Franklin Pierce University

Franklin Pierce University is a small, private, non-profit, regionally accredited university in rural Rindge, New Hampshire, in the United States. It was founded as Franklin Pierce College in 1962, combining a liberal arts foundation with coursework for professional preparation. The institutional mission focuses on preparing citizens and leaders of conscience for a new century who make significant contributions to their professions and communities, whether their aspirations are global or local. The school gained university status in 2007 and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). In 2009, Franklin Pierce University was ranked on "Forbes List of America's Top Colleges". The university has an enrollment of 1,399 students and overlooks Pearly Pond, just a few miles from Mount Monadnock. The campus covers approximately 1,200 acres (4.9 km). Andrew Card is the current president of Franklin Pierce University, replacing outgoing president Dr. James F. Birge in January 2015. The university also operates The College of Graduate and Professional Studies with campuses in Manchester, Portsmouth, and Lebanon, New Hampshire, as well as Goodyear, Arizona. The college at Rindge houses three institutes: the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication, named for Marlin Fitzwater; the Monadnock Institute of Nature, Place, and Culture; and the New England Center for Civic Life.