The latest from North Carolina

We're taking heat for not posting this news earlier – and we should have. The Raleigh paper reported Sept. 23 that accreditors have determined that degrees earned by 25 North Carolina Central University students at an unauthorized satellite campus set up under then-NCCU chancellor and now FAMU President James Ammons are, in fact, valid.

Higher education officials in North Carolina continue to investigate why Ammons and other NCCU leaders did not follow established procedure in setting up the satellite. The state auditor's office in N.C. recently began investigating, too – another development in the NCCU satellite story that we did not post, until now.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Big brains coming to FAMU

FAMU has enrolled six National Achievement scholars this fall – a far cry from the glory days of the 1990s and early 2000s, but way better than the slump of the last five years.

National Achievement scholars are often considered the nation's top black students. And as this St. Petersburg Times story pointed out, FAMU landed them left and right until President Frederick Humphries left in 2001.

What happened? Maybe it had something to do with the issues raised by this 2004 lawsuit, which is still alive and kicking after being reversed on appeal in June.

Ron Matus, state education reporter

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'We will have a significant liability'

Here's the latest Raleigh News & Observer story about the unauthorized satellite campus that was set up when James Ammons, now FAMU's president, was head of North Carolina Central University. The head of the N.C. university system said yesterday that NCCU will have to repay federal financial aid for the students who attended the satellite, since the program had never been approved by accreditors.

"We will have significant liability," said UNC system President Erskine Bowles. "How much, we do not know at this time." If this is new news to you, click here. To read Bowles' comments in more detail, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

The bishop and his degree

The North Carolina higher education scandal involving FAMU President James Ammons has a Tampa Bay tie.

Bishop Eddie Long, the megachurch minister at the heart of it, claims a Ph.D in pastoral ministry from the International College of Excellence, an affiliate of Life Christian University in Lutz north of Tampa.

Neither institution is accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education. (LCU's Web site says the school is accredited by the Transworld Accrediting Commission International and the Biblical Accrediting Association.)

Long's church referred Gradebook questions to Long spokesman Dan Rene, who initially said LCU was accredited - by the Florida Department of Education. But the DOE does not accredit. In a subsequent call, Rene said LCU was "recognized" by DOE.

'No justifiable reason'

If anyone doubts that FAMU President James Ammons is feeling heat in North Carolina (see today's St. Petersburg Times story here), read this statement from Erskine Bowles (left), the president of the University of North Carolina system. Bowles sent it to the Raleigh News & Observer, which ran excerpts when it broke the story about the NCCU satellite campus.

"I can think of no justifiable reason why the former NCCU leadership would have completely ignored and failed to abide by the appropriate approval process in creating this program," Bowles wrote.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Megachurch pastor joining FAMU

Yes, Bishop Eddie Long is a newly elected member of the FAMU Foundation board of directors, FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders confirmed in an e-mail to the Gradebook (see previous post here).

Long runs the Atlanta-area church where North Carolina Central University, then under the leadership of now-FAMU President James Ammons, set up an unauthorized satellite campus that now has Ammons in hot water with higher ed officials in NC.

An NCCU graduate and trustee, Long has donated at least $1.4 million to NCCU, according to the Raleigh News & Observer.

The FAMU Foundation board voted on July 19 to have Long serve as a member, Saunders said. His first meeting will be in November.

A Long spokesman told The Gradebook that Ammons and FAMU Vice President of University Relations Carla Willis asked Long to join the board. For the latest news on the issue from the News & Observer, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

The president and the preacher

Did Bishop Eddie Long (left) follow President James Ammons (right)to FAMU? The letter Ammons sent to the Raleigh News & Observer, in response to stories about North Carolina Central University setting up an unauthorized satellite campus in Long's Lithonia, Ga. mega-church, says Long "has agreed to serve on the FAMU Foundation Board." The letter also says Long's son is a FAMU graduate.

So when did Long begin serving on the board? And who appointed him? FAMU won't say.

The Gradebook called the foundation yesterday, but the call was forwarded to the FAMU communications office, which had no answers and has yet to provide any. The Gradebook called and e-mailed FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders, but got no response. We also left messages this morning with Long's church and his Washington, D.C.-based spokesman. When we hear something, we'll let you know.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Ammons: 'It was a grave oversight'

FAMU President James Ammons offered this written response over the weekend to recent stories about an unauthorized satellite campus that North Carolina Central University set up in a Georgia megachurch. Ammons was NCCU's chancellor before coming to FAMU.

A Raleigh News & Observer editorial says Ammons may have cut corners.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Ammons: "Cannot recall all of the details"

North Carolina newspapers are giving FAMU President James Ammons a lot of ink this week in response to this story involving North Carolina Central University and a satellite campus in a Georgia mega-church.

In a conference call with reporters yesterday, Ammons, who served as NCCU chancellor before coming to FAMU, said he thought the satellite had been properly approved, even though both accreditors and higher education officials in North Carolina say it wasn't.

Ammons both accepted and deflected blame, according to this summary in the Raleigh News & Observer:

"In accepting blame for it Wednesday, Ammons shifted some responsibility to the academic units that operated under him while the program was being created in 2004. He said it was presented to him by faculty members and the University College, the NCCU division that administers distance education programs."

Meanwhile, Ammons told Inside Higher Ed that he "cannot recall all of the details regarding that particular program because I don't get involved in the day-to-day operations of academic programs."

Questions raised about Ammons, NCCU satellite

FAMU President James Ammons is coming under fire for a satellite campus that was established in a Georgia megachurch when he headed North Carolina Central University, according to recent stories in the Raleigh News & Observer and Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The New L.I.F.E. College Program, housed in the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., was shut down in June after accreditors refused to authorize it, the stories say. The pastor, Eddie Long, is an NCCU graduate who was appointed to the NCCU board of trustees two years before the satellite campus was created in 2004. NCCU did not tell the accreditors about the program or present information about it to the UNC Board of Governors, the stories say.

“I can think of no justifiable reason why the former NCCU leadership would have completely ignored and failed to abide by the appropriate approval process in creating this program,” UNC system President Erskine Bowles told the News & Observer. “Such action is contrary to all university policy. To say the least, it is very disappointing.”

Ammons was NCCU chancellor for six years before assuming the FAMU presidency in July 2007. Both newspapers said he did not respond to requests for comment.

Two colleges of education struggle

USF is taking a lot of heat for cutting ties between its College of Education and the USF/Patel Charter School (see here and here). But its ed school isn't the only one that has struggled trying to help a high-needs campus.

The Developmental Research School at FAMU earned an F last year before its students made big gains this year, moving the school up to a C. The FAMU DRS is not a charter, but like the Patel school it has close ties to a university ed school, in this case FAMU's. Its student body is 100 percent minority and 35 percent on free/reduced lunch, compared to 80 percent and 65 percent, respectively, at Patel.

There are three other university-tied lab schools in the state – at UF, FSU and FAU – but none of them have struggled as much as FAMU's in recent years, and none of them have the more challenging demographics. The St. Petersburg Times wrote about FAMU's DRS back in January, after a controversial hire. Here's the latest on the school from the Tallahassee Democrat.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

FAMU names three new deans

FAMU administrators today announced the appointment of new deans for the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Allied Health Sciences and the College of Education. Two have been serving already on an interim basis.

Ralph Turner, now interim dean, will serve as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Barbara Mosley, interim dean, will permanently lead the School of Allied Health; and Genniver Bell will serve as dean of the College of Education.

The hirings follow searches conducted by committees of faculty, staff and student representatives.

Turner was chair of the department of chemistry and has been with FAMU since 1967. Mosley, at FAMU over 25 years, has served as interim dean and is a former associate dean of the school.

Bell was an associate professor of educational leadership at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, NC. She is a former K-12 classroom teacher and administrator and has held many positions in higher education administration and state government.

$14-million more in good news for FAMU

Still celebrating their recent reaccreditation after a year on probation, Florida A&M has even more to celebrate this week: a $14-million grant for the university's celebrated pharmacy program.

“One of the main criteria used to determine the quality of a university is the amount of research taking place by outstanding faculty and the funding obtained for them to conduct research on a regular basis,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons.  “This announcement proves that Florida A&M University is rising to the occasion and meeting the standards of excellence.”

The National Institutes of Health is giving FAMU's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the largest U.S. producer of African-American pharmacists, the money to research drugs that might treat diseases and ailments such as Parkinson’s, stroke, cancer, and infectious diseases.

FAMU is off probation

Florida A&M University is back in good standing.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Commission on Colleges announced today it was taking FAMU off probation – a clear sign FAMU has gotten past the fiscal problems that have dogged it for years and that its accreditation status is solid.

"We no longer have this cloud," FAMU trustee Daryl Parks told the Gradebook. "Now we can get back to the great things going on at FAMU."

SACS put FAMU on probation last year after its Commission on Colleges determined FAMU was failing to comply with 10 accrediting standards for financial accountability and leadership. The action followed a series of other blows for Florida's only historically black public university, including a jaw-dropping state audit, fed-up lawmakers and the formation of a high-profile task force to oversee its finances.

But the SACS decision stung even worse.

FAMU task force: Finances fixed

The task force formed last year in response to lawmakers' concerns over financial mismanagement at FAMU has ended its work -- concluding in a report to the governor, Senate president and House speaker that Florida's only public historically black institution has taken steps to deal with most of the problems identified in past state audits.

“President Ammons and his administration have been persistent and aggressive in putting corrective measures in place," said task force chair Lynn Pappas, a member of the Board of Governors. “FAMU has laid the foundation to restore financial operational integrity and public trust.”

The FAMU Task Force’s final report will be released next week. The group got $1-million in state money for its work, but finished on time and under budget. So the remaining $250,000 goes back to the state.

FAMU official pleads guilty to federal charges

Patricia Walker McGill, the former director of FAMU's Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce, has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit theft and seven counts of theft against federal programs relating to educational grants, the U.S. Department of Justice announced in this news release.

McGill, 60, used the grant money to pay overtime and bonuses not related to the grants, and also received kickbacks, according to the release. She faces a maximum of 75 years in prison and $1.75-million in fines. Her sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 1.

The conviction marks the end of a three-year investigation by federal and state officials including the FBI. "The theft of federal educational and literacy funds by individuals entrusted with distributing those funds to those in need, is a grave abuse of the public trust," U.S. Attorney Gregory Miller said in the news release.

For more on the story, see this past Gradebook post and also this Tallahassee Democrat story.

FAMU law school investigation update

The ongoing internal investigation at the FAMU College of Law involving allegations of improper grade changes and admissions is not tied to an ongoing federal grade-changing investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Tallahassee Democrat reports today.

FAMU officials disclosed this week that three employees had been fired, and both the Democrat and the FAMUAN student newspaper identified them as Deborah Swain, Carol Rojas and Derrien Bonney. The story said Swain and Rojas are appealing. It noted two students have been dismissed.

The law school probe was first reported by the Gradebook in this post in February. FAMU officials said in a press release this week that the investigation uncovered one instance of a grade change to a student's transcript, and two instances where students were fraudulently admitted. An audit of more than 27,000 other grades found no other instances of improper changes, the release said.

The FAMUAN reports more about the other investigation. The Democrat cites an official with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is assisting the U.S. Attorney's Office, as saying that investigation should be finished soon.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

FAMU dismisses three at College of Law

Earlier this year, Florida A&M launched an investigation into allegations that a student's transcript had been changed inappropriately. The investigation expanded to include the admissions process, and over time revealed that two students also had been fraudulently admitted in the fall of 2007, the university announced today in a news release.

Three unnamed employees have been dismissed as part of the school's to resolve what it termed isolated incidents.

President James Ammons had this to say:

"One of the things that I was charged to do as president was to implement a high level of accountability and that is what I am doing. This is an investigation that we launched and a situation we uncovered. This investigation indicates that we have the right leadership in place and that when we find discrepancies, we are working diligently to ensure that there is integrity throughout the university with our academic processes. We have strengthened our Office of Audit and Compliance and this investigation is just one indicator that our effort to achieve a high level of accountability is yielding results. We are also committed to effecting appropriate personnel actions when deemed warranted under such circumstances."

To see the full press release, click here.

'The hardest kinds of challenges'

American Bar Association officials were waving red flags about FAMU's law school more than a year before the scathing March 2008 report that finally generated headlines beyond the St. Petersburg Times, according to two earlier ABA reports just obtained by The Gradebook.

The reports, from January 2006 and December 2006, show that as far back as October 2006, ABA officials were worried about many of the same issues – including faculty infighting and a lack of academic support for students – that they highlighted in March. The reports also show that between fall 2005 and fall 2006, the ABA's overall tone changed from concern to alarm as problems festered and time began running out on the school's bid for full accreditation.

"Significantly, most of the challenges are not ones that are susceptible to cure from the infusion of more money or the passage of laws or the removal of regulatory hurdles," the December 2006 report says. "They are the hardest kinds of challenges since they deal largely with issues of human behaviors, of breaking down barriers of distrust and building up reservoirs of hope and collegiality."

“Time is not on the side of the Law School,” the same report concludes. “The goal of full accreditation certainly is possible but the trip to the finish line will not be an easy one.”

As we noted when the March 2008 report finally surfaced, much of this is old news – in part because The Gradebook and the St. Petersburg Times wrote about these issues last year; and in part because the ABA site team paid its last visit to the school in the fall, before new Dean LeRoy Pernell arrived in January and began making substantial changes.

500 days later: A plan for Ammons' inauguration

Convinced FAMU president James Ammons has made enough progress during his first 10 months in office that it is "safe" to begin planning his official inauguration, FAMU officials announced this morning preparations for a weeklong celebration this fall.

Ammons began his first day in office July 2 by asking for 500 days to resolve his alma mater's financial, personnel and accreditation problems. So the inauguration will take place Oct. 31, in the Leon County Civic Center at 10:10 a.m. (a nod to Ammons' spot as FAMU's 10th president). And in the days surrounding it, there will be activities including a gospel concert, art exhibit, and barbecue.

By then, FAMU might also be able to celebrate reaccreditation from SACS.

Sen. Al Lawson, FAMU grad and legislative protector of FAMU, is among those serving on the committee of administrators, faculty, staff and students planning the seven-day bash.

The law school and the Leg

Are some problems at the FAMU law school rooted in unrealistic enrollment goals set by the Legislature? Yes, some faculty members have concluded, according to the American Bar Association site team report that was the basis for this story in today's St. Petersburg Times.

"The Self-Study makes clear that one of the factors driving the admissions decisions is the legislative mandate that the Law School reach an enrollment of 750," the report says. "The faculty and administration believe that this would not be in the best interest of the Law School and report that they intend to see if a lower enrollment target of 650 students might be acceptable to the Legislature."

The self-study describes the challenges that come when many law students don't have academic credentials "as strong as would be desirable," and recounts efforts faculty have made to respond to low bar passage rates, including a tougher grading curve and increased attrition. "The Report is candid about the clumsy and ill conceived manner in which the latter two steps were taken, leading to widespread student complaints," the site team wrote.

The report includes a ton of interesting information that couldn't be squeezed into the Times story. To see it in full, click here. To read FAMU's response to the ABA report, click here and here. And to read more about the accreditation process, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

'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.

Dawson update

Two weeks after The Gradebook first asked (but only a few hours after a blog post that mentioned that we asked), the FAMU communications office acknowledged last night that FAMU law professor Victoria Dawson is indeed on her way out as director of legal writing.

FAMU media relations director Pam Tolson wrote in an e-mail that Crisarla Houston will became director July 1 and that "Dawson will then continue to serve as a tenure-earning assistant professor."

Why the change? FAMU isn't saying. We asked why two weeks ago, but that question wasn't answered in last night's e-mail. We asked again this morning. If we get more information, we'll pass it on.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Changes at FAMU College of Law

FAMU Law Dean LeRoy Pernell recently announced the hiring of a half-dozen new professors for the 2008-09 school year, according to an e-mail obtained by The Gradebook. Among them: Crisarla Houston, a Harvard Law grad who the e-mail says will be the director of legal writing.

Does this mean Victoria Dawson is out, or on her way out, as the head of legal writing? We're not sure. We've asked the FAMU communications office a couple of times over the past week or so, and have gotten no response. Gradebook readers might remember that FAMU President James Ammons told the St. Petersburg Times editorial board last month that Dawson - whose writing skill drew unrelenting criticism from FAMU students - was "no longer there," only to say a few days later that he made a mistake.

Here are the other hires Pernell announced as part of the fall line-up: Kenneth Nunn, professor and associate dean for research and faculty development; Markita Cooper, professor and associate dean for academic affairs; Jeremy Levitt, distinguished professor for international law and associate dean for international programs; Jonathan Fineman, assistant professor; and Deleso Washington, associate professor.

CNN to tell FAMU story, live

CNN will be at FAMU tomorrow, Tuesday, to broadcast live segments as part of its first-ever "Black in America Historically Black College or University (HBCU) Tour.”

FAMU will serve as the first stop for CNN, with President James H. Ammons, faculty and students interviewing with a CNN crew on the front lawn of FAMU’s journalism school all day.

   

Good news for FAMU biz school

After faltering for years without a permanent dean and other university-wide administration problems, the business school at FAMU is celebrating good news that harkens back to the days of longtime and revered dean Sybil Mobley.

More than 40 FAMU business students are bound for Wall Street internships, a record number for the state's only historically black public university whose business school for years was among its most celebrated and nationally vaunted programs.

FAMU officials credit the recently implemented Wall Street Initiative, which aims to place 100 students in internships with Wall Street firms by the summer of 2010. Last year, as the campus was rocked with financial and administrative woes and instability, only 12 students got internships.

Those who do well with their intern companies can hope to get permanent, high-paying jobs in the nation's financial center. 

Is Dawson gone from FAMU Law?

In Tuesday morning's interview with the St. Petersburg Times editorial board, FAMU President James Ammons dropped a minor bombshell: FAMU legal writing director Victoria Dawson, he said, was gone. But is she really? After two days and four requests for more information, we still don't know.

Ammons was asked by one of the editorial board members about a story involving "a legal writing professor at FAMU" whose work was "sub-par." The board member didn't mention the professor by name but was clearly referring to Dawson, whose grammatically impaired academic writing was the topic of a Times story last June and a series of subsequent posts on the Gradebook (click here, here and here for a taste.)

Ammons responded: "She's no longer there. Yeah, I recall the story. It was just as I was coming in." He proceeded to predict that faculty quality would "just spiral under the leadership of (new law school) Dean Pernell."

Immediately after the meeting, the Gradebook asked FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders when Dawson had left and why, and Saunders said she would find out. She did not respond to that request and a subsequent e-mail and so far, the FAMU communications office has not responded to requests yesterday and today.

Dawson is still listed under faculty on the law school's website. And according to a FAMU law student, she was at the law school Monday.

UPDATE: Oops. Here's an e-mail we just received from FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders. She says, "Dr. Ammons made an honest mistake. He believed during the Tuesday morning interview with the St. Petersburg Times that there was a change in the leadership of the program. However, Victoria Dawson is currently employed by the College of Law and continues to direct the legal writing program. According to Dean LeRoy Pernell, the law school is in the process of reviewing and reorganizing the legal writing program. Action will be taken to restructure the program by fall 2008."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Ammons uncut

We know what FAMU President James Ammons thinks of the university's progress with fiscal affairs, and of looming budget cuts (see today's St. Petersburg Times story here). But what does he think of Gov. Charlie Crist's opposition to tuition hikes? Of FAMU's relationship with FSU at the often-conflicted engineering school? Of persistently low bar passage rates at the law school?

Yesterday's 45-minute interview with the St. Petersburg Times editorial board touched on all these issues, and then some. Here's a sampler:

On Crist and tuition: "At Florida A&M, we've got 78 percent of our students who are on need-based financial aid. That means that they're coming from families with limited resources. … I really applaud him (Crist) for the stance that he's taken on tuition from the context of students at Florida A&M."

On the engineering school: "This is a continued work in progress. But I tell you what – (FSU) President Wetherell and I have made a commitment that we're going to work together. We are going to try to put aside some of the history."

On FAMU's bar passage rates: The law students are "not doing as well as we want them to. … He (new law Dean LeRoy Pernell) and I have talked about it. He's hiring new faculty, bringing in his team and I think you're going to see over the next few years that bar-passage rate increase."

To see the full interview with Ammons, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Swagger, scholarships and budget cuts

FAMU President James Ammons touted the university's fiscal turnaround today, telling the St. Petersburg Times editorial board that recent developments have led to rising campus morale and a renewed swagger among alumni. But Ammons also warned that pending budget cuts in higher education - potentially as high as 10 percent for FAMU next year – will be devastating.

"If it went to 10 percent, we're talking about $12 million that we'll have to take out of the budget," Ammons said. "And there is no way that I could say to you or to anyone else that we will be able to maintain the quality of the overall academic experience for our students if we have to take an 8 to 10 percent cut. We would be a very different university than we are today."

Ammons' visit to the Times came as part of a marathon, 4-day trek around Florida and beyond to hand out academic scholarships and revive sagging enrollment. FAMU's enrollment fell to 11,562 last fall, its third straight year of decline and the lowest since 1997. The drop-off has coincided with a wave of highly publicized problems, including blistering financial audits, rampant factionalism and allegations of cronyism.

But Ammons said the worst is over.

FAMU law student loses lawsuit

The lawsuit filed in October by a FAMU law student who claimed the law school skirted its own rules when it academically dismissed him is over. Orange County Circuit Judge Thomas W. Turner dismissed Clayton Hallford's suit today, prompting this written response from new law dean LeRoy Pernell: "FAMU is proud to have honored its obligation to the people of Florida by successfully defending against and defeating this baseless lawsuit."

Hallford's claim, which drew support from many current and former students, involved an allegedly botched exam in a Torts II class, which resulted in his GPA dropping below the minimum 2.0 (see St. Petersburg Times story here). Hallford sought to be readmitted to the school in good standing. He declined comment when reached by The Gradebook this evening.

Richard E. Mitchell, the attorney representing FAMU, said the school intends to recover attorney's fees and costs from Hallford, which he estimated in the $15,000 to $20,000 range. "It's time for Mr. Hallford to pay the fiddler," said Mitchell, with the firm of GrayRobinson. "We believe his entire story was a fairy tale."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

FAMU is 'stronger and better'

The final interim report from the Board of Governors task force on FAMU is out this morning, along with an 8-page response from FAMU: "Florida A&M University is back - stronger and better, for having completed this mission," writes FAMU President James Ammons. The long-awaited report, now on its way to Gov. Crist and state lawmakers, credits FAMU for quickly resolving most of its financial and operational control issues.

Click here for the final interim report, here for a related report, here for FAMU's response, here for the St. Petersburg Times story on the report and here for the Tallahassee Democrat's take.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Newest FAMU trustee

Charles M. Langston of Tampa has been appointed by Gov. Crist to the FAMU Board of Trustees, replacing Miami attorney and Republican stalwart Al Cardenas. Langston, 58, is a retired executive vice president and chief administrative officer for the pharmaceutical company Hoechst Marion Roussel. The appointment was announced late Friday.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

FAMU fiscal woes "being effectively addressed"

FAMU is removing the biggest stain on its reputation. The Board of Governors task force on FAMU all but finalized its report this morning, voting unanimously to accept its recommendations and conclusions and making it clear that FAMU has gotten control of its financial and operational problems.

The report reinforces glowing comments from state auditors and regional accreditors in December, and offers more hope that FAMU will shed its probationary status when the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools meets again in June. "The overwhelming majority of the deficiencies in FAMU's fiscal management, operations, governance internal controls and information technology are being effectively addressed," says a draft report, which will be tweaked over the weekend and distributed to key lawmakers Monday.

FAMU President James Ammons (shown above) offered brief comments at the end of the task force's conference call. "I think it's important that when the report is read, people understand the university is not where it was when the task force began," he said. To read more about the draft report, see yesterday's Gradebook post here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

BOG Task force: FAMU on right track

FAMU is well on its way to righting the financial and operational control problems that have plagued it in recent years, says a draft report from the Florida Board of Governors task force that was formed to watchdog FAMU finances.

"We believe adequate, reasonable and effective controls have been implemented by the University, which effectively address the vast majority of issues raised by previous operational and financial audits," says the report. "Based upon the comprehensive validation and verification process conducted on the University's Corrective Action Plan, we believe that FAMU has established the foundation to restore financial and operational integrity."

The report was the topic of a task force meeting Wednesday, and is now being revised and finalized so it can be submitted to state lawmakers next week. We'll post the final report when it comes out. In the meantime, click here to see the draft report and here for a related report on the corrective action plan, which FAMU President James Ammons submitted to the task force in July.

FAMU sent out a statement on the report a few minutes ago, leading with comments from task force member Ed Penson: "This work at FAMU is phenomenal in the amount of time and the amount of work," he said. "Last year when this started, it was close to a catastrophe; this has been a tremendous turn around."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Award time

If you think you've been getting star quality reporting on Florida A&M University in the St. Petersburg Times and on this blog, you're not alone. The Education Writers Association has recognized our own Ron Matus with a special citation (that's like honorable mention) in series reporting among the nation's largest newspapers for his work titled "Saving FAMU." Click here for one of his entries.

Matus is in good company in getting an award in this highly competitive contest. First place went to the Wall Street Journal, and second place went to the Chicago Tribune. Matus won an award from the EWA last year, too, for his special report Ninth or Never. To see the full list of contest winners, click here.

In Tallahassee, it’s a small world after all

Some stories can only happen in the Twilight Zone, or in Tallahassee. Back in August, The Gradebook asked: "How can Jeb Bush, DOE, the FBI, intelligent design and religious discrimination all find its way into the same story?" Now add this to the list: A federal indictment of a former FAMU official.

As the St. Petersburg Times reported in this story Saturday, somehow the religious discrimination suit filed by Kay Stripling of Marianna and the criminal charges against Patricia Walker McGill (left), the former director of FAMU's Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce, all fit together. We’re not sure exactly how yet, but it seems likely that more details will spill out as both cases slog through their respective courts. In the meantime, anyone out there have any insights, conspiracy theories, or better yet, tips?

Maybe this isn't the biggest education story out there, but it just might be the most entertaining. For your reading pleasure, we’ve compiled all of our reporting to date in this one spot. (Aren't blogs great?!)

To see the original Times story on Stripling's case, click here, and for related blog posts, click here, here, here and here. To read about McGill’s indictment, click here.

- Ron Matus, Times education reporter

FAMU: Indictment sends 'strong message'

In response to yesterday's indictment of a former FAMU official, the university issued a statement last night saying "it is important that individuals are held accountable for their actions." As reported yesterday by The Gradebook (see post here), Patricia Walker McGill, the former director of FAMU's Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce, was indicted by a federal grand jury on theft and fraud charges and faces up to 350 years in prison.

"As we continue our efforts in restoring the public confidence in our ability to manage our fiscal affairs, this indictment sends a strong message that such behavior will not to tolerated," said the statement from FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders. The statement said FAMU worked closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office on the case.

Former FAMU interim president Castell Bryant fired McGill in 2005, which prompted this lawsuit, set for trial in May. McGill offered her side of the story in this St. Petersburg Times piece.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Former FAMU official indicted

The former director of FAMU's Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce was indicted on federal theft and fraud charges today, along with the former director of literacy programs in Franklin County.

Patricia Walker McGill, 60, of Tallahassee was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft from federal programs and mail fraud, seven counts of theft from federal programs relating to educational grants and 13 counts of mail fraud, according to a statement released this afternoon by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida. Bonnie Segree, 68, of Eastpoint, was charged with eight counts, the statement said.

Among other allegations, the indictment says the pair "stole, embezzled, misapplied, or converted to their own use and to the use of others not entitled thereto, funds provided by the United States Department of Education through the Florida Department of Education for educational literacy grants."

It also says McGill "required certain educational grant recipients to kick back portions of the grant monies to the defendants and disguise the monies paid to the defendants as ‘consulting' fees for the grants and would require the recipients to falsely report that the grant monies were earned for work related to the grants."

Former interim FAMU President Castell Bryant fired McGill in May 2005, saying the decision was based on findings from a payroll audit. Today's statement from the U.S. attorney's office says the investigation began two years ago.

McGill faces up to 350 years in prison and $5.25-million in fines. Segree faces up to 140 years in prison and $2 million in fines. Both were arrested this morning and will be scheduled for trial in Panama City before U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak. To read more about the indictment, click here. To read the indictment, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

The rules are the rules

A Florida appeals court has ruled against FAMU in a case involving a former law school employee who was fired during Castell Bryant's tenure for breaching university policy. In a Jan. 25 opinion, the Fifth District Court of Appeal sided with an administrative law judge who concluded that Janice Costin, the former coordinator of computer applications, was wrongly fired after making changes to the law school's computer system. The appeals court agreed she should be reinstated with back pay.

According to the ruling, Costin made two changes to the system in September 2004 - after a hurricane disrupted internet service – without getting prior approval from Kenneth Perry, FAMU's chief information officer. The administrative law judge concluded FAMU failed to prove those changes hurt the school (see recommended order here). But FAMU, with interim President Bryant at the helm, continued to argue that Costin caused harm because she disregarded policy and chain of command – and that her May 2005 firing was justified on those grounds (see FAMU's final order here.)

The appeals court did not buy it: The administrative judge, it said, interpreted the appropriate state rule "as requiring an employee's deviation from university policy to result in some palpable harm to the school or one of its employees or students before a tenured or permanent status employee could be terminated (without prior discipline) based upon his or her deviation from school policy. This is a logical, plain reading of the rule."

"FAMU, however, claims to read the rule as meaning that any ‘disregard of established University policy,' no matter how slight, is itself an ‘adverse affect to the functioning of the University' (thereby justifying termination of the employee) simply by virtue of the fact that a rule has been broken. FAMU's interpretation makes no sense because it renders the standard for termination meaningless."

FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders said no decision has been made regarding an appeal.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Investigation at FAMU law school

The FAMU Division of Audit and Compliance is investigating something at the College of Law – FAMU officials won't say what – but it may involve an employee in the registrar's office, The Gradebook has learned. According to several law students who emailed The Gradebook, it may also involve allegations of unauthorized grade changes.

The employee is Deborah Swain, a program assistant who students say has essentially been working as the acting registrar for months. FAMU spokewoman Sharon Saunders said via emails that she could not answer questions about Swain, citing two sections of Florida public records law, including one that pertains to "records maintained for the purpose of any investigation of employee misconduct." Saunders also said she could not offer any details about the investigation beyond the fact that it started Jan. 28.

The law school's rumor mill is rampant with details, but we're going to hold off until more can be confirmed. The Gradebook tried to reach Swain by phone and e-mail, but did not get a response.

If the investigation does involve unauthorized grade changes, it is unclear whether it is tied to an ongoing probe by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tallahassee, which began looking into similar issues at FAMU in November.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter 

FAMU is 'accountable for every dollar'

FAMU Police arrested a FAMU administrative assistant, Teria Coverson, on grand theft charges this week, prompting President James Ammons to issue a statement saying, "We have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior."

According to a press release, the arrest came after the FAMU Division of Audit and Compliance reviewed cash management practices at the two FAMU pharmacy clinics in Tallahassee and "discovered that numerous cash deposits did not reflect true and accurate deposit amounts in relation to actual amounts received by the clinics." Coverson allegedly stole $55,344, the release said. For a few more details, see this morning's Tallahassee Democrat story here.

Continued Ammons in the statement: "It is important that we have a system and process in place to make sure that we are able to uncover these kinds of discrepancies. We want to be accountable for every dollar. I commend the Division of Audit and Compliance and the FAMU Police Department for conducting a thorough investigation."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Holmes got lowest score, FAMU records show

The FAMU committee that interviewed the three finalists for the director's job at the FAMU Developmental Research School gave Ronald Holmes – who ultimately got the job – the lowest score, according to public records obtained last night by The Gradebook. Holmes is the brother of influential trustee R.B. Holmes, and his selection by President James Ammons (left) and the Board of Trustees on Dec. 31 has kicked up accusations of cronyism.

The three finalists – Holmes, the assistant principal at an Atlanta-area high school; Rose Campbell, the K-6 principal at the research school; and Richard Williams, an administrator and former assistant principal in the Miami-Dade school system – were rated by seven committee members on how they answered a series of 14 questions, including how they would turn around a troubled school (FAMU DRS got an F from the state last year) and their experience in starting new programs despite budget constraints.

Ronald Holmes got an average score of 48.2, the tallies show. Campbell got a 50. Williams got a 51.25.

Asked by The Gradebook for Ammons' response to the ongoing criticism, FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders e-mailed this statement last night: "Dr. Holmes met all of the qualifications and is a seasoned professional. His area of specialty is on test score enhancements. He has been especially successful in this area which is a critical need for FAMU DRS students."

Reached by phone this morning, Williams, who graduated from the FAMU research school and earned his bachelor's degree from FAMU, said he was "overwhelmed" when told by The Gradebook that he was the top scorer. But he also said he had no hard feelings. He said he did not know whether Ronald Holmes' family ties played a role in his selection, and was not concerned about that issue. Ultimately, Ammons had the option to choose who he thought was best for the job, he said: "That's the choice the president made, and I support it."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

FAMU summer school in doubt, too

FAMU president James Ammons told his cabinet this week that summer school is in danger because of budget woes. If classes are held this year, Ammons said they'll be much larger, according to minutes from the Monday meeting.

That's yet another university considering canceling or severely cutting back summer classes because of the budget crisis. UF president Bernie Machen, facing another $16-million cut in the current-year budget, announced earlier this month that summer school might have to go and enrollment might be cut.

USF administrators, anticipating this year's budget will be cut by $13-million on top of the $12-million already cut a few months back, also are reevaluating summer school. Thursday, they raised the spectre of an enrollment cut.

Ammons told his cabinet he anticipates the current-year FAMU budget will be cut by $4.6-million in coming weeks, for a total cut of $18-million this year. And statewide, university officials fear the 2008-09 budget will be even more painful.

"Nobody will be shielded," Ammons said, warning of a hiring freeze.

At FAMU, "it's so blatant"

Charges of cronyism are flying at FAMU again after the brother of a powerful trustee was hired to head the university's troubled K-12 research school. At the recommendation of FAMU President James Ammons, the university Board of Trustees voted Dec. 31 to hire Ronald Holmes (left) as the new superintendent for the FAMU Development Research School, which earned an F grade from the state last year.

Holmes, now an assistant principal at an Atlanta-area high school, is the brother of the Rev. R.B. Holmes, the trustees vice chair and an influential player in Tallahassee politics.

The family connection "just blasts you in the face," said Michael Wallace, who chairs the school's advisory council and has four children enrolled there, told The Gradebook yesterday. Favoritism is part of the mix in any political town, he continued, "But the sad thing with FAMU is, it's so blatant."

Three days before the new superintendent is slated to begin his new job, bruised feelings remain. And some wonder whether a hiring controversy will divert attention from improving student performance at a school where only 36 percent of students passed the reading FCAT last year.

FAMU Pharmacy off probation

FAMU officials on Monday got good news about one of their most vaunted colleges.

The College of Pharmacy, the nation's largest producer of African-American pharmacists, is no longer on probation by its accreditor.

FAMU officials announced accreditors' decision Monday. The pharmacy college had been on probation in recent months because of accreditors' concerns over curriculum, teaching facilities and faculty staffing levels. FAMU has tried but failed so far to get state money to expand its pharmacy facilities.

FAMU: Overtime problems fixed

FAMU made a number of changes last fall to ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and "we are committed to making sure that our employees are paid properly and on time," FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders said late Friday. Her comments came in response to Friday morning's news, first reported by The Gradebook, that the U.S. Department of Labor had found widespread violations of overtime and record-keeping rules at the school.

According to a DOL press release, more than 350 employees will receive $272,988 in back wages. A DOL spokesman told The Gradebook that the violations occurred between September 2004 and September 2006. He did not know whether other Florida universities had been investigated for similar violations.

Among other corrective actions, Saunders said FAMU conducted workshops on overtime rules; revised procedures for recording overtime on attendance and leave reports; and implemented a new payroll system "which provides for the payment of overtime during the pay period in which it occurs." For the most complete coverage of this story, see Saturday’s Tallahassee Democrat here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter