RESOURCES AND
SERVICES
JAMES A. ROGERS
LIBRARY
The Library serves the
pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning by providing Francis Marion’s
students, faculty, staff, and regional citizens with access to scholarly
information. By providing this access, the Library is able to contribute
uniquely to that portion of the mission of Francis
Marion University
that stresses its support of scholarly pursuits in the Pee Dee
region of South Carolina. Rogers
Library is the largest library in northeastern South
Carolina, and its holdings include nearly 400,000
volumes, 1,600 current periodicals, 500,000 microforms, and numerous electronic
databases to access information from almost anywhere.
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ACADEMIC COMPUTING
SERVICES
Academic Computing
Services provides information technology resources and services for the
instructional and research missions of the University. Principally through the
operations and development of the Academic
Computer Center
and the campus network, the department provides machine-readable content,
access to that content, and guidance for its use. The Academic
Computer Center
is open to all enrolled students, faculty, staff, and active alumni at FMU.
Access to the laboratory requires a valid University ID Card. In addition, most
academic departments have their own student computer labs distributed across
campus. Students must supply their own diskettes for using most software
products. The most commonly used computer software is the Microsoft (MS) Office
Suite (Word, Excel, Access, and Powerpoint), but other specialized programs are
available for use in the main computer laboratory. The software and documents
available are copyrighted products and may not be reproduced, in part or in
whole, for any purpose. Netscape and Internet Explorer are available for web
browsing.
Email for Students – Email accounts
are provided for all currently enrolled students. Students are provided
information about accessing email accounts by visiting the Academic
Computing Center.
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MEDIA
CENTER
The Cauthen
Educational Media
Center is dedicated to improving
teaching and learning opportunities by providing nonprint resources,
technological support, and media-equipped teaching and conference facilities
for the faculty, students, and staff of Francis
Marion University.
The Center supports the academic program by providing study facilities and
instructional space in the Resource Area, supplying and maintaining media
equipment, scheduling media-equipped classrooms, providing production
facilities, and hosting campus and community activities. This facility contains
two high-tech distance learning classrooms featuring two-way audio and video
communications as well as the Ashpy Lowrimore Auditorium. The Dooley
Planetarium is located on the second floor of the Media
Center.
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MATH RESOURCE
CENTER
The Department of
Mathematics offers a mini-lab generally in the afternoons Monday-Thursday for
students enrolled in the Math Lab (the self-paced mathematics courses). These
selfpaced courses have two technology labs with both VCR tutorial tapes for all
courses and a computer-assisted tutorial program for the Math 105 and Math 111
courses.
The Department of
Mathematics has created a computer lab for use as a classroom and a student
resource center for mathematical work. These computers contain mathematics
programs (MAPLE, MINITAB, EXCEL, GEOMETER’S SKETCHPAD, etc.) to empower
students in the areas of mathematics and probability and statistics.
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WRITING
CENTER
The FMU
Writing Center
is available to help all students improve their current writing abilities and
acquire the skills needed to succeed at writing tasks in academic and
professional communities. English department faculty consultants and trained
student consultants provide one-to-one assistance on a wide range of writing
tasks and projects, including research papers for all disciplines, literary
analyses, creative writing, lab reports, resumes, business letters, and
graduate school applications. Students are invited to meet with a consultant at
any stage of the writing process for guidance on generating a topic, building
an argument, incorporating research, revising a draft, or learning about
grammatical errors. The Writing Center
encourages students to use writing as a means of personal expression and as a
tool for learning in and beyond the university environment.
The Writing
Center offers more than 40 hours of
tutoring services each week and several writing workshops each semester.
Tutorials are available by appointment or on a drop-in basis. To meet with a
tutor, please call 843-661-1528 or visit the Writing
Center in Founders Hall 114-C.
Writing Center consultants are also available in the evenings at the Tutoring
Center, located in the Study Hall of
the Allard A. Allston Housing Office Complex.
Students are invited to
visit the Writing Center’s
website for more information and links to on-line writing resources:
www.fmarion.edu/academics/wcenter.
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TUTORING CENTER
The Tutoring
Center is a free service available
to all students. Located in the Study Hall in the Allard A. Allston Housing
Office Complex, the Tutoring Center
offers students the opportunity to seek assistance in all academic areas from
trained peer tutors. Assistance is available to students on a walk-in basis
from 3-9 p.m., Monday through
Thursday, or by appointment (843-661-1675).
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TEACHING
MATERIALS CENTER
The Teaching
Materials Center
supports the Teacher Education Program by providing a representative collection
of curriculum materials. The collection ranges from pre-kindergarten through
high school and contains materials that are current and appropriate for each
subject area, each grade level, and each professional program. The
comprehensiveness of this collection has been augmented by the Materials
Center having been designated as an
official Public Review Site for public school state-approved materials. Copies
of all materials considered for approval by the State Department of Education
are sent to the Center for review, and many of them are included in the
collection. This extensive collection allows preservice teachers to create a
broad range of lesson plans and activities.
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The Office of Career
Development supports the educational goals of the University mission statement
by providing a comprehensive, educational approach to career development and
preparation as a life skill. Specialized services, programs, and strategies are
designed and targeted for FMU students and alumni.
The Office of Career
Development develops and maintains relationships both internally (faculty and
staff) and externally (business and community) and plays an integral role in
the activities of these sources to facilitate the blending of academic,
personal and career development of students, while providing a link for
students to the world of work.
A state-of-the-art
resume referral service is available to seniors seeking full-time employment.
The service includes resume postings on the Francis Marion University Internet
Resume Book and is linked to a national job listing service, both available to
employers on the World Wide Web. The DISCOVER career guidance program and other
resources allow students to explore careers, research employers, and develop
the skills and tools needed to conduct successful job searches. Job listings
for part-time, summer, and experiential learning opportunities are also
available, in addition to career workshops and “practice interviewing”
opportunities. Students are encouraged to start using these services during
their first year of enrollment to begin exploring their skills and interests as
they relate to specific career fields.
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COUNSELING AND
TESTING
The Office of Counseling
and Testing is responsible for meeting the personal counseling needs of Francis
Marion University
students. Professional counselors are available to help with personal,
relationship, or emotional issues with referrals made to community agencies as
needed. The office also coordinates the advanced-placement testing program and
administers several standardized tests utilized in certification by graduate
and professional schools. The Office of Counseling and Testing serves as the
focal point of academic services for students with disabilities. All students
with disabilities should contact the Office of Counseling and Testing prior to
registration at 843-673-9707.
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SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES
Francis Marion
University is committed to making
programs and activities available to qualified students with disabilities. The
University makes efforts to ensure that the University grounds, major buildings,
and classes are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
The Director of
Counseling and Testing coordinates services for students with disabilities,
assists students in determining reasonable accommodations on the basis of
disability, and acts as a liaison between students and faculty/administration
on concerns relating to appropriate accommodations for students with
disabilities. The Director of Counseling and Testing is also available to meet
with prospective students to discuss services available at Francis
Marion University.
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with disabilities.
Approp
riate documentation of each disability is required in the form of
psychological evaluations and/or medical histories and should be provided to
the Office of Counseling and Testing at least two weeks prior to initial
registration of classes.
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SERVICES AVAILABLE:
Learning
Disability/ADD/ADHD – The University attempts to make reasonable accommodations
for students with learning disabilities, ADD, or ADHD to help equalize their
chance for success. The following are examples of accommodations that may be
granted to students with such disabilities:
• extended time for
examinations
• use of tape recorder
in classroom
• extended time for
in-class writing assignments
• notetakers
• readers
• alternate testing
location
• priority registration
It is the student’s
responsibility to inform the Director of Counseling and Testing of any need for
services in adequate time to allow for their arrangement.
Accommodations are
determined on a case-by-case basis by the student and the Director of
Counseling and Testing. Accommodations are based on the information contained
in appropriate documentation (preferably, up-to-date psycho-educational
evaluation not more than three years old), which the student is responsible for
providing. A Consent for the Release of Confidential Information must be signed
by students to inform professors of the accommodation(s) the students may
require. It is also necessary that the student discuss with each professor how
the student will receive the accommodation(s) for which they may qualify.
Although the University
is committed to providing academic accommodations to students with learning
disabilities, there is no specific program for students with learning
disabilities at the University. Students with learning disabilities may find
that the support services available to the general student population are also
useful to them. Tutorial services, the Writing
Center, Mathematics Lab, Peer
Tutoring Laboratories, Career Development, the Office of Provisional Programs,
and the Office of Counseling and Testing are some of the support services
students with learning disabilities students may find to be particularly
helpful.
Visual Impairment – Services
available for students with visual impairments include:
• arrangements for taped
books
• notetakers
• provision of readers
for examinations
• priority registration
It is the student’s
responsibility to inform the Director of Counseling and Testing of any need for
services in adequate time to allow for their arrangement. Visually impaired
students may wish to contact the Director of Counseling and Testing to arrange
for a tour of the campus, including building locations, classroom locations, and
pathways.
Hearing Impairment – Services
available for students with hearing impairments include:
• interpreters
• notetakers
• priority registration
It is the student’s
responsibility to inform the Director of Counseling and Testing of any need for
services in adequate time to allow for their arrangement.
Physical Disabilities
–
Services available to students with physical disabilities include:
• notetakers
• campus tours to
determine the most accessible routes
• priority registration
• assistance in obtaining
a reserved parking permit
• specially designed
desks and chairs
The majority of the
campus is accessible to the physically disabled. Accessible routes are
identified on the map in the Handbook for Students with Disabilities.
Due Process – When a student
with a disability strongly feels that reasonable accommodations have not been
made, that student should seek resolution within the administrative channels
for the area in which accommodation is in question. The student should first
contact the Director of Counseling and Testing if he or she is unhappy with his
or her accommodations. If a satisfactory outcome is not attained, the student
may request a meeting with the Vice President of Administration, who is also
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator, for recommendations
towards a solution of the matter. It is the policy of Francis
Marion University
to provide equal educational and employment opportunity to all present and
future employees and students regardless of race, color, religion, sex,
national origin, age, or disability. Francis
Marion University
is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
For Additional
Information – Students needing more information should contact the
Director of Counseling and Testing at the address below. If there is a need for
special assistance, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Director
of Counseling and Testing in sufficient time (at least two weeks in advance of
the start of classes) to allow for the arrangement of services. Prospective
students should feel free to contact the Director of Counseling and Testing to
discuss services available at the University. Additional information is
available in the Handbook for Students with Disabilities (available from the
Director of Counseling and Testing, 121 Evander Street, Florence,
SC 29506, 843-673-9707).
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STUDENT HEALTH
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.
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FMU IDENTIFICATION
CARD (ID)
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
• Use
Academic Computer
Center resources
• Take advantage of Smith
University Center
services – basketroom, physical fitness facilities, etc.
• Attend certain campus
events which may require presentation of the card
• Utilize the Dining
Meal Plan
• Take advantage of
discounts or special opportunities offered by many local businesses to students
presenting the FMU Card
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.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
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 go to http://www.fmarion.edu in the
“quick links” choose “Campus Police” and then Clery Report.” This report
contains topics such as Access to Campus Facilities, Alcohol and Drug Laws and
Policy, Crime Reporting, Crime Statistics, Crime Prevention suggestions, 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 who 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 registr
ation 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 the 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. 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.
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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 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 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 recreational 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.
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SMITH
UNIVERSITY CENTER
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, four of which are lighted; a regulation
softball field; two natural grass intramural fields; and an outdoor
recreational pool.
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BOOKSTORE
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.
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MAIL
Students living on
campus are assigned a campus mailbox number and a key to a mailbox. Mail is
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 Mail
Center also offers stamps for
purchase.
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TELEPHONE SERVICE
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.
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LAUNDRY AND VENDING
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.
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FOOD SERVICE
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.
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RECYCLING
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.
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