2023 was a year of growth and innovation in the Jacksonville University Davis College of Business & Technology (DCOBT). Let’s take a quick look at some of Davis College’s highlights over the past year.
School of Aviation turns 40
The School of Aviation Program, accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International, celebrated 40 years, training students to be professional pilots, air traffic controllers and aviation executives. A total of 860 students have graduated since its doors first opened in 1983. Last fall, the School of Aviation also saw the largest enrollment of freshman students in the program’s history, double that of 2022’s freshman class to nearly 300 students. Additionally, the Aviation Program received $10,000 from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority for student scholarships.
‘Business for Social Good’ projects aid local nonprofits
DCOBT Business Management students made a social impact on the First Coast through working with five nonprofit organizations and helped them improve and streamline their marketing efforts and processes. The projects were part of Davis College’s pilot program, called “Business for Social Good,” sponsored by Jacksonville University Center for Organizational Research and Executive Education (CORE), in conjunction with the Non-Profit Center of Northeast Florida. JU’s CORE intends to establish Business for Social Good, a first-of-its-kind business capstone program focused on societal impact, as a regional or national initiative in 2024. CORE is the outreach arm of Davis College, providing consulting and executive education programs to the university’s industry partners.
School of Engineering lands ABET accreditation/launches BS in Engineering Management
The School of Engineering launched a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management degree in order to meet the growing demand in the industry. This undergraduate degree is the first of its kind in the state of Florida. The degree combines a strong curriculum in engineering, math and science with a comprehensive business foundation, allowing the graduate to bridge the gaps between design engineers and senior business leaders.
Also in Engineering, DCOBT’s bachelor’s degree programs in mechanical and electrical engineering were accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, precision and safety are of the utmost importance.
Innovative STEAM Institute opens
JU opened the innovative STEAM Institute, among the first of its kind in the country. The standalone space dedicated to STEAM studies, houses unique learning spaces for students in the sciences, engineering and arts. Disciplines that use the space include students in animation, computing sciences, cybersecurity, data science, engineering, film, fintech, game design, geographic information systems, robotics, sustainability and visual design.
Housed in the STEAM Institute is the new JU Cyber Range Center for Cybersecurity, which offers state-of-the-art technology that simulates an organizations’ network and includes applications to provide students with a safe environment to learn hands-on cybersecurity skills. Students participate in hyper-realistic, simulated cyberattacks to test their knowledge and develop their skills. Additionally, it provides a corporate training program that offers a breadth of services to help employers hire, train, upskill and retain employees. Plus, the Bachelor of Cybersecurity also received the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Program of Study Validation. DCOBT’s ability to meet the increasing demands of the program validation serves the nation well in contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure.
Career Enhancement OpportunitIes Program
Unique only to Davis College was the kick-off of Career Enhancement Opportunities (CEO) Program, which allows students to gain a better understanding of the majors and subsequent career options in business and to become more marketable through acquiring additional business credentials, skills, knowledge and practical experiences. The program is also designed to give students the opportunity to become more engaged both on and off campus, expand their professional network, and gain an overall more fulfilling university experience. Students who complete the requirements earn a Professionalism Badge to share on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. This is the first formal skills badge program at JU.
