NAA declines to support call to remove BOT chair, Mitchell repeats concerns about Mangum

Last week, a group of state lawmakers made a public request for FAMU Board of Trustees Chairman Rufus Montgomery to either resign or be voted out of his leadership office. According to WFSU, FAMU National Alumni Association (NAA) President Tommy Mitchell said the organization he leads was asked to support that position, but said no.  

“While we chose not to be part of that press conference, we’re equally concerned about the dilemma of our board chair and president of being unable to work together,” he said.

On Wednesday, a number of FAMU alumni in the Florida Legislature sent a letter to the FAMU Board of Trustees that said they wanted Rufus out of the chairmanship. The group included Rep. Alan Williams, Sen. Arthenia L. Joyner, Sen. Dwight Bullard, Rep. Mia Jones, Rep. Shevrin Jones, and Rep. Bobby Powell. Mayor of Tallahassee Andrew Gillum also signed the letter.

The letter came two days after FAMU President Elmira Mangum accused the chairman of violating her rights as an employee.

But WFSU reported that “Mitchell argues the battles between Mangum and Montgomery are largely policy, not pettiness.”

“The president is responsible for the operation of the university, however it seems the board feels if there’s a decision made that involves the budget—they feel it’s a policy issue,” he said.

The report did not specify the budget issue that Mitchell referred to. But Mitchell has recently expressed concerns about Mangum’s support of a decision to shift the $12,996,539 core operating budget of the College of Engineering (COE) from FAMU to Florida State University. That change was made with a vote of approval from the FAMU Board of Trustees.

“Alumni are extremely concerned,” Mitchell told Diverse Issues in Higher Education in July.  “It appears as though FAMU did not fight this. I think it’s important for FAMU to always be a strong advocate for FAMU and to make sure that whatever decisions are made [are] in the best interest of FAMU.”

Mangum told FAMU trustees on August 5 that the change was a “management decision.” But the chairman has disagreed with that claim.

“When it is a $13 million decision, that is a policy decision,” the chairman said.

The chairman and vice-chairman of the FAMU Board of Trustees have asked a number of FAMU offices, including the Office of the General Counsel, to look into the issue. Vice-Chairman Kelvin Lawson said he believes the Board of Trustees can challenge the decision based on the rules of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.