Marva Johnson is leveraging FAMU's budget in an attempt to quell opposition

FAMU President Marva Johnson is deploying aggressive budget maneuvers in an attempt to win over her critics and rally alumni and student support, tapping into reserve funds to bolster flagship programs like the Marching 100 while teasing imminent faculty raises or bonuses.

Amid ongoing skepticism over her lack of higher ed experience and her extremely high compensation package—including a $650,000 base salary, $150,000 retention bonus, and eligibility for an $81,000 performance incentive—President Johnson plans to move $800,000 from the university’s 'carry forward funds' to support the Marching 100 program this year. Carry forward funds are typically reserved for future emergencies or strategic projects. Johnson plans to tap use the money to help grow the band’s roster from 297 members last year to 330 this academic year. 

The expanded band size could strain existing contracts with the National Battle of the Bands and the Orange Blossom Classic, which were negotiated earlier to include a fixed number of members.  It is not yet clear who will cover the additional travel expenses for the extra band members.

“Director Shelby Chipman is working to grow the band, and we think we can get him there,” Johnson told the FAMU Foundation Board during a virtual meeting August 12. The move, framed as a commitment to tradition and student engagement, comes as Johnson seeks to rally support from a campus community that has questioned her priorities since her controversial hiring.

In a separate bid to address broader concerns, Johnson hinted at a forthcoming proposal to raise faculty and staff salaries during a recent interview with WFSU-FM. The plan, expected to draw from a $10 million surplus in state funding—$10 million more than the university requested—aims to close longstanding pay gaps. “With the state’s investment, we’re hopeful we’ll be able to close the gap on competitive compensation,” she said.

Johnson’s reliance on carry-forward funds for the band has drawn mixed reactions. Critics argue the allocation risks depleting reserves needed for academic programs or infrastructure, while supporters praise it as a nod to FAMU’s cultural legacy.

Johnson’s two week tenure has been marred early missteps and friction since her appointment, with students and alumni citing transparency and censorship concerns and skepticism over her lack of a shared vision. Yet alumni view her recent budgetary nods toward the band and faculty raises as deliberate attempts to "buy off" key constituencies.