An institution that has launched countless women and men into bright futures is launching an ambitious plan for its own future, one that equips it to thrive as a 21st century liberal arts and sciences college while staying true to the attributes that have defined it for nearly two centuries.

As certainly as Franklin College’s picturesque cluster of red brick buildings has endured through the decades, so too has the impact of the College on alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members. And as much as people love those buildings and enjoy every opportunity to spend time walking among them, they are quick to say the edifices aren’t the only aspect of Franklin College that has stood the test of time.

Some point to the experiences Franklin College gave them, the knowledge they gained and the opportunities presented to them. Others highlight the relationships they forged and the community that remains available to them.

Many say it’s the way Franklin College showed them a wider world, one made accessible through grants and scholarships. Or they talk about guidance provided by a professor who urged them to dream big and then showed them how. Some connected with future business partners there, while others found spouses and lifelong friends. Some discovered their true passions and possibilities, and some excelled in sports or found kinship in cheering on the Grizzlies.

For those and countless others who have learned and grown there, Franklin College is a unique place that provides the skills and tools they needed to go out into the world and thrive. And they want Franklin College to offer that same experience to others for years to come.

Franklin College intends to do just that. But it faces some challenges in that pursuit. The higher education landscape is shifting. The number of high school graduates is declining. Small colleges are finding it harder and harder to compete.

To meet these challenges, Franklin College is casting an ambitious and exciting vision that will allow it to thrive, delivering unique and meaningful college opportunities to future generations, and ensuring that its lovely cluster of red brick buildings and tree-shaded acres will serve as the setting for countless more formative and beloved experiences.

Franklin Forward is a campaign for the future of Franklin College. We invite you to be a part of it.

Before she arrived on campus, Trustee Amber (Robbins) Elwood ’99 had never lived in a town as big as Franklin, had never been on an airplane and had no idea what to expect from college. Coming from a small-town family with limited means, she found herself immersed in a supportive and encouraging community that opened the doors to new opportunities. A career educator, Elwood credits scholarships and grants with making her college career possible and giving her previously unimaginable opportunities like studying abroad.