JET Magazine recently applauded FAMU for its commitment to providing a high-quality education at a reasonable cost.“An education is the key to changing one's socioeconomic status,” FAMU Vice President for Student Affairs William Hudson Jr. said. “It is important that we do not price out students who want a quality education. An education is truly something that no one can take from you.”
Back in October, Rattler Nation reported that President James H. Ammons’ administration has reversed FAMU’s ten-year slump in lower division course load averages. Not only are course loads up, but FAMU’s lower division students (those with fewer than 60 credit hours) are now taking higher course loads than their peers at the University of Florida.
The increase in freshman and sophomore course loads at FAMU is important because it illustrates that the university is successfully addressing a key problem that prevents many of its students from graduating in a timely manner. FAMU’s housing shortage makes college very expensive for the student body. Most students come from families that make $30,000 or less per year. Students typically reduce their course loads as the cost of college goes up.
FAMU has taken a number of steps to help students take higher course loads. Ammons has beefed up scholarships and rolled out bigger fee breaks to help students obtain more money for classes. The Division of Academic Affairs led by Provost Cynthia Hughes-Harris has made more academic advisors available on campus. This helps prevent students from taking unnecessary courses that cost them lots of cash and slow down their path to graduation.
The university is also securing construction bonds to expand on-campus housing, which will permit even more students to avoid the high prices of off-campus apartments.