Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University (JWU) was founded by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales as a business school in 1914. From a school focusing solely on business education, it traveled its way to the university status by being a junior college and then a senior college. It had many milestone years: 1963 was the year it was authorized to award associate degrees in the arts and sciences, 1970 was the year it was allowed to award baccalaureate degrees and 1980 was the year it was authorized to award advanced degrees. It gained university status in 1992.
JWU has its main campus in Providence, Rhode Island but has other campuses in North Miami, Denver and Charlotte. The Charlotte Campus is a consolidation of two earlier existing and smaller campuses – Charleston and Norfolk, which officially closed in 2006. JWU has undertaken to continually work to make its programs available and accessible to more students.
Educational offerings provided by JWU include programs in food service, hospitality and travel tourism, education, culinary arts, general studies, arts and sciences, business as well as technology courses. All its programs seek to combine academics, hands-on training, work experiences, career development and leadership training. JWU actively participates in efforts geared towards community revitalization in all of its four campus communities. Students, faculty and staff of the university also participate in community service. Students are provided with community service programs such as service learning courses, public school partnerships, student community involvement and like activities.
The four campuses of JWU are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Online courses are also offered by the university in selected degree programs. These classes are handled by full-time faculty and JWU campuses.
For more information about admissions, financial aid or online learning opportunities such as distance education degree programs or online classes, please contact Johnson & Wales University.
