Education

Partners in Progress
The flowering of Francis Marion University benefits all of Florence

Francis Marion University has nearly 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Established in 1970, Francis Marion University has earned a solid reputation for excellence – both inside the classroom and out in the community.

As one of 12 state-supported universities, FMU provides a strong liberal arts education to nearly 4,000 students, with a broad selection of undergraduate degrees as well as respected graduate programs. In fact, U.S. News & World Report magazine has ranked FMU among the South’s top 100 master’s level universities for each of the last five years.

“We have the look and feel of a small, private college but all the benefits of a state university,” says Dr. Fred Carter, FMU president since 1999. “Class sizes are relatively small, and we provide a great deal of individual support to students.

We try to blend the notion of choice with accessibility.”

Students from near and far are taking notice, Carter says, pointing to a 25 percent increase in enrollment over the past eight years.

First Nursing School Graduates

“We’ve added a number of new facilities and programs – the foremost being our nursing program,” he says.

The Medical University of South Carolina had operated a satellite nursing program on the FMU campus since 1982. The baccalaureate program became part of FMU in 2004 when the university established a Department of Nursing. It is now housed in the Dr. Frank B. Lee Nursing Building, which opened in August 2006.

The Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation of Florence donated $5.5 million toward construction of the $7.6 million, 30,000-square-foot facility, which features two tiered classrooms, patient care labs and a 135-seat auditorium. The first FMU nursing diplomas were awarded in May.

“It’s exciting to see these students go out into the world, ready to meet the tremendous need for qualified nurses,” Carter says. “We’re proud of where our students go and what they do.”

Athletics, Arts and More

Along with providing a first-class education to its students, FMU offers a welcome boost to the region’s overall quality of life.

“We’re heavily involved with community outreach,” says Libby Cooper, FMU’s vice president for public and community affairs. “Whether it’s through continuing education, athletic programs or special cultural events, we are committed to serving the needs of this community.”

For example, the university is about to break ground on a new performing arts center in the heart of downtown Florence. FMU received a $10 million grant from the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation as part of a multi-partnership plan to help transform the downtown area into a major cultural and economic hub.

Cooper says the $22 million facility, scheduled for completion in late 2008, will include space for theatrical and musical performances, exhibits, programs, and instruction.

“This project is a wonderful example of public-private collaboration,” Cooper says. “We’re proud to partner with the city of Florence and Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation to expand the cultural opportunities for the entire region. This facility will play a huge role in the city’s plans to revitalize the downtown – not to mention enabling the university to expand its arts programs.”

Story by Amy Stumpfl
Photo by Brian McCord

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