Historically Black University Florida A&M to Cut Positions, Including Faculty, & Eliminate 22 Programs

Layoffs are coming to historically black university Florida A&M University. According the The Famuan, President James Ammons announced Monday that about 200 employees will be laid off at the end of June and 22 academic programs will be cut as part of a major restructuring proposal. Sadly, the layoffs will be most felt in the clerical and administrative ranks, as well as some faculty positions, the article said.

"With the plan that we have developed, we are hoping that this will be at least a two-year plan so we won't have to come back here next year with this kind of discussion," Ammons told an audience of about 200 people. "But we won't know until the legislature (session) finishes." According to administrative officials, since 2007, Florida A&M has experienced a $35 million reduction to its budget. Now, the university must address the potential 15 percent projected cut, which would result in a $13.3 million reduction for FAMU in fiscal year 2011-12. This reduction will occur in addition to the loss of $7.9 million in stimulus funding. "If those cuts are deeper than we think, we are going to have to come back here next year and have this same conversation because the money just won't be there," Ammons said. Source

Florida A&M is one of the best HBCU and I am saddened that there is so much disparity between a comparable predominantly white institution of higher learning. I can't recall hearing a predominantly white university is laying people off or even cutting programs. Don't get me wrong, if there is mismanagement at Famu, then the chickens have come home to roost and it is unfortunate.