First-Time Freshmen

Riverside School

Program Details | Admission

Jacksonville University’s Riverside School is designed to allow students who may not have performed up to their full potential in high school the chance to enroll in an outstanding, four-year university. Students complete entry-level courses to prepare them for a successful college career through the development of study skills. To ensure success, students are required to attend study hall Monday through Thursday.  This time also includes peer tutoring.

Riverside School participants are identified from the applicants who have not met the standards for regular admission to Jacksonville University. Students nominated for the Riverside School show academic promise and likelihood for success. Upon successful completion of the Riverside School, students are eligible to continue as degree seeking students, with continued intensive mentoring and tutorial support through the fall semester.

According to several national studies, students who participate in these types of programs are more likely to matriculate in college, as well as have higher retention rates in the second year of college.

To maximize the effectiveness of the Riverside School and root the students in the academic discipline, students are housed together with their peer mentors, tutors and fellow students. These components develop the behavioral aspects required to be self-sufficient in a traditional campus setting.

The Program:

  • Intensive 6-week summer session
  • Students will study and live together in cohorts
  • Professors will meet regularly to ensure coherence and accessibility
  • Tutoring will be provided during the mandatory study halls
  • Planned weekend activities to keep students motivated! Past activities included trips to see the Blue Man Group at Universal Studios in Orlando and a Jacksonville Suns baseball game.

Student peer mentors are on hand to facilitate student success. Faculty and academic success coaches are also available daily. The school is unique and the experiences that students will have in the program go far beyond the traditional college experience.

Students who successfully complete the Riverside School will earn college credit and will be offered the opportunity to enroll as a regular JU student in the fall semester. Scholarship or grant eligibility at Jacksonville University will also be evaluated based on performance in the program.

For more information, call the Admission Office at (904) 256-7000.