Building the Community

Johnson & Wales University improves the quality of life in North Miami through our commitments to community service, urban revitalization and community partnerships, and through our recreational classes. Our graduates and students are also strong contributors to the regional economy.

Commitment to Community Service
A priority at JWU is developing students who have the skills and training to be ethical leaders in industry and their communities. During the 2009-10 academic year, students at the North Miami Campus performed more than 15,000 hours of community service. For past four years, this commitment has earned the campus a position on the national President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, a federal initiative promoting the engagement of colleges and universities in their communities.

JWU’s active civic participation includes a variety of community and business alliances. At The Business Center on campus, College of Business students help local small businesses overcome challenges in management, human resources, retail strategies and marketing.

Business and Economic Development
In 2009, JWU’s North Miami Campus accounted for $63.4 million in economic activity and directly and indirectly accounted for 743 full-time-equivalent (FTE) jobs in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

In addition to having a strong economic impact through the North Miami Campus, the university is also committed to renovation and urban revitalization.

With the enrollment of more than 2,000 students on our 29-acre campus, JWU’s redevelopment efforts have helped to attract private investment in the surrounding area, including new retail and condominium development.

In fiscal year 2009, the campus spent $2.3 million on construction, almost all of which was paid to contractors based in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. In 2010-11, the campus is investing an additional $14 million in the construction of a new student center and a residence hall.