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Franklin & Marshall College Profile

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Franklin & Marshall College Profile

Founded in 1787, Franklin & Marshall College is a small private liberal arts & sciences institution located in Lancaster Pennsylvania. The school itself is situated geographically between the rural farmlands of the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside and the City of Lancaster. F&M is physically situated in the College Park Section of Lancaster. The footprint of the site is split into 2 facilities, one being the north/eastern edge of the campus adjacent to Harrisburg Pike, the second being the main campus located off College Avenue. The Sponaugle/Williamson Field house links both sides of the campus together with a large parking area around the Martin Library of the Sciences. Franklin & Marshall College is unique because it has a small private school feel to it, while still being large in regard to campus facilities. The school is relatively large geographically for a private institution but it feels smaller than the observed landscape.

The university has a large footprint of approximately 180 acres of property within walking distance to the City of Lancaster. The physical layout observes several historic buildings shared by students, and local residents. The campus itself has approximately 50 buildings including lecture, residential, research, and dining facilities. Franklin & Marshall also has a sports pavilion on the northern edge of campus that houses several fitness centers and team facilities. The overall campus map is typical for a university setting with wide sidewalks, grass field meeting places, and park like benches. The pedestrian flow of traffic within the facility was centered around Hartman Green during my daytime visit.

Students were also observed on College Ave, and Harrisburg Pike walking toward several facilities including the Alumni Fitness Center, and the Steinman Student Center. My tour guide told me that students enjoy the green areas outside the Science, and Performing Arts Quads during comfortable weather days because they study with the help of small blackboards. Shadek-Fackenthal Library also becomes a notable outside meeting place within the campus with F&M students enjoying the landscape in all weather conditions. These areas of the campus get busy at all hours of the day when school is in session according to my student guide.

The campus buildings and open spaces were clean and well maintained during my observations. These open spaces allow students the ability to interact with each other in a non-educational manner due to the high number of observed meeting places on campus. F&M students, faculty, and employees enjoy a community, within a community lifestyle in regard to on, and off campus activities and resources. The college also provides several critical student resources including student housing on campus for all 4 years, which helps students connect with each other throughout the year.

The published demographic information for the college describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. Franklin & Marshall has developed a large campus community to offer students a Liberal Arts and Science, and Engineering educational format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors.

The college is home to relatively small campus population of approximately 1,041 male, and 941 female full, and 30 male, and 13 female part-time students. The school has no students enrolled in graduate school programs. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 35% of students are from Pennsylvania. Others are from 43 states, and 47 foreign countries. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural makeup including 77% of students are white, 4% Asian Americans, 3% are Black, 4% are Hispanic, and 7% the race is unknown.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

Franklin & Marshall has a large educational system for a small private school, which offers Liberal Arts, and Sciences, and Engineering programs. Below is a specific list of under graduate admission requirements.

Franklin & Marshall: Freshman Class: 5,018 applied, 1,873 accepted, 570 enrolled. SAT Verbal 640, SAT Math 650. Application Deadline: February 1.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units.

Off Campus Housing

F&M has been described as a small private college within a small residential community. The reason I have mentioned the overall community is to re-assert the point that F&M’s network of facilities has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the College Park area. The campus footprint allows every student to have housing within walking distance to college facilities. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other college housing demands. The university itself has 64% of it’s student population living on campus which helps reduce the need, or demand for off campus housing. Students who want off campus housing can find information about available resources on the quick links page.

Campus Life

Franklin & Marshall is a multi-cultural campus environment that provides students with a relaxed social, and educational atmosphere. The admissions demographics paint a picture of a very diverse community with students from all over the world. The local community of Lancaster Valley only adds to the college’s international status because the community has multi-cultural roots as well. F&M also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical campus environment is clean and well maintained and the economic conditions are favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in walking distance to the school. The F&M campus has also been going through a growth period with new campus facilities for students, administrators, educators, and local residents to enjoy. These new Federal Style architecture buildings highlight the schools commitment to higher education now, and in the future.

The emotional climate of the entire community is positive because students are involved with local community, and campus groups. An observation of this positive emotional climate can be found by looking at the student flyers posted within several common areas of the school. These flyers describe upcoming activities and they invite all students to enjoy the clubs, performing arts, and public discussions on world events. F&M’s students went as far as hanging banners inside the student center to invite students to attend social events on campus, which was very nice to see.

This issue of school culture and emotional attachment is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. Franklin & Marshall has done a great job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops and seminars for freshman students. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 100 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 24 intramural sports activities for men, and women. F&M also has a Greek presence on campus with 25% of male students belonging to 7 national fraternities, and 10% of female students involved with 2 national sororities.

Campus life at F&M can be considered very active due to several notable student venues including the student and fitness centers, the coffee shops, and the city itself. The college also has a student run performing arts venue within the Barshinger, and Roschel Performing Arts Centers. These on campus facilities allows students to enjoy more than academic excellence, it gives them the opportunity to experience school sports, fraternities, performing arts, history, cultural events, restaurants, and local museums.

Finally, Franklin & Marshall has several global education centers on campus for students to learn, and gather information about volunteering in the community, studying abroad, and applying for externships in corporate America, which a lot of students do according to my student guide. Students can also enjoy big campus sports events on several fields around campus including the school’s stadium in the middle of the school map. F&M students enjoy watching, and participating in 13 NCAA Division III Varsity Sports for Men, and 13 for women within the highly competitive Centennial Conference.

Public Transportation

Campus transportation resources for F&M’s students are available through the college’s shuttle system, which provides van service for daily classes, student activities, and links to local shopping and restaurants. This service is crucial to students who don’t have cars because it provides transportation services to the entire college community. The school’s van service provides reliable transportation to students who don’t, or can’t have vehicles on campus. The college also has a very large number of out of state students who don’t know the streets and highways very well. Knowing the area is key because students who come from local states may know the area better and may be able to walk or drive to local destinations.

Community Profile

Lancaster Pennsylvania has been described as a small city that was built around the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside. The city also has a long industrial history due to it’s relationship geographically to the Allentown and Easton Pennsylvania’s steel mills. Lancaster has also been described as a family centered residential community within driving distance to these, and several other cities including Harrisburg, and Philadelphia. Lancaster also has an intellectual side due to its historical neighborhood architecture and close physical relationship to Franklin & Marshall College. This suburban neighborhood is favorable to students and local residents because it offers local pedestrian walkways along Harrisburg Pike, which links students, and local residents to several restaurants and local shops within the city.

The College Park community has a small city feel to it when you are walking to neighborhood eateries on the southern edge of town. Residents and students also enjoy several social destinations when walking, or driving to downtown Lancaster including local eateries featuring hometown style food. You won’t find that many national food, and consumer chains in the area. If you want these types of services you have to get back on Route 222 & 78 and drive through the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside where you will find national restaurant and hotel chains.

The City of Lancaster itself is located within the center of the state, which makes it convenient to several suburban communities and highway networks. Amtrak provides regional rail service along the Keystone Line which links to several large cities within the northwestern corridor. Lancaster also has several main roadways that connect the community to major state highways including Route 222, 78 and 476 that links to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and Interstate 95. Shopping, restaurants, and hotel chains can be found within these major transportation networks after a short drive from the campus. Appendix #1 on the back page of this profile lists several of observed resources in close proximity to the school.

The following demographics for the town of Lancaster Pennsylvania describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 54,779 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. F&M has strong relationship with the city because they share community services including public safety, and cultural resources. An example of this commitment can be observed through the college’s community services handbook that describes educational, and health care programs and services.

A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 49% residents are male, 51% are female. 62% of residents are white, 14% are African American, 21% is Hispanic or Latino, and 2.5% are Asian. The median age of population is 30 years old. 72% of residents are 18 years old or over, 66 % are over 21, and 10% of town residents is over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Lancaster is also interesting. 91% of all housing units within the city are occupied. 53% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 47% of units are owner-occupied. Only 9% of total available housing was vacant.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. Lancaster enjoys all four seasons of weather including a large amount of snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. Pennsylvania also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well. A strong indicator of pedestrian traffic around the college can be identified by the northeast weather patterns. Student parking within close proximity to buildings and student shuttle services help reduce the exposure literally and figuratively.

Franklin & Marshall Quick Links Page

Lancaster Pennsylvania Area Hotel Quick Links Page

Lancaster Arts Hotel
300 Harrisburg Ave
Lancaster P.A. 17603
Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square
25 South Queen Street
Lancaster P.A. 17603
Courtyard by Marriott Lancaster
1931 Hospitality Drive
Lancaster P.A. 17601
Hampton Inn Lancaster
545 Greenfield Road
Lancaster P.A. 17601
Hilton Garden Inn Lancaster
101 Granite Run Drive
Lancaster P.A. 17601
Fairfield Inn by Marriott
150 Granite Run Drive
Lancaster P.A. 17601
Comfort Suites Amish Country
2342 Lincoln Highway East
Lancaster P.A. 17602
Red Roof Inn Lancaster
2307 Lincoln Highway East
Lancaster P.A. 17602

Below is a sample list of local restaurants in Lancaster P.A. National restaurant chains & shopping resources can be found on Route 222. A complete list of local restaurants in Lancaster Pennsylvania can be found at: www.foodio54.com

Shopping, entertainment, historical, and general tourist information, about the City, and County of Lancaster Pennsylvania can be found at: www.800padutch.com/

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