FAMU-FSU College of Engineering receives another big investment as BOG studies possible split

The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering continues to receive large financial investments from the state even as the Board of Governors (BOG) continues a $500,000 study into possibly splitting the program.

The 2014-2015 budget passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott included $10M to expand the facilities of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. The money will help the program start construction on a brand new “Building C.”

Now, the State of Florida has another big taxpayer-funded investment in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Yesterday, the BOG held a press conference to celebrate its decision to award a $3M grant to FAMU and FSU that the joint E-College will play a key role in administering. The funds, which come from a $15M legislative appropriation for collaborative university projects, will pay for a program called “Expanding North Florida’s IT Career Pathways.”

The program will help FAMU and FSU graduate a larger number of students with bachelor’s degrees in computer science and computer engineering.

An article published by the Tallahassee Democrat in March reported that the "grant was awarded in order to assist with programs, including the FSU Computer Science, the FSU Information Technology program, the FAMU-FSU Computer Engineering Program, the FAMU Computer Sciences program, the FAMU Information Systems program and the FAMU Information Technology program."

According to WFSU, "The Florida legislature considered divvying up the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering earlier this year, but settled on a study of the issue. That [$500,000] study is being conducted now by an independent firm. [Chancellor Marshall Criser] says that firm has been talking with professors, administrators and students at both schools as part of a legislatively-mandated study on the impact of a division of the college of engineering."

The $10M appropriated for Phase III of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and now $3M for the “Expanding North Florida’s IT Career Pathways” both show that the State of Florida has much more money invested in the college’s success than its possible dissolution.