Furman University is a private liberal arts institution located in Greenville, South Carolina. Established in 1826, it holds the distinction of being the oldest private university in the state. Initially founded by the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Furman became a secular university in 1992, though it retains its original motto, “Christo et Doctrinae” (“For Christ and Learning”).
The university offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, enrolling approximately 2,300 undergraduate and 150 graduate students as of Fall 2021. The 750-acre campus provides a picturesque setting for academic pursuits.
In athletics, Furman’s teams, known as the Paladins, compete in NCAA Division I within the Southern Conference (SoCon). The football team plays its home games at Paladin Stadium, a 16,000-seat facility that also hosts lacrosse matches, graduation ceremonies, and concerts.
Recently, Furman’s men’s basketball team reached the Southern Conference championship game but fell to Wofford with a score of 92-85. PJay Smith Jr. led the Paladins with an impressive 27 points and seven assists in the matchup.
Furman University has also been proactive in addressing historical issues related to its past. In 2016, the university joined the Universities Studying Slavery consortium and established a Task Force on Slavery and Justice. The task force’s report, titled “Seeking Abraham,” led to initiatives such as renaming buildings and creating scholarships to benefit African-American students, particularly those from areas historically connected to the university.
Under the leadership of President Elizabeth Davis since 2014, Furman has continued to enhance its academic programs and campus facilities, reinforcing its commitment to providing a comprehensive liberal arts education.