JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Students at Jacksonville University are planning a second protest in less than a week as they continue to push back against major cuts to several arts programs and the elimination of dozens of faculty positions.
Students plan to gather starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, near the dolphin statues on campus, to express their frustrations over the university’s decisions that have left nearly 40 faculty members without a job and some students without a major.
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News4JAX was planning to be on campus to cover the rally, but we were asked to leave the property.
The students were able to share with us what they’re demanding:
- A clear plan for how students can finish their degrees as faculty numbers shrink.
- A full list of students getting free tuition—and an explanation why others aren’t.
- Answers on why tenured professors were let go, possibly against university policy.
- Transparency on when and how these decisions were made.
- Why students with minors in cut programs weren’t included in key meetings.
- That leftover music equipment be donated to local communities in need.
- Proof the new Dean is properly trained to lead a fine arts college.
JU revealed last week that the cuts will save about $10 million and reduce controllable expenses by 10% across all operations by Fall 2025.
According to JU, these cuts are part of a strategy to “reimagine its academic offerings to propel student success and academic excellence, meet market needs, and create long-term financial sustainability.”
“I’m very upset, because one reason that I came here was because of the faculty. I’ve built great relationships with all of them, and I’m very upset because they cut all of our music staff, entirely,” student Savannah said. “I’m upset because I won’t be able to continue my education with them. And I wanted to come here because I wanted to learn music at the school that literally started off as a music school before it was founded as a university. So very upset.”
Jacksonville University President Tim Cost said that each student affected by the cuts will be offered a full-tuition scholarship for the duration of their time at the university.
“I think it’s important to know...for what you see coming,” Cost said.
Some students, however, are opting to transfer.
“I’m actually in the process of transferring to a school down in Fort Lauderdale that will offer me a bachelor’s in the Communication Science Disorders Program, and it will be my major, instead of it just being like a filler minor,” student Sofia said.
In response to the cuts, students held a protest on campus last week, demonstrating their outrage at the elimination of the music department and the removal of several programs, including Philosophy, World Languages, Theatre Arts, Glass Concentration, Arts History, and Visual Arts MFA Programs.
Videos from the protest showed students cheering in support of faculty members as they exited the J. Gouding Building during a staff meeting.
“We’re here to show them that they’re appreciated for all of the work that they’ve done for us, the lives that they’ve changed,” student Theo Austell said. “We see them and we’re so grateful, and we’re here to do whatever we can. They came out all wearing black, and it was like a funeral procession, just the ending of the era here.”
