Community and Belonging
At Franklin & Marshall College, the Office of Community & Belonging is committed to fostering a welcoming campus environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and personally. Our work centers on building a community where students feel supported, respected, and equipped to succeed — both inside and outside the classroom.
We strive to create a campus culture that values the many experiences and perspectives our students bring with them. This commitment strengthens learning, deepens connection, and prepares students to engage meaningfully in an increasingly interconnected world.
In addition to an approach to community and belonging that embraces the whole student, our work is also specifically supported by four centers that create spaces for connection, growth, and care:
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- The Intercultural Center (@fandminterculturalcenter & @fandmposse)
- The Office of Faith & Meaning
- The Alice Drum Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Resource Center
- The Klehr Center for Jewish Life (@fandm_hillel)
These centers don’t operate in silos. We partner closely with faculty, staff, student organizations, and campus leadership to make sure support is accessible, programming is meaningful, and students can explore identity, community, and purpose alongside their academic journey.
What Does Community Look Like at F&M?
At F&M, community is built intentionally — through meaningful relationships, shared experiences, and a campus culture that values collaboration and care.
Community looks like:
- Students forming friendships across interests, majors, backgrounds, and experiences.
- Faculty and staff who are invested in students’ academic success and personal growth.
- Campus partners working together to provide support, mentorship, wellness resources,
and opportunities to lead.
- Spaces and programs that encourage curiosity, conversation, and connection.
The community at F&M is vibrant, active and student-driven. It reflects our belief that a strong college experience is built not only through academics, but also through the relationships and networks that support students along the way.
What Does Belonging Look Like at F&M?
Belonging at F&M means every student feels connected, encouraged, and confident navigating campus life. It reflects our commitment to creating an environment where students have the support they need to succeed — academically, personally, and socially.
Belonging looks like:
- Students able to fully and meaningfully participate in the academic, social, and co-curricular life of the College.
- Students feeling seen and supported as they explore their academic pathways and personal
identities.
- Spaces that offer mentorship, community-building, and opportunities for reflection
and growth.
- Programs that help students find their place, cultivate new interests, and build meaningful
relationships.
- A campus culture that promotes respect, empathy, and open dialogue.
Belonging at F&M is not a static idea. It’s a shared commitment we nurture together every day so that all community members feel connected and empowered throughout their college experience.
Founded in 1989, the African American Alumni Council (AAAC) is open to all F&M students
and graduates of color, as well as supporters of F&M’s community of color. AAAC engages
current students and alumni in a network that connects them to the College and each
other through effective and rewarding communication, programs, and events. We know a vibrant campus life is a major contributor to your college experience, and
there are many opportunities for you to get involved at F&M. Our student-run multicultural
clubs include the African Caribbean Association, Asian American Alliance, Black Student
Union, Deaf and Disabled Student Union, FEM&M, Hillel, International Student Advisory
Board, Mi Gente Latina, Model UN, Muslim Students Association, Sexuality and Gender
Alliance, and many more. At F&M, we believe that our faculty and professional staff thrive when they have the
right resources and support. Our Faculty & Professional Staff Affinity Groups are
voluntary and inclusive communities created to foster a sense of belonging, support
professional development, and promote diversity and inclusion.
While each group focuses on specific identities or experiences, all faculty and staff
are welcome to join. Through advocacy, visibility, and community building, these groups
honor the diverse perspectives and lived experiences represented at F&M. Together,
they are working to enrich the F&M experience for everyone.Getting Involved
The African American Alumni Council
Clubs & Organizations
Faculty and Professional Staff Affinity Groups
20% of F&M students come from outside the U.S., and we offer unmatched support and
guidance for our international students. Our campus brings together different perspectives
and cultures to create a rich, global experience for all of our students. F&M LGBTQ+ faculty, students, staff, and their allies are committed to working toward
greater awareness, visibility, and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. The Office of
LGBTQ+ Student Life; the Alice Drum Women’s Center; Sexuality and Gender Alliance
(SAGA); and the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies program provide educational,
cultural, and social support for LGBTQ+ people at F&M. Success at F&M is about more than just academic or professional achievements. Our
holistic approach to support overall well-being includes Mindfulness at F&M, a program
that works with students, faculty, and professional staff to promote compassion and
a renewed sense of awareness across campus.International Life
LGBTQ+ Life
Mindfulness
Spaces to Gather
Alice Drum Women's Center
F&M’s Alice Drum Women’s Center was established in 1992 to promote dialogue and action around women’s issues and to create a campus of equality and inclusion. Today, the center continues its mission toward broader goals of inclusion and advocacy along the intersections of race, class, sexuality, gender, and disability.
Black Cultural Center
The Black Cultural Center is operated and maintained by F&M’s Black Student Union and the African Caribbean Association. It is a home away from home for holiday dinners, Kwanzaa celebrations, cook-outs, and group meetings.
Intercultural Center
The Intercultural Center serves as a hub for fostering community and belonging at F&M. It provides a welcoming space for students, faculty, and staff to engage in meaningful dialogue, celebrate cultural identities, and promote social justice. Through educational programs, community events, and advocacy efforts, the center empowers individuals to explore cultural awareness, build cross-cultural connections, and contribute to a more inclusive campus environment.
Joseph International Center
The heart of F&M’s global community is the Joseph International Center (JIC), a campus space dedicated to bringing the F&M community together across borders, cultures, and languages. The JIC is the primary hub for off-campus study, international student services, and the international studies academic program.
Dining
- Simple Servings, a gluten- and allergy-free station on campus that serves a variety of delicious meals that don’t include any of the top allergens, with the exclusion of fin-fish. The entire dining hall is a nut-free facility, and gluten-free options are available in our retail locations.
- KIVO (which stands for Kosher, International, Vegan, and Organic), if you keep Kosher or Halal, is a designated food station in our dining hall. This space is a Star K certified kosher dining facility.
- Trellis, our entirely plant-based dining option.
A constellation of tutoring and academic support services are available to you at
F&M, many of which are located in one central location on campus, called The Hub.
We offer academic coaching, writing support, peer advising, subject-specific tutoring,
and much more in The Hub, which is on the ground floor of the Patricia E. Harris Center
for Business, Government and Public Policy. F&M counseling services work with students experiencing a wide variety of mental-health
concerns in a confidential and welcoming atmosphere. Our diverse staff of licensed
clinicians are experienced with and adept at addressing a broad range of challenges,
including depression, anxiety, homesickness, interpersonal problems, grief, eating
concerns, and academic stress. If we cannot support your specific needs, we'll help
connect you to a specialist in the community who can. The Office of Community & Belonging is committed to supporting all members of the
F&M community as we promote our mission to be an inclusive and equitable campus. The
office leads several initiatives, such as strategic planning and the campus climate
task force, and partners with dozens of offices and clubs at F&M to coordinate our
work.Dedicated Offices
Academic Support
Counseling Services
Community & Belonging
College is a time when students seek to deepen their understanding of themselves and
others. F&M’s Office of Faith & Meaning provides support and advocacy for religious
and spiritual life along with other meaning-making pursuits during this transformative
period of life. As an international student at F&M, you will find a reliable partner in our International
Student Services (ISS) team. ISS offers professional immigration support, advocating
for your academic success at F&M by ensuring you are compliant with U.S. immigration
laws and processes. Housed in the Alice Drum Women’s Center, the Office of LGBTQ+ Student Life provides
educational, cultural, and social support for LGBTQ+ people at F&M.Faith & Meaning
International Student Services
LGBTQ+ Life
Accessibility Services
The Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) works with students who have disabilities to determine reasonable accommodations and ensure that they have equal access to all aspects of their education.
Title IX Office
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. F&M’s Title IX office works to ensure the College complies with this fundamental law and fosters a living, learning, and working environment free of discrimination and harassment.
Community & Belonging at F&M
March 6, 2026
New Student Mural Celebrates Historic Women
The Alice Drum Women’s Center has served as a welcoming space to students since 1992, but something was missing. A new mural by Hope Clarke ’27 draws attention to the Center and legacies of pioneering women.
February 24, 2026
Brett Harwood ’71 Makes $1 Million Gift to Support Jewish Life, Student Experience
A transformational gift of $1 million from Brett Harwood ’71 will support F&M’s vibrant Jewish life programming, foster campus dialogue, fund a faculty position and boost the College’s student retention efforts.
October 23, 2025
Alumni Gifts Endow Director Position for Klehr Center for Jewish Life
Franklin & Marshall College is pleased to announce that the directorship of the Klehr Center for Jewish Life has been endowed by a group of alumni, parents and friends in honor of Ralph S. Taber, who spent more than 34 years working to support student life at F&M.