October 24, 2025

Jacksonville University President Tim Cost Transitions to Chancellor

News Summary

Tim Cost, the president of Jacksonville University, will step into a Chancellor role in 2026 after over 13 years as president. His notable leadership helped JU achieve significant advancements, including high rankings and major fundraising campaigns. This transition aligns with a prior agreement with the Board of Trustees, which aims to enhance partnerships and alumni relations. The Board is now starting the search for his successor, ensuring continuity in the university’s mission and objectives.

Jacksonville, FL – Tim Cost, the president of Jacksonville University (JU), will transition into a Chancellor role in the summer of 2026 after serving as president for over 13 years. Cost was first elected president in October 2012 and took office in February 2013, making history as the university’s first alumnus president in its 91-year existence.

This planned transition was part of an agreement made between Cost and the JU Board of Trustees in 2022. Following his presidency, Cost will focus on enhancing partnerships, fundraising efforts, alumni relations, community engagement, and government relations in his new Chancellor role.

Throughout his tenure, JU saw significant advancements, achieving its highest rankings in U.S. News & World Report and being recognized for the first time in Forbes’ Top 500 U.S. universities for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years. Under his leadership, the university also led the two largest fundraising campaigns in its history and initiated the “Renew Arlington” community investment and economic development initiative.

During Cost’s presidency, JU expanded its academic offerings significantly, growing from three colleges, five schools, and two institutes to five colleges, nine schools, and three institutes. This expansion reflects a strategic commitment to increasing educational opportunities for students.

In addition to his accomplishments at JU, Cost’s background includes a distinguished 32-year career in the corporate sector, serving as a senior executive with notable companies such as PepsiCo, Kodak, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He is also recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by JU, having received this honor in 2006. His athletic history as a former student-athlete is marked by his record as a four-year letterman on JU’s baseball team.

Despite facing financial challenges during his presidency, such as faculty cuts and program eliminations, the Board of Trustees supported Cost in implementing measures to enhance the university’s financial stability. Cost indicated that discussions regarding his transition had been ongoing for years, with a plan to select an interim president by mid-November 2024.

The Board of Trustees is now commencing an extensive search process to identify Cost’s successor, ensuring a smooth transition in leadership that aligns with the university’s ongoing mission and objectives.

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Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER

The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

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