U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and FAMU President James Ammons are two men who believe in expanding access to higher education. In just a couple of months, one of the incoming commander-in-chief's budgetary priorities could help FAMU award even more degrees to men and women who need them. As part of his campaign platform, Obama proposed an American Opportunity Tax Credit. The credit would provide college students with $4,000 per year in exchange for 100 hours of community service, annually.
That sum would completely cover full-time, in-state undergraduate tuition at FAMU, which is about $3,274. Additionally, Obama has called for an increase in Pell Grant amounts, which would give FAMU’s low-income students more money for room, board, books, and other learning-related expenses.
Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Penn) plans to introduce a bill to implement the opportunity tax credit as soon as the 111th Congress convenes in January.
Obama’s college plan would provide a welcome boost for Ammons as he works toward the goal of increasing FAMU’s enrollment to 15,000 students by 2010.
The tax credit would not only lighten the cost of providing scholarships and need-based aid to Floridians, but residents of Alabama and the District of Columbia, as well. Under Florida law, Alabama students qualify for in-state tuition. The federal D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant enables students from the nation’s capital to pay in-state rates at public universities across America, too.
The net result: FAMU could shift much of its current financial aid budget to other critical areas while receiving an overall revenue bump from tuition and state funding stemming from enrollment growth.
If the American Opportunity Tax Credit is to become a reality, however, FAMUans need to get out and lobby for it.
In particular, FAMU’s leaders need to push organizations such as the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, Florida Advisory Council of Faculty Senates, United Faculty of Florida, and Florida Student Association to publicly support the tax credit.
All FAMUans should also call/email their local Congressional representatives and U.S. senators and ask them to vote for Obama’s plan.
With Florida’s higher education budget shrinking every year, FAMUans cannot afford to pass up the golden opportunity that the president-elect has proposed.
Ammons aims to boost enrollment to 15,000
And with more students enevitably come those who are poorly prepared to engage in collegiate level work. But, hey, I only teach at the University, so what do I know about poorly prepared students? I certainly do understand the economics of bringing more students to the university, but "more" does not necessarily equal "better."
ReplyDeleteWell, it's clear that we can't sit and wait for the Florida Legislature to provide money for faculty raises. It's cutting and slashing every year.
ReplyDeleteThe students who need extra preparation can start out in General Studies. That's why we have the program.
9:50 I now more than ever before feel what you are saying. My son had all the state standards to attend a four year university, but none of the ability. I am simply shocked to be very honest and he attends FAMU. Therefore, I have determined to spend extra money to have him better prepared for next semester. I just got his grades. My other major concern is where do our young people go if not FAMU, surely you must know that they do not make it at the CC level and they are far more targeted on the criminal level especially our Black young men. So instead of the negative I think we should, those of us who can and more importantly will, create a system of improving these students while not losing them.
ReplyDelete9:50 AM, that's why we pay you. Surely you can develop thes "poorly prepared" students can't you?
ReplyDeleteQuestion ...
ReplyDeleteJust WHERE do we plan to physically house all of these kids?
As 9:50 has pointed out, simply shooting to acquire "more" students isn't going to necessarily make us a "better" school.
What good is having a whole lot of kids up there ... if only a percentage of them are truly "prepared"? I realize there are a lot of intangibles that go along with being in and around a college atmosphere, but at some point we have to look at our overall "quality" product over mere quantity.
FAMU's campus infrastructure can handle an enrollment bump. And the more students we have, the better case we can make for more facilities and programs.
ReplyDeleteMost students don't live on campus, anyway. Tallahassee's housing market is constantly expanding and can handle the student housing needs.
Again, FAMU has a General Studies program to help those who need extra preparation. There's also help available during the summer sessions.
To: 7:27---
ReplyDeleteProfessors' jobs are to teach. We really can't save every "poorly prepared" student that comes to school. Parents -- which I assume are of that class -- think that teachers can save the world while they -- parents, like YOU -- sit and twiddle their thumbs. What did YOU do to prepare your child? Answer: ____________
Nothing. I rest my case.
12:19, what planet are you visiting from? "Summer help"?? Please. Be real. Universities are face-paced academic arenas. The summer sessions are moreso, because, depending on which session a student attends, classes are six weeks. A "traditional" smester is eighteen weeks. Trying to cram 18 weeks into six will not yield anything "extra" in terms of help. And many freshmen who come to summer school -- those who are just stepping off the high school graduation stage -- even with the so-called "orientation of freshman students" -- are inadequately counseled about the academic rigors of college classes. When I tell you that there is very very little "help" during summer sessions, please believe me. The School of General Studies is inundated with poorly-prepared students, but many parents think their child will miraculously perform in college, even though the kid did zilch in high school. And parents often believe that "going to college" of being in college will prepare their child for the intellectual work expected of them. They believe that their child will be learn by osmosis, I guess.
ReplyDeletecorrection on above post ^^
ReplyDeleteA "traditional" (spring and fall) semester is fifteen weeks, not 18.
The School of General Studies is more than capable of helping the students who need extra preparation. It has a long, proven track record of success.
ReplyDeleteSummer sessions don't have to consist of full courses. They can include workshops in writing, math, etc.
If we want to see faculty raises, then we can't wait on the state. Enrollment increases are a sure bet for bringing in more money to university that's hurting.
A lot of children see the Marching 100 doing their thing on tv and make a decision to come to FAMU based on that. Then, they get in the classroom and --voila! -- there are no dancing trombone players, no drum majors, no flutists, no mascot! Nothing but a bunch of work that they are, quite often, ill-prepared to engage. Not all children, mind you, but quite a few. Professors try really hard to reach all students, but sometimes the students will fall between the cracks in the floor. Enrollment often decreases during the spring semester, because we lose a lot of students who did not perform well enough to remain. It's a vicious cycle.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time a Teacher sent a note home with a Kid. The note read, "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, your son Willie smells bad. Please have him shower daily before coming to class." The parents read this note and became somewhat disappointed and decided to write the teacher back. They replied "Dear Teacher, our son Willie is not a rose, please don't smell him. Willie is a student please teach him."
ReplyDelete