Franklin & Marshall College

Our Mission:

Founded on the belief that a commitment to purposeful civic engagement is central to a liberal arts education, the Ware Institute for Civic Engagement serves as F&M’s hub for identifying and sustaining community partnerships that address real needs. Acting in this capacity, the Institute builds relationships with community partners, supports student-led service initiatives and collaborates with faculty in community-based-learning coursework. By so doing, the Institute furthers the College's commitment to developing socially responsible graduates.

Our Vision:

Ware Institute for Civic Engagement we empower our students to become agents of change to positively impact our communities both locally and globally.

Our History:

Franklin & Marshall College has a long history of linking our students and faculty with the larger Lancaster community, from the days of the Office of Volunteer Services in the 1980's to the Chaplain's Office leadership of such initiatives during the 1990's. The Ware Institute for Civic Engagement, as we are known today, was formally created in 2000 and is named in honor of board member, alumnus, and local philanthropist Paul Ware '72.

In 2000, the College also received a highly competitive 3-year matching federal grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to initiate a community-based learning program at Franklin & Marshall College by incorporating the community into all types of academic pursuits. Three years later, CNCS renewed this grant to enable further development and institutionalization of this successful initiative. We are proud of the long-standing tradition of civic engagement at Franklin & Marshall College and look forward to continuing this positive momentum into the future to the benefit of the College's students and faculty as well as citizens of the Lancaster community.