FranU School of Arts & Sciences

Stay Dry Frans! Remote Learning Tomorrow!

During the remote phase of campus operations:

- Faculty will communicate plans directly with their students preparing them for remote
instruction.
- Faculty can still require virtual class meetings and activities within Moodle.
- For clinicals, service-learning, or internships refer to the course administrator and/or program
guidelines.
- Faculty may be on campus as needed to support their courses, but students are not required to be on campus.
- All FranU staff should discuss individual plans with their immediate supervisor.

We are so proud of our MHA graduate!! She earned both her BSN and MHA from FranU! Congratulations, Monei!

“My name is Monei Thomas, a 34-year-old woman whose life has been shaped by resilience, faith and determination.”

Thomas’ story begins in Carbondale, Illinois. The youngest of seven children, her world shifted when her mother passed away. At just a year and a half old, she moved to Detroit to be raised by her grandmother, an experience that instilled strength and perseverance at an early age.

“Years later, just before starting high school, I faced another turning point when my grandmother became ill,” Thomas said.

She returned to Illinois to live with her eldest sister, and shortly after graduating high school, she joined the United States Army to serve as a Military Police Officer.

“Basic training taught me more than physical strength. It built mental resilience to push through challenges I once thought impossible,” she said. “My deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan strengthened my discipline, teaching me the importance of vigilance and the dangers of complacency in both high-stakes environments and everyday life.”

Her time in the military began her formation as a leader.

Read more at https://ow.ly/OL0950Z8wXR

Becoming a Heart Hero!

Our future healthcare servant leaders are already making a difference! Biology Human Medicine students from the BIOL 3391 Pathophysiology course at FranU delivered an engaging and interactive heart health education lesson for elementary school youth in the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana at McKinley Elementary School.

Through fun, hands-on activities, students learned how to protect their hearts by: Choosing water over sugary drinks, eating a balanced, healthy diet, staying active through exercise and play.

Why does this matter? In Louisiana, cardiovascular disease remains a critical public health concern, ranking 46th out of 50 states in the 2025 American Health Rankings report. Early education and prevention are essential to reducing heart disease in Louisiana.

Come check us out!! August 7 & 8!! Open to high school and college students!

Looking for a summer experience that challenges and inspires you? 💙📚

FranU’s Great Books Summer Institute invites students to engage with timeless texts, meaningful conversation and big questions about truth, faith and the human experience. In a welcoming, discussion-based environment, you will grow in critical thinking, deepen your perspective and connect with others who share a love of learning.

Register today at franu.edu/gbv1 and be part of a summer rooted in purpose and discovery.

This is AMAZING! This truly sets up our Biology: Human Medicine students up for success!

What a testament to the preparation for Medical School that FranU Biology students receive!!

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) continues to strengthen its commitment to identifying and preparing students who are aligned with its mission to serve rural and medically underserved populations. A recent articulation agreement with Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU), a small Catholic, not-for-profit institution with a healthcare emphasis located in Baton Rouge, enhances this effort by offering eligible FranU students a guaranteed interview for admission to VCOM-Louisiana.

The new agreement provides qualified FranU students who have demonstrated high achievement with a direct pathway to pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree while continuing their undergraduate education.

Read more at https://ow.ly/h9fR50YS0mO

We are so proud of all of our graduate and undergraduate students that presented today during the Research & Scholarship Showcase for the School of Arts & Sciences!

Congratulations to all!

Learning can be powerful when it is engaging, relevant, and fun!

This week, FranU Biology Human Medicine students in BIOL 3391 Pathophysiology partnered with students in the Boys & Girls Club at McKinley Elementary School for an interactive Service-Learning project focused on Diabetes Mellitus. Through creative, age-appropriate activities, our 3rd–5th grade students learned about healthy habits, blood sugar, nutrition, and ways to prevent chronic disease, all while having fun!

Why does this matter? In Louisiana, 15.4% of adults (2024 American Health Rankings Report), have been diagnosed with diabetes, with thousands more undiagnosed. Early health education among at-risk youth is a powerful primary prevention strategy that can help reduce the burden of Diabetes Mellitus in our communities.