Johnson University Florida is a private, Christian university with its campus in

Kissimmee, Florida Kissimmee ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 79,226. It is a Principal City of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, wh ...

. It is part of the

Johnson University Johnson University is a private Christian university with its main campus in Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, and a second campus in Kissimmee, Florida. It is affiliated with the Christian churches and churches of Christ, a branch of the Restora ...

system with its main campus outside Knoxville Tennessee and an online campus. It is affiliated with the Independent Christian Church of the

Restoration Movement The Restoration Movement (also known as the American Restoration Movement or the Stone–Campbell Movement, and pejoratively as Campbellism) is a Christian movement that began on the United States frontier during the Second Great Awakening (17 ...

History

Johnson University Florida was founded in 1975 as Central Florida Bible College. Following a move to its current main campus in 1986, the name changed to Florida Christian College. In 2013, after completing a merger with

, the school became Johnson University Florida.

2013 Acquisition by Johnson University

In its last decade operating as Florida Christian College, the campus was continually plagued with increasing financial challenges. Those challenges were greatly exacerbated by the onset of the

Great Recession The Great Recession was a period of marked general decline, i.e. a recession, observed in national economies globally that occurred from late 2007 into 2009. The scale and timing of the recession varied from country to country (see map). At ...

in 2008. On December 10, 2012, SACS leadership elected to revoke Florida Christian College's regional accreditation, effectively terminating the college's ability to function independently. Although the college appealed the committee's decision, SACS denied the appeal in February 2013. Under the administrative guidance of

, the college sought an injunction against SACS in order to restore its regional accreditation and proceed with a planned merger between the two schools. On March 8, 2013, the U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia granted the injunction restoring probationary status of FCC as a member of SACS. During this transition period, a number of significant events took place. First, the University purchased the Florida campus, simultaneously permitting financial oversight of the college and erasing its debt. Next, FCC President Bill Behrman stepped down and David L. Eubanks, former president of Johnson University, became the

chief operating officer A chief operating officer or chief operations officer, also called a COO, is one of the highest-ranking executive positions in an organization, composing part of the "C-suite". The COO is usually the second-in-command at the firm, especially if t ...

. Lastly, the trustees of Johnson University voted to incorporate the Florida property into its system, and the campus officially became Johnson University Florida on July 1, 2013.

Academics

The curriculum offers courses in a variety of majors. All students are required to take a core of Bible and theology classes along with their chosen major. The college offers multiple undergraduate programs, including certificates, Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science programs, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs, and a Master of Strategic Ministry program. Johnson University Florida has been nationally accredited by the

Association for Biblical Higher Education The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), formerly The Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC) is an evangelical Christian organization of bible colleges in the United States and Canada. It is a member of the International Co ...

since 1985 and was regionally accredited by the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...

(SACS) from 1995 to 2012. After losing its accreditation with SACS, it was acquired by Johnson University and is now once again regionally accredited. It is a member of the

National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) located in Washington D.C.. It is an organization of private American colleges and universities. Founded in 1976, it has over 1,000 independent hig ...

and the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities. The university is organized into eight schools: *School of Arts & Sciences *School of Bible & Theology *School of Business & Public Leadership *School of Communication & Creative Arts *School of Congregational Ministry *Templar School of Education *School of Intercultural Studies *School of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Athletics

The athletic teams of the Johnson–Florida (JUFL) campus are called the Suns. The campus is a member of the

National Christian College Athletic Association The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) is an association of Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada whose mission is "the promotion and enhancement of intercollegiate athletic co ...

(NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division II level. JUFL competes in five intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, soccer and volleyball.

Accomplishments

The men's baseball team earned second place in the 2012 NCCAA D-II National Championship and third place in the 2013 National Championship. The men's basketball team won the 2012 NCCAA D-II Southwest Regional Championship.http://www.thenccaa.org/custompages/History%20PDF%20Files/Men%27s%20Basketball%20DII%20Archives.pdf

Notable people

Terry Bradds Terry Lee Bradds (born February 21, 1946) is an American guitarist who was born in Jamestown, Ohio and attended Greeneview High School. Career Bradds has been playing guitar since the age of five. He has performed with a wide variety of musici ...

– jazz guitarist (advanced guitar instructor) * David L. Eubanks – former president of

and chief operating officer of Johnson University Florida from 2013 to 2015 * Andrew Peterson – Christian author and recording artist (Class of 1997) * James E. Smith – Bible scholar (professor emeritus)

Images

Image:Johnson University Florida Campus View.jpg, Aerial view of JUFL campus. Image:Johnson University Florida Chapman Center.jpg, The Chapman Center, main building of JUFL. Image:Florida Christian College logo.gif, Old Florida Christian College logo. Image:Bench Overlooking Lake.jpg, Swing overlooking lake at JUFL.

References

External links

*
Official athletics website
{{authority control Association for Biblical Higher Education Universities and colleges affiliated with the Churches of Christ Private universities and colleges in Florida Universities and colleges affiliated with the Christian churches and churches of Christ Educational institutions established in 1976 Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Education in Kissimmee, Florida 1976 establishments in Florida