FAMU President Robinson Lauds PBF and Legislative Allocations, New Leadership

Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., said Performance-Based Funding Allocations, while non-recurring, will significantly help boost the University’s student success efforts.

FAMU received $15.9 for scoring 78 out of 100 on the Florida Board of Governors (FLBOG) Performance-Based Funding (PBF) Model and $7.5 million for faculty recruitment and retention. Robinson was optimistic about the University’s upward trajectory. 

“Our overarching goals are to become a leader in the SUS Performance-Funding Base Model outcomes, break into the Top 100 national public universities, establish ourself as a Carnegie 1 Research institution, and become a top producer of STEM, health and business graduates,” said Robinson, who added that faculty research spending is up from $75 million to around $90 million for the current fiscal year. “It’s going to be a great year ahead. We are very excited about it.”

Since the PBF funding is not guaranteed every year, the money will not be used to add new faculty and staff positions but can be used for recruitment and retention bonuses, and other incentives to ensure the University employs a world-class faculty and staff, which is a key component of student success, Robinson said. However, the Legislature allocated FAMU $10 million in recurring funds to elevate and sustain student success; increase graduation rates and first-time licensure pass rates; increase undergraduate and post graduate Programs of  Strategic Emphasis, including STEM, business and health programs; recruit, develop, and retain world-class faculty and to increase research productivity.

The University also secured $1.5 million in recurring funds for the Peaden Education Center in Crestview, Florida. The Legislature also funded several infrastructure initiatives, including $9.2 million for the Chemical and Biological Research Laboratory Center and $13.5 million to completely renovate Howard Hall, home of the famed Rattler Battalion ROTC program.

During Monday’s press conference, Robinson introduced new Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Donald Palm, Ph.D., and new Vice President Academic Affairs/Provost Allyson Watson, Ph.D., as “two senior administrators in higher education who bring that expertise to move the needle forward in terms of Performance-Based Funding.”

“This is where I cut my teeth – becoming a faculty member, a full professor and really working with the academics, teaching, research, and service and, more importantly, it’s where I built my leadership skills,” said Palm, who is executive vice president/provost at Virginia State University. “I am truly excited about getting back to ‘Excellence With Caring.’ That has stuck with me for a long time. I’m ready to come back and have an impact on your vision but also making sure that we’re getting priorities regarding student success.”

Palm succeeds outgoing COO Maurice Edington, Ph.D., who is leaving to become president of the University of District of Columbia. A former FAMU associate provost for undergraduate studies, Palm was excited about returning to the Tallahassee campus after seven years.

Watson served as interim provost before being named to the position after Edington’s recent announcement of his departure. She echoed Palm’s focus on the need to follow the University’s five-year Strategic Plan “Boldly Striking” and becoming a top public university.

“We look forward to engaging our faculty, our staff, our students, and our academic advisors to truly be the leading national public institution in the country,” Watson said. “We have a lot to do to make these things come to reality. It’s my goal to make sure that our deans feel supported and make sure that our faculty feels that they can move forward with their initiatives and truly move the needle on academic success.”