Jacksonville University Jacksonville Dolphins - The Mascot of Jacksonville University 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 . 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 . `` On June 16 , 2006 Jacksonville University named Professor William “Bill” Hill as the new dean for the College of Fine Arts . Hill , who had been serving as interim dean for the year prior , is a member of the Fine Arts faculty at JU since 2000 . He also has served as chair of the Department of Visual Arts and directed the Center for Animation and Virtual Environments ( CAVE ) at Jacksonville University . Since being named Dean , Hill has launched other exciting initiatives for Fine Arts including a national playwriting competition with sponsorship from Bruce Helford , JU alum and creator of The Drew Carey Show . The Helford Prize offered a $ 10 , 000 cash prize , and cast JU into the national spotlight . 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 . Greek 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 . 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 External links Official website Official Athletics website Atlantic Sun Conference Belmont • Campbell • 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 • Davidson • Dayton • Drake • Jacksonville • Morehead State • San Diego • Valparaiso This article on a southern U.S. institution of higher education is a stub . You can help Wikipedia by expanding it . Categories : Atlantic Sun Conference | Pioneer Football League | Universities and colleges in Jacksonville | Southern United States university stubs 