Mission Statement:

Francis Marion University is a four-year public institution established by the state of South Carolina. It is located in the northeastern part of the state near the city of Florence and has approximately 4000 students. Its purpose is threefold: to provide students with an excellent education, stimulate inquiry and research, and serve the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.

Francis Marion University adheres to the primary purpose of its establishment as a college in 1970: to make available excellent undergraduate education in the liberal arts
and selected professional programs. The university now offers Bachelors degrees in Liberal Arts disciplines, Business, Education, and Nursing, as well as Masters degrees in professional programs in Business, Education, and Psychology. While maintaining high standards, we serve students with a broad range of preparation and ability. We seek a wide variety of students, primarily from the Pee Dee region, but also from the entire state, other states, and foreign countries. We believe that a student body diverse in age, racial and ethnic background, and country of origin enriches the education of our students. To achieve its educational goals, the university has outstanding faculty members distinguished by high achievement and diverse academic background. We provide traditional classroom and laboratory instruction, access to an excellent library as well as electronic resources, and staff members committed to the success of the individual student. A low student-faculty ratio and faculty concern for the individual student help us to achieve our goal. In addition, the university provides students with special learning opportunities, such as an honors program, internships, study abroad, and cooperative degree programs.

Since our highest priority is excellence in teaching and learning, we believe that intellectual inquiry and analysis by students and faculty members is essential. We
encourage all scholarly pursuits, including student research for courses and faculty research for presentation and publication as well as the classroom. The university
provides faculty members with support for academic development, such as research funds. Our goal of an academic experience built on inquiry and research as well as the
transmission of information allows students to develop their ability to think and communicate, to gain the knowledge and skills to pursue a career or further study, to
appreciate the creativeness of the human mind, to be aware of the human and natural environment of the world, and to have the capacity to pursue a life of learning and
understanding.

The university also attempts to serve the needs of Florence and the surrounding area in ways beyond formal education. Our numerous cultural activities and athletic programs benefit not only students, but also the community. To foster the economic development of the region, we offer consulting services to business, industry, and
government. Academic and practical assistance to area schools is basic to our endeavors. Faculty and staff members participate in and contribute to a great variety of community activities.

Francis Marion is a unique university. It focuses on traditional liberal arts education, but provides new technology and new academic programs. It is small enough to provide individualized attention to each student, but large enough to offer much variety in academic and cultural resources. It thus combines the advantages of a small liberal arts college with the resources of a public university.