FAMU Day at the Capitol Celebrates University’s Accomplishments

President Robinson touted the University’s student success initiatives as he advocated for legislative funding.

Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., led a large gathering of devoted alumni, students, faculty, and staff to the state Legislature Wednesday for the annual day of advocating for the institution’s legislative priorities.

Speaking on the steps of the Capitol Courtyard at the start of FAMU Day at the Capitol (DATC) festivities, Robinson lauded the University’s accomplishments in student success and other metrics as he sought legislative support for the institution’s 2023-2024 budget requests.

 

“Results matter. Funding matters. We are seeing increases in our retention and graduation rates as part of our student success initiatives,” Robinson said. “It’s a great time to be a Rattler, but we can’t rest on our laurels. Our task is incomplete. We are requesting from the Legislature $45.5 million in recurring funding to accelerate our efforts to be among the top-tier of State University System institutions in the Florida Board of Governors’ Performance Metrics.”

Among our other top priorities for the 2024 Legislative Session:

• $13.1 million recurring budget request from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering in its drive to become a top 50 engineering school.  Ensuring adequate financial support for undergraduate and graduate students, attracting, and retaining exceptional faculty who can contribute significantly to research and educational objectives. Recruiting highly motivated and skilled staff members who can effectively support operations and contribute to the overall success of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

• $29 million for renovation of the School of Business and Industry (SBI) South. Originally built in 1982 under the leadership and vision of legendary SBI Dean Sybil Mobley, the 49,100-square-feet structure was renovated more than a quarter century ago. SBI is one of FAMU’s signature programs. SBI alumni are excelling in executive suites and board rooms across the country. America’s top companies are aggressively recruiting our students. Those students deserve a facility consistent with their excellence. The five-story structure’s ceilings and floors need replacing; so, do the bathrooms, which need to be ADA compliant. The original HVAC equipment also needs to be replaced. A generator and emergency power grid should be installed throughout the facility.

• $19.1 million for the Chemical and Biological Laboratory Research Center. This center will provide research and study space to facilitate interdisciplinary research conducted by faculty, students and staff in STEM and health related disciplines. It will increase research productivity, including STEM grant awards and research expenditures and an enhanced cadre of competitive graduates for employment in high-need STEM disciplines.

As part of FAMU DATC, delegations of students and staff and alumni visited legislators to advocate for the University’s budgetary needs. Colleges and schools had displays on the second and third floor rotundas. Attendees also took time to acknowledge the work of former FAMU government relations director Barbara Cohen-Pippin, who died on January 27, 2024.

FAMU DATC efforts received a boost from Chancellor of the State University System Ray Rodrigues.

 

“We have a governor who supports higher education; we have friends in the House and Senate who support higher education. All of them support FAMU,” Rodrigues said at the kickoff event for FAMU DATC. “We are going to work hard to have a successful session so we can continue to make the necessary investments in FAMU, so we can continue this rise. I commend you for the job you’ve done, and we will be there to support you for the job you are going to do.”