The Francis Marion University Board of Trustees held its quarterly meeting Thursday afternoon at the FMU Freshwater Ecology Complex, where trustees approved the naming of two university facilities in honor of longtime board members.
The Kenneth W. Jackson Lecture Hall, located in the Hugh and Jean Leatherman Medical Education Complex in downtown Florence, will be named for Trustee Ken Jackson (’84). Jackson has served on the FMU Board of Trustees since 1998, providing nearly three decades of distinguished leadership to the university. During his tenure, he has served as board chair, vice chair and secretary.
A proud FMU alumnus and dedicated advocate for FMU, Jackson has also served on the FMU Alumni Association Board and has been recognized as both Distinguished Alumnus of the Year and School of Business Alumnus of the Year.
The George C. McIntyre Training and Fitness Center in the Smith University Center will be named for Trustee George McIntyre (’78). McIntyre has served on the FMU Board of Trustees since 1999, holding the positions of chair, vice chair and parliamentarian.
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As a student, McIntyre was active in the Student Government Association, Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and was a member of the golf team. His professional accomplishments were also honored through his recognition as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.
“I am delighted that the Trustees have seen fit to honor Ken and George with the naming of these entities,” said FMU President Fred Carter. “They are remarkable leaders who have served the university well. For nearly three decades, they have guided FMU through a sustained period of growth and prosperity.”
In his remarks to the trustees, Carter highlighted the university’s continued growth and financial strength. FMU’s enrollment increased 3.1% this fall, exceeding projected growth rates across the university. The university added two new undergraduate programs in forestry and social work and the two newest doctoral programs–the Doctorate in Psychology and the Doctorate in Occupational Therapy–will graduate their first cohorts of students this year.
FMU boasts an impressive $41 million in unallocated resources, while the FMU Education Foundation has an investment corpus exceeding $62 million.
“Our enrollment is growing, our academic offerings continue to expand, and we have the financial security to continue investing in the university’s future,” Carter said. “That combination puts FMU in a strong position to build on the progress we’ve made and continue serving our students and this region for years to come.”
Carter also provided an update on several major construction and development projects.
The 45,000-square-foot Forestry and Environmental Sciences Building is expected to be completed by late 2026 or early 2027. The building will provide classroom and laboratory space for the new forestry program as well as programs in environmental science.
In downtown Florence, construction continues on FMU’s C. Edward Floyd Medical Education Consortium Building. This facility will include classrooms, laboratories and administrative space and is expected to be completed in spring 2027. Upon completion, it will house students in FMU’s healthcare programs as well as medical students and residents from the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
The university is also in the process of hiring a land management company to assist with the development of the Duck Ponds property. The 8,355-acre tract encompasses an eight-mile stretch along the Great Pee Dee River and will serve as an instructional site for FMU’s forestry, environmental science and environmental studies programs.
Carter concluded his remarks by announcing the speaker and honorary degree recipients for the university’s fall commencement ceremony, as well as new university appointments.
FMU’s fall commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 19, in the Smith University Center on campus. Sen. Tom Davis of Beaufort will serve as the commencement speaker. Davis and Darryl Bridges, FMU executive vice president, will be awarded honorary Doctor of Humanities degrees. Bridges will retire from FMU in December after 29 years of service to the university.
Jamee Freeman will join the university’s senior staff in October as vice president of enrollment management, followed by Thomas Welch in December as vice president for finance.
