A scholarship has been established at Francis Marion University in honor of the fifth anniversary of “Walking For Wanda” Multiple Sclerosis Walking Team to provide financial assistance and recognize the scholastic merits of a deserving student who has been accepted into the Teacher Education Program for Early Childhood Education.

A $48.5 million operating budget that included a tuition increase of 3.6 percent — the lowest increase Francis Marion University has had in 10 years — was approved by members of the FMU Board of Trustees during their quarterly meeting Friday.

Francis Marion University will hold four orientation sessions this summer for new students who will begin classes at the university in the fall. Each new student is required to attend one of the sessions, scheduled for June 11-12, June 25-26, July 16-17, and Aug. 6.

Francis Marion University Police Officer Alan A. Sayre has been named the 2009 Campus Safety Officer of the Year by the S.C. Commission on Higher Education.

The city of Florence is set to give $3 million toward the construction Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center.

The Woods Family will perform a concert to benefit the American Red Cross on June 12 at Florence Little Theatre.

Three Francis Marion University faculty members — Tamatha R. Barbeau, Jeannette M. Myers and Kirk E. Dineley — were honored for outstanding individual work during the past year at a recent faculty recognition banquet.

Francis Marion University recently tapped Julian Young to lead its Office of Alumni Affairs.

FLORENCE — Members of the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center governing board toured the center’s construction site Tuesday afternoon at West Palmetto and South Dargan streets and received updates on the progress of the building’s construction.

Larry E. Nelson of Florence has been selected the J. Lorin Mason Distinguished Professor for the 2008-09 year at Francis Marion University.

The Gail and Terry Richardson Center for the Child at Francis Marion University is hosting a celebration this week in honor of the “Week of the Young Child,” an event sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, the center will host “Bringing Families Together for a Safer Community.” The event is free and open to the public.

An endowed scholarship has been established at Francis Marion University in memory of Constance Cooper and Janet Spring in the fields of nursing and education, which meant a great deal to them.

Francis Marion University will hold its annual Miss Francis Marion Pageant Thursday.

Living in Florence hasn’t stopped some biology students at Francis Marion University from seeing the world and cataloging it as they go.

An endowed scholarship has been established at Francis Marion University by the Aiken Foundation to honor Ann Burch Aiken, a lifelong resident of the Pee Dee who was a devoted mother, community leader and volunteer.