About J&W | the history

The History of Johnson & Wales

The special approaches to career education at Johnson & Wales University have evolved over more than 90 years and continue to change as Johnson & Wales responds to the changing needs of business, industry, and its students.

Johnson & Wales University was founded as a business school in 1914 in Providence, Rhode Island by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales. From its origins as a school devoted to business education, Johnson & Wales grew first to a junior college, then to a senior college, and ultimately to university status.

The University became well established because of its strong commitment to specialized business education and the high ideals of its founders. In 1993, Johnson & Wales and its unique approach to career education received regional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

1963		The State of Rhode Island grants a charter which authorizes the University to operate as a nonprofit, degree-granting institution of higher learning and to award associate degrees in the arts and sciences.
1970		The State of Rhode Island approves a revision in the University's charter to award baccalaureate degrees.
1973		A new career emphasis is introduced at JWU when the University announces the opening of what is now known as the College of Culinary Arts and the addition of a new associate degree program in that field. This proves to be one of the most far-reaching changes in the educational expansion of the University, leading to additional two- and four-year degree programs in the hospitality and foodservice fields.
1980		The Governor and General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island grant a legislative charter to the University, authorizing the awarding of advanced degrees.
1984		A new JWU campus is established in Charleston, South Carolina, which now offers a variety of two- and four-year programs in foodservice, hospitality and travel-tourism.
1985		Graduate degree programs are introduced at the University. Programs in the Alan Shawn Feinstein Graduate School now include MBA and PhD degrees in Accounting, Financial Services Management, Hospitality Administration, International Trade, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, and MAT in Teaching (for business and foodservice undergraduates).
1986		The Norfolk, Virginia campus opens to the public, offers one- and two-year foodservice programs.
1988		The legislative charter is amended, changing the institution's name to Johnson & Wales University.
1992		The governor of the State of Rhode Island signs into law a new legislative charter with university status.
		Johnson & Wales opens another campus in North Miami, Florida, which offers two- and four-year culinary arts, foodservice, business and hospitality programs.
		The University formally establishes the College of Business, The Hospitality College, the College of Culinary Arts and the School of Technology.
		A new emphasis on general studies is introduced with the development of the School of Arts & Sciences.
		A joint educational agreement allows the University to begin programs on the campus of the IHM Business School in Goteburg, Sweden.
1993		The University opens a campus in Vail, Colorado, offering an accelerated associate degree program in Culinary Arts to college graduates. (This program is incorporated into the Denver Campus in 2000.) That year also marked the beginning of a four-year bachelor's degree offering in Culinary Arts.
1994		Johnson & Wales establishes a formal, independent learning site in Goteburg, Sweden, giving Business and Hospitality students the opportunity to complete one year of study in Sweden and finish their degrees at one of the University's domestic campuses.
1995		Johnson & Wales creates an International Hotel & Tourism Management program which offers unprecedented opportunities in international hotel management education. Students from around the world may choose from a variety of options both at JWU and abroad.
1996		The Alan Shawn Feinstein Graduate School introduced a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program.
		The University recently introduced new bachelor's degree programs in Web Management and Internet Commerce, Culinary Nutrition, and Recreation/Leisure Management.
1999		Marriott International signed the first Covenant agreement with the University, a long-term commitment built on the foundation of industry-endorsed academic credentialing.
2000		September marks the opening of the Denver, Colorado campus, which offers two- and four-year degrees in culinary arts and business programs, as well as the "Garnish Your Degree" accelerated associate degree program.
2002		The University announces the opening of a new campus in Charlotte, North Carolina. The campus begins enrolling students in September, 2004.
2003		The Compass Group, the world's largest food service company with U.S. headquarters in Charlotte, becomes the second Covenant partner.
2004		At the invitation of key industry leaders, JWU opens its campus in Charlotte, North Carolina
		John Yena becomes Chairman of the Board of Trustees and John Bowen becomes University President