Florida Memorial University

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Florida Memorial University
Former names
 Florida Baptist Institute
Florida Baptist Academy
Florida Normal and Industrial Institute
Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College
Florida Memorial College
Motto Leadership, Character, Service
Type Private, HBCU
Established 1879
Affiliation American Baptist Churches USA & National Baptist Convention
Endowment $9.76 million[1]
President Dr. Roslyn Artis
Students 1,800[2]
Location
Miami Gardens
,
Florida
,

United States

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Campus Urban, 44 acres
Colors Royal Blue & Orange
         
Nickname FloMo
Affiliations Florida Sun Conference
Mascot Fighting Lions
Website www.fmuniv.edu

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Florida Memorial University is a private coeducational four-year university in Miami Gardens, Florida. One of the 39 member institutions of the United Negro College Fund, and a historically Black, Baptist-related institution which is ranked second in Florida and ninth in the United States for graduating African-American teachers.[3]

History

One of the oldest academic centers in Florida, the university was founded in 1879 as the Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak, Florida.[4] Soon after, the American Baptist Home Mission Society gave its full support and the first regular school year began in 1880.

In 1882, the Florida Baptist Academy was established in Jacksonville, Florida. The name was later changed to Florida Normal and Industrial Institute. It was there that two brothers, James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson (faculty member), wrote the words and music to "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" (known as the "Negro National Anthem"), in 1900.

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Old Homes Plantation Bell

The Old Homes Plantation is where the famous bell which now sits above the Susie C. Holley Chapel was purchased. The bell was originally used to gather slaves to issue daily orders. This bell was cast at the same foundry as the Liberty Bell, which is enshrined in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Florida Normal and Industrial Institute moved to St. Augustine in 1918 on part of a 110-acre (0.45 km2) tract of land known as "Old Homes Plantation", formerly one of the largest slave plantations in Florida. In 1941, the Live Oak and St. Augustine institutions merged, changing their limited offerings from a junior college classification to a four-year liberal arts institution which graduated its first four-year class in 1945. Its name was changed in 1950 to Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College. In 1963, the charter was again amended to change the name to Florida Memorial College. In 1968, the college relocated to its present site in Northwest Miami and by 1972 graduated its first class at the Miami site. Florida Memorial College celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1979 and began a series of expansion projects on the 44-acre (180,000 m2) site.

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Jazz Festival

The university hosts an annual jazz festival, named in honor of professor and trumpeter, Melton Mustafa.

In 1993 Dr. Albert E. Smith was appointed as the college's tenth president, heralding another period of growth in the institution's rich history. In December 2004, the institution's name was changed to Florida Memorial University with the announcement being made at the Founders' Convocation in March 2005. On July 3, 2006, Dr. Karl S. Wright became the eleventh president. In 2006, Florida Memorial College changed its name to Florida Memorial University.[4][5][6]

Academics

Florida Memorial University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). It offers 41 undergraduate degree programs and 4 graduate degree programs through its eight academic divisions in six academic schools. The business programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. The social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The Music Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

The university has offered an honors program for 10 years that is designed to target and challenge students to their highest level. The Honors Program Director is Dr. Randy R. James.

The university also offers pre-college programs to reach out to the surrounding community to address critical urban needs and help over 700 youth through the Lion's Pre-College Experience Institute. The institute offers several programs that focus on academic achievement and higher learning, with an emphasis on physical fitness, dropout prevention, religion, financial management, entrepreneurship, and personal development.

Library

The Nathan W. Collier Library was named after Nathan White Collier, who served as the third president of Florida Baptist Academy for forty-five years. Dr. Collier was responsible for tireless fundraising and advocating; acquiring property and land; increasing enrollment and attracting nationally renowned faculty. Collier tried to replicate the educational aims and programs of Booker T. Washington. His greatest contribution was to the education and training of African American teachers throughout Florida. The Collier library houses 120,000 volumes, two Information Commons areas as well as separate Electronic, Teaching, Periodicals, Audiovisual and Group study rooms. The library subscribes to 30 databases, 519 periodicals and contains two special collections: The Rev. I. C. Mickins Theological and Sermonic Research as well as the Dr. Laban Connor Black Collection.[7]

Notable alumni

Name Class year Notability Reference(s)
Barrington Irving, Jr. In 2007 became the first and youngest African-American pilot to fly solo around the world [8]
Freddie Lee Peterkin Soul and Gospel singer aka Freddie Lee

Athletics

Florida Memorial athletic teams are known as the Lions. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I level, primarily competing in The Sun Conference, formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC). The Lions formerly competed in the Southeast Athletic Conference (SEAC) prior joining the NAIA. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, track & field and volleyball.

Athletic Championships
NAIA National Championships
Men's Track – 400 m Hurdles 1988
Men's Track – 100 m Dash 1999
Women's Track – 200m 2001
Women's Track – 4 × 100 m 2001
Women's Track – 4 × 400 m 2001
Men's Track – High Jump 2001
SEAC Conference Championships
Men's Basketball 1972-73
Men's Basketball 1973-74
Men's Basketball 1976-77
Men's Basketball 1977-78
Men's Basketball 1978-79
Men's Basketball 1980-81
Men's Basketball 1981-82
Men's Basketball 1982-83
Men's Basketball 1991-92
Florida Sun Conference Championships
Women's Basketball 1991-92
Women's Basketball 1992-93
Women's Basketball 1993-94
Women's Basketball 1996-97
Women's Basketball 1997-98
Women's Basketball 2000-01
Women's Basketball 2010-11

See also

References

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External links

Template:Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida

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