Timeline

1970

UNF moves its offices from the Florida National Bank Building in downtown Jacksonville to the Florida Chamber of Commerce Building on Arlington Expressway.

1971

UNF Foundation is established.

650 guests attend UNF’s groundbreaking, including Gov. Reubin Askew and local Regent J. J. Daniel.

1972

UNF opens for its first quarter with 2,027 upper division and master’s-level students attending classes. Campus consists of only four major buildings and three colleges: Arts and Sciences, Education and Business Administration.

The average age of the faculty is two years younger than the average age of students.

The Library opens with 100,000 volumes on its shelves.

1973

The UNF Nature Trails open.

35 students receive degrees June 10 at UNF’s first graduation.

1974

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools grants UNF full academic accreditation.

Three additional buildings open, nearly doubling the amount of available classroom and office space.

685 students in UNF’s charter class graduate.

1976

The University establishes the UNF Alumni Association.

The Small Business Development Center opens.

1978

Fire destroys UNF’s original Boathouse.

U.S. Dept. of the Interior recognizes UNF Nature Trails as a National Recreational Trail.

1979

The Osprey becomes UNF’s official mascot by write-in vote, beating out the armadillo, seagull, manatee and shark in a campus-wide election.

UNF 35th Anniversary