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THE UNIVERSITY
Founded as a state college in 1970, Francis Marion University adheres to the primary purpose of its establishment: to make available to people of all ages and origins an excellent baccalaureate education in the liberal arts and selected professional programs in business, education, and nursing. Professional graduate programs at the master's level are also offered in business, education, and psychology. The University supports scholarly pursuits by students and faculty in order to promote academic development and intellectual stimulation and strives to provide the Pee Dee region of South Carolina with a variety of educational and cultural enrichment services. In order to continue to improve both quality and efficiency, Francis Marion University engages in continuous evaluations of all its activities. As a dynamic, interactive, public regional comprehensive teaching University located near the growing community of Florence, Francis Marion serves students who have a wide range of abilities and preparations. We welcome and encourage students of all ethnic and racial heritages and believe that the presence of a diverse student body from throughout the state, country, and world enriches the educational experience for all. Non-traditional, out-of-state, and international students make up an increasing proportion of our student population. Francis Marion provides a student-centered learning experience that fosters mutual respect and maintains high academic standards. We emphasize an individualized approach to education through low student-faculty ratios and personalized attention to academic advising and career development. The University community contributes to the social, cultural, moral, and physical development of students as well as to their intellectual growth through both its academic and student life programs. In addition, we offer special learning experiences, such as University Life, the Honors program, internships, and cooperative degree programs. At Francis Marion University, we seek to provide students with a foundation for lifelong learning and to help them develop skills for professional careers in business, industry, government, public service, and education as well as for more advanced study in professional and graduate schools. To that end, we place major emphasis on the quality of our faculty, staff, library, and educational support services. Excellence in teaching and learning is our highest priority. The University has a faculty of outstanding quality and diversity and supports faculty development through scholarship and research, continuing professional study, and participation in a wide range of academic endeavors. Francis Marion faculty, staff, and students are building a learning community that promotes understanding of other cultures and prepares students to become successful citizens in a rapidly changing world. Francis Marion University offers programs of study that encourage students to think critically and creatively, communicate clearly and honestly, develop appreciation of aesthetic values, and be concerned with the common good as well as their own interests. Our educational goals are sustained by the liberal arts tradition and seek to provide all baccalaureate degree students with the following: proficiency in listening, reading, speaking, and writing, proficiency in the use of quantitative skills and scientific method, the ability to access and use information, an introductory level of knowledge in a variety of disciplines in the Arts and Sciences, an understanding and appreciation of the Western heritage and cultures of the United States and the world, basic computer skills, global awareness and tolerance for a diversity of ideas, a sense of individual responsibility and ability to work cooperatively, and a lifelong love for inquiry and learning. Requirements for the bachelor's degree provide that students also achieve expertise in a particular discipline, which includes the ability to understand and apply the core concepts, principles, and methodologies of that discipline. Students are also expected to understand the relationships between their personal and professional goals and the liberal arts. Francis Marion University strives to be responsive to the changing needs of the region by offering master's degrees in business, education, and psychology and by providing cultural and athletic events open to the community. Moreover, the University seeks to serve as a catalyst for regional development. Faculty, staff members, and advanced students consult with local businesses, industries, and governmental agencies and render academic and practical assistance to regional schools and other organizations. They also participate in community activities, such as scientific, artistic, and literary programs and are professionally active in many other ways in building a better educated, more culturally enriched, and more prosperous region. Francis Marion University, an institution of approximately 4,000 students, is small enough to provide individualized attention to a diverse range of traditional and non-traditional students, yet large enough to make available to students, staff, faculty, and the regional community a broad variety of academic and cultural resources. Thus, Francis Marion University combines the advantages of a small liberal arts college with the resources of a public university. Francis Marion University is one of South Carolina's 13 public, coeducational universities. As one of the state's six comprehensive institutions, FMU prides itself on providing a strong liberal arts education. The University offers a broad range of undergraduate degrees and a select number of graduate programs in serving the needs of communities, businesses and industries of the Pee Dee region. Francis Marion is the only state university located in the Pee Dee region, and many of its students are the first in their families to go to college. FMU has the look and feel of a small, liberal arts college with all the benefits of a state-supported, comprehensive university. FMU offers an excellent learning environment, small enough to afford students personalized attention from faculty and staff, and large enough to let students expand their horizons. All faculty members have advanced degrees, and 83 percent of the full-time faculty hold doctoral or terminal degrees. While 95 percent of its students come from South Carolina, the University enrolls students from 27 states and 23 foreign countries, allowing students to experience the diversity of people from other cultures. The student-faculty ratio is 17 to 1, and the average class size is 22. The average age of undergraduates is 21, while the average age of graduate students is 36. Located about seven miles east of Florence, the 400-acre campus is known for its beautiful foliage and landscaping. The campus includes 100 acres of mixed pine-hardwood and bottomland forests accessed by a series of trails. Several acres have been set aside as an Arboretum that is being developed into a resource with many of the native species of the area. The University's modern classroom buildings, laboratories, and residence facilities provide a safe, comfortable learning environment for students. The campus also features a number of recreational facilities that are available for use by students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and for use in intramural and intercollegiate athletic competition. Most buildings have been constructed or renovated since 1970. Facilities are equipped with ramps, and those of more than one story are equipped with elevators. Though each building has its own unique design, all are planned for architectural harmony. One of the busiest places on campus is James A. Rogers Library, the state's sixth largest academic library and the largest library in northeastern South Carolina. It serves as a valuable resource for individual citizens, businesses, and industries in the entire region. The Pee Dee Education Center is located on the south end of the FMU campus. The Center is a regional educational consortium serving 19 area school districts, 72,000 students and 5,000 teachers. Francis Marion University works closely with the Pee Dee Education Center to provide resources and services to school districts in the Pee Dee, such as the Pee Dee Math/Science Hub which is housed in the facility. Additionally, the Center provides Early Childhood services to schools and services to low incidence disabled students through Project SHARE. The building also provides space for the FMU School of Education's Center of Excellence. For more information, contact the Pee Dee Education Center at 843-669-3391. The University offers to the community programs and services in continuing education, technical and professional assistance, industrial and economic development, and artistic and cultural enrichment. Many cultural activities (concerts, lectures, plays, art exhibits, planetarium and observatory shows, and film series) are offered free to the public. The University has an outstanding NCAA athletic program with six sports each for men and women. The University's school colors are red, white, and blue, and the mascot is a patriot. Authorized as a state-supported institution of higher learning by the State of South Carolina on June 25, 1969, Francis Marion College was officially established on July 1, 1970. Founded in response to an overwhelming need for a public higher education institution in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, the College became Francis Marion University in 1992. The University was named in honor of a Revolutionary War hero, General Francis Marion, who was nicknamed the "Swamp Fox" for using the South Carolina terrain in effective guerrilla warfare against the British. The University traces its history to 1957 when the University of South Carolina established a "freshman center" at the Florence County Library. In 1961, a permanent campus for USC-Florence was established seven miles east of Florence on land donated by the Wallace family, the current location of FMU. By 1966, enrollment at USC-F had reached 350 and community leaders began a movement to establish a four-year institution to meet better the educational needs of the region. Following a Commission on Higher Education recommendation, Gov. Robert E. McNair signed into law an act creating Francis Marion College, effective July 1, 1970. The College began its first academic term when students from 23 of South Carolina's 46 counties gathered on August 31, 1970 for the first fall convocation and orientation. A total of 907 students subsequently enrolled in programs offered through the College's initial 10 departments. During its first year, the College embarked on a building program which saw occupancy of the James A. Rogers Library in 1971, the Robert E. McNair Science Building in 1972, the Walter Douglas Smith University Center and Founders Hall in 1974, the John K. Cauthen Educational Media Center in 1977, the Peter D. Hyman Fine Arts Center and the Village (student apartments) in 1980, three residence halls and the Edward S. Ervin Dining Hall in 1986, the Thomas C. Stanton Academic Computer Center and the Reames Wing to Rogers Library in 1988, an addition to the J. Howard Stokes Administration Building in 1990, three more residence halls and the Allard A. Allston Housing Office Complex in 1992, the Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. Science Facility in 1994, the BB&T/Amelia Wallace Alumni/Faculty House in 2003, the Forest Villas apartment complex in 2004, and the Frank B. Lee Nursing Building, and the Campus Grille in 2006. The institution has had four presidents: Dr. Walter Douglas Smith (1969 to 1983), Dr. Thomas C. Stanton (1983 to 1994), Dr. Lee A. Vickers (1994 to 1999), and Dr. Luther F. Carter (1999 to present). Today, Francis Marion University's academic program consists of a College of Liberal Arts, a School of Business, and a School of Education with more than 40 programs of study, as well as a variety of cooperative and pre-professional programs. The University employs 225 full-time and part-time faculty members and about 301 staff. The University is governed by a 17-member Board of Trustees. The trustees serve four-year terms and are elected by the South Carolina General Assembly with some appointments made by the state's governor. The University is committed to shared governance among the Board of Trustees, the faculty, and the administration. The faculty elects its own officers and committees. The chief administrative officer of the University is the president. The University is organized along the following administrative divisions: Academic Affairs, Business Affairs, Administration, Student Affairs, Development, Communications Services, Community Relations, University Outreach, and Intercollegiate Athletics. ACADEMIC AFFAIRS – The division of Academic Affairs includes all academic departments within the University, organized into a College of Liberal Arts and two professional schools, the School of Business and the School of Education. Other functions within this division include Enrollment Management (Admissions, Financial Assistance, Provisional Programs, and Registrar), the library, and the graduate programs. BUSINESS AFFAIRS – The division of Business Affairs is responsible for the University's business operation, accounting for all revenues and expenditures, maintaining the University's facilities, campus police, dining services, housing, purchasing, and the Patriot bookstore. ADMINISTRATION – The division of Administration is responsible for human resources, computing services (both administrative and academic), institutional research, planning, institutional effectiveness, instructional technology, telephones, payroll, and inventory. STUDENT AFFAIRS – The division of Student Affairs is responsible for creating learning opportunities for growth and development of students outside the classroom. The goal is to promote individual student development and leadership through fostering community involvement of students in their intellectual, cultural, spiritual, emotional, and physical development. Services, offices, and programs within the division include Student Life (fraternities, sororities, student activities, and special events), the Smith University Center, Campus Recreation Services, Career Development, Counseling and Testing, Student Health Services, Residence Life, Multicultural Student Affairs, International Student Affairs, and the Dean of Students. DEVELOPMENT – The Development division is responsible for coordination of University efforts to secure financial support from the private sector and to serve as the receiving point for gifts of dollars, securities, works of art, land, and equipment. This is done primarily through the Francis Marion University Foundation, the Alumni Association, the Annual Fund, and the Swamp Fox Club. Through these organizations, the various avenues of supporting the University are made known to individuals, corporations, and philanthropic foundations. For more information, call 843-661-1481 or visit www.fmarion.edu.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS – The Community Relations Office is responsible for maintaining positive town and gown relations and works with the corporate community, local chambers of commerce, civic organizations, and state and local government agencies on projects designed for the betterment of the University and the region it serves. The office plans and coordinates special events designed to increase the visibility of the University. The office administers the alumni relations program to advance the interests of the alumni and the University.
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES – The Communications Services Office is responsible for telling the FMU story to its various publics. The Office serves as the official communications channel through which the University disseminates information internally and externally. The Office has four major functions: (1) external media relations, (2) internal communications, (3) production of official University publications for off-campus audiences, and (4) marketing and communications support for University initiatives. The Office distributes news and feature stories about University programs, activities, and people as well as hometown releases about student achievements. A twice-monthly newsletter, Patriot Digest, informs faculty and staff about campus activities. Communications Services is also responsible for campus printing and mail functions. UNIVERSITY OUTREACH – The University recognizes that its mission reaches beyond the borders of the campus to the surrounding region and the state. The University touches many facets of community life and serves as a catalyst for development of a regional approach to solving problems in education, economic development, the environment, cultural opportunities, social issues, and the quality of life. Faculty, staff and students have made a significant impact on the region through research, public service, involvement in the arts and literature, and the delivery of government and social services. INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS – The University considers intercollegiate athletics to be an integral part of the educational environment. FMU's goal is to provide an outstanding, well-balanced athletic program with oversight from the faculty. From the training that improves physical fitness of athletes to the teamwork and competition that provides excitement for students and fans, intercollegiate athletics complement academic pursuits when held in proper perspective. The University is a member of the NCAA and the Peach Belt Conference. With two sports programs currently transitioning from Division II to Division I membership, plans have been discussed to possibly move the entire athletics program to Division I membership in the next few years. Coaches and student-athletes are held to high standards and are expected to exemplify the same leadership roles on campus and within the community as in athletic competition. Francis Marion University is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award bachelor's and master's level degrees. Upon request, accreditation documents may be viewed in the Office of the Provost during normal business hours. The University is approved by the South Carolina State Board of Education and is a member of the American Council on Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. In addition, several individual academic programs have been recognized by specialized accrediting organizations. The business programs are accredited by the AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The teacher education programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the South Carolina State Board of Education. The chemistry program is approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. The graduate psychology program is accredited by the Master's in Psychology Accreditation Council (MPAC) and meets the standards of training approved by the Council of Applied Master's Programs in Psychology (CAMPP). The theatre arts program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). The visual arts and art education programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Accreditation of the nursing program by the National League for Nursing is pending. Francis Marion University is committed to the continuous evaluation and improvement of each and every component of the University from its educational programs to the administrative and support offices that serve them. The University now has in effect a comprehensive institutional effectiveness program that routinely monitors continued program and office alignment with institutional mission, the identification of salient process outcomes, the measurement of meaningful quality indicators, and the implementation of improvements. The faculty of the University through its Institutional Effectiveness Committee accepts the ongoing evaluation of the institutional effectiveness system as an important component of its responsibilities to the institution. Students are frequently asked to participate in the assessment of the University's services through focus groups, surveys, writing samples, academic inventories, interviews and other appropriate assessment methods. Prospective students, parents, alumni, and constituents in the local and regional business and service communities are also asked for their input. Throughout this process, FMU stresses to its students and other participants that FMU is assessing the quality of its educational programs and support services and not the individual participating in the assessment effort. Reacting to the input from our students and other constituencies by constantly improving the ability of the University to accomplish its mission is the primary purpose of FMU's institutional effectiveness system. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Francis Marion University is dedicated to equal opportunity through affirmative action within the University community. The University's affirmative action program is designed to provide equal consideration of all applicants for faculty and staff positions, for all faculty members in the tenure and promotion process, and for administrators and other staff members seeking promotions and upgrades, as well as for students seeking admission, financial aid, and equality in academic and athletic programs. It is the policy of Francis Marion University to recruit, hire, train, and promote employees without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, physical disability, sexual orientation, or age. Furthermore, it is FMU's policy to implement affirmative action to prevent any disparate effects of discrimination because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or age. Hiring, training, promotion, pay scales, and benefits practices are based on qualifications, demonstrated ability, and meritorious performance. The University actively recruits students from protected categories and provides opportunities for the growth and development of those students. The University's Affirmative Action Plan includes the monitoring and reporting of compliance with applicable laws and regulations including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Executive Order 11375; Revised Order No. 4; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; the Vietnam Era Veteran's Rehabilitation Act of 1974; Titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Action; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; and all applicable laws and ordinances of the State of South Carolina. A plan has been developed to help achieve FMU's goal of equal employment opportunity for all. The Vice President for Student Affairs serves as the University's Affirmative Action Officer and is responsible for ensuring that the University's commitments are met and for reporting progress to the President. The Affirmative Action Officer has the responsibility in accordance with the plan to ascertain that a concerted effort is established and maintained to assure the achievement of goals and interim benchmarks. For more information, call 843-661-1187. Discriminatory Personal Conduct: The University seeks to promote a fair, humane, and respectful environment for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, University policy explicitly prohibits sexual harassment, racial harassment, and all other personal conduct which inappropriately asserts that sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry are relevant to consideration of individual worth or individual performance. The same policies provide procedures for the informal resolution of instances in which such behavior is suspected or alleged. The policies are available for inspection in the Office of Student Affairs, Smith University Center, or the Human Resources Office, Stokes Administration Building. English has been designated the primary language of all faculty members at Francis Marion University since fall 1991. "Primary" language is defined as written and spoken English comparable to that of a native speaker. If the University considers employing on its full-time teaching faculty a candidate whose second language is English, that candidate will:
The English Fluency in Higher Education Act of the South Carolina General Assembly requires that each public institution provide assurance that there exists an adequate procedure for students to report grievances concerning the inability of instructors to be understood in their spoken or written English. At FMU, students should state such a grievance in a scheduled meeting with the chairperson of the department or dean of the school involved. The department chairperson or school dean will then arrange for a meeting among the chairperson or dean, the grieving student(s), and the instructor. It is the responsibility of the chairperson or dean to find a satisfactory resolution to the grievance and to report the resolution to the Provost. Francis Marion University is located on a 400-acre tract of land originally included in an English royal land grant. The initial 100 acres were a gift from the Walter G. and J. W. Wallace families. The University is situated adjacent to U.S. Highways 301/76, seven miles east of Florence, South Carolina. Campus facilities include: Campus Grille – Opening in fall 2006, this one-story building is located adjacent to the outdoor swimming pool. The facility provides an additional dining option during the day and in the evening after the dining hall closes with indoor and outdoor seating available. It also has a lounge area, a small space for group use, and provides convenient access to the outdoor pool, sand volleyball court, and outdoor grilling. John K. Cauthen Educational Media Center – Named in honor of the late pioneer of educational television in South Carolina, this building was occupied in 1977. Designed to provide comprehensive facilities for the production and presentation of audiovisual materials, the building also provides classroom and Office space for the mass communication, modern languages, and psychology programs and the School of Education. The James "Ed" Dooley planetarium, the Ashpy Lowrimore Auditorium, two distance learning classrooms, and the J.R. Bryan Jackson Innovation Place (a 20-computer lab equipped with teaching and multimedia instructional technology) are also in the building. BB&T/Amelia Wallace Faculty/Alumni Cottage – The Cottage, completed in 2003, is operated by the FMU Foundation as a faculty/alumni facility and guest house for the benefit of Francis Marion University. The 4,000-square foot facility is named in honor of BB&T, a major benefactor, and Amelia Wallace, whose family donated Wallace House and the first 100 acres of the land on which the University is located. Lunch is served daily (unless otherwise announced) for faculty, staff and guests. The Edward S. Ervin III Dining Hall – Named in honor of a former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Francis Marion University, this facility was occupied in 1986. It serves students, faculty, and staff of the University as well as community groups. The facility includes a main dining area and three rooms (Palmetto Room, Hendrick Dining Room, and President's Dining Room) available for meeting space and/or catering events. Facilities Management/Campus Police Building – Occupied in 1972, this building provides certain utility services to other buildings and houses the campus police and certain offices of the Facilities Management Department. Campus Police provides around-the-clock law enforcement services from this location. Founders Hall – Named in honor of those whose efforts and energies led to the founding of the University, this building was occupied during 1974. The building houses offices and classrooms for many of the University's academic programs including English, political science, history, geography, philosophy and religious studies, sociology and the School of Business. The Peter D. Hyman Fine Arts Center – Named in honor of a community leader who was instrumental in the founding of the institution and who was the first chairman of the Francis Marion University Board of Trustees, this facility was occupied in November 1980. It houses the John W. Baker Art and Music Wing and includes faculty offices for the Department of Fine Arts, classrooms, and studios for teaching art and music. The south wing includes the Adele Kassab Recital Hall and the University Theatre, which has a working stage and the capability for quick changes from a proscenium to a thrust stage. The Hyman Fine Arts Center houses public art galleries to display two- and three-dimensional art. Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. Science Facility – Named in honor of Senator Hugh K. Leatherman Sr., for many years a state senator from Florence County and member emeritus of the University's Board of Trustees, this facility was completed in 1994 and provides office, classroom and laboratory space for biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. A greenhouse is located on the rooftop. Frank B. Lee Nursing Building – Named in honor of the chairman of the board of trustees of the local philanthropic foundation which largely funded the building's construction, this facility opened for the fall 2006 semester. This two-story facility is located on the north side of the campus pond and houses offices, classrooms, a clinical care lab area, a computer lab, and an auditorium for the Department of Nursing program. Robert E. McNair Science Building – Named in honor of the former Governor of South Carolina who played a significant role in making the University possible, this structure was occupied in 1972. This building provides classroom, laboratory, and Office space for biology as well as laboratory space for chemistry and physics. The Observatory – Built in 1982, this is a two-story, pre-cast concrete structure with a 12-foot rotating dome. Permanently mounted in the dome is a 14-inch reflecting telescope. A 5-inch refractor, 8-inch Newtonian, and 12-inch Dobsonian telescope are also housed at the Observatory. The first floor houses a small classroom-orientation area with a large screen TV for viewing images from an electronic eyepiece. Located on the second-floor observatory deck are six mounts for 8-inch reflecting telescopes. Free public viewing sessions are held periodically to examine the planets, stars, and special astronomical events such as comets and eclipses. Office Services Building – The Office Services Building, located on the east side of Stokes Administration Building, was constructed in the early 1960s. Formerly, the facility served as the canteen/student center for the University of South Carolina at Florence. The building was acquired by Francis Marion University in 1970 and was converted to Office Services soon afterward. The printing and mail services operations are housed in this facility. James A. Rogers Library – Named in honor of the first chair of the State College Board of Trustees, the library opened in December 1971. The structure houses a library collection of nearly 400,000 volumes and provides access to a variety of electronic databases including the Internet, Collegiate DISCUS (PASCAL), and DISCUS (Digital Information for South Carolina Users). The library building was expanded in 1988 by adding a wing named in honor of the first director of the library, J. Mitchell Reames. Walter Douglas Smith University Center – Named in honor of the first president of Francis Marion University, this facility was occupied in 1974. The complex provides comprehensive facilities for student activities and services including the offices of Student Affairs, Athletics, Dean of Students, Student Life, Campus Recreation Services, Career Development, International Student Affairs, and Multicultural Student Affairs. It also provides space for recreation and athletic programs (including the gymnasium) and the Patriot Bookstore. Thomas C. Stanton Academic Computer Center – Named in honor of the second president of Francis Marion University, this facility was occupied in 1988. The building provides computer classrooms and a 60-station general-use computer laboratory. J. Howard Stokes Administration Building – Named in honor of one of the prime movers in establishing higher education for the Pee Dee area, this was the first building to be built on the Florence Regional Campus of the University of South Carolina. It was built with funds contributed by citizens from across the Pee Dee area and transferred to the University in 1970, and an addition was completed in 1990. It was last renovated in 1992-1995. The building houses administrative offices including the offices of Accounting/Cashier, Administration, Administrative Computing Services, Admissions, Alumni Affairs, Business Affairs, Communications Services, Community Relations, Development and FMU Foundation, Enrollment, Faculty Governance, Financial Assistance, Financial Services, Human Resources, Institutional Research, President, Provisional Programs, Provost, Purchasing, Registrar, Telecommunications, Payroll and Inventory, University Attorney, and the University Auditor. Wallace House (President's Home) – Rebuilt in 1924 after the original 1836 J. Eli Gregg home was destroyed by fire, this antebellum-style house was the home of Joseph Wilds Wallace Sr. and Sallie Gregg Wallace. In 1960, in their memory, the Wallace family donated the house for the founding site of the University of South Carolina at Florence. Then named Wallace Hall, the structure housed classrooms and meeting space for the Florence campus. When Francis Marion College was established in 1970, the house served as a facility for administrative offices. It was renovated as a permanent residence for the president of Francis Marion University in 1983 and was renamed Wallace House in 1994. Clifford S. Cormell Field – Named in honor of one whose leadership was a contributing factor to the establishment of the University, this field is a lighted baseball complex with a natural grass surface. John Kassab Courts – Named in honor of one whose leadership was a contributing factor to the establishment of the University, this facility consists of eight tennis courts, four of which are lighted. The courts were renovated in 2003 with new entranceway, playing surface, fencing and landscaping. Other exterior athletic-recreational facilities include a regulation soccer field, a regulation softball field, two natural grass intramural fields, an outdoor recreational field near the housing area, and an outdoor recreational pool. Allard A. Allston Housing Office Complex – The Allard A. Allston Housing Office Complex, built in 1992 along with one of the two sets of residence halls, was named after a longtime Board of Trustees member. The complex includes the offices of Housing and Residence Life as well as a Study Hall and the Tutoring Center. Forest Villas Apartment Complex – Francis Marion University's newest addition to student housing includes three, three-story apartment buildings and a community center located on the southeast side of the campus adjacent to Belle Isle, Snow Island and Ellen C. Watson Residence Halls. The three buildings, completed and occupied in fall 2004, consist of 57 four-bedroom apartment units, three two-bedroom units and three one-bedroom units, capable of housing 237 residents. Each apartment includes single bedrooms and private baths with shared living, dining and kitchen facilities. The community center building consists of a large common lounge for social functions and meetings, a smaller meeting/study area, a fitness room, an enclosed mail pick-up area, and a laundry facility. Additional information regarding the apartments can be found in the Housing and Residence Life sections of this catalog. Residence Halls – The University has two sets of residence halls. Each set consists of three residence halls linked to each other by exterior breezeways. Built in 1986, one set (Marion State, Palmetto, and Swamp Fox) forms a courtyard with the Edward S. Ervin III Dining Hall. The other (Belle Isle, Snow Island, and Ellen C. Watson), built in 1992, forms a courtyard with the Allard A. Allston Housing Office Complex, which was built at the same time. Residence halls provide for 700 residents. A Resident Assistant is assigned to each residence hall floor to provide support for students. Additional information regarding the residence halls can be found in the Housing and Residence Life sections of this catalog. The Village – The Village Apartments, the first student housing on campus, originally consisted of 11 apartment buildings occupied in the fall of 1980. The Village currently consists of 13 two-story apartment buildings and one one-story apartment. The apartment buildings named Anderson, Baxter, Cade, Dalton, Ervin, Ferguson, Gallingten, Henderson, Johnston, Logan, and Moultrie consist of eight apartments designed to accommodate four persons each in individual bedrooms with a common living room, kitchen, and bath. The Ingram and Kidwell apartment buildings consist of 16 apartments designed to accommodate two persons, each sharing bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bath. Some apartments of each type include provisions for persons with disabilities. Half of the single-story Newton building is an apartment for two persons, each sharing bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bath. The other half serves as an Emergency Medical Transport (EMT) station serving the campus and the surrounding area. The Village currently accommodates 418 residents. Additional information regarding the Village apartments can be found in the Housing and Residence Life sections of this catalog.
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