R.B. Holmes, one of the two longest serving members of FAMU’s Board of Trustees, still seems to have no idea how to use famu.edu to find very basic information about the university.Even though FAMU’s six-year graduation rate is posted online by the Office of Institutional Research, Holmes had to ask the administration for that number at the June 1 board meeting. This is the second time in less than twelve months that Holmes has asked that same question. He also asked administrators to tell him the graduation rate back in August.
If Holmes had taken two minutes to look on FAMU’s website before either of those two meetings, he would have found this table that is clearly labeled “Graduation and Retention Rates.”
The Class of 2009’s six year graduation rate is 38.59 according to the State University System of Florida’s formula. It is 39 percent according to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System formula used by the U.S. Department of Education.
Holmes also did a poor job of listening while Provost Cynthia Hughes-Harris and President James Ammons were trying to answer his question. Holmes asked if they had told him the six-year graduation rate was 30 percent after they clearly stated that it was 38.59 percent.
By now, Chairman Bill Jennings should have asked Holmes to finally familiarize himself with famu.edu so he doesn’t have to waste time asking for information that FAMU has already posted in a very obvious place. However, this isn’t likely to happen because Jennings is probably just as clueless as Holmes.
Instead of displaying his ignorance of basic facts posted on FAMU’s website, Holmes should be asking tough questions about the crisis his brother has created over at the Developmental Research School. That’s probably too much to expect from Holmes because it would require him to be objective and actually care about what’s best for FAMU.
So who are you gonna call out when FAMU DRS test scores come back improved.
ReplyDeleteIt is obviously you have something against Holmes and his brother.
Even if FAMU DRS comes back with greatly improved FCAT scores, and we all hope they do, it still won't negate the damage done by Ronald Holmes!
ReplyDeleteThe level of incompetence that Ronald Holmes has exhibited is simply amazing.
If the school is successful and he is the leader how can you call his results incompetent. In fact, it just seems as the Holmes leave the page, something occurs to raise the hate and projects it back on this page. What is really the motive aside from the fact that you clearly have an agenda.
ReplyDeleteThe Ronald Holmes record for 09-10
ReplyDelete+ DRS bailout totaled $425,802
+ Failed enrollment projects 544 enrolled v 600 projected
+ Let's talk about those nine teachers he hired at the beginning of the year based on those faulty enrollment projections and kept
Holmes continues to be an embarrassment to both the BOT and FAMU. There will be a true celebration when his tenure on the BOT ends.
ReplyDeleteRon and RB Holmes are being treated unfairly? What about all the students at DRS?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the grade level principals saying and doing?
ReplyDeleteHas anybody heard or realized that Pastor Holmes has recently lost his 80 something year old mother to cancer? I mean give the man some slack!
ReplyDeleteRN,
ReplyDeleteI have read your blog for sometime now and will continue to read it; however, I must say your point here is rather petty. I don't expect board members to know or always have the time to check the stats you now criticize him for not knowing at that moment. If he was asking for these numbers in response to a point that was being made during the meeting, I can understand why he wouldn't know them, or have the time to check them during the meeting. Again, I don't know the context in which he asked for the numbers, but I expect the board members to know every stat like that and have time to check our website, which by the way can be a bit challenging to navigate at times.
12:51 p.m.
I'm sorry to learn of their loss, but he should always be prepared to respond to questions / criticism concerning FAMU and DRS.
RN, I love your site, but I cringe at your hatred of Rev. Holmes. I mean, the man is not perfect, but geez! Were you also berating him when he was one of the leaders in trying to get rid of Castell Bryant? Did he deny you communion or something? I think you limit your credibility by being so petty all the time. A whole article because he had to ask for a number? Really? Is that really a scandal? Come on.
ReplyDeleteI meant to say that I don't expect the board members to know every stat like that and have time to check our website, which by the way can be a bit challenging to navigate at times.
ReplyDeleteRespectfully,
2:49 p.m.
Holmes did not turn against Castell until she started firing FAMU employees who worked at his church. He didn't say anything when she shut down the recruitment program and chopped up the research division.
ReplyDeleteAMEN 10:18
ReplyDeleteYep. He must have denied you communion. Or not let you sing in the choir. Or swim in the baptismal pool. Or something. Geez!
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness, this is a weak article to put the good Rev Dr. on blast.
ReplyDeleteI mean, not knowing a number is kinda of a lame premise to surmise that he is underprepared for a conversation.
"I mean, not knowing a number is kinda of a lame premise to surmise that he is underprepared for a conversation."
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above comment however other than the discussion about the number did Holmes make any other comment? Did he ask a question about why the number was what it was or how did it compare with the number in the past. Did he inquire about what was the plan if any to change number. I think the followup conversation would show how engaged Rev Holmes is as a trustee. The fact is if you are going to accept students which are underperforming into your university then your graduation rate is going to suffer.
The big problem is not that FAMU is accepting underperforming students. The problem is that students are being slowed down because of the rising cost of education.
ReplyDeleteDr. Ammons said during the meeting that family income is the best predictor of graduation rates. That's one reason that he's making more tuition waivers available next year.
Maybe the great Dr. Ammons meant family income was the best predictor of high GPA and SAT scores which lead to high gradation rates.
ReplyDeleteAt the last board meeting, Ammons specifically said that family income is an important predictor of graduation rates because so many FAMU students (especially out-of-state students) have trouble paying for college.
ReplyDeleteAre high school GPA and SAT scores an important predictor of graduation rates? If so which is the more important predictor? Because if GPA and SAT scores are a predictor even a minor one then to get the maximum increase in graduation rate then whatever financial support should go to those who have shown the greatest potential for academic success.
ReplyDeleteThe tuition at FAMU is among the lowest in the SUS it is unreasonable to expect it to anything but increase. Likewise it is unreasonable to expect the citizens of Florida to support the educational aspirations of students from other states or countries with tuition waivers. It is even more unreasonable to underwrite the tuition of students from other states, and countries who have not shown any level of demonstrable academic achievement through high school or community college GPA or SAT scores.
FAMU's tuition is low but there's very little housing, which makes for a big cost of living. Most FAMU students come from low income households and can't take full course loads. The tuition increases simply make that bad situation worse.
ReplyDeleteGPA and SAT scores reflect family income more than anything else. Students with high scores usually come from families that are more affluent and can handle the rising cost of education.
Even though FAMU's GPA and SAT requirements are lower than FSU and UF's, FAMU still sends more blacks on to earn PhDs. If GPA and SAT scores were really the best indicator of potential, FSU and UF would have more black students going on to earn PhDs.
I question whether or not FAmu housing would be cheaper than market housing. I fear the quality would be so low no student would choose it over the apts. on Adams.
ReplyDeleteSo in your world there is no valid measure of academic accomplishment GPA and SAT scores is based on family income?
Students, especially underclassmen, should be required to stay on campus. FAMU should have as much campus housing as possible in order to accomodate them. The university should also be constantly maintaining and renovating campus housing facilities.
ReplyDeleteThe SAT and ACT test a student's ability to take a standardized test. Students who can afford the prep books and private courses that "teach the test" perform best on them. It's a matter of income.
Post-graduation educational outcomes should be the main concern when comparing universities. We should be looking at the number of students who earn PhDs, earn law or medical degrees, and get jobs after they leave the college.
" The SAT and ACT test a student's ability to take a standardized test. Students who can afford the prep books and private courses that "teach the test" perform best on them. It's a matter of income."
ReplyDeleteI would agree that students who prepare for the test will be better in using the knowledge they have gained and hence have a higher score than someone who choose not to prepare. The point is they can demonstrate under pressure the knowledge they have mastered with high test scores. Its a matter of knowledge, seriousness and character under the pressure of a high risk exam.
"Post-graduation educational outcomes should be the main concern when comparing universities. We should be looking at the number of students who earn PhDs, earn law or medical degrees, and get jobs after they leave the college."
I would agree, but if you are courageous enough to make that the important comparison then you have to be able to speak both about the number of people who get jobs upon graduation and the quality of those positions, academic programs and professional schools. You need to have the intellectual equity (knowledge) to make a quality decision. So if all FAMU graduates are going to medical schools in the Caribbean or chiropractic schools (witch doctor) then you have to question the quality of the program.
Its a matter of knowledge, seriousness and character under the pressure of a high risk exam.
ReplyDeleteAnd again, it's the students who can afford the prep materials and sessions that "teach the test" that do the best. If those opportunities were available to everyone, then test results would be measure something more than income.
So if all FAMU graduates are going to medical schools in the Caribbean or chiropractic schools (witch doctor) then you have to question the quality of the program.
NSF's Survey of Earned Doctorates only includes PhDs from programs accreditated by bodies authorized by the U.S. Department of Education. According to that survey, FAMU is the #1 public university that produces blacks bachelor's degree recipients who go on to earn PhDs.