Francis Marion University begins 40th year

By: From staff, local reports | SCNow
Published: August 19, 2009

FLORENCE — Francis Marion University will kick off its 40th year of educating students later this month.

The university, which opened in 1970, focuses on providing the state’s students with an undergraduate education in the liberal arts. Since opening, 95 percent of its students have been native South Carolinians.

Freshmen move in Saturday, and upperclassmen return to campus Sunday. FMU President Dr. Fred Carter will mark the start of this year by welcoming faculty back to campus at a breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in Ervin Dining Hall.

Students who have not yet attended an orientation session will be able to do so at 8 a.m. Monday in Chapman Auditorium in McNair Science Building. Students will be able to meet with their advisers for open registration and pay their fees that day, too.

FMU is hosting a variety of events to kick off the 2009-10 school year.

Students can attend a student organization and community fair at the Smith University Center beginning at 11 a.m. Aug. 25.

The university also is hosting “Music on the Lawn,” a social event for students, on the front lawn of the Smith University Center at 6 p.m. Aug. 29.

The new year also brings changes for the school. FMU is now smoke-free, and construction has begun on a $33 million performing arts center in downtown Florence through a partnership with the city of Florence. The center will contain space for theatrical and musical performances, as well as instructional classrooms, office space and exhibition areas.

FMU also announced the close of its first capital campaign, the Campaign For Excellence, which raised $50 million. The original goal of the fundraising effort — conducted through the FMU Foundation, which was founded in 1974 to create an endowment fund that would support the mission of the university — was $12 million.

Classes begin Aug. 26. Late registration and drop/add will be Tuesday through Sept. 1.

Students interested in taking classes are encouraged to call the FMU Admissions Office at (843) 661-1231 as soon as possible.