As many of you know, Dr. Larry Robinson has recently announced his decision to step down as President of Florida A&M University (FAMU). This development comes at a time of significant uncertainty and concern for our beloved institution. While Dr. Robinson has faced criticism and made some mistakes, including the recent high-profile embarrassment with the Gerami Donation, which was used as a pretext for him to step down under pressure. It is undeniable that he has kept FAMU on an upward trajectory, achieving remarkable successes. Under his leadership, FAMU has reached new heights, earning a place in the top 100 national public universities, outperforming notable institutions in Florida according to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report. Specifically, FAMU (#91) ranks higher than Florida Atlantic University (FAU #112) and is closely positioned behind the University of Central Florida (UCF #64) and Florida International University (FIU #64). Dr. Robinson will go down in FAMU history as one of its most consequential presidents. We must hope that in this climate, we retain enough control of the search process to identify and select a president with the academic prowess, political acumen, fundraising stature, and judgment to steer this great university through a period of “High Stakes” of the most complex order.
Adding to this uncertainty, the Florida Board of Governors (FBOG) has threatened to eliminate several key programs at FAMU, including the law, nursing, and pharmacy schools. During a recent committee meeting, Vice Chair Alan Levine expressed his discontent by stating, “I’m prepared to vote to take these programs away if we can’t do it the right way” (Tallahassee Democrat, June 28, 2024). These words are alarming and remind us of a troubling past when FAMU’s law school was defunded and repurposed to Florida State University (FSU). Now, discussions suggest a similar fate could befall the law school again, this time repurposed to the University of Central Florida (UCF).
These issues resonate deeply with me, not just as a major donor and fundraiser to the university, but as the son of Dr. Frederick S. Humphries, who played a pivotal role in restoring FAMU’s law school and its prominence during his presidency, commonly known as the “The Humphries Era”. The potential elimination of these programs would be a devastating blow, undermining all of the progress and legacy built over the years. To be clear, in this environment, these are not idle threats but must be seen as a direct threat and nothing short of a promise.
One need look no further than the politicization of New College of Florida and the recent appointments of right-wing political figures at the University of Florida, former US Senator, Ben Sasse and New College of Florida. When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed six new members to the board of New College of Florida, he signaled a clear intent to shift the college’s direction. One appointee, conservative activist Christopher Rufo, made it explicit: “We are recapturing higher education,” he wrote on Twitter (now known as X). His agenda includes eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and hiring new faculty aligned with conservative values. Within 120 days, Rufo told The New York Times, the school’s academic departments would look “very different.”
The implications of these threats extend far beyond FAMU. They must be viewed in the context of broader plans, such as Project 2025 for higher education, which aims to reshape the national landscape of higher education with significant focus on funding and resource allocation. This initiative raises concerns about its impact on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like FAMU, the only public HBCU in Florida and the top-ranked public HBCU in the United States.
Project 2025 includes several proposals that pose significant threats to HBCUs (Inside Higher Ed, July 11, 2024), including:
Defunding DEI Programs: Proposals to eliminate funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, which are integral to the mission of HBCUs and their support for marginalized communities.
Consolidation and Mergers: Suggestions to consolidate smaller institutions or merge them with larger ones, potentially stripping HBCUs of their independence and unique cultural and historical significance.
Reduction in Federal Aid: Plans to cut federal financial aid programs, such as Pell Grants, which disproportionately benefit students at HBCUs, thereby making higher education less accessible for low-income students.
Regulatory Changes: Increased oversight and reporting requirements that could place additional administrative burdens on HBCUs, which often operate with fewer resources.
Historically, HBCUs have been critical in providing opportunities and advancing the interests of African Americans, serving as gateways to professional and academic success. The current threats to FAMU’s programs are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend of undermining institutions that have played vital roles in civil rights and educational equity.
As stakeholders of FAMU, it is crucial to recognize that these developments are interconnected and signal a potential rollback of the progress achieved over the last 60 years. The dismantling of FAMU’s programs would affect not only the university but also the broader African American community and the legacy of civil rights in America.
The call to action is clear: vigilance and advocacy are essential. The FAMU community must mobilize to protect its institution and its legacy. This means engaging in dialogues with policymakers, raising public awareness, and leveraging media to highlight the importance of FAMU’s programs. The elimination of these programs would be a significant setback not only for FAMU but for the entire state of Florida and its commitment to diversity and educational excellence.
As FAMU faces these multifaceted challenges, stakeholders must unite in defense of the university’s future. The threats posed are not merely administrative decisions designed to efficiently allocate state resources across the state; they symbolize a larger movement that could reshape the educational and social landscape of America. The time to act is now, to ensure that FAMU continues to thrive and uphold its mission as a leading HBCU and a beacon of hope and opportunity for future generations.
It goes without saying, VOTE in November as if the University’s existence depends on it because it does….
In conclusion, its only fitting that I remind all that my father, Dr. Humphries. Adored for his rousing “Rattler Charge,” he frequently repeated Dean of Students Moses G. Miles’ popular Psalms 137:5–modified exhortation: “if anybody attempted to do harm to FAMU, may his right hand lose its cunning and his tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth! For FAMU must live forever!”
Laurence Humphries
Concerned Stakeholder
References:
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public
