University of North Florida

In 1965 the Florida Legislature authorized the establishment of a state university in Jacksonville. State Senator John E. Mathews, Jr. introduced a higher education bill calling for a feasibility study for a Duval County "senior" college. The study, with a positive recommendation for an upper and graduate level Duval County institution, was published by the Board of Regents in May 1967.

The first phase in UNF's development was the selection of a permanent location. In April 1968, a Site Selection Committee was appointed, and Jacksonville businessman Gert Schmidt was named chairman. Other members of the Site Selection Committee were Hugh Abernathy, Charles Brooks, Kenneth Craig, Justin Montgomery, Jack Quaritius and John Trekell. On September 4, 1969, after extensive studies and rigorous debate between urban and suburban site supporters, the Board of Regents accepted a 1,000 acre site in south Jacksonville from the City of Jacksonville for the permanent campus.

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