Rufus rebuffs lawmakers’ calls for him to resign, hints at SACS rule against political meddling

Back in 2011, Rufus Montgomery was quiet after the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) scolded Gov. Rick Scott for interfering in the FAMU Board of Trustees’ duties by trying to pressure it to suspend then-President James H. Ammons. SACS told the governor that his actions could jeopardize FAMU’s accreditation.

SACS Standard 3.2.4 states that each member’s governing board must be “free from undue influence from political, religious, or other external bodies and [protect] the institution from such influence.”

Rufus had called for Ammons to be placed on administrative leave only seven days before the governor made his statement in support of the same proposal. He declined to criticize Scott for placing FAMU’s accreditation in danger. But yesterday, Rufus appeared to be very anxious to remind a group of FAMU alumni lawmakers about SACS Standard 3.2.4.

On Wednesday, a number of FAMU alumni in the Florida Legislature sent a letter to the FAMU Board of Trustees that asked Rufus to step down as the chairman. 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.

“We are writing to ask that Mr. Rufus Montgomery voluntarily resign his post as Chairman of the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) Board of Trustees (BOT). If the Chairman is unwilling to do so, we request that you exercise your authority under Article 3 of the FAMU BOT Operating Procedures and remove him as an officer of the Board as soon as possible,” the letter said.

The group added that “the chairman has consistently used his position to overreach into the day-to-day management of the University – a role reserved for the president.” That statement suggested that the chairman wasn’t following SACS Standard 3.2.6., which says that the policy-making job of the board of a school must remain distinct from the job of the administration to oversee the execution of policies.

Rufus fired back with a statement that hinted that the group of lawmakers might hurt FAMU’s ability to abide by SACS Standard 3.2.4, which says university boards must stay free from political interference.

“For the good of the institution and to prevent charges of undue political interference, I hope that our elected officials will allow our Board to do the job we were appointed to do.”

The chairman said that he would not resign and called attention to his recent 11-0 reelection to lead the Board of Trustees.

“I will honor the decision and level of confidence that Board members showed in my leadership earlier this month when they unanimously re-elected me to a full two-year term as chairman. While certain elected officials have always stood behind FAMU, their vantage point doesn’t afford them the same level of interaction or responsibility required of the chairman of the Board and other trustees,” he said.