Politics

President vows to fix FAMU woes

The incoming leader says the school must remain accredited.

By JENNIFER LIBERTO
Published June 29, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Florida A&M University leaders on Thursday said they're committed to making sure the school doesn't lose its accreditation, the vital seal of approval that gives a degree value and qualifies students for federal financial aid.

Incoming FAMU president James Ammons, speaking to a roomful of media and university leaders for the first time since a national body threatened to strip FAMU's accreditation, acknowledged that his alma mater is in trouble.

He called the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' (SACS) Commission on Colleges decision last week to place FAMU on probation "very disappointing."

He said he plans to move quickly to protect the school's accreditation: "We must discover the systemic root of the financial problems, implement a permanent fix and institutionalize these procedures, " said Ammons, 54, who officially becomes president Monday.

Ammons gave few details of how he plans to solve the problems, other than finding good administrators, training current staff and working on communication. He said he will present a plan to "satisfy our stakeholders" at the July 11 meeting of the FAMU board of trustees.

FAMU was founded on Oct. 3, 1887, as the State Normal College for Colored Students.

Today it remains a predominantly black institution and, in spite of recent troubles, is the nation's largest producer of African-American baccalaureates. Enrollment peaked at 13, 070 in 2004 and is now less than 12, 000.

The university, Time magazine's 1997 College of the Year, has struggled in recent years, with turnover in the president's office, and in key academic and financial management posts.

A state audit this spring documented nearly three dozen problems, from unexplained late-night long-distance phone calls to millions in missing inventory and $39-million in unapproved expenditures. Lawmakers were so alarmed, some called for a criminal investigation.

Ammons said former provost Larry Robinson, the school's chief operating officer, has developed a plan to address 22 of the 35 findings in the state audit.

When asked if he is willing to fire anybody, Ammons would only say that "there will be some changes."

Also, FAMU leaders dismissed any suggestion that state government might have to take over administration of the school.

"There will not be a take-over, " said the Rev. R.B. Holmes, vice chairman of the FAMU board of trustees. "We're not going there. We're going to fix it. We're determined to fix it. We have the right leader in place to fix it. And it will be fixed."

Times staff writer Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler contributed to this report.

[Last modified June 28, 2007, 23:55:13]