The HBCU Tour Kicks Off with a Successful Launch at Florida A&M University

Florida Rising's HBCU Tour has officially hit the ground running with an electrifying kickoff at Florida A&M University (FAMU)! The inaugural event, held during Set Market Fridays as part of the South Carolina State vs. FAMU football game weekend, energized students and the community, marking the beginning of a dynamic series of engagements across historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The atmosphere at FAMU was electric as students gathered to participate in the first stop of The HBCU Tour, an effort dedicated to mobilizing Black and Brown communities ahead of the upcoming elections. The event highlighted the importance of voter participation, with students eagerly discussing their voting plans and solidifying their commitment to making their voices heard.

"We're thrilled with the turnout and enthusiasm we witnessed at FAMU," said Nubian Roberts, Black Constituency Director of Florida Rising. "This event set the tone for what we anticipate will be a powerful and impactful tour, as we work together to empower students and ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to participate in the electoral process."

The HBCU Tour aims to engage students in meaningful conversations about social, economic, and racial justice, while also providing them with the tools to take action in their communities. As part of this initiative, students are encouraged to create a voting plan, register to vote, and stay informed about key issues affecting their lives.

The next stops on The HBCU Tour include:

Florida Memorial University on September 7, 2024, during the Edward Waters at Florida Memorial University football game

Bethune Cookman University on September 21, 2024, during the Clark Atlanta University at Bethune Cookman University football game

Edward Waters University on September 28, 2024, during the Tuskegee at Edward Waters University football game

"The energy and commitment we've seen from students at FAMU are truly inspiring," said Dwight Bullard, Senior Political Advisor of Florida Rising. "Their eagerness to engage in the democratic process and their passion for driving change reaffirm the importance of this tour. We're excited to continue this journey across other HBCUs, fostering a sense of unity and purpose among students as we head into the election season."

Florida Rising continues to bring together Black and Brown communities across the state to advance social, economic, and racial justice, with The HBCU Tour serving as a crucial platform for engaging the next generation of leaders.

For more information about The HBCU Tour, including upcoming events and resources, please visit www.thehbcutour.com.

FAMU Board Of Trustees Approves Interim President Timothy Beard’s Contract

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees (BOT) approved the 12-month contract of Interim President Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D.

Beard, who served as president of Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) from 2015 until his retirement earlier this year, will begin his tenure on August 5. He succeeds President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., who served nearly seven years prior to stepping down. Beard will serve until the next university president is selected. Beard, a FAMU alumnus, addressed the BOT before the unanimous vote.

“Thank you for this opportunity. I am a servant leader and want to make a difference. There are three things I want our students to keep in mind, and that is to learn, earn, and return, which is giving back. We owe a great debt to this institution for what she (FAMU) has done,” said Beard in a statement following the Special BOT meeting.

Beard earned undergraduate degrees from FAMU and Florida State University (FSU) and a doctoral degree from FSU in 1998 in Rehabilitation Counseling with a focus on Higher Education Administration. Two of his daughters and a son-in-law are FAMU alumni.

During his 14 years working at FAMU, Beard served as a faculty member, as well as a staff manager. He was an assistant professor in the School of Allied Health Sciences (SOAHS), and SOAHS director of Student Affairs. He also held several roles in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, including director of Graduate Student Services, director of Instructional Research, and director of Career Services. He also served as an assistant director of the FAMU Career Center.

BOT Chair Kristin Harper hailed Beard’s return to his alma mater. “Welcome back to The ‘Hill.’ We look forward to working together as we continue to Boldly Strike for student success.”

FAMU President Larry Robinson to Step Down

Florida A&M University (FAMU) President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., announced that he will step down as president, a position he has held for just under seven years.

In a letter to the University’s Board of Trustees Chair Kristin Harper, Robinson expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead Florida’s only public HBCU, which currently enrolls over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

The exact date of his departure will be determined in consultation with the Board of Trustees. Robinson is a Distinguished Professor in the FAMU School of the Environment, a position he held prior to accepting the role as the 12th President of Florida A&M University in November of 2017. It is his intention to return to that position at the conclusion of a year-long sabbatical.

Chair Harper, on behalf of the Board, commended Robinson’s leadership and the upward trajectory of the university under his tenure. “Florida A&M University has reached unprecedented heights as a Top 100 University and the No. 1 public HBCU for the fifth consecutive year. We have achieved remarkable gains and record-breaking years under President Robinson’s leadership. I am honored to have served with fellow trustees alongside our president. His love for FAMU, steady leadership, and unwavering dedication to our students’ success will leave an indelible mark on this university’s history. This commitment is shared by his wife, Sharon Robinson, who, like Dr. Robinson, has been a source of inspiration for countless Rattlers. We are grateful they plan to remain a part of the FAMU community on the Highest of Seven Hills.”

Robinson’s letter to the Board noted his intention to thank many people in the coming weeks, those whose work and commitments have been a source of support and progress for the university during his presidency. He emphasized the critical role FAMU plays in shaping students’ lives and the benefits that the state and taxpayers receive from investments in higher education.

Consistent with its operating procedures, the University’s Board of Trustees will meet to determine next steps as FAMU continues to Boldly Strike for student success.

Florida A&M Vice President of University Advancement resigns

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Florida A&M University’s vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the FAMU Foundation resigned from her vice president role amid the controversy surrounding a $237 million donation that embarrassed the university and its alumni.

FAMU President Larry Robinson publicly announced her resignation during a virtual Board of Trustees special meeting Wednesday afternoon that was scheduled to discuss the multi-million-dollar gift. Dr. Friday-Stroud will return to serve as the Dean of the School of Business and Industry.

FAMU pauses $237M donation

The president of Florida A&M University announced Thursday that the school is putting a “pause” on a historic $237 million donation the Rattlers received over the weekend from Batterson Farms Corporation CEO Gregory Gerami and the Isaac Batterson Family 7th Trust.

The news comes after days of controversy over the gift.

FAMU announced the donation with a super-sized check during a jam-packed commencement ceremony on Saturday. But the school’s tone toward the funding swiftly changed this week after FAMU Board of Trustees Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons asked FAMU President Larry Robinson and Board Chair Kristin Harper to organize a public meeting in the interest of transparency.

“The recently announced donation would truly be transformative for Florida A&M University, an institution that is helping to shape the next generation of leaders,” FAMU Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons wrote in a statement shared Tuesday. “However, the reality is that little has been shared regarding the nature of the donation.”

A group of school leaders convened and discussed the donation Thursday afternoon during a FAMU Foundation Board Meeting, which was broadcast via Zoom. During the call, Robinson said that officials decided Wednesday to “put a pause” on the donation “pending additional information that’s come to my attention.”

“It’s in our best interest to put that on hold,” he said.

The group also passed a motion to form an “internal, multidisciplinary committee” that will audit the university’s process for evaluating major gifts.

[]SOURCE: WCTV]

Judge Rules That a Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Againts the state of Florida by Florida A&M University Students May Proceed

In September 2022, six students at historically Black Florida A&M University in Tallahassee filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the state of Florida. A federal judge recently ruled that the litigation can move forward. The suit claims that the state is discriminating against African Americans because Florida A&M receives less funding per student than the University of Florida.

The plaintiffs call for the state to commit to equity in its support of historically Black colleges and universities. They seek injunctive relief under various laws, including Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded programs.

According to the complaint, the University of Florida receives a larger state appropriation per student than FAMU – over 33 years, from 1987 to 2020, that shortfall amounted to approximately $1.3 billion. Moreover, the complaint alleges that the state supports programming and courses of study at Florida State University, a traditionally White university also located in Tallahassee, that unnecessarily duplicates programming at FAMU, which steers prospective students toward Florida State.

Founded more than 130 years ago, Florida A&M University is “still playing catch-up in the state of Florida, which we feel has acted with an astonishing lack of good faith, despite decades of directives from the federal government that all students in the state receive equal educational opportunities,” said Josh Dubin, the attorney representing the plaintiffs. “This deliberate indifference toward HBCUs is not unique to Florida, but FAMU is where we’re joining the fight to ensure the education is fair for everyone.”

Florida A&M University moves ahead with plans to create African-American news network

Florida A&M University is moving forward with plans to create the first-ever African-American new network, with the university as its headquarters.

"The Black Television News Channel" will broadcast in 14 cities across the US including New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, with hopes of becoming a world-wide station. This comes thanks to a new agreement with Charter Communications.

FAMU first joined the project to bring the Black Television News Channel to viewers in 2014. While there is an 11-year agreement to house the network on campus, many involved are hopeful that the channel and the cooperation with the university will last much longer.

The project is expected to bring hundreds of jobs and 30 million dollars in economic stimulus to Tallahassee, in addition to training for FAMU journalism students.

"Black Television News Channel will focus on the African-American community. We will broadcast 24 hours, 7 days a week, world-wide, much like CNN or Fox, or MSNBC, says former Tallahassee mayor John Marks who is one of the principles in starting the project. "Our focus however will be on the African-American community and bringing news from an African-American perspective. That's the idea for the network at this point in time. "

[SOURCE:WTXL]