According to a recent article in The Famuan 5,913 students have outstanding blances and owe the university more than $13 million. See: Tuition Must Be Paid"Students who have tuition debt may face challenges when trying to register for classes this spring," the Famuan wrote. "FAMU is inforcing its policy of requiring students to pay all their tuition fees before registering for a new semester."
Why our interim president didn't just kick out these nearly 6,000 is a BIG mystery. Earlier this month she bragged to the St. Petersburg Times that she kicked out 1,000 students for non payment of fees ( See FAMU turns away 1,000 students) How she identified those 1,000 students out of the pool of nearly 6,000 students who are said to owe the university money is also a mystery.
First, you must assume that Castell & Co. are telling the truth about how many kids actually owe money!
ReplyDeleteIf she had done that ...
ReplyDeleteThen some of you would just be b****in' about FAMU only having about 5,000 students up there - And blaming her for it!
The problem is, and continues to be, the lack of honesty. Bryant told the St. Pete Times that she would not permit any student who owed FAMU money to enroll. Yet, it has become apparent that once again, this is not true.
ReplyDeleteWhy should those 1,000 students have been booted when 5,000 others were treated with leniency? That simply is not fair!
Castell is a liar. This clearly is a dishonest woman with no integrity and all her followers are wearing blind-folds because she is putting and throwing resources their way. She is simply a blatent liar of the highest degree.
ReplyDelete^ I co-sign that statement!^
ReplyDeleteWhatever CVB says is questionable. Since the beginning of her presidency, she has done nothing but jacked numbers up and down, in & out, left & right. If she's so goddamn concerned about what students owe and/or don't owe, let her pay some of the mfing bills out of that $350gs she gets for fukkin' shit up for the futre president and others who must work there. I bet when she's good and gone, she will have had some type of document drafted and legalized that removes her in a liable way for any $$ that come up missing and/or unacounted for.
ReplyDeleteSeeing how these "trustees" accomodate CVB, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that is already in her "contract". And if it's NOT, the same "trustees" have decided that they're NOT GOING ANYWHERE! Like they really call shots. We need to let them see first-hand that if WE want you out(because you're here for your personal gain and could care LESS anout FAMU)or (you're a key player in the demise of this institution in cahoots with Adam HEBERT, Corbin, bush, CVB, and WARD CONNERLY!), you're OUT!
ReplyDeleteI bet when she's good and gone, she will have had some type of document drafted and legalized that removes her in a liable way for any $$ that come up missing and/or unacounted for.
ReplyDeleteBingo! I thought this was already the case?
Perhaps not all those 5,000+ students are currently enrolled. That figure might be the count of students and former students who owe FAMU.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't draw too many conclusions on the basis of a FAMUAN article without verifying the facts somewhere else. Those articles are written by students who are still learning how to become journalists.
The student journalist were only quoting an administration source.
ReplyDeleteThe problem resides in the office of financial aid, which has not been able to accurately and timely disburse aid to students. If we do not get this fixed, FAMU will loose these students as well.
ReplyDeleteWe simply need competent administrators who can design some type of financial disbursement program wherein students don't get all these financial aid $$ at one time. These kids get all this money, sorta like the young, inexperienced professional aports players getting the muti-million contracts, and don't quite have a grasp on the realities of responsible financial dealings. They get to spending & shopping & malling & buying, and by the end of it all, the $$s are gone and they're broke and they haven't a clue where all that $$ went. Some of the blame is with the parents who have not taught responsible money management, and much of it is with the students. Of course, there's much blame to go around for everyone, including the FAMU administrators (past, mostly) who let this thing get so far out of hand. I know all this because I teach at the University, and I witness this type behavior over & over & over. Last spring semester, I had a young man (from a city in Florida) who purchased a car! (for $7,400) with part of his financial aid money! He was a student who lived on campus at that. Another male student told me that he spent $2,400 on rims for his car. Is this ridiculous or what. But when I asked him why had he not submitted his assignment, he told me he didn't have a computer. I heard a female student tell another student that she'd purchased a $1,600 washer/dryer unit and had ordered a vacuum cleaner that cost $700. She was talking on a cell phone that cost $300, with a plan that had 3,000 plus minutes! She told her friend that she was "used to such extravagances." What can you say? More importantly, what can you do about such abuses? While I don't agree with CVB's administrative tactics all the time, I agree that something, whatever it is, has to be done, and has to be done quickly. Before you know it, the University will have an enrollment similar to that of the 1960s during Gore and Perry's era.
ReplyDeleteYou mean to tell me we're stuck with looking at ol' fish-eye Challis for the next five years if she decides (which we all know she will do) to stay on? Just to not have to look at her and that 'do is reason enough for the makeup (no pun intended, but maybe so) of the Board to change.
ReplyDeleteThe new Governor will have the authority to dismiss Challis and all BOT members if they so desire. Although Challis is a BOG appointee, the Governor appoints the BOG. Many appointees under Governor Chiles were dismissed when Bush came on in 1999. This BOT desires to stay so that they can continue a legacy of destruction but the new administration would have to bless their ignorance.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said... 10/02/2006 11:59 PM
ReplyDeleteThe past administrations are gone and each year the current administration start with an operating budget they proposed/approved and a set of financial statements that they put together.
Part of this problem goes back to the disbursement of financial aid. I work in the system and I am very much aware of what's going on. If the charges to these students' accounts are not real time (posted) and the financial awards are late, consequently, each time FAMU runs a check run one or two things happen. If there are no charges (tuition, fees, dorm, meal plan, park tickets, library fines, etc) in the system these students when those systems are run, it will create a net/refund check every time. Therefore, if the system is reading no charges owed to the university then this is not a student created problem but the current administration's problem.
If students completed/submitted their FAFSA (online) on time, then why are their financial aid files incomplete this late into the semester.
When Castell announced that she threw out 1,000 students we all wonder what she was going to do about the others that still owed the university after the Sept 1 deadline to pay 100% of tuition and fees.
You really can't believe any of what Castell says, but what she does say is really part of the problem. For example, she brought out the fact that she threw away 1,000 students, but she never really addressed what the problem was behind these 1,000 students. She just said enough for the masses to draw the conclusion that Black folks don't pay their bills, Black folks still trying to get over and Blacks always looking for a handout or some welfare treatment. This is the farthest reality from the truth, but even Black folks are willing to buy into this mentality and they are amongst the first to jump on this wagon and criticize. If the system collected what is owed to the University, we have no control over what students decide to do with the balance. Just like FAMU doesn't have any control over how I spend my paycheck.
Finally, James McMillian needs to earn that $170,000 he has been collecting since leaving South Florida and coming to FAMU with Castell (18 months). He is Castell's expert on financial aid and thus far, it has been a complete disaster over the last 18 months. We know on campus that parents have called and become so frustrated that they have yelled and cursed out whomever is on the phone; travelled to Tallahassee to meet with Castell only to be told she is unavailable, doesn't meet with parents, or very busy. Parents have been contacting board members, but they do not realize that the ones they are calling are the closest allies to Castell and will do absolutely nothing to solve their problems.
Yes, FAMU is on lock down, and if you have a complaint there is virtually no where to go.
Believe you me, I know about the "unavailability" of CVB. I've been having some real problems in terms of some things that are going on in my division. I'm a faculty member and am entering my 14th year at the university. I've tried on numerous occasions to meet with the president, only to be told on numerous occasions that she's "busy." Damn, how busy can the woman be? I've only wanted five minutes of her time, but even as a tenured faculty member, I can't even get that. So, I know when parents call, she ain' even trying to hear none of their complaints. What a shame and what a disgrace to the university for the president to absolutely refuse to meet with a faculty member for a few minutes. The woman only cares about numbers and not people. I've never known a person so heartless, so mean-spirited, so callous, so cold, so condescending, so disrespectful, so abrupt, so nasty, so mean, so anti-people, so stink, so heartless. After she leaves the University, I hope that the likes of her (and her Company) will never, ever set foot on the soil of Florida A&M University again.
ReplyDelete11:59, When do they learn? When adults and administration steps up. Administration has nothing to do with wether a student takes a loan or what is done with the money. Nor should they have a say. The agreement is signed by the student and is the responsibility of the student. There are guidelines within the agreement and transportation is accomodated for, so is a laptop. Maybe if computers and I-pods were available on book voucher in the book store, more students would have them. I guess that the fact that students are still waiting for monies from the financial aid department at the moment might lend to the idea that money is moved from other sources, like summer earnings to survive for the first six weeks or so simply because the administration is into smoke and mirrors and really has no system to get the money to students effectively. If you want to focus on the negative, then you are in the wrong arena. If the head is dead, the tail won't wiggle. I have seen more than the majority of classmates pay bills ahead with the money and still have to work to get by. Everyone knows how you're treated in this city still when they know you're not a "Nole". Maybe a scholarship is involved? The aid package is just that. Furthermore, all WE need CVB to do is GO. Plan and implement that.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, all WE need CVB to do is GO. Plan and implement that.
ReplyDeleteAnd the church said...
AMEN!
Anon 1:09, I believe you missed 11:59's point. I believe she/he is saying that there are a number of excesses by the students when it comes to being financially responsible. Everyone knows that financial aid checks are horrendously late whenever they are disbursed to students, but excessive spending--$300 phones? $2000 vacum cleaners? excessive clothes? cars & expensive rims? When does it end? Granted, the University has no more right to tell students how to spend the money any more than someone has a right to tell me how to spend mine, but financial responsibility has to begin somewhere--if not in the home, then where and when? Surely temptation is strong to a kid who suddendly comes into a very small fortune, but as young adults the learning and responsibility must begin somewhere. Many students are responsible, but so many are not, thus many graduate, some taking 6-7 years--because they have been financially and academically irresponsible for such a long time. And being a Seminole or not being a Seminole has nothing to do with being financially and academically responsible. But when a student would rather spend $$ on a car and clothes, but doesn't see the need to purchase the most inexpensive computer and printer, for example, surely something is wrong. I'm a FAMU grduate, but I am not associated with the University. I don't think you understood the blogger's point and completely missed the pint altogether. I don't believe anyone is being negative, just stating an opinion, which I believe you failed to grasp.
ReplyDelete11:01p- I did not MISS the point, I glossed over it because it is not the prevalent culture of students to waste the money granted through loans. Actually, if there were loans or grants awarded them the buck should have stopped at the university. These monies could have come from anywhere furthermore. Excuse me for touching on a few different comments at the same time. Maybe they're all right about students wasting money and NOT PAYING the fees. Or see Anon11:59. Maybe its non-active and past students who owe this money. All I know is I DON"T HAVE MINE! I have Bills. I live here and work in Tallahassee. If you were not exposed to any unkind or compromising positions because you attended FAMU, GREAT! But I am quite familiar with how the many employers in the area treat State students vs. A&M students. Now, if students I know were in charge, they'd be masters at shifting money around to even give an IOU to Peter so he can share it with Paul. My point is that the report is likely misleading and though it probably has fiscal merit, there is still no reason to implicate students as the irresponsible on sight or because they have odd values. That is one of the reasons why they are here. Maybe we could use the SBI 8 afterall to help students at the universtiy appear more professional while they "waste" the money that they'll likely evetntually owe. I am not disputing the idea that money management isn't important, jut that students are the easy scapegoat for everything. I don't remember being PAID to do anything for the university, but do know others who are, account for that. The university recently told my MOTHER that she owed the University money and she graduated during the Smith-Humphries transition era. How in 2005 do you by letter demand anything from her? The degree has been conferred and there was NO money to be owed upon further investigation. What is up with that? I do wish that you'd get involved though anon-belieer@11:01p. It doesn't have to cost any money, just come to talk to the students, e-mail or something. We need socialization as well as other assest you surely posess to further the cause. Otherwise, if its greener, eat it. I assure you that if we spoke in passing more and encourage random conversation,more will become of us. I cannot do it alone. If we keep leaving it up to mainstream media and the like, these stories will soon be looked at as minor whining. I miss the smiles and hugs on campus. And AMEN!
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what the spring enrollment stats are as well as the summer and fall figures are. I'm willing to bet that the spring semester 2006 enrollment figures are going to be way, way, way below what everyone even anticipated. We all know that the uiversity is in a period of financial discomfort right about now, but CVB isn't really making the situation any better what with her heavy-handed tactics to rid the university of so-called financially-dependent deadbeats. How, oh how, did we get here, to this place?
ReplyDeleteWhat in the world is Anonymous 10:51 talking about? Can someone please tell me. Are you suppose to be responding to Anonymous 11:59 or what exactly are you saying? What is your argument? I have read your comment twice, slowly at that, but I do not know what you are talking about.
ReplyDeletei'M CONFUSED.
Let me speak as one of the non-active students that owes FAMU money. When I registered for classes I had to take out a loan. The loan was to be dispersed in 3 segments, summer, fall and spring.
ReplyDeleteI received the distribution for the summer classes and paid for classes (with none to spare). Fall registration went fine, but the distribution of the money seemed to be delayed. I kept inquiring with the financial aid department and they kept saying it's coming.
Fall semester ended and when I received my transcript all my grades had "N"s in front of the grades because my fees had not been paid. I lived at the financial aid office (being a Tallahassee resident) and they kept telling me the money is coming. Spring semester came around and I was allowed to register because they still had in their system that my loan money was on the way. Half way through the spring semester I finally raised enough sand to get to talk to someone of some authority. They told me my loan had been CANCELED...... by me!!! Needless to say this was ridiculous, but that's what they had in "their system". By now I had two semesters of grades and delinquent tuition bills. You won't believe the option they gave me. Either they would delete my grades for the two semesters (remember they had "N"s in front of them) or I would have to pay the outstanding tuition due before I could register for any more classes!!! Wow, what a choice. So I took a job and delayed my education to pay for FAMU's error. By the way, because according to loan company I was not in school, I had to start paying that back, too! So now I owe FAMU (but am paying), paying for the 1/3 or my student loan that was dispursed and I will be one of those statistics that did not graduate in 4 years. I never thought it would happen to me.... but it did.
Anonymous said...10/03/2006 11:01 PM
ReplyDeleteYour argument is flawed and does not follow reason or logic. As another poster pointed out, yell Black folks don't manage money and people like you become the AMEN corner. It would seem FAM has a system (ERP) in place to collect the charges owed for education. If not, I can really understand why the US Dept of Ed is watching the disbursement of aid closely these days.
For the record, funds for education go directly to the University for a reason. Even private organizations either send the funds to FAM or make the checks payable to the recipient and FAMU. That reason is to insure that educational charges, such as tuition and fees, room, books, lab fees, etc. are paid first.
Now if the University fails to pay these charges from these funds I guess it's the students fault as well?
Anonymous said...10/04/2006 8:52 AM
ReplyDeleteThis problem is more common then you know. Since Taligue (sp), financial aid has gone from bad to the worst in the history of FAMU. I know you may not believe this but it is true. These people have even a lesser of understanding of how financial aid works at 4-year institution then the previous administrators. IT IS NOT GETTING BETTER, it is getting worst!
The man's name was Ken Tague. And saying that he made the state of financial aid go from bad to worst is an understatement.
ReplyDeleteHe made things go from bad to CRISIS MODE!
Tague was Castell Bryant's Miami-Dade CC buddy. He had no idea how to run a university-level financial aid office and it showed.
Lines went outside the Foote-Hilyer building to the parking lot in front of the campus clinic and up the stairs towards Lee Hall.
The man rolled back all the improvements that former director Bryan Terry had made in stream-lining the student filing/recording process and replaced them with an web of utter gridlock.
Tague refused to communicate with his associate directors and staff. As a result, confusion and panic within the employee ranks spread like wildfire. Most days, Tague simply barricaded himself in his office and ignored the phone calls, emails, and in-person visit requests from irate parents and students.
In desperation, financial aid employees simply starting telling the enraged parents and students to direct all their complaints and information requests to the president's office.
Castell Bryant marched down to the financial aid office 3-4 times to tear Tague apart. She yelled and screamed at Tague in front of all the employees and students, cursed him out, and told him he wasn't a real man.
Bryant finally fired Tague. However, she has failed to hire a better person. The damage that Tague inflicted has not been lifted. It is a festering wound that is getting worst everyday.
people like me just tell it like people don't want to know and hear. like chris rock says--not, of course, that he is an authority about such things, but he does deliver social commentary in a comic way--niggaz love to not know. call it the amen corner if you will, we must assume some personal responsibility ourselves. and i rest my mfing case. Holla.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how much $$ CVB was paying the Teague guy before he screwed things up so horribly until she sent him packing? If he wasn't so damn greedy, he would've known that he didn't know squat about directing a financial aid office, and he also should have known that CVB wasn't going to change her bitch ways just because she asked him to come. A mfing leopard don't change its spots or a zebra its stripes. Now, some new mfers gone have to come in and straighten out the entire mfing office by the time (or near the time) the new president gets to the University; that is, if anyone's brave enough to come to the damn school in the first mfing place. Hell, I wouldn't even try to be coming to the damn school. I'd be afraid that CVB would fire my black arse even when she's ten thousand miles away, cross the mfing water dome damn place.
ReplyDelete