Going Up

FMU’s campus continues to buzz with sound construction and progress as additions and improvements are put in place

The most obvious sign these days — the new School of Education/School of Business building which is rising to the trees next to Durant Pond from the Lee Nursing Building and across Alumni Drive from the Smith University Center. When open in the next year or so, the $24 million, 60,000 square-foot facility will house FMU’s two oldest schools in state-of-the-art facilities. 

Both Education and Business have seen an uptick in interest in recent years, further necessitating the new space. Plans for the building have been in the works for some time.

The project was funded entirely through state appropriations and like nearly all of FMU’s scheduled projects during this major wave of improvements, brings no additional debt.

The School of Education recently announced the addition of a new graduate program with a concentration in autism studies. An endowed chair in autism studies was also instituted within the past year. 

A new, dedicated space will serve the new autism program. The sensory education lab, funded in part by Duke Energy’s $25,000 gift, will be equipped with items used in various teaching practices benefiting autistic students. Sensory items used include weighted vests, light projectors, audio-sedation systems, gel mats, and more. The lab will focus on instructing special education, early childhood education, elementary education, and secondary education teacher candidates on best practices when working with autistic students.

The School of Business continues to be a growing department at FMU. With accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the school continually produces some of the region’s top graduates. One distinguishing facet of the School of Business at FMU is its MBA program. Since its inception, the program has steadily gained momentum.

In addition to the highly demanded MBA program, the school recently added undergraduate degrees in Sports Marketing and Sports Management to its roster, and a graduate degree in Healthcare Executive Management.