JARVIS
Empowering students through a comprehensive academic curriculum that fosters critical thinking and lifelong learning. Our programs are designed to provide students with a strong foundation in various subjects, preparing them for future success.
HISTORY OF JARVIS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Jarvis Christian University (JCU) is a private, liberal arts, four-year historically black college affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), located in Wood County, near Hawkins, Texas. The University was founded in 1912 and is headed by University President Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt, Ph.D.
The university’s namesake, Major James J. Jarvis, and his wife, Ida Van Zandt Jarvis, donated 456 acres of land for the institution on condition that it “keep up and maintain a school for the elevation of the Negro race.” The initial focus was to be on religious and industrial training.
The Institution began as Jarvis Christian Institute, modeled after the Southern Christian Institute of Edwards, Mississippi. Formal instructional programs commenced on January 13, 1913 with an enrollment of 12 students, all in the elementary grades. T.B. Frost was Jarvis’ first superintendent. In 1928, this institution known as Jarvis Christian Institute became Jarvis Christian College. In 2022, the Institution went through another transformation, and became Jarvis Christian University, offering master-level degree programs in business and criminal justice.
