in the heart of the pee dee Francis Marion University is located on the edge of Florence, South Carolina, in the northeastern corner of the state. Florence is the “capital” of the state’s Pee Dee Region, which is named after the river system that dominates local geography, and which in turn is named after an Anglicized version of the name of the Native American people who were the area’s original residents. The region and its main city have much to offer. The Pee Dee has long been known as an outdoorsman’s paradise, much loved by sportsmen and conservationists for its bountiful recreational opportunities. Florence, the county seat of fast-growing Florence County (population 132,000), is a significant business and employment hub that is currently enjoying a downtown renaissance. Francis Marion University is playing a major role in the transition. The University’s Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2011, is the centerpiece of a burgeoning cultural scene; and the new FMU Health Sciences Complex, set to open in late 2016, will add intellectual heft to the commercial revitalization. Florence is located at the intersections of I-95 and I-20, which makes it easy to reach and a great launching point for regional attractions. South Carolina’s famous coast is just an hour away. Charlotte, Atlanta, Raleigh and Charleston are all within easy driving distance. Residents, including FMU students, appreciate Florence’s convenience and its growing list of amenities. It has many of the trappings of a big city, but it hasn’t lost its small town charm. It’s fast becoming a pretty neat place to live, work and… study.
4
An FMU Student holds a rare tree frog.
a world of learning, right at your A student can learn something new at any ol’ college. But what about actually discovering something new? It happens every year at Francis Marion University’s Wild Sumaco Research Station, high in the sub-Andean jungles of Ecuador. Since the station officially opened in 2012, professors and students from FMU and two other university partners have uncovered more than a dozen completely new, or newly located, species of … critters. The discoveries range from a rare spectacled bear, to giant caecelians (a legless salamander that resembles kind of a humongous earthworm) to a brand new tree frog (genus osteocephalus) no bigger than a thumbnail. This sort of get-your-hands-dirty, learning-by-doing kind of thing happens all the time at FMU. We’re big enough to offer you the world. And small enough to let you hold it in your hands.
14
What do I want to be when I grow up? At some point, isn’t that everybody’s question? At Francis Marion University we don’t have all the answers, but we do have a lot of them. We’re a comprehensive university that offers students more than 60 undergraduate majors with more on the way. Our faculty teaches everything from the liberal arts core to trending specialties in healthcare and engineering. We open the doors to a world of careers, both for those whose minds are already made up and for those still searching.
B O OG
chemist
athlete
advisor
journalist
CHEMISTRY
Environmental Science Pre-Pharmac
author
actor
BUSINESS
nurse
pharmacist EDUCATION
CEO
Art Education Early Childhood Education Elementary Education Middle Level Educa on econdary Educa ion
chemist teacher
analyst
principal
coach
teacher
Accounting POLITICAL SCIENCE Business Economics lighting technician Criminal Justice Computer Science Pre-law HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION Economics Finance Management THEATRE ARTS Management Information Systems Design Specialty Marketing Performance Specialty
healthcare
marketer
biologis detective
president HISTORY police officer MATHEMATICS guitarist ENGLISH MUSIC INDUSTRY journalist directorLiberal Arts Program Professional Writing Program NURSING ESL teacher lawyer PSYCHOLOGY MODERN LANGUAGES producer SOCIOLOGY French
professor MASS COMMUNICATION
NURSE
manager
Electronic Engineering Technology Computational Physics instructor Health Physics Industrial Engineering
Musician
curator
programmer
performer
broadcaster
designer
Ceramics Specialty Painting Specialty Photography Specialty Visual Communication Specialty
Master of Business Administration Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Executive Management Master of Education Instructional Accommodation Master of Education Learning Disabilities Master of Arts in Teaching Master of Arts in Teaching Learning Disabilities Master of Science in Applied Psychology Master of Science Clinical Counseling Master of Science School Psychology Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Master of Science in Nursing Nurse Educator
potter
VISUAL ARTS
artist
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
engineer
web designer
historian artist
PHYSICS doctor Civil Engineering Technologyfirefighter
translator
German Spanish
videographer
author
surgeon
reporter
Broadc st ourn lis Print Journalism Public Relations Sports Broadcasting
REPORTER
counselor set designer statistician
Environmental Science Medical Technology Pre-Dental Pre-Medical Pre-Physical Therapy Pre-Veterinary
photographer
Majors at Francis Marion University
news anchor
18
Life at FMU
A place to call your own Life on the FMU campus offers students the opportunity to be fully immersed in the college experience. The University’s residential living units are close to classrooms, campus dining and recreational facilities. As an added bonus, the residential units are located in one of the most scenic portions of campus, a pleasing glen where pathways weave through a mix of trees and richly landscaped settings. Several room types are available: Traditional Residence Halls • FMU has six traditional residence halls. Each residence hall suite includes two bedrooms which are connected to an adjoining, shared bathroom. Four students populate each suite, two to a room. Freshman, or students with less than 24 completed credit hours, live in the traditional residential buildings. Village Apartments • Older students can room in the residence halls or the Village Apartments. The Village Apartments offer: four-student units with four bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room and a kitchen; or two-student units with one shared bedroom, a bathroom, a living room and a furnished kitchen. Forest Villas • Upper classmen can also choose to live in the Forest Villas Apartments. Each apartment has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen.
Amenities • All students have access to the Heyward Community Center, located in the residential area. The Heyward Center includes a gathering area, a laundry facility, vending machines, a conference room, and a fitness center. Students also have access to Ervin Hall and the Grille for dining, and the University’s outdoor pool, which is located adjacent to The Grille. Campus Dining • A wide variety of dining options are available to FMU students, ranging from All-Access Dining at Ervin Dining Hall, which offers students an unlimited number of meals each semester, to a Mini-Plan that pre-pays for 50 meals per semester. There are other options within that range. All dining plans save students money versus the cash cost of meals. The most affordable plans drop the average cost of a meal below $5. Students can also purchase “Patriot Bucks” to spend at The Grille, FMU’s casual dining cafe; the campus coffee shop and the campus convenience store. Ervin Dining Hall, located in the residential area on campus, is open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Resident students are required to purchase a meal plan, but they’re available to everyone. The Grille, a popular gathering place on campus, offers sandwiches from the SubwayTM inside, along with burgers, salads, snacks and other quick fare. More dining options are on the way, too. A new cafe, serving some fairly wellknown coffee plus other treats, is set to open in one of the main academic buildings on campus, in the near future.
A place to shine Athletics is a big part of campus life at Francis Marion. The University fields teams in 14 NCAA sports, and the Patriots’ work on and off the field is a source of pride to fellow students and alumni alike. On and off the field? Sure. The “student-athlete” concept is no charade at Francis Marion. More than half the young men and women on Patriot team rosters are on the dean’s list in any given semester, and athletes are often among the very best students in their respective majors. This approach makes sense for all concerned. Athletics remains in its proper place, as an extracurricular activity at the University, and the athletes benefit from a proper life focus. The opportunity to perform professionally exists – witness the success of Patriot alums like Josh Edgin (New York Mets) or Evrik Gary (who is playing professional basketball in Europe) – but most are wise enough to spend their time preparing for a career beyond sports as well.
FMU enjoys a long and storied athletic history. Women’s basketball star Pearl Moore is a bona fide legend, a hall of famer who averaged better than 30 points per game for her career and is still the all-time leading scorer in women’s college basketball. FMU has won national titles in women’s basketball (twice) and men’s golf, and is a regular post-season tournament participant in all sports. Every FMU team is a member of the Peach Belt Conference, except for men’s golf, which performs as an NCAA Division I independent. The Peach Belt, which features schools from the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, is recognized as one of the most competitive collegiate leagues in America. Teams from the 24-yearold league have appeared in 61 national finals and won 33 championships.
24
Bragging Rights Francis Marion University athletes play at top-of-the-line athletic facilities, foremost among them Griffin Athletic Complex, home to FMU’s baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s soccer teams. It’s surely one of the finest Division II athletic facilities in the region, if not the nation. But we’d never say that out loud. We don’t want people to think we are bragging. However, we might say that the baseball stadium was christened with a 5-4 victory back in 2012 over a nearby state university whose team had won the two previous Division I championships. Just saying.
F
p
s
Charting a path: we’re here to help Earning a degree from Francis Marion University is a great investment in a student’s future, but it’s a significant investment that can’t be taken lightly. FMU’s Office of Financial Assistance is always ready to help students and families as they begin the path to a degree. And, as they proceed down that path, they’ll be there every step of the way. Some guidance is surely needed, for there’s a world of financial assistance available to students today. A wise, and necessary, first step in determining what financial aid might be available is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The “code” for FMU -- applicants will need this! -- is 009226. Generally, students will be notified about potential aid awards within 14 days of completing the FAFSA document. But that’s not the end of the trail when it comes to financial assistance.
TYPES OF AID
Once the FAFSA is complete, work begins in earnest on a financial aid package. Here’s a brief overview of the different types of aid that are available.
SCHOLARSHIPS
A variety of scholarships are available to students (see page 34). Most scholarships are based on academic ability and need, but criteria differs. More information on scholarships is online at www.fmarion.edu/scholarships.
FEDERAL WORK STUDY
Work study is need-based and allows students to work oncampus and receive federally subsidized pay.
GRANTS
Federal and state grants are available to students. Grants include the Pell Grant and SC Need-Based Grant.
LOANS
There are a number of different types of loans available to students. Two terms to be aware of are subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Subsidized loans are need-based while unsubsidized loans are not. In addition, the subsidized loan does not begin accruing interest until six months after students stop attending college, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest as soon as the loan begins.
More financial aid information is available online at www.fmarion.edu/enrollment/financialassistance.
32
Paying the freight isn’t easy. There are millions of ways we can help In the past decade academic scholarship aid at Francis Marion has grown by 47 percent to almost $9 million per year. Scholarships provided by the University and its many donors have grown even more. Giving to support that aid is up by 79 percent. All that means is that there is an increasing number of options for FMU students and families as they seek the smartest, most efficient path to paying for a great college education. Francis Marion students can choose from a wide variety of named scholarships aimed at students in particular disciplines or from particular backgrounds. Counselors in our admissions and financial aid offices can help families chart their course.
UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
The minimum criteria for all University Scholarships at FMU include admittance to the University for upcoming fall semester, a score of 1100 or better on the SAT (CR and Math only) or 24 ACT Composite, and a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students meeting those requirements could qualify for any of the University awards. FMU’s prestigious Robert E. McNair Scholarship is named for former S.C. Governor Robert E. McNair, who was instrumental in launching a new four-year college in the Pee Dee (that would be Francis Marion) back in the late 1960s. McNair Scholars must be residents of South Carolina, and have a strong interest in pursuing a public service
career. McNair Scholars also survive a rigorous selection process that includes interviews, essays, and on-campus visits. It is not an easy road, but the payoff is significant. The McNair Scholarship covers a student’s full tuition, housing, and meal plan. And, it offers a book allowance and funding for a study abroad experience as well. It is renewable, provided recipients maintain a 3.0 GPA and pass 30 credit hours of coursework each year. The McNair Scholarship application, including the required essays and two letters of recommendation, is due by December 1. The James F. Konduros Scholarship awards $6,000 for tuition and other expenses – combined with a S.C. LIFE scholarship, it can cover a year’s tuition – and, like the McNair, can be renewed annually. Konduros Scholars must maintain a 3.0 GPA and pass 30 credit hours per year. Selection is based on applications and interviews. A $5,000 Education Fellow Scholarship can be awarded to Education majors who are part of the South Carolina Teacher Cadet Program. Preference is given to FMU-sponsored Teacher Cadets. For more on the Teacher Cadet Program, check out …. www.fmarion.edu/fmuadmissions/educationfellow. Francis Marion University Fellows Scholars receive annual awards of between $1,500-$2,500, renewable annually if recipients meet standard renewal qualifications. Scholarship awards are based on applications and interviews. An annual award of $1,000