FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. — Francis Marion University launched its new School of Forestry this semester, expanding the university’s academic offerings. The university is one of only three schools in South Carolina—and the only institution in the Pee Dee region—to offer a degree in forestry. The new program was created to address a growing demand for professional foresters throughout the state. To provide practical instruction alongside classroom learning, the university will utilize nearly 10,000 acres for field study. Anna Todd, the vice president of communication at Francis Marion University, explained that the institution evaluated adding the program over several years to meet workforce needs in South Carolina.