 RESOURCES AND SERVICES Francis Marion University is committed to providing professional and cost-effective health care for its students through Student Health Services. The goal of Student Health Services is to promote and maintain the health of students by providing preventive services, health education, acute and chronic medical care, and referral assistance so that students can best meet their educational objectives. There are modest fees for laboratory services. Fees for any off-site ancillary testing or referral physician visits are the responsibility of the student receiving care. Detailed information regarding health services can be found in the Student Handbook. • IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS – University regulations require that specific immunizations and testing be completed before a student is allowed to register or attend class. Each newly entering student must provide documentation to the University of the following immunizations and tests: DPT (Infant Tetanus Series), Tetanus Booster (must be within the past 10 years), Polio Vaccination, MMR Vaccination (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella – not required if born before Jan. 1, 1957), and a Tuberculin PPD test (within the past 12 months). Proof of these immunizations and tests must be provided on the FMU Immunization Record Form (signed by a physician or clinic staff) or by written documentation from a medical doctor or health clinic. Students will not be able to register without filing this completed form or health record. Health forms will be sent with a cover letter from Student Health Services or may be obtained from the offices of Counseling and Testing and Health Services. • INSURANCE – Students are encouraged to carry health insurance, since an unexpected illness or accident can cause financial hardships, making it difficult for students to complete their education. FMU has negotiated low rates for student health insurance through a local carrier, and information about this can be obtained through Student Health Services. Students should not assume that they are covered under their parents' policy but should check with their insurance companies to make sure. The FMU ID Card is an important part of campus life, providing opportunities for students to take advantage of a wide variety of services that are convenient and practical. The card allows students to: · Check out materials from Rogers Library The FMU Identification Card is issued during a student's initial registration at no cost and remains valid as long as he or she is officially enrolled and has paid all fees. Replacement cost is $15 and is generally non-refundable (marriages, name changes, or defective cards excepted). The card has the capability of carrying monetary value (debit account) and can be used by the person who holds the card to make purchases on campus without having to carry cash. The Patriot Bookstore, Ervin Dining Hall and University Café are equipped to use the debit portion of the card as payment. The card offers a 10 percent discount on all food purchases. In addition, students may use the card to pay transcript fees or other amounts due at the Cashier's Office. When a student uses the card, receipts will show the transaction amount and the remaining balance. Francis Marion University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all members of the campus community and our guests. The university operates a Campus Police Department to provide around-the-clock police protection for the campus community. A series of policies and procedures have been developed to ensure every possible precautionary measure is taken to protect all persons on campus. The university annually publishes the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act Report. This report is available to everyone. If you wish to review the report on the web click on the "Clery Report" on the Campus Police web pages at http://www.fmarion.edu/~fmudps. This report contains topics such as Access to Campus Facilities; Alcohol & Drug Laws and Policy; Crime Reporting, Crime Statistics, Crime Prevention suggestions; Crime Victim's Rights, Sexual Harassment Policy, Sexual Assault Procedures; and Weapons Possession Prohibitions. Anyone who would prefer a paper copy of the report may contact Campus Police at (843) 661-1109. Campus police officers are certified state constables with full arrest authority for violations of state laws and enforce all university regulations and policies. Officers are responsible for all law and traffic enforcement, security and emergency response at FMU. Officers are also responsible for all crime reports, investigation of crimes and traffic accidents, fire and medical emergencies, and evacuations in cases of severe weather conditions, such as hurricanes or tornadoes. Outdoor emergency telephones and callboxes are strategically located throughout the campus. • WEAPONS – The possession and/or use of firearms (handguns, rifles, shotguns) on campus is prohibited under state law. Violations can result in the arrest and incarceration of the violator. The weapons will be confiscated and may be destroyed. Other weapons (BB guns, airguns, hatchets, knives with blades longer than 2 inches, bows/arrows, explosives, fireworks, dangerous chemical mixtures or propelled missiles to name a few) are prohibited on campus and can result in removal from campus housing and/or suspension from the University for the person possessing the item. All prohibited items will be confiscated and may be destroyed. • PARKING AND TRAFFIC – All students, faculty and staff members who operate a motor vehicle on campus are subject to the motor vehicle laws of the State of South Carolina and the Francis Marion University Traffic Regulations. The operation of motor vehicles on the campus of Francis Marion University is a privilege granted by the Board of Trustees. The University reserves the right to withdraw motor vehicle privileges from any person at any time for cause. FMU, its officers and employees shall assume no responsibility for damage to or loss of any vehicle or its contents at any time while it is operated or parked on campus. Accidents, thefts or damages to motor vehicles should be reported to Campus Police as soon as possible. Campus regulations are published in a traffic handbook, available to everyone, as well as the Student Handbook. • VEHICLE REGISTRATION – Registration is required for every vehicle driven or parked on campus by a member of the campus community. Students may obtain permanent registration decals from the Cashier's Office in Stokes Administration Building. This decal is good for an academic year, from fall to fall. The only authorized locations for parking decal are permanently affixed on the left rear bumper or to the bottom left rear exterior glass of the vehicle using the supplied adhesive, and decals are not transferable. The decal must be displayed in the most prominent place on mopeds, motorcycles or motor scooters and must be clearly visible from the rear. Temporary parking permits, good for up to 10 days, are available for substitute vehicles under certain circumstances. The person seeking a temporary parking permit must have a vehicle permanently registered on campus for the current academic year to obtain a temporary parking decal. The temporary parking permit can be obtained from the Cashier's Office or Campus Police Department. UNIVERSITY HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE Francis Marion University offers a progressive residence life program to meet the needs of a diverse student population. The Housing and Residence Life Office promotes academic success by providing safe, comfortable, attractive, modern, and well-maintained residential facilities and quality management operations. Housing facilities include traditional residence halls and apartments capable of accommodating 1,369 residents. Campus housing is designed to accommodate full-time undergraduate students (registered for 12 hours or more) and graduate students (registered for at least six hours). Part-time undergraduate students and graduate students registered for less than six hours may receive assignments on a space available basis. Freshmen and sophomores are typically assigned to residence halls where students live two to a bedroom in a suite arrangement, sharing a common bath area. Juniors, seniors and graduate students may live in residence halls or choose an apartment unit in one of the university's two apartment complexes - the Village Apartments or the new Forest Villas Apartments. The Village Apartments offer two options: students may choose an apartment for four with four single bedrooms or an apartment for two with one bedroom. Village Apartment residents share living, dining, bath, and kitchen facilities. Amenities in all facilities include air-conditioning, basic utilities, local telephone service, cable television and high-speed Internet access. Housing facilities are equipped with smoke detectors, fire sprinklers and/or fire extinguishers. All units are furnished with basic furnishings (beds and mattresses, wardrobes, desks and chairs, carpeting and window treatments. Apartment commons areas are equipped with stoves, refrigerators, microwave ovens, dining table and chairs and sofas. Forest Villas apartments also include a dishwasher and garbage disposal. Residence halls and apartment buildings house both men and women; however, individual units are not co-ed. All residential facilities are conveniently located near Ervin Dining Hall, Rogers Library, academic buildings, computer labs and recreation facilities. All students are allowed to have a vehicle on campus and ample parking is available. Students should apply for housing immediately after acceptance to the University. Housing contract periods are: Fall, Spring, Late Spring, Summer I and/or Summer II, and run from the first day of the term until the last day of the term. Campus housing generally opens the Sunday prior to the beginning of classes for the fall and spring terms. The Smith University Center provides comprehensive athletic and recreational facilities as well as office space for Student Affairs, Athletics, the Student Government Association, the student newspaper, the Patriot Bookstore, and the University Café. Facilities include a 3,100-seat varsity gymnasium, an eight-lane varsity swimming pool with three diving boards, a University commons with game room activities, a television/ card playing room, four racquetball courts, a physical fitness room, a sauna, and related areas. Exterior athletic and recreational facilities include Cormell Field, a lighted baseball complex; Kassab Courts, eight tennis courts surfaced with plexipave, four of which are lighted; a reslite eight-lane track; a regulation soccer field; a regulation softball field; two natural grass intramural fields; and an outdoor recreational pool. The Patriot Bookstore exists to serve the textbook and supply needs of students, faculty, and staff. In addition to textbooks, the Bookstore offers FMU apparel, greeting cards, paperback bestsellers and magazines. Also available are personal fax sending and receiving services for a nominal charge. The Patriot Bookstore is a source of graduation supplies (caps, gowns, and hoods, invitations, and University class rings). Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students living on campus are assigned a campus number and a key to a mailbox. Mail will be posted in mailboxes by 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Outgoing mail with proper postage may be placed in U.S. Postal Service boxes located on campus or taken to the University Mail Center in the Office Services building. The University provides telephone service to students living in residence halls. Local service is provided at no added cost, and residents may subscribe to the Student Long Distance Service and receive direct-dial, long-distance discounted rates through an agreement that is offered by FMU. There are two pay telephones located on the campus (one in the Smith University Center and one in Rogers Library), and emergency phones with direct access to campus police are strategically placed around campus. For the convenience of residential students, there are two laundry facilities, one located adjacent to Ervin Dining Hall, open 24 hours a day, and one located in the Forest Villas Community Center building. Coin-operated washers, dryers, vending machines with necessary laundry products, and beverage/snack machines are all in the complex. Other vending machines for beverages and snacks can be found at several other locations on campus. Refund information is posted at each location. The Ervin Dining Hall, located near the campus housing facilities, provides a variety of meal plans from which to choose. Meals can also be purchased individually for a reasonable price. Hot meals are served daily in addition to a complete salad and sandwich bar. A full assortment of beverages and a dessert bar are also available. The University Center Café is located in the Walter D. Smith University Center and offers a variety of menu items such as salad, pizza, and deli selections. The Café also serves fresh baked pastries that are made daily in the University bakeshop. Spurred by the voluntary efforts of the Ecology Club, FMU has tried to be as environmentally responsible as possible through the years. FMU has an active campus-wide recycling program in place that was initiated in late 1995 in response to a call by the South Carolina legislature to reduce solid waste in the state. At that time, South Carolina residents were producing more than six pounds of solid waste per person per day. The University recycles office paper, newspapers, cardboard, aluminum,
plastic, and glass. Of these items, paper creates the largest
volume of recycling waste on campus. From the classrooms to the
offices to the residence halls, recycling is encouraged throughout
campus, with readily available drop-off points in all buildings. |
