Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) is a private, co-ed, four-year liberal arts institution of higher learning located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. JCSU is also a historically black college established in 1867. It’s nickname is the Golden Bulls and the University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division II and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). Their colors are Gold and Navy Blue and their motto is Let There Be Light.

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Location:
100 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28216-5398
Phone: (704) 378-1000
Website: www.jcsu.edu
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Type: 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Awards offered:
Bachelor's degree
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[thirdlast]Campus setting:
City: Large
Campus housing: Yes
Student population: 1,331 (all undergraduate)
Student-to-faculty ratio: 12 to 1
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History

• 1867 The university was founded under the guidance of the Presbyterian Church and named “Biddle Memorial Institute” after Major Henry J. Biddle, the late husband of Mary D. Biddle who pledged $1,400 to start the college.
• 1876 Charlotte citizen Colonel W. R. Myers donated the first eight acres of land for the school. The school charter was changed by the North Carolina Legislature, and the name became Biddle University.
• 1883 A new building was erected to serve as the main administrative building for the university. It featured recitation rooms and a 600-seat audience chamber. It is currently known as Biddle Memorial Hall.
• 1919 Biddle University became the first black college in the South to offer professional courses in education.
• 1921-1922 The late Jane Berry Smith, of Pittsburgh, Pa., gave funds to build a theological dormitory, science hall, teachers' cottage and memorial gate. She provided a handsome endowment for the institution in memory of her late husband, Johnson C. Smith. In recognition of these gifts, the board of trustees changed the name of the institution to Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU).
• 1938 The institution attained the status of an independent college, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, reporting to the General Assembly through the Board of Christian Education.
• 1944 JCSU joined the United Negro College Fund as a founding member.
• 1967 JCSU celebrated its 100th anniversary. During this historic centennial occasion, the institution examined its past and made innovative plans for the future.
• 1997 The Technology Center was established, featuring a state-of-the-art video teleconferencing auditorium center and nine state-of-the-art labs. This placed JCSU on the leading edge of technological advancement.
• 2000 JCSU gained national recognition when it launched the IBM Laptop Initiative, known as ThinkPad U. JCSU became one of the few colleges in the country, and the first HBCU, to provide an IBM laptop computer to every student.

Campus

• 100 acre campus near Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
• Approximately 244 miles from Atlanta, Georgia
• Approximately 355 miles from Washington, D.C.
• Conveniently located near Charlotte-Douglas International Airport
• Easily accessible from Interstates 77 and 85

Our Student

Race/Ethnicity
• 45.0% North Carolina residents
• 9.3% South Carolina residents
• 3.2% International
• 42.5% Other states and territories
• 80.0% Black/African-American
• 2.3% Hispanic
• 0.7% White
• 0.3% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• 0.6% Two or more races
• 3.2% Nonresident alien

Gender
• 60.1% Female
• 39.9% Male

Age
• 17‐24 years old: 86.8%
• 25 years old or older: 11.2%
• Unknown: 2.0%

Faculty

• 97 full-time instructional faculty
• Student/faculty ratio 14:1
• 81% of full-time faculty hold doctorates or terminal degrees

Academics

JCSU offers 23 degree options for undergraduates. Students earn their degree through one of our three colleges – the College of Arts and Letters, the College of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and the College of Professional Studies.

Facilities

• In 2008, the University introduced the Go Global Initiative which helped students secure passports.
• JCSU also has a Smith Institute for Applied Research which is comprised of four centers.
• Extensive career development opportunities are also available through co-op programs with over 90 companies.
• Each full-time student receives laptop computer equipped with complete access to a campus-wide network through wired and wireless connectivity.
• Internet access is provided through electronic data ports in the library, dormitory rooms (one per pillow) and multimedia classrooms.
• The university has made a commitment to utilizing technology in the classroom by implementing “Smart Classrooms” which have varying degrees of technology faculty can use to engage students.
• Due to its location in a large urban area, there are many social and cultural activities for JCSU students and faculty to enjoy, including professional sporting events, theater/movies, concerts, art exhibits, bands, chorale, poetry readings, and dance, among others.

Alumni

As an alumnus of Johnson C. Smith University, you know the value of a liberal arts education better than perhaps any other potential donor.

Achievements

• 2011 Diverse Issues in Higher Education ranked The College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 18th among all universities and colleges in the U.S. in graduating African-Americans in computer and information sciences.
• 2011 Golden Bulls are first-time Pioneer Bowl champions
• 2011 JCSU named Top 10 Historically Black University Successes by the Huffington Post
• 2007-2009 U.S. News & World Report Best Black Colleges – Ranked # 10
• 2001-2007 U.S. News Best Colleges – Ranked among the Top Tier comprehensive colleges in the South
• 2005-2006 Black Issues Top 100 Degree Producers-Ranked in Computer Science
• 1999-2006 Black Enterprise – Top 50 Best Colleges and Universities for African Americans (Bi-annual ranking)
• 2004 U.S. News Best Values – Ranked 2nd among comprehensive colleges in the South
• 2003 Black Issues Top 100 Degree Producers – Ranked in Computer Science and English
• 2003 Received the USA Today/NCAA Academic Achievement Award
• 2002 Yahoo Magazine Top 50 Most Wired Small Colleges

Sources: Johnson C. Smith University