Timeline
1969
The Board of Regents selects a 1,000-acre campus site midway between downtown Jacksonville and the beaches and names Thomas G. Carpenter as UNF’s first president.
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.
1980
The new library opens.
1981
UNF renames the library the Thomas G. Carpenter Library.
The UNF theater, which eventually will be named the Robinson Theater in honor of Interim President Andrew A. Robinson Jr., opens for its first production, “A Raisin in the Sun.”
1982
Student enrollment tops 5,500.
Curtis L. McCray becomes UNF’s second president.
1983
UNF’s intercollegiate athletics program begins competing in men’s and women’s cross country/track.
1984
UNF admits freshmen and sophomores for the first time.
1985
Osprey Village, UNF’s first on-campus housing, opens with space for 435 students.
1986
Women’s tennis team wins NAIA National Championship.
The Library’s online catalog replaces card catalog.
1987
The Aquatic Center with an Olympic-size pool opens.
1988
University establishes the College of Health.
Monique French becomes the first four-year student to graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Baseball becomes part of UNF’s intercollegiate athletics program.
The 1,000-seat baseball stadium is completed and named Harmon Stadium in honor of longtime boosters Linda and Doug Harmon.
The John E. Mathews Jr. Computer Science Building opens and is named in honor of the former state lawmaker who was instrumental in gaining authorization and funding to build UNF.
1989
Adam W. Herbert becomes UNF’s third president.
UNF establishes its fifth college, known as the College of Computer and Information Sciences.
Andrew A. Robinson Jr. Student Life Center opens and is named in honor of UNF’s first interim president.
Osprey Hall, a three-story, lakeside residence hall, opens with housing for 250 undergraduates.
1990
The first doctoral degree program begins in College of Education and Human Services.
1991
The golf team wins the NAIA national championship.
Building 1, the UNF administration building, officially becomes J.J. Daniel Hall in honor of the former newspaper publisher and chairman of the Board of Regents.
The Athletics Department adds five varsity sports: men’s soccer, women’s softball, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball.
1992
The College of Education and Human Services Building officially becomes Frederick H. Schultz Hall in honor of the former Federal Reserve vice chairman and state lawmaker.
1993
The UNF Arena opens, with seating for 5,800.
The golf team wins second NAIA National Championship.
UNF joins NCAA Division II.
1994
Enrollment tops 10,000 during fall registration.
Osprey Landing opens in the fall with housing for 150 students.
The women’s tennis team wins NCAA Division II National Championship.
1995
The new College of Health Building opens.
The Osprey Fitness Center undergoes a $100,000 renovation and becomes the Dottie Dorion Fitness Center in honor of the first female president of the Osprey Club.
Research grants awarded to UNF through the Division of Sponsored Research top $5 million, bringing 10-year total to $47.4 million.
Osprey Landing Phase II opens with housing for an additional 300 students.
1996
New College of Business Administration Building opens.
A Board of Regents study concludes UNF has $188 million economic impact on the region.
The College of Education and Human Services initiates master’s degree program in Belize.
1997
The College of Health Building becomes J. Brooks Brown Hall in honor of the retired physician and University benefactor.
1998
UNF President Adam W. Herbert leaves to become chancellor of State University System.
Osprey Cove opens with housing for 450 students.
1999
Anne H. Hopkins takes office as UNF’s first female president and fourth overall.
The University Center opens as a state-of-the-art conference and meeting facility.
2000
More than 1,000 students graduate during spring commencement ceremonies.
UNF launches a $65 million capital campaign, the largest philanthropic drive in Jacksonville history.
2001
The Fine Arts Center, with seating for 1,300 in the Lazzara Performance Hall, opens.
Gov. Jeb Bush appoints members of the first UNF Board of Trustees.
Osprey Crossings opens with housing for 470 students.
2002
Hayt Golf Learning Center, named in honor of benefactors John T. and Geraldine Hayt, opens.
The College of Business Administration becomes Coggin College of Business in honor of Luther and Blanche Coggin, who donate $5 million to the college.
2003
John A. Delaney becomes UNF’s fifth president.
The Fine Arts Center begins its inaugural season with a performance by Kathleen Battle with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu arrives on campus to teach for one semester.
Lady Ospreys capture the South Atlantic Region Basketball Championship, giving them a spot in the Elite Eight.
The Access to Excellence capital campaign ends, raising more than $100 million.
The Division of Sponsored Research sets record with more than $15 million in research grants.
2004
The Science and Engineering Building opens.
2005
The School of Nursing becomes UNF’s first flagship program, which focuses resources to help transform existing excellence into academic programs with national prominence.
The University adopts a new logo and student-centered brand.
The Thomas G. Carpenter Library renovation and addition is completed.
2006
New Social Sciences Building opens, setting standard for future environmentally green campus buildings.
The College of Health officially becomes Brooks College of Health after Brooks Health System following a $5 million gift to the college.
The Princeton Review ranks UNF as one of nation’s five best buys in public higher education.
George and Kernan Hodges donate $2 milllion to upgrade what is now called Hodges Soccer and Track Stadium.
The Taylor Engineering Research Institute is established with $1 million endowment.
Two Coggin College of Business programs – International Business and Transportation and Logistics – become UNF flagship programs. Coastal Biology becomes UNF’s fourth flagship program.
2007
UNF celebrates its 35th anniversary.
