OUR FOUNDER'S VISION
Overview
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune founded Bethune-Cookman University in 1904 on a simple yet revolutionary belief — that education should be accessible to those who might otherwise be excluded. She saw learning not only as a pathway to personal advancement, but as a tool for service, empowerment, and uplift. Dr. Bethune believed that true progress required taking education to the people, rather than expecting all people to come to a single place.
Bethune’s Philosophy of Access:
A Legacy Carried Forward
Bethune’s Philosophy of Access:
A Legacy Carried Forward
That vision is vividly alive in the John W. Miller Center. Established in 1978, the Miller Center was created to bring Bethune-Cookman’s academic excellence into the rural communities of Northeast Florida — particularly Hastings and the surrounding areas of Putnam, St. Johns, and Flagler counties. It was designed with the working adult, the parent, and the non-traditional student in mind — individuals with ambition and potential who simply needed access.
When the Center opened its doors, it represented more than an academic expansion; it was a community investment. The Hastings and Spuds area, known for its deep agricultural roots in potato farming and migrant labor, had long been underserved by higher education. By planting a learning center there, B-CU extended opportunity in the same spirit that Dr. Bethune once did with her own small school in Daytona — one that began with just $1.50 and a dream to educate those whom society overlooked.
Opening the Door to Opportunity
Opening the Door to Opportunity
By the 1970s, universities across the country were responding to the growing demand for adult and continuing education. Bethune-Cookman, guided by Dr. Bethune’s enduring philosophy, joined this movement with purpose — creating an off-campus instructional site that embodied her belief in lifelong learning. The Miller Center became a vital part of the university’s Professional Studies program, serving students aged 24 and older who sought to advance their education without uprooting their lives. It stood as proof that education should adapt to people’s circumstances, not the other way around.
Realizing the Vision
Realizing the Vision
In naming the site after John W. Miller, Bethune-Cookman honored one of its own — a leader whose dedication to education and community paralleled Dr. Bethune’s own ideals. The Miller Center became not only an extension of B-CU’s reach, but a continuation of her promise: to make learning accessible, meaningful, and transformative for all.
YOUR ACCESS
STARTS TODAY !
Have questions about programs,
admissions, or financial aid?
The John W. Miller Center team is
here to guide you every step of the way.
Reach out to us for assistance with applications, class schedules, or student resources — we’re happy to help.
YOUR ACCESS
STARTS TODAY !
Have questions about programs, admissions, or financial aid?
The John W. Miller Center team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Reach out to us for assistance with applications, class schedules, or student resources — we’re happy to help.