Chapter 5: Francis Marion University and Student Success

Wrenn is a typical pre-service teacher enrolled in the teacher education programs at Francis Marion University (FMU). She is an example of a hardworking pre-service teacher who also has reliance with the guidance from her advisors, faculty, and staff to successfully navigate the educational process. “FMU prides itself on providing a strong liberal arts education. Francis Marion University is one of South Carolina’s 13 public, co-educational universities and one of the state’s six comprehensive institutions” (Francis Marion University, 2018).

FMU is a 4-year public institution established by the state of South Carolina. While 95% of its students are from South Carolina, the university enrolls students from 33 states and 21 foreign countries, allowing them to experience the diversity of people from other cultures. The student faculty ratio is 15 to 1, and the average class size is 21. The average age of undergraduates is 21, while the average age of graduate students is 34. The university is located in the northeastern part of the state near the city of Florence, and it enrolls nearly 4,000 students. “Its purpose is threefold: to provide students with an excellent education, to stimulate inquiry and research, and to serve the Pee Dee region and the state of South Carolina.”