The FAMU employees who are outraged that President James Ammons received a $113,750 bonus in the midst of multi-million dollar budget cuts need to take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves:
“What have I done to push the university administration and legislature to develop better revenue creation policies?”
Whether or not Ammons gives back (or defers) the bonus, layoffs will happen because FAMU just took a $13.1M hit in general revenue.
Lots of Rattlers are in a hurry to talk about what someone else is getting paid, but very slow to rally behind realistic, long-term solutions to the university’s budget crisis.
Those who want to talk about employee pay should be asking tough questions about why FAMU administrators and trustees have not considered all the revenue creation options that are being used by other state universities.
Florida State University waived a portion of certain out-of-state students' fees as a way to help them buy more credit hours and add millions to the budget. Why hasn’t FAMU done the same?
The FAMU workers who believe that tuition increases will save them are in for a rude awakening.
Lawmakers continue to use inflated projections that ignore how most FAMU students just take smaller course loads whenever college prices go up.
This year, the legislature has thrown out another bloated, net tuition revenue projection that FAMU has no chance in hell of reaching: $4.4M (for a total of $57.1M). Even if FAMU did exist in a fantasy world where that number was possible, it wouldn’t come close to plugging the budget hole.
Rattlers need to ask another important question: Where were the loud voices from FAMU workers when Florida Senate Minority Al Lawson was struggling to close tax loopholes that would have generated multi-millions for the public higher education budget?
If Ammons turns down the bonus it will be a “feel-good” symbolic gesture to some, but that wouldn’t save most of the FAMU jobs that are about to disappear.
Rattlers need to get real and get active in supporting policies that will actually solve FAMU’s budget woes.
“What have I done to push the university administration and legislature to develop better revenue creation policies?”
Whether or not Ammons gives back (or defers) the bonus, layoffs will happen because FAMU just took a $13.1M hit in general revenue.
Lots of Rattlers are in a hurry to talk about what someone else is getting paid, but very slow to rally behind realistic, long-term solutions to the university’s budget crisis.
Those who want to talk about employee pay should be asking tough questions about why FAMU administrators and trustees have not considered all the revenue creation options that are being used by other state universities.
Florida State University waived a portion of certain out-of-state students' fees as a way to help them buy more credit hours and add millions to the budget. Why hasn’t FAMU done the same?
The FAMU workers who believe that tuition increases will save them are in for a rude awakening.
Lawmakers continue to use inflated projections that ignore how most FAMU students just take smaller course loads whenever college prices go up.
This year, the legislature has thrown out another bloated, net tuition revenue projection that FAMU has no chance in hell of reaching: $4.4M (for a total of $57.1M). Even if FAMU did exist in a fantasy world where that number was possible, it wouldn’t come close to plugging the budget hole.
Rattlers need to ask another important question: Where were the loud voices from FAMU workers when Florida Senate Minority Al Lawson was struggling to close tax loopholes that would have generated multi-millions for the public higher education budget?
If Ammons turns down the bonus it will be a “feel-good” symbolic gesture to some, but that wouldn’t save most of the FAMU jobs that are about to disappear.
Rattlers need to get real and get active in supporting policies that will actually solve FAMU’s budget woes.
You might also be interested in: SUS budget cut $211M this year
Budget emergency spurs tax talks
Damn!
ReplyDeleteYou said that there!
Excellent points. There was a time that this blog asked the tough questions that you are asking the faculty/staff to ask. I guess once Castell was gone asking the tough questions was no longer news worthy
ReplyDeleteThis is funny! This is a joke! FAMU needs help, things have gotten better but lets be clear this Opinion, is SPIN! The bonus is apart of the apathy!
ReplyDeleteApathy: Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference.
The salaries of the Top including Ammons is pathetic. When so many people have to be let go and programs cut. So, how are the employees suppose to react, when the "Leadership" is living high on the hog. Dr. Humprhies was the lowest paid University in the SUS and he never made over 185,000 dollars a year, even after 16 years and unprecedented growth and success.
If anything this article just justify what most of us are saying. What are these administrator doing? Why not look at the other universities and learn from them? Why do they insist on reinventing the wheel. That been what I and a whole lot of people been asking this whole time. These administrators are being paid a boat load of money and some bonuses for doing what making sure we accredited, keep the books organized and clean,... etc that part of their job. Don't get me wrong I appreciate all Ammon's has done but that only part of the reason we hired him. He needs to crack the leather on his admin staff and tell them to start doing their jobs or FAMU will find itself back in trouble land sooner rather than later. I'm sorry I'm not going to measure my school by the 5 years of hell. My measuring stick I'm going to use for Ammons and FAMU was FAMU of the late 90's. We have to get back to there and beyond anything less is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteRe. your headine, "Apathy, not bonus, holds FAMU back." Well certainly, one person's "bonus" doesn't have the capability to "hold FAMU back." I understand the article, but, well, what's the deal with that headline?
ReplyDeleteThese comments certainly validate the point made by the opinion piece. People are still complaining about the bonus but aren't discussing plans to actually bring more $$$ into the university.
ReplyDeleteWhat the author and poster 11:48 am does not seem to get is that WE won't give anything to the university while administrators are not operating transparently and in the best interest of the university!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have to speak with the power we have and in this instance the message is - Don't seek our financial support when you're stuffing your pocket and your friends pockets instead of strengthening the financial foundation of the university and its students!
If the FAMU Administrators were serious at getting FAMU going they would make sure the faculty doing research were, and the FAMU resarch effort was, given back a bigger slice of the Indirect Costs they generate.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, 2:17, as you very well know, is that the administrators are NOT serious about "getting FAMU going." What they're interested in is fattening their pocketbooks and wallets on the backs of those who deserve more than the little pittance and crumbs that they decide to throw at us -- yes, I am a faculty member -- and to keep moving along. End of Story.
ReplyDeleteThis is just class envy. You have to pay to retain talent.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this opinion piece. The only reason everyone is jumping on our president for not declining the bonus is because the media announced it by saying that FAMU’s BOT contractually gave Ammons a 35% bonus, which will make him the third highest paid president in the SUS. Shortly after, another newspaper reported that with all of the perks and fringe benefits, Ammons is in the lower tear of pay of the SUS college presidents with FSU, UF, and UCF president being in the top three (they don’t consider those “fringe benefits” apart of their salary like FAMU does). Ask yourself this one question, although we now know that other SUS president turned down their bonus’, how many of those “so called bonus’” have the media informed us of prior to Dr. Ammons’ was announced?
ReplyDeleteMy second point: I do understand the current economic situation that we are in today; but let’s digress for a minute. Two years ago, Dr. Ammons came to a University that was on academic probation, declining student enrollment and programs that were being threatened be to cut (i.e. law). Two years later the school has been removed from probation (and we expect to hear in December that SACS has fully reaffirmed us), enrollment increase from the previous years and we finally have competent administrators in key position that will continue to grow the school (all in a two year time period). While we can compare the other SUS president that have "given bonus money back" to their schools, name one that has had the difficulties that Ammons has had during the first two years of his administration. Also, during these deep economic cuts, up to this very date, how many full time employees have been fired due to the economic down turn at FAMU compared to the other SUS schools? We can compare them on a percentage basis, by the raw numbers, or how ever you want to look at them; FAMU still has one of the lowest “unemployment rates” during this economic crisis in the SUS and that can largely be credited to Dr. Ammons and his administration which includes Mrs. Hardee.
Are more difficult days ahead; will some employees lose their jobs in the upcoming future; possibly! Should we not applaud Dr. Ammons for the job that he has done thus far in his young administration, and reward him with his earned bonus?
One more question, if Dr. Ammons did not do all of the things that he has done to get the University back on a solid foundation, would we argue to give him more time, or would we say lets fire him and find someone else that can do the job better? History tells us that at FAMU, we expect our administrator to make lemonade out of rotten lemons, and when the lemonade is too bitter we are quick to criticize. On the other hand, when these same administrators ask for our help in planting a new lemon garden, many of us sit back and watch them plow the field, plant the seed, water the crops and then when the harvest comes are quick to say---That’s FAMU’s/OUR lemon field. In the words of the President of the United States, it is not only his time, it’s OUR time.
Like the author of the post has suggested, if we truly care about FAMU, it would not matter if Dr. Ammons accepted a bonus that he truly deserved or gave it back. What we would truly be doing is holding town hall meetings, forms, chats, blogs, etc., on how to increase revenue, either via more research dollars, corporate donors, and alumni giving. We all have the opportunity to be great for our University, will we answer the call and stand by and serve a commentators?
So much of the comments point back to what the administration is and is not doing. Alumni many times take their position on various issues from the leadership. If the university governmental affairs people do not educate the FAMU community as to how certain policies will impact the university then how can we take certain stands? Most of us do not follow the political process close enough to determine what the impact on FAMU will be. That is the university's job to inform us as to these practices and how best we can impact the process. You do not want alumni interfering inappropriatey either.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest problems at FAMU is a really good communication venue about issues. Sure we get the press releases, but that does not really focus on the day-to-day operations of the university. Our alumni association is in such a poor state that you cannot call on them to help inform the populace regarding impact.
Where are the new ideas for FAMU? What does FAMU do with these new ideas? I have heard several ideas mentioned on this blog. How many have been implemented? Too many people at FAMU are comfortable with the status quo and they have no interest in moving the university forward.
A prime example is the upcoming Reunion Weekend for alumni. Look at the calendar of events: ths party, that card party, this breakfast, this luncheon, this stepshow. This would have been a perfect time to dialogue with alumni about the vision the president has for the university, ideas and suggestions from the audience, presentations from the various deans and departments regarding their needs. An opportunity to ask alumni to give and create endowments for the university. A presentation on planned giving. All of the problems at FAMU do not require millions of dollars to solve.
Other universities use their alumni time on the campus to inform and toreceive financial and other support. We use our alumni time on campus for socialization.
I have been in Higher Education for the pass forty years and I have never seen the budgets for universities in worse shape than today. It causes me great concern and disappoints me that a university president would receive a 35% salary increase, while at the same time proposing to cut and merge academic programs. I was always taught the university was there to provide excellence to our students by way of Academic programs and activities. It appears this is no longer the case.
ReplyDeleteI have stood by FAMU for many years and will continue to be there. But I am sorry but I can no longer give to the FAMU Foundation if this is an example of how my money will be used.
I am disappointed with the FAMU Leadership!
FAMU has to finalize it's FYE 2010 budget by June 30th. There's still time for the faculty and other workers to come out in support of new revenue options. If other universities are using tuition breaks to raise millions, then FAMU's board of trustees should at least hold a discussion on the idea.
ReplyDeleteHow many people reading this are going to write a letter, send an email, or make a phone call to get this and other new revenue options on the table for the next BOT meeting?
4:21 PM, You make more sense than anybody. The FAMU Foundation also helps fund scholarship so I will continue to donate. Dr. Ammons deserves his bonus and I'd hate to think of what or where FAMU would be if it was not for him & his leadership team.
ReplyDeletePlease continue to support OUR university. Don't hate a man for being successful.
Ammons is in the lower tear of pay of the SUS college presidents with FSU, UF, and UCF president being in the top three
ReplyDeleteUm, last I checked, those presidents command campuses and budgets much, much greater than here at FAMU.
-UCF is the fifth-largest university in the United States.
-UF's prez oversees 51,000 students, and a budget of over $2 billion dollar a year
-FSU prez oversees 40,000+ students, and a budget of over $1 billion a year
Not that I care for either of the above institutions, but the facts are there.
TK's bonus, which he turned down, before accepting was $281,000 !!! He make no apologies for accepting it either.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point; but my point is that Ammons is not the third highest paid SUS president. I think the media said that to sensationalize this idea to get a frenzy around Dr. Ammons' bonus.
ReplyDeleteGreat post 4:37
ReplyDelete@2:28
ReplyDeleteTalent? You really want to go there today? You want us to talk about some of that talent like Robert Seniors the same man that had the registration system down for the first two weeks of school and 3 week prior to that. Still dont' know why there is no main FAMU active directory, no fully functional exchange server (sharing calendars..etc), unreliable email system, or why FAMU lagging so behind on Online degrees/classes (that could generate a lot of money and increase enrollment) but anyway. Or a certain AD that has the Athletics department in the RED with no end insight. Really you want to go there today..
As far as the discussion of generating money for FAMU as I stated above Online Degrees and Classes is a good source of income. You adding students to your enrollment without adding more strain on your campus resources. Ammons has his work cut out for him cause FAMU so behind the curve not even funny. Technology can make you or break you if you don't have the right folks and talent running the show. EIT use up a lot of FAMU money and I question how much of a return they getting on some of those investments. Bottom line FAMU has to start thinking out the box and I don't know if those administrators can to much old school not enough new school running the show.
"As far as the discussion of generating money for FAMU as I stated above Online Degrees and Classes is a good source of income. You adding students to your enrollment without adding more strain on your campus resources."
ReplyDeleteThat's an excellent point. We'll be covering an issue related to that next week and in future stories.
In response to 4:37, "A prime example is the upcoming Reunion Weekend for alumni. Look at the calendar of events: ths party, that card party, this breakfast, this luncheon, this stepshow. This would have been a perfect time to dialogue with alumni about the vision the president has for the university, ideas and suggestions from the audience, presentations from the various deans and departments regarding their needs. An opportunity to ask alumni to give and create endowments for the university. A presentation on planned giving. All of the problems at FAMU do not require millions of dollars to solve."
ReplyDeleteSources in multiple FAMU offices say that the calendar of events you described was formulated with the responses of the target alumni. They stated that they found previous years' agenda too confining and too much like a Board meeting than a Reunion. Therefore, many fun items were planned, instead of formal ones, and frequent Asks were made. The result was pledges and donations in excess of $125k, which is a great deal more than last year's haul.
As to Ammons' bonus, how much did he keep for himself? Another anonymous source stated that a very hefty chunk of that went right on back into the FAMU endowment.
I read this and im shaking my head. The board went for the gusto of 35% when they shouldve at l east when for the minimum if they were serious about hhonoring the contract they wouldve have just went for the minimum 25%.Hopefully Pres Ammons will do the right thing and decline the bonus. This is not the time.
ReplyDeleteAs a person who has attended many alumnin weekends, this one is no different with the exception that there is no graduation to attend and no alumni meeting included. The reunion weekend has been nothing but breakfasts, lunches and dinners with cookouts in between and sometime a campus dinner. I am sure people are complaining about no downtime between social activities. There have never been any substantiative workshops or meetings. Pull the last 10 Reunion Weekends. Your source lied to you about a poll. You must understand most of the people who attend Reunion Weekend are 0ver 60. There issue was shuttling from building to building. Whether its a stepshow or cookout. FAMU needs to better utilize alumni time on the hill. I am not really that impressed that $500,000 was raised. We have the capacity to do more. If you include planned giving and try to get alumni to establish charitable trusts, make FAMU the beneficiary of insurance policies you will easily reach over a million dollars. Such low expectations...
ReplyDeleteDr. Ammons wake up and smell the coffee. You can't raise any monies for the university because your to business LLLLIIINNNIIINNNGGG Your Chairman pockets. Who in turn is helping you to get a big Bonus. THE BOT AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT IS SHOWING EVERYONE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE HBCU. (THERE ALWAYS OPTIONS TO FUND RAISING) ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA WHO GOT SERVERAL MILLIONS IN (30DAYS)
ReplyDelete6:00PM, if you keep making sense, no one is going to listen. The more relevant points you make, the faster they run screaming into the hills. Knock it off!
ReplyDelete