Florida Memorial University

Last updated

Florida Memorial University
Florida Memorial University.jpg
A Promise, A Future
Former names
Florida Baptist Institute (1879–1892)
Florida Baptist Academy (1892–1896)
Florida Normal and Industrial Institute (1896–1950)
Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College (1950–1963)
Florida Memorial College (1963–2006)
MottoLeadership, Character, Service
Type Private historically black college
Established1879
Religious affiliation
 American Baptist Churches USA
Endowment $9.76 million [1]
President Jaffus Hardrick
Students1,800 [2]
Location
Miami Gardens, Florida
,
U.S.

25°55′06″N80°16′14″W / 25.9182°N 80.2705°W / 25.9182; -80.2705 (Florida Memorial University)
CampusUrban, 44 acres (18 ha)
Colors Blue & Orange
   
Nickname Lions
Sporting affiliations
 NAIA – The Sun
Website www.fmuniv.edu

Florida Memorial University is a private historically black college in Miami Gardens, Florida. Founded as the Florida Baptist Institute, today it claims a focus on broader Christianity and is a member of the United Negro College Fund.

Contents

History

Florida Memorial University was founded in 1879 as the Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak, Florida. It is one of the oldest academic centers in the state. [3] Soon after, the American Baptist Home Mission Society gave the school its full support, and the first regular school year began in 1880.

J. L. A. Fish, first president of the Florida Institute JLAFish.jpg
J. L. A. Fish, first president of the Florida Institute

J. L. A. Fish (1828–1890) was its first president. Despite a promising start, racial tensions soon cast a shadow over the institute. In April 1892, after unknown persons fired shots into one of the school's buildings, then-President Matthew Gilbert and other staff members fled Live Oak for Jacksonville, where they founded the Florida Baptist Academy in the basement of Bethel Baptist Church. They began holding classes in May 1892, with Sarah Ann Blocker as the main instructor. The school in Live Oak, however, continued to operate even after this splintering. [4]

Nathan W. Collier, President of Florida Baptist Institute, and Sarah Ann Blocker, of Florida Baptist Academy, combined the two institutions to found Florida Normal and Technical Institute in 1896. Collier was president of the college from 1896 to 1941, and Blocker Dean of Women and vice-president from 1896 to 1944. [5]

Brothers James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson (faculty member), wrote the words and music in 1900 to "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" (known as the "Negro National Anthem").

Florida Normal and Industrial Institute in St. Augustine, Florida Florida Normal and Industrial Institute.jpg
Florida Normal and Industrial Institute in St. Augustine, Florida

Florida Normal and Industrial Institute moved to St. Augustine in 1918 and operated in buildings on a 110-acre (0.45 km2) tract of land, the site of the "Old Hanson Plantation". It had been based on the forced labor of enslaved African Americans.

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; it graduated its first four-year class in 1945. The young author Zora Neale Hurston taught at the school in 1942; she lived on the second floor of a two-story house at 791 West King Street, just east of the campus. [6]

The school's name was changed in 1950 to Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College. In 1963, the charter was amended to change the name to Florida Memorial College. Concerned by race-related violence in the city in relation to the civil rights movement (see St. Augustine movement), in 1965 the college bought a tract of land in what was then rural Dade County and developed the campus there. [7]

In 1968, the college relocated to its present site (now "northwest Miami"). By 1972, it 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) campus.

In 1993, Albert E. Smith was appointed as the college's tenth president. He also directed a period of growth. On July 3, 2006, Karl S. Wright became the eleventh president.

Roslyn Clark Artis was appointed interim president in 2013 and became the 13th president in 2014; she was the first female President in the institution's 138-year history. In 2017 she left to become the first female President of Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina in its 147-year history. [8]

For years the college was based in what was classified as the Opa-locka North census-designated place, [9] [10] in an unincorporated area. In 2003 this was incorporated as the city of Miami Gardens. [11]

In 2006, Florida Memorial College changed its name to Florida Memorial University, a reflection of its expansion in graduate offerings. [3] [12] [13]

Academics

Florida Memorial University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It offers 41 undergraduate degree programs and four 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 institution has offered an honors program for 10 years that is designed to target and challenge students to their highest level.

The institution also offers pre-college programs to reach out to the surrounding community. It addresses critical urban needs and helps more than 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. 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 Black 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, and the Dr. Laban Connor Black Collection. [14] The library also houses the Trayvon Martin Foundation, in honor of Trayvon Martin, established in March 2012 by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin as "a nonprofit organization whose main purpose is to provide emotional and financial support to families who have lost a child to gun violence." [15]

Athletics

The Florida Memorial athletic teams are called the Lions. The institution is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), [16] primarily competing in the Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after the 2007–08 school year) since the 1990–91 academic year. [17] Its football program began competing in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) from the 2020 to 2021 fall seasons. [18]

Florida Memorial competes in 13 intercollegiate varsity sports: [19] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, flag football, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading.

Football

The institution played football under the name Florida Normal and Industrial Institute from 1946-58 (except 1949), competing in the Southeastern Athletic Conference. The Lions' record in those twelve seasons was 41 wins, 25 losses and six ties, with a 14–8 win over Albany State in their final game of 1958. The football program was re-instated in 2020, after a 62 year hiatus. The "new" Lions got their first victory on October 23, 2021, defeating Union College. 41–17. [20]

Notable alumni

NameClass yearNotabilityReference(s)
Barrington Irving, Jr. In 2007 became the first and youngest Black pilot to fly solo around the world [21]
Harry T. Moore Educator, civil rights activist, and leader of NAACP in Brevard County and state of Florida; assassinated on Christmas night 1951
Freddie Lee Peterkin Soul and Gospel singer aka Freddie Lee
Grisha Heyliger-Marten Politician from Saint Maarten

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NAIA independent schools</span> Informal athletic conference member schools

NAIA independent schools are four-year institutional members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) that do not have formal conference affiliations. NAIA schools that are not members of any other athletic conference are members of the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC), formerly the Association of Independent Institutions (AII), which provides member services to the institution and allows members to compete in postseason competition. The CAC has one member institution in Canada's British Columbia. It provides services to the member institutions that are not fitting in any other NAIA conference and allows members to compete in postseason competition. The AII renamed itself the Continental Athletic Conference at the end of June 2021, citing the need to identify as a proper conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity International University</span> Christian liberal arts university in Bannockburn, Illinois, U.S.

Trinity International University (TIU) is an evangelical Christian university headquartered in Bannockburn, Illinois. It comprises Trinity College, Trinity Graduate School, a theological seminary, a law school, and a camp called Timber-lee. The university also maintains campuses in North Lauderdale, Florida & Miami, Florida; the camp is located in East Troy, Wisconsin. TIU is the only university affiliated with Evangelical Free Church of America in the United States and enrolls about 2,700 students. On February 17, 2023, TIU announced it was moving the undergraduate program to online modalities only and closed the residential campus at the end of the Spring 2023 semester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Thomas University (Florida)</span> Private Catholic university in Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.

St. Thomas University (STU) is a private Catholic university in Miami Gardens, Florida. The university offers 61 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and post-graduate certificate programs on-campus and online. As of 2021, the university enrolled 5,921 students, which included 1,797 undergraduate students, 1,498 graduate students, 780 law students, 62 non-degree students, and 1,784 dual enrollment students. Over the years, the university's students have represented 45 states across the nation, and more than 70 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of St. Francis</span> Private university in Joliet, Illinois, U.S.

The University of St. Francis (USF) is a private Franciscan university with its main campus in Joliet, Illinois. It enrolls nearly 3,200 students at locations throughout the country with about 1,300 students at its main campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seminole State College of Florida</span> Public college in Sanford, Florida, US

Seminole State College of Florida is a public college based in Sanford, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campbellsville University</span> Christian university in Campbellsville, Kentucky, US

Campbellsville University (CU) is a private Christian university in Campbellsville, Kentucky. It was founded as Russell Creek Academy and enrolls more than 12,000 students. The university offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gardner–Webb University</span> Christian university in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, US

Gardner–Webb University is a private Christian liberal arts university in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. It was founded as Boiling Springs High School in 1905. Gardner–Webb is a classified among "Doctoral/Professional Universities".

St. Johns River State College is a public college in Northeast Florida with campuses in Palatka, St. Augustine, and Orange Park. Founded in 1958 as St. Johns River Junior College, a historically black college, it is part of the Florida College System. It is one of several colleges in the system designated in 2001 as a "state college", meaning they can offer more bachelor degrees and academic programs than traditional community colleges can.

Missouri Baptist University (MBU) is a private Southern Baptist university in Creve Coeur, Missouri. It is one of three universities of the Missouri Baptist Convention. The main campus is located on a 68-acre site near Creve Coeur and Town and County in West St Louis County, off highway 64-40. There are currently 12 MBU locations including its regional learning centers throughout the St. Louis region and Illinois. The school enrolled 5,309 students in 2019.

The University of Sioux Falls (USF) is a private university in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. In fall 2014, the university enrolled a total of 1,142 undergraduate students and 311 graduate students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakland City University</span> Private university in Oakland City, Indiana, US

Oakland City University (OCU) is a private university affiliated with the General Baptist Church and located in Oakland City, Indiana. It is the only General Baptist Church-affiliated college or university in the United States. Founded in 1885, it has slowly grown to the present student enrollment of about 1,200 on the main campus and, counting all sites, about 2,000 total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Conference</span> College athletic conference

The Sun Conference (TSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Eight of the ten full member institutions are located in Florida, with two in Georgia. The Sun Conference competes in the NAIA in all sponsored sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monsignor Edward Pace High School</span> Private, coeducational school in Miami Gardens, , Florida, United States

Monsignor Edward Pace High School is a Catholic secondary school in the Opa-locka North neighborhood of Miami Gardens, Florida. It was named a Blue Ribbon School in 2002 and one of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the country in 2004 and 2005 by the Catholic High School Honor Roll. Pace is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). This school is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keiser University</span> Private university in Florida, US

Keiser University is a private university with its main campus in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and flagship residential campus in West Palm Beach, Florida. Additional campuses are located in other parts of Florida and internationally. Keiser provides educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels in both traditional and online delivery formats. The school is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

North American University (NAU) is a private university in Stafford, Texas. NAU offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Computer Science, and Education. In the fall of 2013, the university changed its name from Texas Gulf Institute to its current name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Memorial Lions</span> Athletic teams representing Florida Memorial University

The Florida Memorial Lions are the athletic teams that represent Florida Memorial University, located in Miami Gardens, Florida, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Sun Conference since the 1990–91 academic year. Its football program began competing in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) from the 2020 to 2021 fall seasons.

Collier-Blocker Junior College, located at 1100 N. 19th Street in Palatka, Florida, opened its doors in 1960. It was one of eleven black junior colleges founded in the late 1950s at the initiative of the Florida Legislature. The Florida Constitution of 1885 had established legal racial segregation in schools and other facilities. But the unanimous Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision of 1954 ruled that segregated facilities were unconstitutional. The legislature founded new junior colleges to add access to the segregated higher education system in the state. They wanted to demonstrate that a "separate but equal" higher education system existed in Florida for African Americans.

Nathan W. Collier (1872–1941) was an American academic administrator who served as president of Florida Baptist Institute and then Florida Normal and Technical Institute from 1896 onward. Florida Baptist Institute was established by Collier and Sarah Ann Blocker, who combined Florida Baptist Institute and Florida Baptist Academy to form it. Collier was president of the historically black college from 1896 to 1941. The institution later was developed and renamed as Florida Memorial University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roslyn Artis</span> American academic administrator

Roslyn Clark Artis is the 14th president of Benedict College and the first woman to hold the position. She holds the additional distinction of being the first female president of Florida Memorial University. She is also educational advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, serves on the board of directors of the United Negro College Fund and the Council of Independent Colleges, and serves as co-chair for the United Way of the Midlands Campaign.

References

  1. ↑ As of June 30, 2011. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2011 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2010 to FY 2011" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers. January 17, 2012. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Academic Quick Facts". fmuniv.edu. Florida Memorial University. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Gus Garcia-Roberts (December 10, 2009). "At Florida Memorial University, surviving assaults is part of the curriculum". Miami New Times . Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Our History", http://www.fmuniv.edu/about/our-history/ Archived 2014-09-11 at the Wayback Machine , retrieved May 4, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Name is Changed for Negro Junior College", Ocala Star-Banner , September 13, 1960, https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19600913&id=7PojAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4AQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6964,4230952&hl=en, retrieved May 4, 2016.
  6. ↑ McCarthy, Kevin M. (2007). African American Sites in Florida. Pineapple Press Inc. p. 243. ISBN   978-1-56164-385-1.
  7. ↑ Marcof, Bianca (July 6, 2021). "Florida Memorial University fights for its future". The Miami Times. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Office of the President - Benedict College | Columbia, South Carolina". August 2, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 Block Map: Opa-locka North CDP" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. - Pages 1 and 2
  10. ↑ "Home". Florida Memorial University. Retrieved May 12, 2020. 15800 N.W. 42nd Ave Miami Gardens, FL
  11. ↑ "City of Miami Gardens: Demographics". 2009. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Live Oak City Councilors discuss Florida Memorial College, brownfields and grants". Suwannee Democrat. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  13. ↑ "College archway dedicated". The St. Augustine Record . Retrieved September 17, 2015. The school has changed its name several times, including to Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial Institute and Florida Memorial College. The school was renamed Florida Memorial University in 2006.
  14. ↑ Guthrie, Ana (2012). "The History of Florida's Four FBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) Libraries". Florida Libraries. 55 (2).
  15. ↑ The Trayvon Martin Foundation https://www.trayvonmartinfoundation.org/.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ "Schools". NAIA.ORG. NAIA. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Members". Thesunconference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  18. ↑ Staff (March 9, 2020). "Florida Memorial releases 2020 football schedule". HBCU Sports. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Athletic Quick Facts". FMU Lions. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  20. ↑ "FMU Makes History, Tops Union College 41-17 For First Football Victory In 63 Years". FMU SID. October 23, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Young Pilot Ends Round-The-World Solo Trip". Associated Press. June 27, 2007.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.