FMU Board of Trustees freezes tuition for seventh straight year

On Thursday, March 7, Francis Marion University held its quarterly Board of Trustees meeting. During the meeting, tuition was frozen at existing levels, a new academic program was approved, and facilities were named to honor two longtime members of the board.

For the seventh straight year, the Board voted unanimously to freeze tuition. 

“I am delighted that the Board has chosen to freeze tuition for another year,” said FMU President Fred Carter. “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 Trustees also approved a resolution for the creation of a new undergraduate degree program in Criminal Justice. The Bachelor of Arts/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 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,” said Carter. “I’m immensely proud of the collaborative efforts within the faculty to develop this curriculum in such a timely fashion.”

In addition, the Trustees approved the naming of two wings within the new School of Education/School of Business building for long-standing Board of Trustee members, both of whom are also alumni. 

The Dr. Randall Dozier School of Education Wing will honor current board chairman and FMU alum, Randall Dozier. Dozier earned his baccalaureate degree from FMU and his master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees from the University of South Carolina. Dozier began his career as a teacher and progressed to various administrative positions at both the school and district levels including superintendent of Georgetown County Schools during his more than 43-year career in education. He has served Francis Marion in numerous capacities since his graduation. His bold leadership has been instrumental in the continued growth and development of the university. 

Robert Lee earned his baccalaureate degree from Francis Marion and his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law. The Robert Lee School of Business Wing will be named in his honor. For over thirty years, Lee has been an advocate for justice and individual rights for all citizens regardless of their economic or social status. 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 during Thursday’s meeting, the Board unanimously approved the construction of an Engineering Workshop Building. This free-standing applied laboratory facility will meet the current and future needs of the university’s engineering programs.