Highlights
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly referred to as Florida A&M, is located in Tallahassee, Florida. It is one of four historically black colleges in Florida and is part of the Florida State University System. Established in 1887, as the State Normal School for Colored Students, Florida A&M or FAMU (pronounced FAM-you), was cited in the 1990s as the top college for African American students, according to Black Enterprise magazine.
...
...
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly referred to as Florida A&M, is located in Tallahassee, Florida. It is one of four historically black colleges in Florida and is part of the Florida State University System. Established in 1887, as the State Normal School for Colored Students, Florida A&M or FAMU (pronounced FAM-you), was cited in the 1990s as the top college for African American students, according to Black Enterprise magazine.
The nearly 13,000 students, most of them undergraduates, can choose from 62 bachelor degrees in 101 majors, 36 master's degree with 56 majors or tracks in 11 schools and colleges. FAMU also offers two professional degrees and 11 Ph.D. programs.
The university's School of Business & Industry, College of Pharmacy and the School of Architecture are highly acclaimed, as is its journalism program, which has two endowed seats. FAMU has a College of Law in Orlando, Florida.
Florida A&M has a long and proud tradition, which includes a list of distinguished graduates in several fields. They include the late jazz saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and his brother Nat Adderley, the late tennis great Althea Gibson, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, hip-hop artist Common, and Congress members Corrine Brown (D-Jacksonville), Kendrick Meek (D-Miami) and his mother, former Congresswomen Carrie Meek. Graduates also include a long list of athletes who played professional football, baseball and basketball.
The school colors are orange and green and their athletic teams nickname is the Rattlers. According to the schools Web site, there are several theories about the origin of the name. One speculates that when the campus was built in 1891, "there was said to be nothing there but palmetto trees and rattlesnakes." Another theory suggests that the late President J.R.E. "Lee sought a name for the teams which would evoke fear and respect from opponent."
But FAMU is perhaps best know for its band, the Marching 100, which is often cited as the "best band in the land." In 1997, Time Magazine-Princeton Review named FAMU "College of the Year." In 1999, Black Issues in Higher Education cited the university for awarding more Bachelor of Arts degrees to African-Americans than any school in the country.
But a decade later, the university's reputation is tarnished. While the school had four presidents between 1950 and 2001, four presidents including interims have been in charge in the past six years. James H. Ammons, an alumnus, was named president in 2007. Audits conducted since 2003 have uncovered sloppy bookkeeping and mismanagement of nearly $40 million, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. An audit conducted in 2007 uncovered 35 additional instances of accounting errors. The National Collegiate Athletic Association placed its athletic department on probation in 2005 for four years because of an array of rules violations.
The bad news is taking its toll. Alumni donations have plummeted from $10.5 million in 2002 to $3.75 million in 2006. Student enrollment, which climbed over 13,000 three years ago, is declining. In 2007, the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities put FAMU on probation, one step above losing its accreditation. Students at unaccredited schools are not eligible for federally funded financial aid and many schools will not accept the transfer credits.
The nearly 13,000 students, most of them undergraduates, can choose from 62 bachelor degrees in 101 majors, 36 master's degree with 56 majors or tracks in 11 schools and colleges. FAMU also offers two professional degrees and 11 Ph.D. programs.
The university's School of Business & Industry, College of Pharmacy and the School of Architecture are highly acclaimed, as is its journalism program, which has two endowed seats. FAMU has a College of Law in Orlando, Florida.
Florida A&M has a long and proud tradition, which includes a list of distinguished graduates in several fields. They include the late jazz saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and his brother Nat Adderley, the late tennis great Althea Gibson, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, hip-hop artist Common, and Congress members Corrine Brown (D-Jacksonville), Kendrick Meek (D-Miami) and his mother, former Congresswomen Carrie Meek. Graduates also include a long list of athletes who played professional football, baseball and basketball.
The school colors are orange and green and their athletic teams nickname is the Rattlers. According to the schools Web site, there are several theories about the origin of the name. One speculates that when the campus was built in 1891, "there was said to be nothing there but palmetto trees and rattlesnakes." Another theory suggests that the late President J.R.E. "Lee sought a name for the teams which would evoke fear and respect from opponent."
But FAMU is perhaps best know for its band, the Marching 100, which is often cited as the "best band in the land." In 1997, Time Magazine-Princeton Review named FAMU "College of the Year." In 1999, Black Issues in Higher Education cited the university for awarding more Bachelor of Arts degrees to African-Americans than any school in the country.
But a decade later, the university's reputation is tarnished. While the school had four presidents between 1950 and 2001, four presidents including interims have been in charge in the past six years. James H. Ammons, an alumnus, was named president in 2007. Audits conducted since 2003 have uncovered sloppy bookkeeping and mismanagement of nearly $40 million, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. An audit conducted in 2007 uncovered 35 additional instances of accounting errors. The National Collegiate Athletic Association placed its athletic department on probation in 2005 for four years because of an array of rules violations.
The bad news is taking its toll. Alumni donations have plummeted from $10.5 million in 2002 to $3.75 million in 2006. Student enrollment, which climbed over 13,000 three years ago, is declining. In 2007, the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities put FAMU on probation, one step above losing its accreditation. Students at unaccredited schools are not eligible for federally funded financial aid and many schools will not accept the transfer credits.
Displaying items 1-12 of 128
» View baltimoresun.com items only
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
•
Next >
-
Police: Member of Florida A&M women's basketball team fatally stabbed in neck; suspect charged
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a student athlete at Florida A&M University died after she was stabbed in the neck, and another young woman has been arrested. The Tallahassee Democrat (http://bit.ly/oBaiXa) reports that police said Shannon...Tags: College Basketball, Basketball, College Sports, LeBron James, Murder
-
Sports on TV
Baltimore Sun reporterFRIDAY'S TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS AFL Tampa Bay@Philadelphia NFL 8 NASCAR Nationwide Aaron's 312: qualifying SPEED Noon Sprint Cup Aaron's 499: practice SPEED 2 Sprint Cup Aaron's 499: final practice SPEED 3:30 ARCA RE/MAX Talladega SPEED 5 F1 Grand...Tags: Auto Racing, Ice Hockey, New York Rangers, National Football League, Football
-
2005 local college football schedule
Sun StaffSaturday, Oct. 22 Johns Hopkins at Muhlenberg, 1 p.m. McDaniel at Randolph-Macon, 1 p.m. St. Peter's (N.J.) at Salisbury, 1 p.m. Morgan State at Delaware State, 1 p.m. Towson at William & Mary, 1 p.m. Seton Hill at Frostburg State, 1 p.m. Bowie...Tags: Florida State University, Armed Forces, Defense, Colleges and Universities, College of William and Mary
-
Q&A with Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley
SunSpot StaffDonald Hill-Eley was elevated to head coach of Morgan State's football program in February after serving one year as the team's offensive coordinator. He played college football at Virginia Union and went on to work as an assistant coach there. Hill-...Tags: Hospitals and Clinics, Canadian Football, Colleges and Universities, Hampton University, Football
-
Slain Florida marching band student asked for hazing - defendant
Reuters* Head drum major calls hazing ritual "a respect thing" * Says victim complained of being tired after beating By Barbara Liston ORLANDO, Fla., May 23 (Reuters) - The Florida college marching band member killed in a brutal 2011 hazing wanted to submit...Tags: Florida Classic, Defendants, Colleges and Universities, Teaching and Learning, College Sports
-
Slain Florida marching band student asked for hazing: defendant
ReutersORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - The Florida college marching band member killed in a brutal 2011 hazing wanted to submit to the ritual and received permission from the head drum major to participate on the night he died, according to testimony released by...Tags: Florida Classic, Defendants, College Sports, Colleges and Universities, Teaching and Learning
-
FAMU Band to Remain Suspended for 2012-13 After Hazing Death
Orlando SentinelThe president of Florida A&M University has decided that the school's famous marching band, which has been suspended indefinitely since shortly after the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion in Orlando last fall, will not perform at all this year,...Tags: Florida Classic, Law Enforcement, Executive Branch, College Sports, Colleges and Universities
-
Florida A&M band director abruptly retires; band's fate uncertain
The beleaguered director of Florida A&M University's marching band announced Thursday that he was stepping down from the suspended marching unit even as Florida’s top state university official asked that the band be kept off the field because of...
Tags: Hazing, Colleges and Universities, James H. Ammons, Frank Brogan
-
Hazing death: Victim's parents want Florida A&M band dismantled
ATLANTA -- A day after 13 people were charged with hazing crimes in connection with the death of a Florida A&M drum major, the parents of Robert Champion and their lawyer branded the charges as too slight, the investigation as less than thorough -- and...
Tags: Law Enforcement, Colleges and Universities, Prosecution, FBI, Hazing
-
Florida A&M expels students in suspected band hazing death
Nation NowFlorida A&M University officials announced Thursday that they have expelled four students allegedly involved in an alleged hazing death.... -
Hazing death inquiry at Florida A&M: New incident, new investigation
Nation NowFlorida A&M: As law enforcement officials continue to investigate the possible hazing death of a Florida A&M student, they've uncovered possible financial misconduct at the school. Meanwhile, a Georgia school district is banning all band activities... -
Band hazing: 4 more charged at Florida A&M; none linked to death
Nation NowFour more Texas A&M band members are arrested and charged with hazing. None of the arrests are connected to the death of drum major Robert Champion....
Sep 4, 2011
|Story| Associated Press
Apr 15, 2011
|Story| Baltimore Sun
Oct 27, 2005
|Story| Baltimore Sun
Aug 7, 2002
|Story| Baltimoresun.com
May 23, 2012
|Story| Reuters
May 23, 2012
|Story| Reuters
May 14, 2012
|Story| KTLA-LTV
May 10, 2012
|Story| Los Angeles Times
May 3, 2012
|Story| Los Angeles Times
Dec 1, 2011
| Los Angeles Times
Dec 14, 2011
| Los Angeles Times
Jan 20, 2012
| Los Angeles Times
Original site for Florida A&M University topic gallery.
