Florida Memorial University Florida Memorial University is a private coeducational four - year university in Miami Gardens , Florida . One of the 39 member institutions of the United Negro College Fund , and a historically Black , Baptist - related institution which is ranked second in Florida and ninth in the United States for graduating African - American teachers . History . One of the oldest academic centers in Florida , the university was founded in 1879 as the Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak , Florida . Soon after , the American Baptist Home Mission Society gave its full support and the first regular school year began in 1880 . In 1882 , the Florida Baptist Academy was established in Jacksonville , Florida . The name was later changed to Florida Normal and Industrial Institute . It was there that two brothers , James Weldon Johnson and J . Rosamond Johnson ( faculty member ) , wrote the words and music to " Lift Ev ' ry Voice and Sing " ( known as the " Negro National Anthem " ) , in 1900 . Florida Normal and Industrial Institute moved to St . Augustine in 1918 on part of a tract of land known as " Old Homes Plantation " , formerly one of the largest slave plantations in Florida . In 1941 , the Live Oak and St . Augustine institutions merged , changing their limited offerings from a junior college classification to a four - year liberal arts institution which graduated its first four - year class in 1945 . Its name was changed in 1950 to Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College . In 1963 , the charter was again amended to change the name to Florida Memorial College . In 1968 , the college relocated to its present site in Northwest Miami and by 1972 graduated its first class at the Miami site . Florida Memorial College celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1979 and began a series of expansion projects on the site . In 1993 Dr . Albert E . Smith was appointed as the college ' s tenth president , heralding another period of growth in the institution ' s rich history . In December 2004 , the institution ' s name was changed to Florida Memorial University with the announcement being made at the Founders ' Convocation in March 2005 . On July 3 , 2006 , Dr . Karl S . Wright became the eleventh president . In 2006 , Florida Memorial College changed its name to Florida Memorial University . On November 9 , 2010 , Henry Lewis III , a former dean and professor of pharmacy at Florida A & M University , was named the university ' s twelfth president . In May 2011 , President Henry Lewis III , announced its future plans for FMU which included forty objectives he hopes to accomplish by 2020 . He plans on increasing the student population from 2 , 000 to 3 , 500 , build 360 dorm s on - campus as well as more classroom buildings , and improved education quality . A new wellness center is also expected to start construction in 2014 . Academics . Florida Memorial University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ( SACS ) . It offers 41 undergraduate degree programs and 4 graduate degree programs through its eight academic divisions in six academic schools . The business programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs . The social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education . The Music Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music ( NASM ) . The university has offered an honors program for 10 years that is designed to target and challenge students to their highest level . The Honors Program Director is Dr . Randy R . James . Student activities . Athletics . Florida Memorial athletic teams are known as the Lions . The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) Division I level , primarily competing in The Sun Conference , formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference ( FSC ) . The Lions formerly competed in the Southeast Athletic Conference ( SEAC ) prior joining the NAIA . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cross country , soccer and track & field ; while women ' s sports include basketball , cross country , soccer , track & field and volleyball .