FAMU Secures Over $50M in Legislative Allocations to Promote Student Success, Recruit & Retain Faculty, Expand Research

Florida A&M University (FAMU) secured more than $50 million in funding  appropriations from the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The funding will enable FAMU to ramp up efforts to improve student graduation and retention rates, and recruit and retain world class faculty.

The legislative allocations also address the statewide nursing shortage with support for the nursing program, and research and facility expansion at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

“We thank the Governor, Legislature, Board of Governors, FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT) and all of our stakeholders for ensuring that FAMU gets the funding we need to enhance our student success initiatives,” Robinson said. “FAMU and the rest of the State University System are on an upward trajectory, but our work is far from complete; however, this funding will make a significant difference to our efforts.”

Among the highlights:

FAMU Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., lauded the appropriations for Performance-Based Funding (PBF) and substantial investments in the University’s engineering and research facilities. FAMU is pushing to become the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to achieve Carnegie R-1 status.

“At Florida A&M University, these funds are vital for our continuous pursuit of academic excellence and innovation, including modernization of research facilities, increased funding for specialty crop research, and support for scholarships at our 1890 institution that aligns with our mission to lead in agricultural innovation and education,” Watson said.

On May 29 during their meeting in Tampa, Fla., the FAMU BOT approved the fiscal year 2025-2026 Legislative Budget Request totaling $55.5 million. The Beyond the Top 100: Elevating Excellence | Inspiring Digital Transformation operational enhancement request emphasizes further improvements on institutional outcomes on the Performance-Based Funding Metrics and other key performance indicators across all colleges and schools. The requested funding will enable the University to strategically target resources and support areas that will have the greatest impact on increasing student success.

Following DeSantis’ signing of the state budget, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues lauded the governor’s commitment of $4.1 billion in state operating funding to the SUS through the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget, which seeks to further strengthen the state’s commitment to maintaining its status as the top higher education system in the nation.

Among the highlights:

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Tarik Dickens, Ph.D., associate professor of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering works with students in his lab.

Credit: Division of Research

Andrew J. Skerritt

Associate Director/Office of Communications

850-455-2675