Yesterday, President James Ammons told the university community that he has had "very preliminary" discussions about creating separate Colleges of Engineering for FAMU and FSU, but no firm decisions have been made. Ammons said that the FAMU Board of Trustees would discuss that possibility at some later date.
Sources close to the matter said that Ammons favors several strict conditions, one of which is that FAMU must be guaranteed the ability to offer all the degree programs to which it currently has access to under the joint college.
Another condition is that FAMU’s College of Engineering must be located in Tallahassee in close proximity to the main campus.
Analysis: These two conditions make sense.
Ammons is correct to oppose changing the E-College's current structure without certain conditions. Doing so would set FAMU back because the division process could turn into a free-for-all fight for the joint school’s advanced degrees programs, best lab facilities, and operating budget. In the end, FAMU could end up with fewer engineering Ph.D. programs and less operating dollars than it has under the current shared arrangement. That is unfair, especially considering that FAMU is the reason why the E-College even exists.
Additionally, it is essential for FAMU to have engineering programs in the same city as its main campus. For example, FAMU received authorization to offer a Ph.D. in Agricultural Systems Engineering through its Center of Excellence in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (or COESMET). This will naturally require a close working relationship with FAMU’s agriculture faculty, which is primarily based in Tallahassee.
Of course no decision on creating separate engineering schools can be made without the approval of the FAMU and FSU boards of trustees as well as the Board of Governors and Florida Legislature. Among those bodies, the legislature could prove to be the toughest to persuade. The statewide budget squeeze and the fact that both universities already have full slates of engineering Ph.D.s in the current, shared school could make the idea of two separate schools a tough sell at the state capitol.
While FSU’s administration hasn’t publicly discussed the possibility of establishing an E-College outside of Tallahassee, the idea has been debated by some of the institution’s alumni on forums such as “Warchant.com.” Some posters have argued that FSU should establish its own, independent College of Engineering on its Panama City campus, two hours from the capital city. The university already offers masters degrees in engineering at that location.
Sources close to the matter said that Ammons favors several strict conditions, one of which is that FAMU must be guaranteed the ability to offer all the degree programs to which it currently has access to under the joint college.
Another condition is that FAMU’s College of Engineering must be located in Tallahassee in close proximity to the main campus.
Analysis: These two conditions make sense.
Ammons is correct to oppose changing the E-College's current structure without certain conditions. Doing so would set FAMU back because the division process could turn into a free-for-all fight for the joint school’s advanced degrees programs, best lab facilities, and operating budget. In the end, FAMU could end up with fewer engineering Ph.D. programs and less operating dollars than it has under the current shared arrangement. That is unfair, especially considering that FAMU is the reason why the E-College even exists.
Additionally, it is essential for FAMU to have engineering programs in the same city as its main campus. For example, FAMU received authorization to offer a Ph.D. in Agricultural Systems Engineering through its Center of Excellence in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (or COESMET). This will naturally require a close working relationship with FAMU’s agriculture faculty, which is primarily based in Tallahassee.
Of course no decision on creating separate engineering schools can be made without the approval of the FAMU and FSU boards of trustees as well as the Board of Governors and Florida Legislature. Among those bodies, the legislature could prove to be the toughest to persuade. The statewide budget squeeze and the fact that both universities already have full slates of engineering Ph.D.s in the current, shared school could make the idea of two separate schools a tough sell at the state capitol.
While FSU’s administration hasn’t publicly discussed the possibility of establishing an E-College outside of Tallahassee, the idea has been debated by some of the institution’s alumni on forums such as “Warchant.com.” Some posters have argued that FSU should establish its own, independent College of Engineering on its Panama City campus, two hours from the capital city. The university already offers masters degrees in engineering at that location.
Also see: Engineering critical to FAMU's STEM Ph.D. ambitions
TK to FAMU: Get Out !!!
FSU has trust issues
I am glad the FAMU administrators are not letting FSU strong arm them in this situation.
ReplyDelete10:29, you are kidding aren't you. This was FAMU's idea. The "Maximum Leader" is selling you out. He thinks he has some sort of quid pro quo with FSU that has not been revealed yet. Believe me, FSU will not hold up their end of the supposed bargain and Ammons will have gained a lot of State of Florida political points towards some personal goal that he has. Who knows what that is.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great time for FAMU to demand that FSU pony up some serious cash (50 million) take it and private FAMU alums should create an organization with no ties to FAMU and set out to raise 50 million dollars for our own COE. Once this is completed the organization(s) should sign a binding agreement with the BOT which would then lease the building which would be located on private property adjacent to FAMU. The BOT should then demand that the BOG and State subsidize this PRIVATE COE in order that FL students get the in-state tuition rate. There is a lot more detail to this plan, but I find it odd that people who are “higher-up” read this blog. Furthermore, it is my sincere belief that this will get no serious attention because no one believes that it could be done. Yet, if you read the articles concerning the matter FSU’s provost said there is 30 million that could be used to build a new COE at FAMU already in PECO funds. In addition, Al Lawson the stated cost was to be said around 100 million dollars. So if FAMU were to follow the Republican ideology which is privatization we could begin the process of fully privatizing the university on program at a time.
ReplyDelete10:56 as much as I do not want to agree, your point has merit. I hope that it is not the case. “Other” people have never held up their end of the bargain when it comes to colored people period. If you do not believe me ask the Indians, and just because Obama is the president ask the Blacks as well. While no one likes to speak truth on the issue if FAMU is out of the COE then it is clear and the painting is on the wall. When Bryant even spoke of it she was vilified and now when Blacks believe so blindly in someone (Ammons/Obama) then they get exactly what they deserve (more often than not, its screwed). We should Question and Speak TRUTH to Power that is the only way it kept in check! This should NOT even be a point of discussion until we have the money in the bank FULL FUNDING and not until EVERY staff is hired and the new FAMU COE is OPEN and FULL of EQUIPMENT should we even be discussing a split from a school we founded and was forced to share with fsu in the beginning!
ReplyDelete10:56 We love you but you gotta keep up. And go back to the beginning of all of this.
ReplyDeleteAmmons should not deal with TK at all. TK is not an honorable person. If TK wants out of the Enginring School, tell him to go the legislature and get permission to leave the joint school and then ask the kegislature to build him an engineering school out of town. Until then, the joint school remains. What is it TK claims can't be accomplish with a joint school? Let TK leave or stay, but FAMU must not leave. Famu must keep the facilities and all faculty who want to stay. Ammons must stand firm on FAMU Staying in place.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why they want the E-school is that out of the 26 students who have taken their exam,
ReplyDeletethe 16 who passed were FAMU students, and 6 are scholars. They are the ones who who cannot keep up.
I'm confident that Dr. Ammons will do what's best for our beloved alma mater.
ReplyDeleteLet TK go to hell. If he wants out, then leave and build his own school. He can use some of his$200,000 bonus as seed money to get it started. That's FAMU's Engineering facility and got dammit it will remain FAMU's. Taking the Law School was the last straw. Dr. Ammons will not fall for this racist scheme.
ReplyDelete