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Franklin & Marshall College (abbreviated as F&M) is a private, coeducational liberal arts institution located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. One of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the nation, the school was founded in 1787 with a generous financial contribution by Benjamin Franklin. First named “Franklin College”, F&M has a history of academic excellence that spans well over two centuries. F&M’s campus is 220 acres, including over 25 acres of new development; in addition, F&M also operates a second campus in Bath, England for its Advanced Study in England program and has a partnership with the 85-acre Millport Conservatory for research, teaching and field study.
Academic Programs
Franklin & Marshall College has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1921. The college awards Bachelor of Arts degrees in nearly fifty major fields of study. F&M provides students with a uniquely hands-on educational approach which emphasizes learning while doing. In order to achieve this purpose, traditional academic work is blended with instructor-designed, out-of-class learning in labs, in the community, in the field, and in countries around the world.Another element that makes an F&M education stand apart is that self-expression is highly encouraged in students, with approximately two-thirds of students engaging in independent study or a self-designed major before graduation. F&M provides students with a highly supportive community – close relationships between faculty and students are also strongly encouraged and emphasized. The college’s faculty mentoring and faculty and peer support systems are equipped – rather uniquely – for the purpose of ensuring that all students flourish and that each achieves his or her personal best.
Student Life
Total enrollment at Franklin & Marshall College reaches over 2,000 with students hailing from nearly all states in the Union as well as more than fifty foreign nations. A residential college, housing and dining are provided for students, though F&M’s student housing do not include standard, run-of-the-mill dormitories, but are rather, “lively hubs of intellectual, extracurricular and social engagement.” First-year students are assigned to a College House based on their expressed interest for their freshman connections course (a seminar-style learning environment). Upperclassmen may also choose to reside in a College House, creating an environment of diversity.As an NCAA Division III school, F&M sponsors more than two dozen athletic teams and students may also participate in a variety of club sports as well as more than 100 student-led clubs and organizations. Downtown Lancaster is within walking distance and also provides students with a wealth of opportunities with its restaurants, sports events, art galleries, historical buildings, and bustling night spots.