FAMU could receive $1.9M from Professional and Graduate Degree Excellence Program

BEST Program Orientation for July Bar Exam at FAMU Law

For the 2017-2018 year, Florida A&M University expects to receive $1,959,398 from the State University Professional and Graduate Degree Excellence Program. The FAMU Division of Finance and Administration included the estimate in the Budget Workbook it prepared for this week’s Board of Trustees meeting.

The Florida Legislature approved the program in the Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act of 2017 (CS/CS/SB 374) that it sent to governor’s desk on June 5. Gov. Rick Scott still hasn’t announced whether he will veto the bill.

The language in the act says that: “The State University Professional and Graduate Degree Excellence Program is established to fund and support the efforts of state universities to enhance the quality and excellence of professional and graduate schools and degree programs in medicine, law, and business and expand the economic impact of state universities.”

FAMU could use funds from the program to help its ongoing efforts to help raise the first-try Florida Bar Examination passage rates among its College of Law graduates. One of the accountability benchmarks listed in the bill is: “The first-time pass rate on The Florida Bar Examination.”

The law school is currently placing a renewed emphasis on its Bar Exam Success Training (BEST) Program, which helps students prepare for the test.

FAMU could also use the Professional and Graduate Degree Excellence Program money to assist the School of Business and Industry MBA program. Another accountability benchmark is: “The percentage of graduates enrolled or employed at a wage threshold that reflects the added value of a graduate-level business degree.”