Community college transfers up at FAMU

FAMU’s increased efforts to attract community college transfers are paying off. The Division of Student Affairs reported that the university has already enrolled more associate of arts (AA) recipients this fall than it did at this time last year.

As of August 19th, FAMU had 186 community college transfers. That number is expected to continue rising. The Fall 2008 total was 201.

Vice-President of Student Affairs Roland Gaines told university trustees that FAMU recruiters personally visited every Florida community college at least three times last year (with the lone exception of Florida Keys Community College due to budget constraints).

Community college transfers come in as juniors. That means they bring in more state money per student since the legislature appropriates higher funding for upper division students (juniors and seniors) than lower division students (freshmen and sophomores). AA transfers also tend to finish up their baccalaureate degrees quickly.

Gaines estimated that FAMU’s overall enrollment will surpass 12,000 this year. Last year, FAMU enrolled 11,848.

Joe Taylor fires up Rattler faithful!

Head football coach Joe Taylor fires up the Rattler faithful at the Rattler Boosters kick-off event at the Moon. FAMU's first football game is this Saturday.
Photo: Vaughn Wilson

Former Rattler QB pens book

Casey Printers, a former FAMU quarterback, has penned a new book "From High School to the Pros". The book is set to be released this fall.

Printers made a name for himself in the Canadian Football League, where he was named the league's most outstanding player, before switching over to the NFL.

His self published book is described as the "ultimate guide for the student athlete". While at FAMU, Printers studied journalism and majored in public relations.

You might also be interested in: Former Rattler inks deal with KC Chiefs

WSSU eyeing Bill Hayes as A.D.

Finally some good news from the Winston-Salem Journal...

Winston-Salem State might reach back to its glory days in football to find its next athletics director.

Bill Hayes, who led the WSSU football program to its greatest heights in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is being targeted by Chancellor Donald Reaves for the AD's position, several sources said.

Reaves was hoping to introduce the new athletics director today at "Meet the Rams," a fall-sports pep rally at Bowman Gray Stadium scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. However, those plans fell through when Tim Grant took himself out of contention earlier this week.

Hayes, currently the AD at Florida A&M, said Thursday night that he hasn't been contacted by WSSU officials.

"I haven't heard anything from them officially throughout this whole process," said Hayes, who is 64 and still owns a home in Winston-Salem. "I don't know what they have planned, but I haven't talked to them at all in an official capacity."

Hayes said he has been working hard at Florida A&M, getting ready for another football season.

If Reaves is courting Hayes to be WSSU's next AD, he most likely would need permission from James Ammons, Florida A&M's chancellor, to speak with Hayes. Reaves could not be reached for comment yesterday.

"That's usually how it works -- they would have to get some sort of permission to talk with me in any kind of official way," Hayes said.

Hayes, who makes about $175,000 a year, signed a three-year contract Jan. 2, 2008, and would begin the third year of that contract in January 2010.

A native of Durham, Hayes played football at N.C. Central and graduated in 1965. He started coaching at the high-school level, then took over a moribund program at WSSU in 1975.

Success followed quickly. By 1977, the Rams were 11-1 and CIAA champions. Hayes put together an 89-41-2 record in his 12-year run as the Rams' coach, and led his teams to seven CIAA championship games and three CIAA titles.

He later coached at N.C. A&T, then moved into administration as the athletics director at N.C. Central.

Hayes has always had a soft spot for the school that gave him his first job as a college head coach.

"I've got a good relationship with the Winston-Salem State family," he said. "I started there, and I've always had an affinity with that program, and I think people know that."

Hayes admits that he follows the Rams on the Internet and checks to see how they are doing in all sports. He has made it to past homecoming games in football when possible.

"It's a great place, and I don't have anything but positives to say about the whole situation," Hayes said.

When asked if he was interested in the job, Hayes said: "I'm working now. I have a job."

Hayes, who is in the N.C. Central, Winston-Salem State and CIAA halls of fame, is a name that alumni would recognize.

When reminded that WSSU had no weight room when he came in as coach and that players lifted bricks and old tires for strength training, Hayes laughed and said: "I've always said ‘winners keep trying and losers find excuses' and we never made excuses."

You might also be interested in: Hayes dodges press

Poll: Hayes ruining FAMU Athletics

Hayes compared to Castell

FAMU discussing possible game at Georgia

The Rattler football team has a scheduled dates with the University of Miami Hurricanes this year and next, now RN has learned that talks are underway to venture into Georgia Bulldog country in 2010.

Published reports for the Atlanta Journal Constitution indicate that UGA has had discussions with FAMU officials about possibly playing next season. Georgia has an opening on its 2010 schedule and the game would be played in Athens.

What would Florida A&M gain from playing at Georgia, a program which has won at least 10 games six of the past seven years and would be a prohibitive favorite? Exposure in a state filled with top prospects is always a good thing, and it would give the program its second game in the state of Georgia in 2010 - following the annual match with Tennessee State at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The bottom line, however, will be the HUGE paycheck FAMU would receive.

There's been no mention of what kind of payout FAMU could receive, but Louisiana-Lafayette will get $875,000 to open next season in Athens and New Mexico State will get $925K for a game in Nov. 2011.

The game would likely fall in the middle of the season, which could also fall in the middle of a run toward a MEAC title. But the Rattlers didn’t let anything like that stand in the way of scheduling this season, with their match at Miami one week before playing at preseason MEAC favorite South Carolina State.

McCoy resigns after brush with law

Just one week after FAMU held a press conference to announce Walter McCoy’s hiring as the men’s track coach, McCoy has resigned effective immediately.

His exit follows a recent brush with local law enforcement. McCoy was arrested by the Tallahassee Police Department at 5:57 pm on Monday and taken to the Leon County Jail. He was later released at 9:08 pm that evening.

The arresting/booking charge was listed as: “hold for Jefferson County Case #08169CFA Unemployment Comp Fraud.”

The Leon County Sheriff's Office also lists a 1997 arrest on McCoy's record in which a $1185 bond is referenced.

You may also be interested in: McCoy hired as new track coach

FAMU tops HBCU CLC sales

FAMU ranks first among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in selling licensed merchandise, according to information recently released by the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC).

The FAMU licensing program generated $79,007 in gross royalties during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. This represents the largest royalty collection in the history of the FAMU program.

“We are excited to know that FAMU is at the top of the list in selling apparel and other merchandise,” said Sabrina Thompson, coordinator of licensing at FAMU. “This is only an indicator of the success that we can have with this program. My goal is to increase sales by 25 percent in the upcoming year. We hope to continue to soar and bring revenue to the institution during these tough economic times.”

Royalties from the licensing program fund athletic scholarships at FAMU.

The primary factor for the increase is due to FAMU’s Victoria Secret PINK Collegiate Collection. This collection generated $7,764 in royalties for FAMU licensing program. The FAMU’s PINK collection had a significant impact on the women’s apparel category by growing it 187 percent.

Team Beans, a leading marketer and manufacturer of collectibles, novelty and promotional products for the sports industry, also contributed to FAMU’s record year. They reported $5,721 in royalties for the fiscal year.

FAMU currently has 120 licensees.

As part of the preparations for the 2008 Rattler Football season, officials at FAMU, CLC and local law enforcement made preparations to rid the marketplace of counterfeit and unlicensed merchandise. Since August 2008, CLC, the university and local law enforcement officials, have patrolled the Tallahassee marketplace in search of counterfeiters selling “knock-off” merchandise. All counterfeit merchandise is subject to seizure. FAMU benefits monetarily from the sale of licensed merchandise, receiving 7.5 percent of the purchase price.

“Florida A&M University has been extremely proactive in growing its licensing program, and their hard work as paid off,” said Brian White, CLC’s vice president of University Services. “FAMU’s rich tradition, combined with the innovative licensing programs the University has developed over the last couple of years have helped grow its retail product sales among its loyal constituents across a variety of product categories.”

Phoenix competing for more nursing students in Florida

The University of Phoenix, which recently dethroned FAMU as the top producer of blacks with baccalaureates, is stepping up its efforts to compete with FAMU and other Florida universities.

Last week, Phoenix announced a partnership with the Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund to provide access to nursing education and help ensure the future of quality healthcare. Through this partnership, two full-tuition scholarships will be offered to nurses pursuing advanced degrees in the state of Florida.

Odessa Chambliss was the mother of Lucille O'Neal and grandmother of Shaquille O'Neal and Ayesha Harrison - both University of Phoenix graduates. The Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund was established in 1998, after her death, to honor her commitment to the nursing profession for over 16 years.

Phoenix has offered nursing programs for 25 years. It established a ground presence in Florida more than a decade ago. Since the opening of the first campus in Orlando, the University has expanded to include 17 locations statewide including its four main Florida campuses and affiliated learning and resource centers. With a variety of degree programs, University of Phoenix-Florida currently serves more than 18,000 students. The state's four campuses include Central Florida, North Florida, South Florida and West Florida.

FAMU’s administration has pinpointed distance education as one of priority areas in its strategic initiatives. Phoenix’s increasing presence as major FAMU competitor shows that the university needs to kick those planning and implementation processes into high gear.

Ted Kennedy, 1932-2009

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (left) died late Tuesday night at his home in Hyannis Port, Mass.

“We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever,” said the Kennedy family in press statement. “We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all.”

The White House lauded Kennedy as “the greatest United States Senator of our time.”

“For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts,” said U.S. President Barack Obama. “I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom.”

Kennedy, the brother of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert M. Kennedy, was born February 22, 1932 in Boston, Mass. He was first elected to the Senate in 1962 to complete the final two years of the term of his brother, John, who was elected President in 1960. After that, he was re-elected to eight full terms.

He is survived by wife, Victoria Reggie Kennedy and five children—Kara, Edward Jr., and Patrick Kennedy, and Curran and Caroline Raclin.

Some trustees clueless about basic FAMU facts

During FAMU’s recent Board of Trustees committee meetings, some trustees revealed that they are clueless about basic FAMU facts posted on the university and Board of Governors’ websites.

Even though years of FAMU graduation rate records are available in the online State University System fact books and FAMU fact books, Trustee R.B. Holmes, Jr. and several trustees had no idea how to find that information. They had to ask administrators for the current and recent graduation numbers.

If Holmes had taken two minutes to look on FAMU’s website before the meeting, he would have found this table that is clearly labeled “Graduation and Retention Rates.”

The Class of 2008’s six-year graduation (41 percent) was posted on FAMU’s website months ago in the most recent Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System report.

An even more bizarre moment occurred when Holmes and other trustees repeatedly asked why less than 50 percent of FAMU undergraduates finish in six years.

Again, the online SUS fact books are filled with information that those trustees must have failed to read. The data clearly shows that most FAMU students' families make $30,000 or less per year. When college costs rise, most FAMU students enroll in fewer courses.

As one of the two longest serving BOT members, Holmes has repeatedly voted for tuition hikes that resulted in students taking smaller course loads. Instead of asking administrators to give him data that’s already posted on famu.edu, he should be asking himself: “Why have I done so little to help FAMU students afford heavier course loads?”

None of FAMU’s trustees live in a foreign country where internet access is scarce. In 21st century America, all professionals should know how to point and click to find basic facts on the website of an organization they're supposed to be leading.

SUS crisis: PECO in jeopardy

After freezing Florida’s matching gift program, lawmakers might be preparing to place ice on another critical source of university funding: Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) dollars.

At last week's Board of Trustees meeting, the Division of Administrative and Financial Affairs reported some bad news from the Florida Board of Governors. The BOG has learned that due to a projected tax revenue shortfall, the legislature might not make any PECO appropriations for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

A year without PECO dollars would have dire consequences on FAMU’s academic programs. PECO money, which comes from utility taxes, is the biggest source of construction funding for the State University System.

FAMU’s top PECO priory for 2010-2011 is $8M for utilities, infrastructure, capital renewal, and roofs. FAMU officials warn that without the money, critical building code and electrical safety upgrades will be stalled.

The second and third PECO priorities are $30.9M for Pharmacy Building Phase II and $17M for FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Phase III, respectively. Construction delays could negatively affect those programs’ re-accreditation processes. Pharmacy and Engineering colleges are required to meet certain lab space requirements in order to remain in good standing with their accreditors.

FAMU pharmacy goes up for re-accreditation in 2010.

Without PECO, FAMU’s construction projects will be much more dependent upon the Capital Improvement Trust Fund (CITF) fees that are paid by students. The new recreation center is an example of a CITF-funded building.

Pictured: Coleman Library’s Second Phase Construction, a PECO project.

Authors inspire incoming freshmen

The authors of the critically acclaimed book "The Pact" visited FAMU on Friday to speak with the incoming freshman class.

"The Pact" is the story of three Black males who grew up in Newark, NJ who, as teenage boys, made a pact: to stick together, go to college, graduate and become doctors. Now, several years later, the three men have overcome countless obstacles and to bear the title of doctor.

They achieved their goals. Dr.Rameck Hunt, 36, is a board certified internist at University Medical Center at Princeton, N.J. Dr. George Jenkins, 36, works as assistant professor of clinical dentistry at Columbia University. And Dr. Sampson Davis is board certified in emergency medicine and works at St. Michael’s Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center and Easton Hospital in New Jersey.

The book was required reading for incoming freshman. Prior to the visit by the authors freshman had small group discussions about the book.

The message the three doctors want students to take away from the book, written with Lisa Frazier Page, is to share with everyone that they too can “get to the end of the rainbow.”

Is the president ruining athletics?

If you want to know one of the biggest scourges on black college sports today, look no further than the president or chancellor of your college. They may be visionaries in program development, lobbying the state for funding and working the valuable alumni networks, but when it comes to athletic development, far too many campus leaders are behind the curve.

Ask yourself the following questions about your president’s relationship with collegiate athletics.

• How often is your president at sporting events other than homecoming or rivalry games? – If your president doesn’t bother to show up other than to glad hand and accept checks, he/she can’t possibly be emotionally invested in the branch of the school that is the emotional lifeline of the institution. And it could be a sign that they don’t know the game, which means that they can’t tell progress from regression on the fields and courts.

• Is your president mentioned in news stories concerning athletics? – If your president is mentioned as a comment source for a sports story outside of a hiring, firing or new facility, your school has a major problem. The AD can’t do his/her job, and the president takes the credit for progress without being the culprit for failures.

Continue reading at: HBCU Sports Blog.

FAMU introduces new track coaches

FAMU officials formally presented former U.S. Olympian Walter McCoy and collegiate track and field coach Darlene Moore as the school’s new men and women’s track and field and cross-country head coaches, respectively.

FAMU President James Ammons and Athletics Director Bill Hayes introduced the pair during a press conference following the monthly Board of Trustees meeting.

“Track and Field is a very special part of the total athletics program at Florida A&M University,” Hayes said. “We feel confident that we have selected two coaches who have a great appreciation for the FAMU track tradition, who will be strong mentors to our student-athletes, and who will work hard to restore the sport to a championship level.”

McCoy was a 13-time All-American at Florida State University, winning two World Cup Championships, a pair of NCAA National championships and six United States Track and Field national titles.”

The anchorman for FSU’s 1980 National Champion Mile Relay Team, McCoy set the school record in the 400-meter dash, while earning spots on the 1980 and 1984 U.S. Olympic teams. He won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the 4x100 relay crew in 1984.

McCoy ranked in the top 10 internationally in the 400-meters for 10 straight years, setting a world record for the most 400-meter races run under 46 seconds, pulling off that feat 155 times.

A native of Daytona Beach, Fla., McCoy comes to FAMU after spending the past three years working as a head track coach and teacher in Leon and Gadsden Counties.

McCoy served as head track and field coach/cross country coach at Bethune-Cookman University from 2003 through 2006, overseeing the men and women’s teams.

He also has varied experiences in education, coaching, recreation and business, including an eight-year term working with the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and the Sunshine State Games. McCoy is presently on the Board of the 2012 Olympic Bid for the State of Florida.

He is the recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal of Achievement - the highest civilian award to be bestowed by the United States Congress.

Moore comes to FAMU from Albany State University, where she served for the past two years as the assistant track and field/cross country coach. She helped lead the Lady Rams to back-to-back Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championships in cross country and track and field.

A 1990 graduate of Albany State University, Moore competed as a middle-distance runner, lettering in both cross-country and track and field.

A 1998 inductee into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame, Moore served as head women track and field/cross country coach at Fort Valley State University from 1998 to 2004, where she became recognized as one of the premier female coaches in the nation.

In 2002, she was named the Georgia Female College Coach of the Year by the Georgia Women's Intersport Network and the National Female Track and Field Coach of the Year by the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports.

She is also four-time SIAC Cross Country Coach of the Year, four-time SIAC Track and Field Coach of the Year, and a three-time NCAA Division II South Region Track and Field Coach of the Year – the only female coach in the South Region to win this award.

Moore served as the SIAC Cross Country Chairperson in 2003-2004, and on the NCAA Division II Track and Field Committee, the only African American on the Committee at the time, and the only female coach in the history of the SIAC to serve on this committee.

While at Fort Valley, her teams won eight consecutive SIAC track and field/cross country championships - the only female coach in the history of the SIAC to do so, and during her six-year tenure, her teams brought home a combined 20 SIAC championships.

Moore’s teams at Fort Valley produced 71 individual conference champion student-athletes, three NCAA Division II South Region Athletes of the Year, four SIAC Track and Field Most Valuable Performers, four SIAC Cross Country Most Valuable Performers, three NCAA National Champions, seven NCAA Runners-up, 15 Track and Field All-Americans and two USA Track and Field Championship National qualifiers.

“FAMU’s athletic program has a rich tradition of raising nationally and internationally recognized athletes,” Ammons said. “With the addition of these two new coaches, we hope to reignite the fire we know exists in the FAMU track and field program.”

BOT meeting updates

The FAMU Board of Trustees just held officer elections. Bill Jennings was reelected to another two-year term as board chairman. Daryl Parks replaced R.B. Holmes, Jr. as vice-chairman.

Robert Brown announced that he won’t seek reappointment to the board when his term expires.

The board also passed a resolution congratulating the FAMU College on Law for securing full accreditation from the American Bar Association.

President James Ammons introduced Walter McCoy and Darlene Moore as the new coaches of the men's and women's track teams, respectively.

Ammons also received highly favorable comments in his annual evaluation.

FAMU writes off $3.7M in student debt

At yesterday’s Budget and Finance Committee meeting, FAMU trustees supported a recommendation to write off $3.7M in student account receivable debt.

The university has not written off student debt since the 2004-2005 fiscal year. FAMU currently works with three collection agencies to pursue unpaid money.

The two largest sums were “Tuition and Fees,” at $2.3M, and “Housing,” at $654,264.55.

Additional write-off areas (from largest to smallest) included: Return of Financial Aid, Food Service-Meal Plan, University Parking Services, Returned Checks/Accounts Receivable, Other, and Short Term Loans.

FAMU students who owe money to the university are placed on academic hold. That prohibits currently enrolled students from registering for class and stops alumni from receiving transcripts until their outstanding cash balances are settled.

The $3.7M write off likely represents debt left by former students who either dropped out or transferred away from FAMU over the past five years.

Joyner asks Obama to renew CCRAA money

A prominent FAMU dad is calling on U.S. President Barack Obama to renew an $85M per year federal grant that is set to expire soon.

Nationally syndicated radio show host Tom Joyner, father of FAMU alumnus Oscar Joyner, wants Obama to renew the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA). CCRAA funds historically black colleges and universities with money to help their “academic resources, management capabilities, and physical plants.”

As Rattler Nation reported in June, FAMU is set to be the biggest loser if the grant isn’t extended. In 2008, FAMU netted the largest HBCU CCRAA grant: $2,002,165. FAMU is using the money to upgrade Enterprise Resource Technology, library multimedia, and instructional technology.

From Joyner’s open letter to the president:

Mr. President, I have been a major supporter of yours from the start because I believed you were the best person for the job because I never dreamed in my lifetime that this would happen. You've been doing an amazing job considering that you took over the country at a time when so much is happening. But I do have a concern about one of your recent decisions. I'm calling on you to listen to the tens of thousands of alumni, faculty, administration and students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who want you to seriously reconsider your changes to the 2010 federal budget. We want you to extend the $85 million that was included in the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 and is slated to expire in 2009.

I realize you're dealing with a budget that's in the trillions of dollars, but let me tell you, as a long time supporter and cheerleader for black colleges, literally every single dollar helps to keep their doors open at these institutions. This $85 million is absolutely crucial for many of the colleges to make sure every student attending these schools have the best infrastructure possible. That means these schools need the direct funds that the federal government has allocated since 2007 to help provide comfortable dormitories, fully furnished classrooms, research labs, libraries and so many things that contribute to these students getting a quality education. The fact is the funding for many HBCUs eligible to receive federal funds has not kept pace with the increasing needs for the institutions.

I've been reading about how you and Secretary [Arne] Duncan are increasing the amount of money for PELL Grants, which means more students may be able to get sorely needed dollars to attend college. That's what my Foundation has been doing for the past 11 years, and the more help these students get to stay in school the better. Don't hesitate one minute in providing those funds, but, Mr. President, you can't have it both ways. If you cut funding that directly affects the operations of these HBCUs, then some of these schools may not be around to educate the students receiving those PELL grants.

So, I ask you, Mr. President, restore that $85 million today! This small amount is the kind of investment that will truly impact the lives of thousands of black men and women who will end up helping you bring about the change you talked about during your campaign.

Read the full text here.

Two FAMU students selected as Gubernatorial Fellows

FAMU students Herron Keyon Gaston and Disraeli Smith will be working the Florida capitol this year as two of only 14 Gubernatorial Fellows.

Branded “Florida’s Most Prestigious Program for Leadership and Public Service,” the Gubernatorial Fellows program is modeled after the White House Fellows program. Students work in one of the agencies administered by the Florida governor, depending upon their respective areas of study.

Gaston holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science/pre-law studies from FAMU. He’s currently pursuing a graduate degree in political science on The Hill. He graduated from Haines City High School, where he served as senior class president.

Smith is a fourth-year professional MBA student in FAMU's School of Business and Industry, member of the Marching 100, and has served as secretary of alumni affairs for FAMU SGA. He graduated from Westlake High School and was one of only two Georgia students selected for the 2006 United States Senate Youth Program.

Gubernatorial Fellows are selected based on a competitive application process that evaluates a list of qualities which include: strong leadership, written and oral communication skills, community activism, and a desire to serve the people of Florida. Fellows work a minimum of 20 hours each week and receive an hourly wage.

Gaston and Smith follow in the footsteps of former FAMU Gubernatorial Fellows Darius Graham, a University of California Berkeley Law School graduate, Mellori Lumpkin, an incoming Berkeley Law student, and Torey Alston, Executive Director of Florida's Office of Supplier Diversity.

Meek to Crist: Get moving on stimulus spending

Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-Miami) recently fired off a blunt and very critical message to Florida’s Republican governor: pick up the pace on spending the state’s road stimulus dollars.

Meek’s statement came in response to U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar’s announcement that Florida is one of the worst-performing states when it comes to utilizing Recovery Act Highway Funding.

“Florida falling far behind other states in putting to work its Recovery Act highway formula funds,” Oberstar said in a letter to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. “According to submissions received from all States and the District of Columbia, your State ranks last among all States (51 out of 51). As of June 30, Florida had begun construction of projects totaling only two percent of the State’s funding.”

The news prompted Meek to describe the situation as “part of a disturbing and now repeating trend taking place in my home state.”

Meek previously blasted Crist for dragging his feet in submitting a waiver application Florida needed in order to qualify for $2 billion in education stimulus funds. He also faulted Crist for failing to provide the leadership necessary “to make the legislative fixes required to allow Florida to draw down $444 million to extend unemployment benefits for the now nearly 11 percent jobless Floridians.”

“I urge the Governor to be a hands-on leader with his agencies, departments and with the state legislature when session convenes next year, and ensure that Florida is taking advantage of every federal dollar it can receive,” Meek said.

Meek and Crist are two leading candidates for the respective party's nomination for the junior U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez.

Florida's Office of Economic Recovery responded to the Oberstar letter with a statement that challenged his claims:

Given the fact that Florida (1) has chosen not to supplant funds; (2) has a more rigorous budgeting process; (3) has a high percentage of capacity projects; (4) has a larger number of urban areas with greater control over funding decisions and project administration; and (5) data utilized in the report is over a month old, we believe your analysis does not accurately reflect Flroida's comparative progress in implementing Recovery Act funds."

While the office accused the chairman of using outdated data, it has not released any more up-to-date data concerning Florida's use of the stimulus money.

100rd helps Pensacola celebrate 450 years

Four hundred fifty years ago, Pensacola's first settlers were forced to flee the coast after a September hurricane battered their colony and destroyed several of their ships.

Saturday, dark storm clouds again loomed over the city, this time threatening to spoil the festivities at Pensacola's 450th birthday party.

But by sunset, the clouds cleared, the air cooled and the FAMU Marching 100 flooded into downtown to help thousands celebrate Pensacola's birthday.

The band strode down Palafox Place in a flurry of cymbal crashes and drum beats, and was giving free reign to entertain as they saw fit.

Check out the video:


More pics here

Lumpkin heads to Berkeley law

FAMU’s former student body vice-president is heading off to one of the nation’s top law schools.

Mellori Evonn Lumpkin recently graduated with summa cum laude honors from FAMU, earning her B.S. in business administration. She will continue her education by pursuing a J.D. at the University of California, Berkeley Law School this fall.

In FAMU’s Student Government Association, Lumpkin served as a student senator, student senate president, and finally vice-president in the administration of former Student Body President Andrew Collins. She also worked at the state capitol as a 2008 Florida Gubernatorial Fellow and analyst for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

Lumpkin, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, came to FAMU in 2005 from Bainbridge (Ga.) High School, where she was valedictorian of her class. She was also a National Achievement Scholar.

FAMU law grad is one of capitol’s Most Beautiful

A FAMU College of Law alumna is a Reader’s Choice Winner on The Hill’s 50 Most Beautiful list.

Vennia Francois, an Orlando native, is currently a legislative assistant to outgoing U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Orlando). She began her career as an intern for U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-Winter Park) in 2005.

The Hill describes her as “tall and slim” with a passion for exercise and playing tennis.

Reporter Miles Hilder writes: “Upon meeting her, a bevy of adjectives comes to mind — elegant, striking, graceful — but the best word to describe Francois is poised. She measures her words carefully and displays an aura of confidence and maturity with her slight Southern accent. She credits this to her upbringing.”

“I come from a strong-valued and principled Christian background with hardworking parents who encouraged their children to succeed under any circumstances and to strive for the best to attain their life achievements,” Francois said.

Previous Rattler beauties: on Capitol Hill

5 Things You May Not Know About FAMU

As new students head to FAMU this fall to experience the joys and challenges of life in college, there are many things they’ll learn about themselves and the school. Whether you’re a new student, local resident or just someone with an interest in the school here are a few facts about FAMU that you might not have learned.

1. FAMU has a long history as a traditionally black school. Founded in 1887, the history of this school goes back over a century and is intertwined with the history of African Americans in this country. While the school is no longer segregated, it still stands as one of the best schools for black students in the country, producing the largest numbers of African American graduates and even being named the top school for African American students in the country.

2. It has medical and technological programs that are second to none. If you’re headed to FAMU for these fields you likely have an idea of their standings but you may not know the numbers. Programs at the school have won numerous awards and accolades, being named one of the most Innovative Colleges” in the area of technology transfer, achieving 100 percent passage rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, and 100 percent passage rate on the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, achievements that are nothing to scoff at.

3. The Black Archives Research Center and Museum contains one of the largest collections of African-American artifacts in the South. No education at FAMU would be complete without at least one trip to this on-campus museum. With artificats worth millions of dollars that have been lent to some of the top museums in the nation, get your money’s worth by learning about all this museum has to offer.

4. The Marching 100 is considered one of the nation’s top collegiate musical ensembles. In 1992 the band was named the “Best Marching Band in the Nation” by Sports Illustrated and later that seasoned performed at the inauguration of former President Bill Clinton. Of course, this was not to be their only inaugural performance, as the band also played at President Barack Obama’s inauguration this past year.

5. Much of the school’s campus is designated as a national historic district. Because of the rich history of the school, in 1996 a large portion of FAMU’s campus, around Martin Luther King Boulevard was designated a historic district. This includes 370 acres of campus and over 14 historically significant buildings, ensuring that students will have a long and proud history to look back on as they head to courses this fall.

This post was contributed by Jill Gordon, who writes about the online college . She welcomes your feedback at Jill.Gordon25@ yahoo.com.

Pictured: FAMU Pharmacy building (1986).

Scott’s office vandalized with swastika

The FBI, Capitol Police, and Smyrna (Ga.) Police Department are investigating a hate act directed against Congressman David Scott (D-Georgia), a FAMU alumnus. Yesterday, Scott’s Smyrna district office staffers arrived at work to find a swastika painted over the sign bearing his name.

Scott, who represents a majority white district, believes the hate message is a result of his deliberations over the health care reform plan now being debated in the nation’s capitol. He has also received hate mail, including a fax filled with racial epithets, that said, in part, "the folks are not going to stand for socialized medicine even though most Negros refuse to stand on their own two feet."

Even before this incident the Anti-Defamation League, an organization dedicated to fighting Anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in the United States, had condemned efforts by a small but vocal number of opponents of health care reform to use Nazi imagery in attacks on the Obama Administration and supporters of the plan.

“Trying to link one of the most heinous symbols of hatred against the Jewish people to a legislative proposal is despicable beyond words," said ADL Southeast Regional Director Bill Nigut.

Alum elected NABJ president

FAMU alumna Kathy Times is the new president of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Times, an anchor for WDBD-TV in Jackson, Miss., won the election with 325 votes or 57 percent of the vote.

Georgia Dawkins (right), a FAMU broadcast journalism student, was also elected NABJ Student Representative.

A Miami native, Times started her career as a newspaper reporter in Tampa. She later made the switch to television. Her flair for uncovering government blunders and system failures helped her win two Southeast Emmy Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and other honors. She’s covered national news for MSNBC and interviewed the country’s most powerful leaders, such as, President George H. W. Bush and and former Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice.

She is a proud graduate of FAMU, holding two baccalaureate degrees from the institution: one in journalism and another in computer information systems.

"I was editor of The Famuan, and I got leadership training through that,” Times said. “I learned accuracy counts. If you made one fact error you got an F (grade)…and that made me a better journalist.”

After graduating, she furthered her education by earning a master's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Currently, Times is a business owner and licensed Realtor in Alabama and Florida. She has taught journalism as an adjunct professor at Jackson State University. She just finished a term as NABJ’s national vice-president-broadcast.

While campaigning for the NABJ presidency, Times promised to “intensify efforts to address record layoffs, to offer retraining and to establish entrepreneurship opportunities that generate revenue for NABJ.”

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, James E. Covington, volunteering, mentoring youth, traveling, and watching football. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

Follow Times’ work with NABJ here on Twitter.

Blazeski, FAMU volleyball top MEAC preseason honors

FAMU’s Jovana Blazeski was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year the conference announced yesterday. Preseason honors were voted on by the league's head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.

The Lady Rattlers and Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks were picked as the preseason favorites in the northern and southern divisions. Out of 22 first-place votes in their respective divisions, FAMU received 19 while Maryland Eastern Shore tallied 20.

FAMU posted a 7-1 conference mark and a 14-13 overall record in 2008 en route to their eighth consecutive MEAC title. Blazeski, a 2008 second team All-Conference performer, is one of four Lady Rattlers' returning from last year's championship team. She led the MEAC with 352 kills and 4.21 points per set and finished with 273 digs. She was also selected to the All-Tournament team.

Conference play begins on October 5 with the defending MEAC champion FAMU Lady Rattlers heading to Orangeburg, S.C. to take on the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs. The 2009 MEAC Volleyball Championship will be held November 20-22 in Baltimore, Md.

Check out the full list here.

Housing expansion essential to raising grad rate

Data from FAMU and State University System annual fact books shows that campus housing expansion is vital to improving the university’s six-year graduation rate.

Back when FAMU opened the Palmetto Street South (1993) and Phase III (1997) apartment complexes, lower division students (those with fewer than 60 credit hours) began taking heavier course loads. Each of the new facilities housed 360 students, which brought a total of 720 new living spaces to campus.

The average lower division student credit hour load rose from 13.9 in 1994 to a peak of 14.2 in 1997.

Housing helps students afford more credit hours by cutting down the cost of living. Campus housing rental rates are usually much cheaper than private-owned apartments. Students also save money by using campus meal plans and walking to class instead of driving. That leaves them with more dollars to spend on courses.

Since 1997, FAMU’s lower division course loads have dropped like a rock. The State of Florida required FAMU to continuously increase its enrollment, but the university did not build any new housing complexes for the thousands of new students. Housing is an auxiliary department that cannot receive state money.

The problem got even worse from 2003 to 2004. During those years, FAMU closed Sampson Hall (1938), Young Hall (1929), and Polkinghorne Apartments (1966). All those facilities were old structures that had serious building code/safety problems. The closures took away a total of 409 beds.

FAMU’s leasing contract with University Gardens and Cottages of Magnolia did little to help the problem of decreasing student course loads. The two facilities added 669 beds to FAMU housing. However, they were more expensive than the regular dormitories or apartments.

In 2003, each Cottages room cost $2,284. A single at Gardens cost $2,284 and a double cost $1,980.

In comparison, a single at Phase III was only $1,925 and a double was only $1,714. A double at Cropper Hall or Wheatley Hall only cost $1,517.

FAMU terminated its contract for Cottages and Gardens in 2005, losing the 669 beds. The leaser, Booth Properties, later sued and received a $1.5 million settlement for the remaining three years left on the contract.

In 2007, FAMU’s average lower division credit hour load was just 13.5. Currently, FAMU students usually take smaller course loads in response to rising college costs such as tuition hikes. Housing is critical to reducing living costs and helping students take heavier course loads so they can graduate within six years.

FAMU's current six-year graduation rate is 41 percent.

The Student Housing Comprehensive Master Plan approved by FAMU’s Board of Trustees in 2004 calls for the university to have a total of 4,231 beds by Spring 2015. The top priorities are: demolishing Polkinghorne, building Phase IV Suites at the former Polkinghorne site, building Phase V-B (south of Phase III), and building Phase V-A (south of Palmetto South).

Pictured: Polkinghorne Apartments, closed since 2004.

FAMU Athletic marketing/promotion nonexistent

While others market, FAMU relies on luckDespite being one of the biggest drawing cards in the NCAA's football championship subdivision, and holding a unique position of being one of the few teams to have ever won a national championship, FAMU relies mostly on luck to market and promote its athletic programs.

For most of the 2008-2009 year, the newly rebuilt FAMU Athletics website sat largely dormant, without basic updates. The site has only recently seen a flurry of updates, but still lacks basic information on athletes such as bio and stats.

Now just days before the start of the 2009 football season, there has been no push to encourage fans to purchase season tickets, or develop potential fans in South Alabama/Georgia or Florida.

Nearly 30 days away from the start of the season, there has not been any push for the CIAA borrowed 1000 STRIKES annual fund campaign.

Here's how other schools are doing it:

Perry named dean emeritus

Retired College of Arts and Science Dean Aubrey M. Perry was bestowed the title "Dean Emeritus" yesterday.

During his long tenure as dean Perry led the College of Arts & Sciences through of period of strong program growth and stability. Under Perry's guidance the College expanded is masters and doctoral offers.

Perry had already held the title "professor of psychology emeritus".

Photo credit: Vaughn Wilson.

Hayes enters NFL Hall of Fame

Today, FAMU’s legendary “Bullet” Bob Hayes enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

When Bob Hayes arrived on the pro football scene in 1965, he had already earned athletic stardom having won a pair of gold medals in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. His medal-winning performance in the 100 meters competition earned him the title “World’s Fastest Human.” But for the Dallas Cowboys, the team that drafted him in the seventh round of the 1964 NFL Draft, the question lingered, “could a track man succeed in a contact sport like pro football?” The answer came quickly as the rookie’s 46 receptions for 1,003 yards led all Cowboys receivers.

Hayes demonstrated time and again that he possessed tremendous football skills and instincts that helped him to develop into a terrific NFL wide receiver. Still, his world class speed was a major factor in his and the Cowboys offensive successes. “Bullet Bob” terrorized defensive backs and demanded the kind of deep double coverage rarely seen in the NFL at that time. It is often said that the bump and run defense was developed in an attempt to slow down the former Florida A&M running back.

“I know one thing, and I played with him,” commented Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka, “he changed the game. He made defenses and defensive coordinators work hard to figure out what you had to do to stop him.”

Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach knew firsthand the value of the speedy receiver. “He can explode and make things happen,” he offered. “As long as Bobby is in the lineup the other team has to make adjustments it doesn’t normally make.”

St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame safety Larry Wilson played against Hayes on a number of occasions. He observed that the difference between Hayes and other track men turned football players was that he had the ability to use his speed “in a football sense,” rather than just trying to run fast as he could. “He had several speeds, all of them fast,” explained Wilson. “But defensive backs had to figure out which one he was using and which one he was going to use.”

Four times Hayes was named first- or second-team All-NFL. Three times he led the Cowboys in receptions, including back-to-back titles in 1965-66 when he caught a total of 110 passes for more than 2,200 yards and 25 touchdowns. For his 11-year career, Hayes accumulated 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns. His 71 career touchdown receptions remain a Cowboys’ club record.

Courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Collins to deliver graduation address

FAMU alumnus Art Collins will serve as keynote speaker at the 2009 summer commencement. Collins is a former Student Government Association President and served as the first chairman of FAMU's Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2003.

Collins is the founder, president and chief executive officer of Public Private Partnership Inc., an independent strategic planning and political consulting firm. Since 1989, the firm has provided strategic advice to multinational corporations, entrepreneurs, investors, political campaigns, political parties, elected leaders, nonprofits and government organizations.

Collins served as a public liaison within the Obama-Biden Transition Project following the 2008 United States Presidential election. During the 2008 presidential primary and general election campaign, he served as senior political strategist for current U.S. President Barack Obama. In 2004, Collins was senior advisor to U.S. Senator John Kerry, the Presidential Democratic Nominee during his general election campaign for President of the United States. In 1990, he served as campaign manager for Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Leander J. Shaw, Jr. Collins was a member of the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Democratic Business Council during the tenure of DNC Chairman Ron Brown.

He received his B.S. degree in accounting from the FAMU School of Business and Industry. He is married to Sela Thompson Collins and has five children. His son, Andrew Collins, served as FAMU’s student body president and university trustee during the 2008-2009 school year.

The commencement ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight in the Multipurpose Center Teaching Gymnasium.

Rattlers dominate preseason all-MEAC first team

FAMU football dominated the preseason All-MEAC first team announced by the league last week. The Rattlers also had three second team selections for a total of 11.

South Carolina State had a total of eight selections on both teams; five were recognized on the first team. Norfolk State and Morgan State had seven total selections each.

According to the MEAC’s 2009 predictions, the Rattlers will finish second overall behind the South Carolina State Bulldogs.

FAMU’s first team offense members are: QB Curtis Pulley, WR Kevin Elliot, OL Anthony Collins, OL Robert Okeafor, C Steve Brazzle, DL Cameron Houston, LB Bryan Parker, DB Curtis Holcomb, and Ret LeRoy Vann.

The second team All-MEAC Rattlers are: RB Philip Sylvester, WR Isaac West, and P/K Trevor Scott.

View the entire list here.

Castell out as Cookman VPAA next week

It looks like Bethune-Cookman University isn’t giving “professional interim” Castell Bryant the same extended stay she enjoyed at FAMU. Castell is out as B-CU’s interim vice-president of academic affairs on August 13th.

Her replacement will be Sarah Williams, chair of Prairie View A&M University’s Department of Social Work and Sociology. Williams earned her bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from The University of Texas at Austin. She also holds a Master of Social Work degree from The University of Houston.

Castell’s hiring was a bizarre development to many who are familiar with her record. Bryant came to B-CU with distinguished experience in attracting bad audits, wasting money, failing to pay employees on time, and blocking recruitment efforts. Currently, Cookman is experiencing an enrollment decline.

Cookman Rebel, a blogger who leads an online social networking site that’s seeking leadership change at B-CU, called Bryant the top “hatchet woman” of President Trudie Kibbe Reed and described her as “a very nasty old lady who abuses her power, uses individuals, and destroys the careers of those who stand in her way.”

There’s no word yet on whether Castell will continue in another administrative or faculty position at the school.

Currently, Cookman Rebel’s site is encouraging B-CU supporters to submit formal complaints against Reed’s administration to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits the university.

Opinion: FAMU triumphs over Maxwell’s attacks – as usual

Ever since FAMU’s College of Law was reestablished, Bill Maxwell and his buddies on the St. Petersburg Times’ editorial board have predicted doom and gloom. FAMU law’s recent accreditation victory proves once again that Maxwell, who recently retired from the board, and his former fellow editorial writers never knew what they were talking about.

In 2003, Maxwell declared that FAMU’s law school would “become a virtual ghetto.”

From 2005 to 2008, he and the St. Petersburg Times’ editorial board persistently criticized FAMU law while serving as cheerleaders for the biggest source of the law school’s problems: former Interim President Castell Bryant.

Bryant withheld $5 million from the law school’s 2006-2007 budget and botched FAMU’s payroll system so badly that many professors went months without paychecks. But nonetheless Maxwell ignored her incompetence and made lame excuses for her financial mismanagement as FAMU law’s faculty and students suffered.

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board also printed outright misleading information about FAMU law’s bar passage rate.

In a May 2008 editorial, the board said that FAMU’s law students “tend to do abysmally on the bar exam.”

Clearly, the editorial board had trouble comprehending the March 2008 American Bar Association report it supposedly read. Page 26 of that report stated that FAMU’s overall bar passage rates have been the following: June 2005, 70.6%; February 2006, 71.4%; July 2006, 70.3%; February 2007, 70.9%; and July 2007, 81.3%.

That’s not an “abysmal” performance. The data showed that the overwhelming majority of FAMU law students were passing the bar.

Maxwell’s attacks on FAMU law were every bit as ridiculous as his defense of Castell’s former CFO, Grace Ali. Following Castell’s lead, Maxwell portrayed Ali as a talented financial manager that new President James Ammons should revere as a source of wisdom.

Recent events have shown that Ammons made a smart choice in keeping a safe distance from Castell’s former vice-president of fiscal affairs. Last year, Ali just lost her job as CFO of the Miami-Dade public school system amid allegations of financial mismanagement. District officials said her “creative accounting” directly contributed to $70 million of the system’s $125 million deficit.

FAMU continues to triumph over the distortions spread by Maxwell and the Times editorial board because its supporters know the truth: FAMU is top rate university that will not be held back. Our critics might bruise us, but they'll never beat us.

Like it or not, FAMU is here to stay. No amount of slanted editorial ink will ever change that.

Shannon appointed to FAMU BOT

On Friday, Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Belinda Reed Shannon to FAMU’s Board of Trustees for a one-and-half year term that ends on January 6, 2011. She succeeds former Trustee Pamela Duncan.

Shannon currently serves as vice president for compliance, equal employment opportunity, diversity and employee Relations for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). She is based in GSK’s Research Triangle Park, North American headquarters. In her current role, Shannon is responsible for leading the company’s efforts in the areas of employment compliance, employee relations, diversity and inclusion, and other EEO-related matters. Shannon’s former responsibilities included management of all U.S. based employment litiga¬tion for GSK.

Prior to joining GlaxoSmithKline, Shannon served as an attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Office of Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor from 1995-1997. Before that, she worked as an Associate Attorney at the Detroit law firm of Plunkett & Cooney.

Shannon is a 1983 graduate of FAMU’s School of Business and Industry, from which she earned a B.S. in marketing and an MBA. After graduating from The Hill, she later received her J.D. from the Wayne State University Law School in 1991.

FAMU’s newest trustee is married to another Rattler, Keith L. Shannon, who earned a B.S. in political science and public management from A&M. The Shannons are co-founders of PATT (Preparing America's Tomorrow Today), an organization that helps students from under-served communities prepare for college. The two reside in Wake Forest, N.C. with their children.

FAMU law strengthens bar prep program

LeRoy Pernell, dean of the FAMU College of Law, has announced the appointment of a new director and coordinator of its emergent Academic Success and Bar Preparation program.

Jendayi Saada, former critical skills program instructor for Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, will serve as director with Kristy D’ Angelo-Corker as coordinator. D’Angelo-Corker has served as a visiting instructor with the College of Law since January, teaching Florida Practice II and organizing workshops in Bar preparation.

“I am excited by the dynamic combination that both these individuals bring to our academic success and bar preparation program,” Pernell said. “They will strengthen our efforts to assess student academic skills early on and then develop a support mechanism that enhances their writing and analytical skills for classroom and Bar exam performance.’’

Jendayi Saada, director for Academic Success and Bar Preparation

During her five years as a critical skills instructor for Nova, Saada is credited with developing a program design for Florida Bar tutoring adopted as the law center’s Florida Bar Auxiliary Program – a program credited with helping to significantly increase Nova’s bar passage. She also published an article in the area of bar preparation titled When Failure Is Not an Option, Conquering the Bar Exam: Personal Stories & Practical Advice for Overcoming the Final Hurdle to Becoming a Full-Fledged Licensed Lawyer. Saada received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force with the rank E5-Staff Sergeant. She holds a B.A. and J.D. from Wayne State University, and is a member of both the Florida and Michigan Bars.

Kristy D’ Angelo-Corker, coordinator for Academic Success and Bar Preparation

Prior to joining the FAMU College of Law, D’Angelo-Corker worked at the University of Central Florida in the area of faculty research contract and grant management, as well as in private practice in New York. As a visiting instructor, she taught Florida Practice II and conducted a comprehensive Academic Success and Bar Preparation workshop schedule aimed at reinforcing analytical, writing, and test-taking skills appealing to students in their first, second, and third years of law school. She is also a former attorney with Rivkin Radler, LLP, New York. She received a B.A. from Syracuse University and a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. She is a member of Florida, New York and New Jersey Bars.

FAMU basking in ABA accreditation victory

Rattler Country is filled with excitement and celebration following yesterday’s announcement that the FAMU College of Law earned full accreditation.

President James Ammons praised the college’s hard work in the face of frustrating obstacles.

“I applaud Dean (LeRoy) Pernell, his administration, faculty, and students for reaching this milestone,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “This achievement speaks volumes about their hard work, dedication and commitment.”

The American Bar Association’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar gave FAMU law its stamp of approval on Thursday. Under the ABA’s rules, the Council’s decision is final and effective immediately, subject to review by the ABA House of Delegates. While the House of Delegates may request reconsideration of the Council’s decision, the group has never done so in the history of the ABA.

“Critics of our school once said that the mountain was too steep to climb,” said Pernell said. “When faced with a mountain you have to cross, the slope is irrelevant. The Council’s decision is a reflection of the resilience, perseverance and commitment of the university, our students, faculty and staff to the mission of the FAMU College of Law.”

Yesterday, FAMU received another big pat on the back from the governor’s office.

“I want to congratulate Florida A&M University College of Law on earning full accreditation,” said Gov. Charlie Crist. “Their commitment to academic excellence is helping prepare future attorneys from Florida and around the globe to meet the legal needs of their communities. This well-deserved achievement is the result of a college-wide dedication to enhancing student services and programs and increasing education and career opportunities.”

According to data released by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners in April, 353 out of 458 FAMU law students passed the bar exam over the past three years. That’s a total of 77 percent, which satisfies the bar passage requirement set by ABA Standard 301(a).