PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Franklin University Switzerland
Type	Private university
Established	1969
Accreditation	MSCHE, AAQ
President	Samuel Martín Barbero
Academic staff	54
Undergraduates	386
Location	Lugano, Canton of Ticino, Switzerland
Colors	Red and White;
Mascot	Falcon
Website	www.fus.edu

Franklin University Switzerland is a private university institute^[2] in Lugano, Switzerland. Founded in 1969, Franklin offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees^[3] accredited in both the United States^[4] and Switzerland.^[5]

History

Formerly Fleming College, the university was founded in 1969. It is named after Benjamin Franklin.^[6]

Academics

The average class size at Franklin is 16.^[7] Four-year bachelor courses at Franklin cost between 117,000 and 220,000 Swiss francs.^[3] About half of the around 400 students are American.^[3]

In 2024, the Swiss Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper (NZZ) reported on deficiencies in Franklin's academic governance. It wrote that several of Franklin's professors had a weak academic record, with one having published nothing for 15 years.^[3] Moreover, according to the NZZ, several professors reported being pressured by university leadership into giving unearned passing grades to students from wealthy families, often after an intervention by these families.^[3] Franklin denied these allegations.^[3]

Academic Travel Program

The Academic Travel Program is an integrated part of the Franklin University Switzerland curriculum and is included in tuition, with supplemental fees required for a few destinations. Academic Travel is a credit-bearing degree requirement in which students study topics relevant to a particular place or places and then go with their class to study on location for two weeks.^[8] Travel is led by faculty members and relates to the academic expertise of the individual professor and to his or her knowledge of a given country or area.^{[citation needed]}

Accreditation

Switzerland

Franklin is accredited in Switzerland by the Swiss Accreditation Council AAQ as a university institute.^[5] In 2020, the Council rejected Franklin's request for accreditation as a university, and the Swiss Federal Administrative Court rejected Franklin's appeal against that decision in 2023.^[3]^[9] The institution is required to change its name and branding accordingly by 2026.^[3]

US

Franklin is accredited in the United States by the MSCHE.^[4] The institution is authorized to offer bachelor's and master's degrees through the State of Delaware.^{[citation needed]}

Campus

The main campus (known as Kaletsch Campus), acquired in 1985, is composed of a private villa with attached library, auditorium, and classroom wing, surrounded by a wooded park. Also on this campus is a dining hall called the "Grotto". In 2005 the university acquired an additional campus nearby (known as North Campus), adding administrative, education, athletic, social and residential capacity. The current campus spans 2 hectares (5 acres). The Franklin campus is residential, and is on a hillside overlooking the town of Lugano, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, Switzerland.^{[citation needed]}

Athletics

Franklin University Switzerland offers students a wide variety of sports and fitness programs, as well as activities to promote a healthy lifestyle. Some on-campus sports facilities include the Tone Athletic Center, two volleyball courts, a basketball court and a soccer field. Organized athletic activities include Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Basketball, and Lugano Street Dance. Students are also encouraged to start athletic programs. Student-led activities have included Field Hockey, Yoga, Cross-fit, and Self-Defense.^{[citation needed]} Since 2000-2001 (with an exception of a bye year in 2001–2002) Franklin's men's soccer team has competed in the National Swiss Division (5th League).^{[citation needed]}