Florida A&M University is in line to get more than $25.5 million in performance funding. That’s due to making progress on the state’s university report card.
FAMU has made gains when it comes to increasing graduation rates, retaining students and lowering the number of students admitted who may not meet the schools’ requirements. Provost Marcella David says loan default rates are also dropping.
“There’s a limit to what we can do and given our student body and the financial fragility of our population as a whole, but we’re using the best practices in order to give students the advice they need in order to help them keep on track," said David.
FAMU’s appearance before the Florida Board of Governors was a big turnaround from last year—when school administrators were criticized for a performance plan the board said wasn’t good enough. Board member Alan Levine criticized that previous plan. But he says he’s 100 percent for the proposal presented Wednesday.
“What I’m encouraged about the strategic plan, is that it’s tied directly back to the performance metrics. It’s hard-wired into the strategic plan, which frankly, I’m not sure all the other universities have done," Levine told FAMU President Elmira Mangum and Provost Marcella David. "You may be the only school that has a strategic plan that’s explicitly tied to the metrics, which I think is a positive.”
Universities stand to gain or lose funding based on a set of metrics chosen by the Board.
