Life at JU

Johnson University is just 12 miles from downtown Knoxville.  Students love visiting this vibrant city to experience live music, eclectic shopping, highly acclaimed cuisine, and a variety of cultural offerings.

And don’t miss the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the most visited national park in the country. Head out for a hike with your friends on some of the 850 miles of hiking trails or go for a swim beneath a waterfall – there are more than 100!

Johnson University cares about helping students grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially. Our campuses offer a variety of activities and resources for students. The Student Government Association works with Student Life staff and JU faculty to organize many of these events.

Activities

• Worship nights
• Bonfires, Midnight Breakfast, and other study breaks during finals
• Intramurals
• Game nights
• Orange & Black Halloween party
• Service projects
• Spring play
• Student clubs
• Coffee house each semester

Serving others is part of the culture at Johnson. Every year our faculty serves meals to students at events like the Miller-Scott Christmas Banquet and “midnight breakfasts” during finals. Many faculty host students in their homes throughout the school year for small group Bible studies, meals, and game nights. Each summer our staff and faculty pull together to serve the thousands of people on our campuses for Renew in the Smokies, FCA camps, Christ in Youth conferences, and more.

In addition, service is a core value within our curriculum. All undergraduate students on both campuses take a series of classes that challenge them to understand their local context, participate in service-learning activities,  and develop a research project or be part of a cross-cultural experience based on their learning.  Over the course of four years, every student will spend more than 120 hours outside the classroom serving ministries and causes they care about.

Every university has events and experiences that mark the academic year and become beloved traditions. On our campus, students look forward to the Miller-Scott Banquet the week before finals in December. This special event began during the era when students could not return home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Two generous alumni donated enough money for the entire student body to have a special turkey dinner on campus. Today, the tradition has become a Christmas dinner, served by the faculty to the students and followed by a musical/drama program put on by staff and faculty.

In the spring on a Thursday in late April is Founders Day, a day to honor our heritage, have fun together, and – you guessed it – cancel classes!

Johnson University is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and Johnson University also belongs to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Appalachian Athletic Conference.  Our teams proudly represent the school at events throughout the south. Our programs develop teamwork skills, encourage personal development and academic excellence, and prepare our student-athletes for success at Johnson and beyond.

Students also enjoy a variety of club sports and intramurals. Explore the options here!

The Athletic and Recreation Complex and the Graham Center on campus offer opportunities for eight varsity sports as well as intramurals, clubs, and classes. Here you can work out in the fitness center, enjoy a snack at the café, splash in the pool, play games, cheer on the Royals, or gather your study group to tackle a project.