The event, a decades-old tradition of advocacy and visibility, takes on renewed significance this year as the university leverages its national rankings to argue for bolstered funding. U.S. News & World Report recently named FAMU the nation’s top public historically Black university for the seventh consecutive year, while also ranking it 92nd among all public universities and 169th nationally.
FAMU Day is designed to translate this academic prestige into political capital. Participants will meet with legislators throughout the day, emphasizing the university’s role in driving Florida’s economy and its record of producing a highly skilled workforce.
“FAMU Day at the Capitol is an opportunity to promote who we are and to ensure lawmakers understand the tremendous impact we are making on the state of Florida,” said Michelle Robinson, the university’s vice president for government relations.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. in the Capitol Courtyard Complex, with exhibits showcasing the university’s research and academic programs located on the 22nd floor. To ensure a strong turnout, the university is providing free shuttle services from its main campus, with buses departing from “The Set,” the institution’s central gathering place.
The push occurs amid a broader, national conversation about the chronic underfunding of HBCUs relative to other public institutions. University advocates plan to argue that increased state support is essential to building on recent successes, maintaining infrastructure, expanding research capabilities, and keeping education affordable for its students.
For many participants, the day is both a celebration and a call to action. “It’s about showing up and showing out for an institution that has given so much to this state,” said one alumna planning to attend. “The rankings prove we are excelling. Now we need the funding to match that excellence.”