FAMU Day at the Capitol is Thursday, February 24
By Larry Robinson, Ph.D.
Legislative session, Florida A&M University (FAMU) has prioritized securing financial support to cement our gains in student success even in the face of a relentless pandemic.
For the third consecutive year, FAMU is the highest-ranked public Historically Black College and University (HBCU), according to U.S. News & World Report 2022 Best Colleges ranking of Top Public Universities. We rose to 104 among Top Public Universities, up from No. 117 a year ago. As a leader within the State University System (SUS) in affordability and providing access to first-generation and low-income students, FAMU jumped seven places to be ranked No. 13 on the U.S. News & World Report Social Mobility Index – the truest measure of how a FAMU education transforms the economic trajectory of our students and their families.
We continue to be the leading producer of African American graduates in several disciplines at the baccalaureate, professional and graduate levels. Our flagship College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health, a leading producer of Ph.D.’s in the field, saw its Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Class of 2021 make unprecedented gains in their performance on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE).
On the NAPLEX, the Doctor of Pharmacy class of 2021 earned an 89.9 percent first-time pass rate, an increase of approximately 7 percentage points over the 2020 results. These NAPLEX results also surpassed the current state average of 85.3 percent and the national average of 83.7 percent for first-time test takers.
In 2021, FAMU achieved its highest score on the Board of Governors’ Performance Based Funding model with an increase of six points over last year going from 73 to 79. The University has also made progress in recent years with student recruitment from the Florida College System who enter FAMU with an Associate of Arts degree in hand.
However, significant support is needed to address improvements in first time-in-college (FTIC) four-year graduation rates, FTIC retention rates, and licensure pass rates in nursing, pharmacy and physical therapy. We are requesting $15 million in recurring funding to help address the State University System’s strategic priority to increase student success. This is an investment in improving the socioeconomic status of first-generation and low-income students and fulfilling critical workforce needs.
Among our priorities is a $6.6 million request for the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. The College of Engineering is a vital asset to technology companies. For example, 22 percent of the engineers at Danfoss Turbocor, a major manufacturer in Tallahassee’s Innovation Park, are graduates of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
Modern classrooms, information technology services and laboratories are essential for delivering a quality education and conducting innovative research. We have requested $20.4 million for a Chemical and Biological Research Laboratory Center and $27.7 million for campus-wide utility infrastructure. These one-time requests will help us achieve numerous outcomes. FAMU faculty and staff have set records in research funds garnered for each of the past two years. These funds totaling over $126 million will definitely grow with our Legislative Budget Request.
A renaissance is underway at FAMU. We have come a long way. Students, faculty and staff have accomplished a great deal under challenging circumstances. We cannot go it alone. We are grateful to the Florida Legislature for partnering with us and supporting the future of FAMU and securing the economic well-being of Florida citizens.
Larry Robinson, Ph.D., is the 12th President of Florida A&M University.