'A very steep mountain to climb'

How much trouble is the Florida A&M University law school in? A lot, according to a scathing new report by an American Bar Association site team that visited the Orlando campus in October.

The 48-page report, released in March and obtained by The Gradebook through a public records request, cites faculty infighting, low bar passage rates and a dwindling lack of trust between students and administration.

"In short," it concludes, "there is a lot of work to be done in a very short period of time if the Law School is to achieve its goal of receiving full accreditation from the ABA in 2009. At the moment, it appears to be a very steep mountain to climb … "

The report echoes concerns raised last year in a series of stories in the St. Petersburg Times (see here, here and here), and to some extent, it is old news. New dean LeRoy Pernell (left) arrived on campus in January and has since made a number of changes, including the hiring of new professors and administrators.

And yet, the report sheds fresh light on the depths to which the law school had sunk since it was established in 2002 with more than $40 million in taxpayer money.

It also suggests the university's problems go beyond the financial control issues that brought scrutiny from auditors and lawmakers and that those problems have undermined academic quality.

The report puts a lot of emphasis on faculty tension. Even with precious time running out on the 5-year accreditation clock, junior and senior faculty could not put aside differences long enough to smoothly work together on a study assessing the school's strengths and weaknesses, the report says.

"Repeated and painful efforts with limited success to get full faculty participation and buy-in during the Self-Study process reflects at best, a faculty overburdened and unable to function together even when the goal is considered a unifying priority, or, at worst, a callous disregard for the future of the Law School," the report says.

There are a few bright spots: While the report chides faculty for publishing "less than expected," it says teaching quality ranges "from satisfactory to exemplary." It says communication between the main campus in Tallahassee and the law school has improved. And it says new leadership under President James Ammons (right) is "among the most positive developments of the past year."

If a turnaround does happen, the report says, "it will be because the new 'guys' at the school choose to join forces to make it happen, and together they have the persuasive powers to bring the faculty and staff along to help with the climb to the mountain top."

To see the university's response, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Comments

[Jennifer]

Look at the lies being told here. UF graduates more blacks than FAMU? FAMU graduates more blacks than any college college in the country

We're not going to integrate. Not with UF, not with UCF, and not with Florida State. And all you guys can do is stomp your feet and be mad.

RATTLERS STRIIIIIIKE!!!!

[Kevin]

Hey Cut-n-Paste Master,

Here's some news, posting raw findings is not indicative of very much - other than a report was transcribed into words and posted on the internet.

For example, "Finding No. 17: The University had not adopted written standards for authorized transmission of the myUFL systems data over emerging technologies."

Ummm....so what? This is hardly losing 4 million dollars or hiring a Legal writing director who would find it a challenge to pass the FCAT.

Ignore the moron, SHE is trying to distract from the true issue that FAMU is not much more than a crappy community college that hides behind the "Historic black college" label to excuse its gross incompetence, poor programs and inept ministrations.

The one thing that FAMU DOES is instill a sense of 'blinding pride' in its students that cripple them from playing a meaningful role in society and futher marginalize them from their college-educated peers. Maybe they should examine more closely the concept of "hubris" in their freshman english course curriculum - professors and students.

[Do you have a solution?]

It is so easy to complain about anything, but what can any of us to help?

FAMU is definitely segregated. What university can get away with handing out scholarships only to one ethnic group? FAMU of course! The funny thing is FAMU gets the under qualified who should be going to community college and not a 4 year institution. The trends will continue and FAMU will be forced to size down considerably or enroll people of other color.

Remember black students are far more successful at UF with a 70 odd percent 6 year graduation rate. At FAMU it is 38, and the public knows to well about the extremely watered down curriculum at FAMU. In all likelihood the majority of those graduating students could not even attend, nor graduate from other schools.

FAMU's finances are definitely in better shape than UF's.

What do you think? A separate school for Florida's black college students in the 21st century? Or a notion whose time has passed?

FAMU historically black or JUST PLAIN SEGREGATED!

[Fur-0'-Six-Us]

I attend Famu College of Law. I have read all these comments and I feel that you all need to get out of your computer chair and take a trip to 20l Beggs Avenue and check out the school for yourself. Buy one of our 2008 Law Review Articles, that alone will show you the type of LAWYERS this institution is churning out. Sit in our class rooms this summer and see what kind of education we are getting.

I feel that it is a big slap in the face for some of you to say that our College of Law only accepts those who cannot cut it on the LSAT. I've been accepted to 4 law schools, 3 accredited, and Famu. I chose Famu because I was sold when I visited the building, and when I met the faculty, and the students. Furthermore, I am not the only one who made that choice over other schools. We are on the brink of accredation and will be part of history. I will be proud of my degree, and I doubt it will have much bearing on finding employment. As a matter of fact one of the major firms in orlando, (Holland and Knight), hires Famu College of Law students. Why don't you ask them how we are preforming?(I am confident that we will be accredited this year!)

Instead of bashing us, maybe you should come and see where your tax payer money is going. No one mentioned how Barry Law school (which just got accredited) went through some of the same trials and tribulations that we have. Not to mention that they (at one point) lost partial accredation and left some students without an ability to sit for the bar when they graduated. No one reports about the good things that the College of Law does. We only recieved 15 seconds on the news regarding our "clean up" Perramore progect, no one reports on our involvement with Jones High School and our mentoring programs, no one was there taking pictures during our Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium when we had entertainment lawyers ranging from HBO to Spike tv attending. Why don't we get this positive reporting? Because, "news reporters only want to publish the bad things about your school, that's what sells." (Orlando Sentinel Reporter's comment regarding our Spirit of Service Award Ceremony.)

All of you saying that the College of Law is not diverse...I say again come to the school and sit in the classes. I have a class of 45 people in my section and half of those individuals are caucasion. As a matter of fact our president of student government is caucasion. Once again, get off your computer chair and see where your money is going.

I love the College of Law. All the students help each other, our Professors are always there for us, and we just got a new Dean who is making great strides to change things. He's already hired 12 new staff to remedy those outstanding problems, all of which come from esteemed Law Schools.

Regardless of how you feel we have one more site visit to get our accredation, and I would think that you wouldn't want all your tax dollars going to waste if we don't get accredited. Instead of talking trash maybe you should come and support us. If after you visit us and still feel like your insecurities were not met, talk to our administration. Their doors are always open, (I know from personal experience.)Lastly I would like you to visit our website for the college of law and look at our mission statement. Community service is the main point of that statement, not jim crowe, not racisim, or whatever else you all have been talking about...

Hope to see you soon, that is if you are more than just a bunch of lazy typists who are only good for bashing or complaining.

Where is the accountability for the huge financial mess at UF?

And while you're figuring that out, I'm sure one of the Gators on here will be able to take my pizza order. I want a deep dish with extra cheese and bell peppers! Make it snappy!

Better yet, why don't the Gators buy free pizzas for everyone who reads this board out of the millions of federal taxpayer dollars your university received by over-billing Medicare.

And while you're at it, give everybody a free admissions notice for the UF med school. You don't even need an MCAT score to attend there anymore!

Hey Gator fan, just be glad you are not FAMU. That school is so low they even lie about there endowment number. FAMU is low rent.

[This is funny stuff]

Well at least if the FAMU Rattler can't win at anything else in education, they at least do well in online comment board chatting. That pays well doesn't it?!?!

[Officially Retiring from talking to the Anyonymous Dude]

I'm done posting on here. This person continues to dodge the issues and trying to have a decent discussion with the guy is just a headache. Continue to be blind to the fact FAMU is in horrible trouble and you will see down the road that FSU, UCF, UF and UM will continue to dominate FAMU. In closing, please stop the "Rattler stiffing someone on a tip for their pizza joke." It is both not funny and retarded. Then again, I must look at the jokes source.

Congratulations FAMU Rattler/anonymous posting dude.....you win!!!!

UF needs to fix its own finances before talking about anyone else's university.

http://www.myflorida.com/audgen/pages/summaries/2008-045.htm

University of Florida audit findings

Our operational audit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, disclosed the following:

Record Systems and Reports

Finding No. 1: The University had not developed, at the department levels, written guidelines documenting procedures to be followed for periodically analyzing and reporting, in a consistent manner, budget positions and operating expenditure projections.

Finding No. 2: The University needed to enhance its procedures regarding the annual reporting of information for institutes and centers to the Board of Governors.

Revenues – Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Finding No. 3: The University needed to improve its collection efforts regarding contracts and grants receivables.

Revenues – Division of Continuing Education

Finding No. 4: The University had not developed a comprehensive procedures manual documenting procedures for processing collections.

Finding No. 5: The University had not documented, for fees charged in connection with its Masters of Business Administration programs, that the fees for individual programs were sufficient to cover actual costs to administer the program, that students were not charged more than necessary, and that the fees were not subsidizing the costs of another program.

Finding No. 6: The University had not provided for an adequate separation of duties regarding sponsor payments received in connection with its Vascular Biology Working Group.

Revenues – International Center Fee

Finding No. 7: The University had not documented its legal authority to assess a fee for students who were studying abroad in certain programs while enrolled at the University.

Payroll

Finding No. 8: Our test of five departments disclosed one department for which improvements pertaining to supervisory approval of payroll were needed.

Finding No. 9: The University needed to enhance its procedures for documenting and monitoring alternate work location arrangements.

Procurement of Goods and Services

Finding No. 10: The University’s competitive procurement threshold exceeded the limit established by the Board of Governors Regulations.

Finding No. 11: The University’s written agreements with a consultant used to develop software and related documentation were not timely executed or did not clearly define the basis for compensation. Also, payments to the consultant were not supported by adequate documentation.

Finding No. 12: Employees were reimbursed for travel expenses for mileage at rates that exceeded the rate authorized by Section 112.061, Florida Statutes.

Construction Management

Finding No. 13: The University did not, of record, evaluate the reasonableness or propriety of the labor burden rates the construction management entity (CME) applied to construction contracts.

Finding No. 14: The University needed to improve its procedures for monitoring CME pay requests to ensure that it pays only for actual and appropriate CME project related costs.

Risk Management

Finding No. 15: The University needed to improve its procedures for determining insurable values for buildings and other structures and improvements, and the University’s written policies and procedures did not address the level of insurance coverage to be maintained or the method to be used to determine insurable values.

P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School

Finding No. 16: The P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School had not established written policies and procedures for obtaining fingerprints and background screening of School employees after initial employment and of contractors. Also, the School had not timely provided for background screenings of employees.

Information Technology

Finding No. 17: The University had not adopted written standards for authorized transmission of the myUFL systems data over emerging technologies.

Finding No. 18: User roles were not always timely removed for Finance and Accounting employees who terminated employment.

Finding No. 19: The University’s disaster recovery plan did not document priorities for all administrative units and the University had not entered into a written agreement with an alternate site facility. Also, the University had not tested the disaster recovery plan.

Finding No. 20: Evidence of background checks and signed confidentiality agreements were not available for some Bridges employees.

Finding No. 21: The University needed to improve controls, and establish written polices and procedures, relating to the application environment and support function. Specific details of the needed improvements are not disclosed in this report to avoid the possibility of compromising University data and information technology resources.

The truth was spoken above you? You're really mad at a Rattler for failing to give you the $1.50 you think you earned when you brought over the stuffed crust special? Please get over it!

[a real voice of reason]

The truth has been spoken above me. FAMU will always be behind because the school and its supporters live in the past. Stop using the race crutch in every argument you enter and be willing to change with the times. Failure to adapt makes something become obsolete....FAMU is getting there.

Gator math: Even though the myUFL couldn't properly report how it spent $500M in federal money (more than FAMU's entire budget) they still think UF is a better financial manager than FAMU.

It's becoming clear why you're so mad at FAMU. A Rattler probably forgot to tip you when you delivered his or her pizza. Learn to drive faster and be more courteous. Then there's a better chance that the Rattler will find some spare change under the couch to hand to you.

FAMU overplays the race card like someone crying wolf once to often. The real problem with FAMU is that it's relic of a mission once served a vital purpose in the 1900's, but for the last 30 odd years that mission is no longer viable. If the school wants public funds it needs to open up and Ammons needs to give scholarships to non blacks on his next bus tour.

FAMU and the supporters of FAMU only make things worse for themselves when the sling mud and try to drag others into the fray by race baiting.

Come join us in the 21st century FAMU.

[Directed at Anonymous Poster]

How many times do I have to tell you that I did not go to UF and I do not particularly care for the school. I am a voice of reason, and UF will have a med school and a law school in five years and there is a good chance FAMU will not have a law school by the end of that time period, provided they keep the path they are on. I do not like the University of Florida and would never live in Gainesville, but that does not stop me from recognizing that overall they have their "stuff" together better than FAMU does right now. You need stop trying to avoid the point at issue, yet again. You post your comments on here each and every time there is a FAMU article published by this paper and you spout off about how "UF is this and UF is that." You fail to look at the fact that the people commenting on these articles are commenting on them based upon the extreme shortcomings of the school thus far. You need to start coming to the realization that things are wrong everywhere to a certain extent, but after a certain extent it becomes detrimental to the schools existence...FAMU's law program is at that point right now.

You Gator fans aren't fooling anyone. There is no way to defend what's happening at UF as "respectable."

What is respectable about myUFL failing to properly report how UF spent over $500M in taxpayer money?

What is respectable about UF's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences over-spending by millions year after year?

What is respectable about a well-connected kid who didn't even take the MCAT being admitted to UF's med school, with UF's own faculty saying the action might have violated accreditation standards?

Explain the "respectability" in that, Gator!

[Directed at Anonymous Poster]

I dislike UF and I can't stand FAMU. The former is respectable, and the latter is an absolute joke of an institution. So get it right, I'm not a fan of either place. Again you deflect blame at other places...we are commenting on an article about how FAMU Law is in disarray, not about UF. Did you take the LSAT? I'm sure Point at Issue questions in the Logic Reasoning sections threw you quite the curve ball huh. When UF continues to have highly accredited law school and medicine programs while FAMU is crying in the streets of Tallahassee with neither, you will understand that was once an otherwise "meaningless article about your alma mater" has now become reality.

Everybody apply for med school at UF! No MCAT required!

Instead of worrying about FAMU, the Gators on this blog need to worry about those who are trying to turn the UF med school into a diploma mill against accreditation standards.

UF also sets the standard for financial mismanagement. The state auditors cited UF's university-wide data system, myUFL, because it couldn't even properly report how the university spent HALF A BILLION dollars in federal money. That's more than FAMU's entire budget.

Clearly, UF has the worst financial problems in the state. And now, it's med school is heading for accreditation trouble.

[Directed at Anonymous Poster]

Whoever is the anonymous posting buffoon that continues to bring up UF and other schools needs to have a look in the mirror rather than deflecting blame by complaining about other schools. FAMU is the worst run university in this state and is a disgrace. The fact that Floridians continue to pay taxes that end up going to FAMU is a tragedy in itself. This isn't the early 1900s...a lot has changed. The problem with FAMU is that it hasn't. The school continues to hold onto its black roots and while that is nice and all, you are way behind the times. The anonymous poster above me is one of those typical lost lambs. Own up to the extreme failure that you find your law school in and then worry about others. If the school doesn't get ABA accredited it should be shut down. Constantly trying to look past the issues is never going to help anyone. Every school has a little bit of skeletons, but FAMU's are out of control. The economic plague that the school finds itself in is evidence of incompetent management from the top. Here's to hoping that new Dean can fix things at that law school, because those before him have put him in a very very deep hole.

The problems at the UF med school are too critical to ignore. If UF can't fix its own problems, then the state needs to intervene in order to protect the millions of taxpayer dollars that are at stake.

Why do we as a state support an institution that does not promote diversity? If FAMU wants to cling to some relic of a mission, they should raise private money and give back the public asset. If FAMU wants to remain hysterically black they should do it on there own dime. If not they should join the rest of us promoting diversity in higher ed.

The most pressing issue for UF's med school is the need to abide by all the accreditation rules.

Why are the faculty admissions committee decisions being overturned in order to admit students who don't qualify?

Why would UF admit a student who hasn't even taken the MCAT?

Gators need to start holding their own university leadership accountable before the Liaison Committee on Medical Education decides to either put UF's med school on probation or shut it down entirely.

I think the bigger question is why FAMU clings to a Jim Crow past. Look where it has taken the school. It is the least respected institution in the state. The best and brightest black minds go to other schools, and a recent report state that FSU is doing a far more better job at educating young black minds than any other school including FAMU. The HBCU, hysterically black college and university is failing and is a waste of taxpayer money. The school promotes a one race agenda which is not productive, nor acceptable in the 21st century.

Here we go again: more UF supporters talking bad about FAMU even though UF's problems are far worst.

Back in 2001, a former UF ophthalmologist reported that there were fraudulent Medicare billing practices at UF's teaching hospital. His tips resulted in UF being forced to pay an $8.6-million settlement with the federal government.

Also, it UF's med school appears to be heading toward serious accreditation problems itself.

Here's what the UF's own student newspaper, The Independent Alligator, said:

"The UF College of Medicine's dean may have violated national accreditation standards by overruling the college's selections committee and admitting a student from a politically connected family."

http://www.alligator.org/articles
/2008/04/07/news/campus/080407_med.txt

The kid did not even take the MCAT! Favoritism is a big no-no that goes against accreditation rules and you can be sure that the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (which accredits UF's med school) won't ignore what has happened.

This isn't the first time this has happened at UF. There was a similar incident back in 2002.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/
20080410/NEWS/804100319

Looks like the Gators posting on this blog need to be more worried about the UF med school's accreditation than the FAMU law school's accreditation.

The root of the problem is having a state-funded university that's a "historically (insert racial group) college" in 2008. Look at the stark contrast between the university profiles of the SUS....Most are very diverse and the one is not (FAMU). It's 2008. Time to move forward. FAMU provided vital opportunities in the late 1800s and through much of the 1900s...but it is becoming more and more of a relic.

[The truth Hurts]

A lot of FAMU loyalists feel that if anyone makes a bad comment about their legitimately sub-part programs is a direct attack on their racial being. You people I speak of need to not take everything as a slap to your racial family jewels and wake up. If the Law program struggles as it is so widely reported and cemented via facts, then you should want that fixed. A lot of the states money is being wasted pumping out law students who have a 50/50 shot at not becoming who they came there to be. You have some schools out in California that are non-ABA schools that fair nearly as well in certain BAR Exam sittings....sorry. FAMU, provided they don't change dramatically in the next year or so will be looking at kissing the law school (that they seem to value so highly?) goodbye. The school, as it is currently run and in its current state is a disgrace and rip-off to the students that go there. I recommend to anyone I know that is going to law school, that if given the choice, they should avoid FAMU at all costs. How would you like to attend a provisionally accredited school for your first year and by the end of your third year, going out in the workforce, you hold a JD from a school that is unaccredited with horrible reputation. That is what these students will be facing unless FAMU cleans up its act. Race aside, that is ridiculous at any higher education institution.

Do you want to know how pathetic FAMU is? They report on wikipedia.org that their endowment is 119 million dollars. Furthermore they have not updated that figure in many many years like other responsible institutions. This tells me one thing, if anyone believes that is the true figure, I have got a bridge to sell you. FAMU continues to care about one thing and one thing only, to stay black at all cost. While diversity moves all institutions forward in the 21st century, the Jim Crow mentality keeps FAMU in the mid 20th century.

Did Ammons hand out in scholarships to non blacks on his bus tour? I believe this is an important question that must be answered. Why can FAMU remain a one race institution when everyone else is moving forward?

Yo quit hatin' on FAMU an da "black thang"!

Who is this person with posts about UF and UCF? To whom it may concern: might i remind you of our subject - FAMU and their antics. Quit your diversionary tactics and get a clue. The ABA said FAMU is in a heap o' hurt. The ABA did NOT say anything about UF or UCF. Quit with the conspiracy theories, will you?

UCF's own student newspaper, Central Florida Future, reported the list of bad findings from UCF's 2008 audit. Here's just one snippet from the 13 problems the state auditors found:

"Several findings involved the university assessing fees and transferring funds without having legal authority for its actions. According to the audit, the university loaned $7.4 million to the UCF Athletics Association Inc. in violation of Florida statutes. There is not yet a plan as to how that money will be paid back."

http://media.www.centralfloridafuture.com/media/storage/paper174/news/2008/03/17/News/13.Financial.Problems.Identified.In.08.Audit-3270856.shtml

When is UCF going to pay back the $7.4M it owes? Why weren't the rules followed?

UCF has found itself in the middle of a very bad string of state audits.

UCF needs to focus on cleaning up its own financial mess. Get your financial management together!

[Recent UCF Graduate]

When UCF finds itself in the current state of affairs that FAMU is in, come talk to me. Instead of dodging issues and looking past the law schools tremendous troubles, recognize them for what they are and hope they are fixed sooner than later. Later will not be enough.

Stop clinging to the past because it will always keep you behind.

The UCF and UF supporters talking about FAMU need to own up to the problems at their own universities.

UF received $580,426,350 in federal money in 2005.

http://www.fedspending.org/faads/faads.php?recip_id=901167&sortby=u&detail=-1&datype=T&reptype=r&database=faads&fiscal_year=2005&submit=GO

The state auditors said UF "had not developed and tested a methodology to extract data from the myUFL systems required to produce a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards."

There should be a federal investigation into why myUFL couldn't produce a proper report on how the university spent $580,426,350.

Looks like there are some posters who are in denial are the state auditors wrong?

Why is UCF late in billing for services?

Why are UCF purchasing cards being used for excessive buying?

Why did UCF workers break the rules when paying for parties?

Why did the auditors find "questionable costs" at UCF?

UCF needs to clean up its own financial mess before it starts talking about FAMU.

All FAMU can do is throw mud. The school has no game!

[Recent UCF Graduate]

Don't try dragging UCF's name in the mud. I graduated from that school this past May and it is a great place. The school is like a town of its own. You should drive around the campus. President Hitt might not be perfect but he has brought this school into a state power. The schools selectivity has increased to the point where I may not have gotten into the school if I applied now. The school is getting major funding, just built an awesome basketball arena/convocation center, a 45000 seat football stadium on campus and more or less, a small town on one side of the campus with more or less anything a student could want. The academics are getting up there with UF's but it will take time before the school has the steam that UF does due to age factor and alumni base. UCF prepared me very well for law school and I am happy to know I did well enough in school and on the LSAT to not be attending FAMU. People on here are trying to dodge the point, and the point is that FAMU is not in a good situation right now. People trying to look at it like the school is in good standing are looking past the truth and if the school ends up losing its accreditation (which, if it keeps on this path will 100% happen) people will begin to understand this. We are talking about the American Bar Association here people. These people run the show. They have tremendous power and without them backing your school you might as well not even call yourselves a law school. I wish the students at FAMU the best of luck and I hope this gets straightened out because right now it is an absolute embarrassment to our state and FAMU. As for this poster talking about UCF, get a clue. Thanks and good night.

When UCF starts having 40 odd million unaccounted for you might just have a point, but because they have not, you have none.

FAMU needs to become truly diverse and quit clinging to a "black thang". One race institutions like FAMU are still living in a Jim Crow past!

It looks like UCF has its own problems to fix. Care to explain these?

http://www.myflorida.com/audgen/pages/summaries/2004-037.htm

Report Number: 2004-037
Report Title: University of Central Florida – Operational Audit
Report Period: 01/01/2002 Through 12/31/2002 and Selected Transactions Through 03/31/2003
Release Date: 09/09/2003

Finding No. 1: The University Arena had not billed users for three of the nine events we reviewed until 7 to 11 weeks after the events were held.

Finding No. 2: The University collected approximately $338,000 in credit card usage fees contrary to its credit card agreement with the bank.

Finding No. 3: Purchasing cards were sometimes issued with excessively large single-purchase and monthly spending limits. Additionally, spending limit increases were not always supported by written authorization.

Finding No. 4: Payments for staff parties and receptions were paid from campus concession funds contrary to University procedures.

Finding No. 5: The return of unused travel advances and the filing of travel reimbursement vouchers were not always timely.

Finding No. 6: The University Police Department leased eight vehicles based on incomplete information presented in its lease‑purchase analysis.

Finding No 7: The University paid questionable costs, including construction bonuses and training expenses, relating to the Academic Villages student housing project. Reimbursable costs for equipment rentals may also have been excessive. Certificates of substantial completion and other inspection forms were not available for all of the project’s buildings.

Finding No. 8: Numerous salary warrants were cancelled or refunded because personnel action forms were not correctly prepared or timely processed, and because payroll data was not correctly recorded and certified.

Finding No. 9: University departments did not document the completion of exit procedures to ensure that terminating employees had returned all property and settled outstanding accounts prior to the issuance of final salary payments.

I second that. Let UCF run the law school and correct FAMU's failure.

When is the legislature going to act? With tightening budgets it seems that UCF would be able to manage our tax money better.

[Boomerscout]

The need for the FAMU law school was bogus from Day One. The ONLY reason it was created was to provide a law school place for people unable to cut the grade so as to be admitted to one of the state public law schools.

[Chuck]

Let it stay a majority black school so white kids can still get a minority scholarship somewhere...

[Dave]

Wouldn't you think twice about hiring someone with a degree from FAMU?

FAMU is a joke - a joke on the taxpayers. An expensive joke on the taxpayers. FSU and UF, indivually, graduate more Black students in any one year than FAMU does. Any criticism of FAMU is labeled as "racism." FAMU could have a role if it was willing to hold itself to the same standards as the other state-run universities. Unfortunately, rather than hold itself accountable, it would rather accuse others.

It is a shame really, that $40 million or so could be put to better use at other state universities that really turn our Black scholars.

Move the Engineering, Pharmacy, and other graduate programs to FSU, except for the Law School, that should go to UCF - the quality of the programs would greatly improve and so would the quality of the graduates.

FAMU is failing in its mission. Do you know that it is near the bottom of the pack with regard to its 6 year graduation rate. UF, FSU, and others have a much better rate than FAMU. The best and brightest black minds don't go to FAMU, and can you blame them?

FAMU=EMBARASSMENT
no need to say any more

FAMU as a whole, according to the SUS numbers is 94 percent black. That is unacceptable in the 21st century. FAMU continues to wallow in the past, all the while the students it accepts continue to decline. FAMU will fight for a "black thang" before it fights for a decent education.

Blacks only make up 14 percent of Florida. With regard to demographics UF represents the trends of the state much better than FAMU.

FAMU by far is the biggest joke in higher education in this state.

Gilbert, if white students are welcome, then why did Ammons not hand out any scholarships to non blacks during his bus tour?

FAMU as a whole is about 85-90 % African American. The FAMU Law School is about 50 % African American. UF is less than 10% African American, and is, overall, about 70% European American. So, which is more diverse to you? I think both schools could be a lot more diverse.