- Lawmakers at the Florida Capitol are piecing together the state’s spending plan.
- Florida A&M University officials have a few items they’d like to add to the list.
- Listen to how the school used ‘FAMU Day at the Capitol' as a chance to ensure their requests are heard.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
Before the school’s president laid out his legislative priorities on Wednesday in the Capitol Courtyard, the crowd heard from the school’s band—the "incomparable" Marching 100.
FAMU’s Interim President Timothy Beard, who is on a one-year deal while the school finds its next permanent leader, highlighted the impact of last year’s $50 million funding appropriation from the State Legislature.
He said FAMU remained the highest rated public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) for the sixth consecutive year. And he points out the school’s College of Nursing students are performing above the national benchmark for passing their licensure exams.
“A return on investment raised the NCLEX, the national exam for nursing students, passage rate to nearly 94%," said Beard.
Additionally, Beard on Wednesday highlighted the university last fall receiving over 24,000 applications from students looking to enroll in the school, which he said is the most the school has ever received.
“This surge reflects FAMU’s growing reputation of a transformative institution," he added.
But it’s not all about growing student numbers.
Jamal Sowell, FAMU’s Vice President of Government Relations and the school’s lead lobbyist, told WFSU after the event that this year FAMU is looking to increase school safety and expand its law school and agriculture programs.
“We have requested to support the College of Law, the College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, and for campus security hardening and operational enhancements," Sowell explained.
"All of these specifically will support student success and academic achievement.”
FAMU’s request totals $55.5 million.
Beard said he hopes the funds will be broken up to ensure they have enough money to also recruit and retain faculty.
The House and Senate are working on the details of their spending plans this week.
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Hosted by Tom Flanigan -
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