bravery at Spelman
Here's a comparison of JUFL's bachelor's degree programs and equivalent programs at Southeastern University (SEU):
- Applied Linguistics: Historical & Literary Studies
- Bible & Theology: Ministerial Leadership: Biblical Studies
- Business Administration: Business Studies Bachelor of Business Administration
- Business Administration: Entrepreneurship: Business Studies Bachelor of Business Administration, Minor: Entrepreneurship
- Business Administration: Sports Management: Sport ManagementBusiness Studies Bachelor of Business Administration, Minor: Sport Management
- Elementary Education (K-6): Elementary Education
- Intercultural Studies: Multidisciplinary Studies
- Ministry Leadership: Children & Family Ministry: Ministerial Leadership: Family Ministries
- Ministry Leadership: Preaching & Church Leadership: Ministerial Leadership: Christian Ministry
- Ministry Leadership: Pastoral Care & Counseling: Ministerial Leadership: Christian Ministry
- Ministry Leadership: Preaching & Student Ministry: Ministerial Leadership: Christian Ministry
- Ministry Leadership: Ministerial Leadership: Christian Ministry
- Missions: Ministerial Leadership: Missional Leadership
- Psychology or Organizational Psychology: Psychology (Bachelor of Science)
- Pastoral Care and Counseling: Ministerial Leadership: Pastoral Care & Counseling
- Sport & Fitness Leadership (Including Fitness Science and Sport Administration tracks): Sport ManagementBusiness Studies Bachelor of Business Administration, Minor: Sport Management
- Visual Media Production & Design: Communication: Digital Design & ProductionGraphic Design
- Worship Leadership: Worship StudiesMusicMinors: Worship Studies or Worship Ministries
Note: A General Studies degree might also be a suitable option depending on earned credits.
The Florida College and State University System has a state-wide “2+2” program which allows students to earn an associate degree from state colleges and transfer it to participating state and private universities. They require completion of 36 semester hours of general education courses in the subject areas of communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. In addition, there is a “Gordon Rule” that requires 6 hours of English and successful demonstration of college-level writing in multiple assignments and 6 hours of mathematics at college algebra level or higher. Valencia College’s main campus is less than 2 miles from Johnson University Florida!
Athletics
Johnson University Florida was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). The athletic teams were known as the Suns. Johnson University Athletics.
Accreditation
Johnson University Florida held accreditation from the Association for Biblical Higher Education since 1985. It also held regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools from 1995 to 2012. After losing its accreditation with SACS, it was acquired by Johnson University and was once again regionally accredited.
Read also: From Transfer Portal to Gridiron Glory: Chasen Johnson's Story
Announcement of JUFL Campus Closure: Reasons and Reactions
Johnson University acquired Florida Christian College in 2013. At that time, Florida Christian College had lost its accreditation and faced significant financial hardship. Johnson University’s trustees and leadership team believed Johnson could not only intervene in the immediate issues, but in the longer term could create a Florida campus that reached a more diverse student body, impacted a state with a significant number of Christian churches, and equipped more students for lives of ministry and service.
Since 2013, Johnson University Florida graduated more than 300 students to date. More than a third of them graduated from ministry programs, and others pursued meaningful work in business, counseling, education, nonprofit leadership, and other strategic vocations. The university assembled an excellent faculty who implemented high-quality, relevant academic programs reflecting both Christian ministries and strategic vocations. JUFL significantly improved facilities, including the new cafeteria and café, the soccer field, and the renovation of the Chapman Center gymnasium/auditorium.
However, the university continued to face challenges in enrollment at the Florida campus. Each academic year saw declining or disappointing results, which led to increasing operating deficits. In February 2021, Johnson’s Board of Trustees endorsed a “turnaround plan” that included four benchmarks to serve as barometers of the health of the campus and eight actions designed to impact the four benchmarks. The benchmarks were increasing student enrollment, improving student retention, decreasing the budget deficit on the Florida campus, and increasing gift income to the campus.
Despite strong efforts from the Johnson University Florida faculty and staff, the university was unsuccessful in increasing enrollment significantly, and the campus did not make sufficient progress toward its benchmarks.
The campus remained open and classes continued through the academic year of the announcement. This decision was not made lightly. Some among the constituency might wonder why the decision wasn't made earlier, before more money was invested in the campus. Others may question why the university could not wait longer to make this decision, since so many students and colleagues are affected. The university Board of Trustees was committed to resourcing and supporting the Johnson University Florida campus if it was on a path toward sustainability, and was reluctant to close the campus until they knew for sure it was no longer financially sustainable. Although many people had worked very hard to increase enrollment and lower the budget deficit on the campus, the Board decided the campus was not financially sustainable.
Read also: Robert Wood Johnson Emergency Services
The university expressed gratitude for the generosity of so many churches and individuals who had supported the mission of the school since its inception in 1976. The university grieved with the campus community in Florida, acknowledging the challenging months ahead as they sought to support them, honor the history of the campus, and finish well. The university pledged to do everything possible to ease the transition and to celebrate their good work.
Events
HomecomingWatch the Livestream of Homecoming If you missed any of the live sessions, be sure to check out all of the sessions at JohnsonU.edu/RoyalsLive! Alumni… Church Leadership Conference Pursue 2.0 The Fred B. Craddock Lectures on PreachingPlan to join us for this year’s Craddock Lectures on Preaching!
tags: #Johnson #University #Florida #programs
