A More Personal Welcome: Inside Furman’s Renovated Admissions Center

For many prospective students and their families, a campus visit is their first opportunity to picture what life at Furman University could look like. Now, a newly renovated Hartness Admissions Center is helping make that first impression more welcoming and personal.

Following a renovation that began in May 2026, the center reopened to visitors on Sept. 15 with a redesigned space focused on connection, comfort and conversation. From personalized welcome screens and local artwork to increased natural light and a more inviting presentation room, the updates aim to create a campus visit experience that reflects Furman’s commitment to community and individualized attention.

The project was a collaborative effort across campus, with support from Facilities, Camps & Conferences and Student Life helping bring the vision to life while allowing campus visits to continue throughout the summer.

In this Q&A, Melissa Cline shares what inspired the renovation, how the redesigned space enhances the campus visit experience and what she hopes prospective students and families take away from their time at Furman.

What prompted the decision to renovate the Admissions Center now, and what did you feel needed to change about the space?

The way students and families engage in the college search process has evolved significantly, and we wanted our Admissions Center to reflect the personalized, welcoming and community-centered experience Furman provides to all its students. While our previous space served us well, it no longer fully supported the growing need for more intentional conversation, connection, and personalization throughout the campus visit that families are eager to experience. This renovation gave us the opportunity to create a more open, warm, and intentional environment, allowing us to welcome prospective students and their families with greater care and hospitality from the moment they arrive.

What do you want prospective students and their families to experience the moment they walk into the renovated Admissions Center?

The renovated Admissions Center was designed to create a welcoming, personalized, and intentional experience for prospective students and their families. Recognizing that the college search process can be both exciting and complex, the space incorporates natural light, comfortable seating, personalized welcome screens, local artwork, and purposeful design elements that foster a sense of ease, connection, and belonging.

How does the new design better reflect the Furman experience or the university’s identity and values?

One of Furman’s greatest strengths is our innovative approach to academic excellence, combined with a deeply personal approach to education, and we wanted the Admissions Center to reflect a similar balance. The space is welcoming and approachable while also conveying commitment to academic excellence, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail that define the university. Its open layout encourages connection, the artwork nods to Furman’s ties in the Greenville community, and the personalized touches throughout reinforce that every student matters here. Above all, the new space allows us to begin cultivating a sense of community from the moment a prospective student arrives on campus in a way that feels warm, intentional, and uniquely Furman.

How did you think about the Admissions Center as more than simply an office space and more as a first introduction to Furman for prospective students and families?

For many prospective students and families, the Hartness Admissions Center is their first place of engagement with Furman, and the way they are welcomed and supported in that space shapes their earliest impressions of the university. This essential perspective guided the renovation. We saw this moment as an opportunity to create a truly meaningful experience, one that reflects Furman’s commitment to relationships, thoughtful attention to detail, and helping students find a place where they can thrive. From encouraging faculty appointments, class visits, and student connections during the visit experience to the ongoing support students receive throughout their time on campus, the Admissions Center is designed to offer an authentic space reflecting the care and community that define Furman.

What are some of the specific features, spaces or design elements that you think will make the biggest difference in the campus visit experience?

Many thoughtful details work together to create a more memorable, comfortable, and connected visit experience. Personalized welcome screens help guests feel recognized and welcomed from the moment they arrive, while the new Furman “Diamond F” photo opportunity gives families a meaningful way to capture and remember their time on campus. A variety of comfortable seating options, signature tea, Nespresso offerings, Furman mugs, increased natural light, and a more open layout add warmth and personality to the space while creating a calm, inviting atmosphere. The redesigned presentation room has had one of the greatest impacts, offering a more conversational setting, one that encourages prospective students and families to engage with admissions staff and current students in deeper, more intentional conversations. The improved lobby flow supports smoother transitions, creates greater physical space to foster connections among visitors and staff, and help build a sense of community meant to support prospective students throughout the college search experience, beyond just the visit to campus.

How will the renovated space change the way Admissions counselors, student ambassadors and other members of the enrollment team interact with prospective students?

The new environment creates more opportunities for natural conversation and meaningful engagement. Whether it is an organic discussion had over a cup of coffee or tea, to a more formal presentation as part of the visit experience, the space is designed to support all types of interactions and engagement. Our staff can better meet guests where they are in their college search journey and in their understanding of how Furman may fit their college intentions by making these moments more approachable and personal. The space allows prospective students and families to experience the spirit of community that makes Furman special.

How important is the physical campus experience in today’s college search, and what role do you expect this new space to play in helping Furman stand out?

The campus visit remains one of the most impactful factors in the college search process because it helps students move beyond perception to personal: “Can I see myself here?” The renovated Admissions Center creates a welcoming first impression that reflects the student experience at Furman, offering a space where visitors feel seen, valued, and supported from the start.

When you look a year or two down the road, what would make you say this renovation was successful?

While success could be measured by the number of visitors who visit with us or the enrollment impact that follow, most importantly it will be by the experiences and stories students and families share after their visit. If prospective students leave feeling welcomed, supported in their college search, and able to picture themselves at Furman, we will know the renovation has achieved its purpose. The renovated space also gives room for continued innovations and evolutions in visit experiences, allowing us to support not just the prospective students of today but for future generations of potential Furman students.

What did you learn from students and families that influenced the new design?

With years of survey results, observational feedback, and input from college counselors, we have learned that students and families value spaces that feel comfortable, authentic, and personal. Many families visiting Furman may also visit 1-2 other college campuses on the same day and during high school spring and summer breaks, it may mean 5+ tours in a given week; creating an environment where they can slow down, ask questions, and engage in genuine conversation rather than simply move through a process was a paramount factor in how we approached initial conversations in the renovation process. We wanted to create an environment of meeting every student where they are in their college journey, and creating memorable moments that reflect the character of Furman.