Francis Marion University freezes tuition for seventh year in a row
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Francis Marion University’s Board of Trustees voted to freeze tuition for the seventh year in a row Thursday at its quarterly meeting, the university announced in a news release.
In addition to freezing tuition, a new academic program was approved, and two facilities were named to honor two longtime members on the board, the university said.
“I am delighted that the Board has chosen to freeze tuition for another year,” Francis Marion University President Fred Carter said. “Through appropriations support from the General Assembly and the generous gifts of our donors, we can go yet another year without increasing the financial burden on our students and their families, thus ensuring that our students have the opportunity to receive an exceptional education at an affordable cost.”
The new undergraduate degree program will be in criminal justice. The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in criminal justice will meet the workforce demand of the state for individuals trained for careers in criminal justice administration, criminal law, and general law enforcement, the university said.
“The approval of this new program in criminal justice will help to meet the critical demand for better educated law enforcement personnel across the Pee Dee Region and throughout the state,” Carter said. “I’m immensely proud of the collaborative efforts within the faculty to develop this curriculum in such a timely fashion.”
Two wings within the new school of education/school of business building were named after two long-standing Board of Trustee members, both of whom are also alumni of the university.
The Dr. Randall Dozier School of Education wing will honor current board chairman Randall Dozier, the university said.
Dozier earned his baccalaureate degree from FMU. Dozier was the superintendent of Georgetown County Schools during his more than 43-year career in education. He has served Francis Marion in numerous capacities and the university said his bold leadership has been instrumental in the continued growth and development of the university.
Robert Lee also earned his baccalaureate degree from Francis Marion University. The Robert Lee School of Business Wing will be named in his honor, the university said.
“For over thirty years, Lee has been an advocate for justice and individual rights for all citizens regardless of their economic or social status,” the university said. “His unwavering commitment to the university is demonstrated by the faithful dedication with which he has served his alma mater both on the board and in various other capacities. He led the Board of Trustees with bold and intuitive leadership during a critical time in the university’s history.”
Also, construction of an Engineering Workshop Building was infamously approved. It will be a free-standing applied laboratory facility that will meet the current and future needs of the university’s engineering programs, the university said.
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Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13’s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylor’s work here.
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