The team behind FAMU's compliance success: How leadership and strategic changes led to historic APR scores

As FAMU Athletics celebrates a new milestone with six of its teams achieving perfect 1,000 Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores during the 2022-23 academic year. This remarkable accomplishment marks the highest number of perfect scores in the department's history, signaling a significant turnaround after a challenging period in 2022. 

We wanted to 'look behind the curtain' to see how we got here and introduce you to the compliance staff that made this milestone possible. 
 
Turning a crisis into an opportunity
The journey to this achievement began in the wake of a major setback. In 2022, just before the football season opener, 26 FAMU football players were deemed ineligible by the NCAA, primarily due to certification issues. This debacle cast a shadow over the athletic program and highlighted critical areas needing immediate attention, including compliance, academics, and the overall student-athlete experience.
 
FAMU President Larry Robinson recognized the severity of the situation and took decisive action to address the underlying issues. He turned to the University's Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer, Rica Calhoun, to lead a comprehensive overhaul of the Athletic Compliance team. The objective was clear: to implement new staff and processes that would ensure the overall improvement of the student-athlete experience.
 
Leadership driving change
Calhoun's strategy included recruiting Brittany Johnson, who was then the associate athletic director for student-athlete development and academic success at the University of South Alabama (USA). Johnson brought with her a wealth of experience, having spent nearly a decade at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), where she was instrumental in ensuring compliance for the Panthers' 18 Division I programs and overseeing the maintenance of key academic metrics.
 
At PVAMU, Johnson implemented numerous programs aimed at enhancing the student-athlete experience, such as the Panther Pride program and the Panther 3.0 Club. Her leadership helped establish PVAMU's Office of Athletic Compliance & Academic Services as a premier unit within the Southwestern Athletic Conference. She also served as the conference's Compliance Committee Chair from 2015-2017.
 
Building a strong compliance team
Johnson's arrival at FAMU marked the beginning of significant changes within the athletic compliance department. She was appointed senior associate athletic director for compliance and senior woman administrator (SWA). Joining her were other key hires who brought specialized expertise to the team:
 
Lori Goodart, associate athletic director for compliance-financial aid and benefits
Kelley Bickham, coordinator, athletics compliance – certification and eligibility
Jerry Goodson, coordinator, athletics compliance – general compliance
Tia Huie, coordinator, athletics compliance – financial aid and benefits

Together, this team worked diligently to revamp the compliance processes and support systems for student-athletes, ensuring that FAMU's athletic programs adhered to NCAA standards and fostered academic success.
 
A historic achievement
The results of these efforts were nothing short of transformative. Six FAMU athletic teams achieved perfect 1,000 APR scores during the 2022-23 academic year. This achievement not only reflects the dedication and hard work of the student-athletes but also underscores the effectiveness of the new compliance and academic support structures put in place.