Presidential Brief November 2024
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Hello Rattlers!
As you know, our nation recently concluded a major election season, choosing new leaders at local, county, state, and national levels. Let’s extend our best wishes and support to those elected as they prepare to serve their communities and our country.
October kicked off a season of celebration across our main campus in Tallahassee, situated on the Highest of Seven Hills, as well as on our campuses in Crestview, Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, Tampa, and Brooksville. Our esteemed university commemorated the legacy established over 137 years ago. I am especially grateful to the faculty, staff, and students who joined me on October 3rd at the Eternal Flame on our Tallahassee campus to celebrate FAMU's 137th anniversary. Members of the local community also joined us, including distinguished guests like our 9th President, Dr. Fred Gainous; 12th President, Dr. Larry Robinson; and former Interim President and Dean, Dr. Henry Lewis.
Homecoming 2024 was truly unforgettable! A special thanks to the Homecoming Planning Committee Co-Chairs Mrs. Carmen Cummings-Martin, Dr. Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, Dr. William Hudson Jr., and Mr. Dakari Williams, for organizing such a memorable week. Tens of thousands of alumni from around the globe returned to the Highest of Seven Hills to experience this year’s theme, “The Experience—Remembering the Times.” Our Mr. and Ms. FAMU, Omari Rasheed and Kailyn Thompson, were crowned, joining a long line of revered students to hold these roles. Congratulations to them and the Royal Court, who represent FAMU as outstanding ambassadors within and beyond the University. We were also honored to have alumna Ms. Terri Hines, an executive at FOX Sports, as the 2024 Homecoming Convocation keynote speaker. Ms. Hines shared her FAMU journey and insights into her successful career in one of the nation’s leading sports networks.
Three esteemed FAMU alumni were recognized for their commitment to service and investment in FAMU students over the years. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard and Shirley Kinsey from Los Angeles, Calif., Mr. Dexter McDonald from Bradenton, Fla., and Dr. Jomo Cousins received the President’s Award of Excellence during the Homecoming Convocation. Other notable pre-Homecoming and Homecoming events included the 2024 FAMU Sports Hall of Fame Induction, the School of Business and Industry’s 50th Anniversary, the 40 Under 40 Induction, and the Homecoming Parade, featuring nearly 180 entries and attended by approximately 20,000 people.
Homecoming Week concluded triumphantly with our football team's victory over Texas Southern, cheered on by over 23,000 loyal fans and alumni. Congratulations to our Athletic Department, led by Vice-President and Athletic Director Mrs. Angela Suggs, Head Coach Mr. James Colzie III, and all our student-athletes who brought home this Homecoming win.
I continue to be grateful for the leadership of Provost Dr. Allyson Watson and her team in Academic Affairs. By prioritizing research, they support faculty through travel grants, research workshops, and sessions on Artificial Intelligence through the Teaching and Learning Center, boosting our productivity. These initiatives are fueling growth in research output, reflected in our Academic Analytics profile, and affirming FAMU’s path toward Research 1 status.
The Division of Information Technology Services, together with the Divisions of Finance and Administration, Academic Affairs, Research, and Strategic Planning, is making excellent progress with the implementation of the Workday ERP system. This system will transform the way business transactions are conducted at FAMU. Kudos to all employees and Senior Leadership team members for their extraordinary dedication to this effort.
Below are some highlights of my recent engagements and major accomplishments across the University divisions.
President's Key Activities and Engagements (October Overview - Not All-Inclusive): Participated in or attended:
- FAMU 137th Founders’ Day Observance
- Meeting with FAMU Alumni Marcelia Freeman
- Council of 1890 HBCU Presidents Meeting
- Weekly Calls with Board of Trustees Chair, Kristin Harper
- Weekly Calls with SUS Presidents and Chancellor Ray Rodrigues
- Swearing-In Ceremony for FAMU Police Chief Audry Alexander
- Keynote Speaker at Leadership Breakfast, Tallahassee City Chamber of Commerce
- HBCU Scholars Leadership Breakfast
- Alabama State University vs. FAMU Football Game in Montgomery, Ala.
- Jackson State vs. FAMU Football Game in Jackson, Miss.
- Southern University vs. FAMU Football Game
- President’s Point of View Recording
- Special FAMU Board of Trustees Meeting
- Board of Governors Meeting in Miami, Fla.
- FAMU Fall 2024 Career Expo
- Swearing-In Ceremony for FAMU Police Officers
- Board of Governors Zoom Meeting
- Annual Industry Cluster Meeting
- FAMU Student Government Hall of Fame
- FAMU Sports Hall of Fame Induction
- Presenter and Speaker at Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
- Guest Appearance on "Conversation with Nicole" Talk Show
- Conducted Bi-Monthly President’s Town Hall
DIVISIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Please note that the highlights are not all inclusive)
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS HIGHLIGHTS
Under the leadership of Provost Dr. Allyson Watson, here are some notable achievements from October 2024:
- Congratulations to Dr. K. Soloman and Dr. S. Darling Reed for their pivotal role in securing over $23 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health to advance Health Disparities Research and strengthen the research infrastructure at FAMU.
- The School of Business and Industry at Florida A&M University (FAMU) celebrated the grand opening of its upgraded Investments and Analytics Lab, made possible through the generous support of corporate partners PGIM and PwC. PGIM pledged $1 million over five years for business education initiatives, while PwC donated $100,000 for lab computer purchases. Special thanks to Dr. S. March-Dallas and Dr. S. Friday-Stroud for leading this effort.
- Thanks to the expertise of Dr. D. Kobello and Dean A. Chin, FAMU and Trimble (Nasdaq:
TRMB) marked the grand opening of the new Trimble Technology Lab on October 2 at the
Tallahassee campus. This significant milestone makes FAMU the first Historically Black
College and University (HBCU) to establish a Trimble Technology Lab.
STUDENT AFFAIRS HIGHLIGHTS
Under the leadership of Dr. William Hudson Jr., the division achieved the following accomplishments in October 2024 as noted below:
- The bi-annual 2024 Career Expo was attended by 125 employers and a four year high of 2,096 students.
- More than 475 students participated in Parents Weekend. Financial Aid Total disbursed to FAMU students at this time is: $59,556,771.40 (PELL: 13,629,772.00, Federal Loans: 27,788,860.00 ---Scholarships, Grants, Fellowships and Alternative Loans: $18,138,139.00
- FAMU Food Pantry had 1346 student visits, Clinical Visits 231, as (COVID-19) is still
prevalent.
LEGAL AFFAIRS AND OFFICE FOR UNIVERSITY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Under the leadership of Ms. Shira Thomas, Esq., the department achieved several major accomplishments in October 2024, includng:
- Completed comprehensive reviews of more than 200 agreements, including memorandums of understanding, procurement, construction, research, athletics, and affiliation agreements. In October, the OGC specifically reviewed nine affiliation agreements, 167 procurement contracts, and 26 research contracts.
- Delivered approximately four presentations on Sunshine Law and Public Records Search Committee procedures.
- Managed public records requests, with 11 requests received and 10 requests closed.
OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
- Completed the Year three update on the Boldly Striking Strategic Plan Initiatives.
- Worked with departmental representatives to draft, review, and revise various regulations and policies. Finalized policies include: Internal Operating Procedure CAFS VT-2024-01 (Veterinary Technology Rabies Mitigation Policy), the Class Attendance Catalog Policy, and the Foreign Language Catalog Policy.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES HIGHLIGHTS
Under the leadership of Mr. Robert Seniors, the IT division achieved several major accomplishments in October 2024, including:
- Deployed Endpoint Management Software on 2,500 desktops and laptops, enabling centralized, real-time monitoring of device health across the entire network and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Established an efficient software patch management system to automatically deploy patches for operating systems and applications, safeguarding devices from potential security threats.
- Automated software installation processes to remotely add or remove applications, providing all FAMU employees with a consistent and secure desktop experience.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION HIGHLIGHTS
Under the leadership of Ms. Rebecca Brown, the department achieved several key milestones in October 2024, including:
- The FAMU Controller’s Office successfully completed and submitted final responses to the Operational Audit and timely submitted financial statements to the Board of Governors. Additionally, a table-top exercise was facilitated for employees in collaboration with external stakeholders and law enforcement to improve preparedness for the upcoming election.
- Hosted an Appreciation Cookout to celebrate the team's commitment to maintaining a safe, clean, and well-kept campus.
- Provided individual briefings on the Compensation Study Report to Board of Trustees members, paving the way for future implementation.
DIVISION OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND INSTIUTION EFFECTIVENESS (SPAIE)
Under the leadership of Dr. Roddrick Jones, SPAIE achieved several significant accomplishments in October 2024, including:
- Released the 2023-2024 Degrees Awarded Report, providing valuable insights into graduation trends and academic achievements across the institution.
- Successfully developed and launched a new data dashboard platform, improving real-time data access and supporting informed decision-making throughout the division.
- Completed the annual review of program learning outcomes, including the assessment
plans and reports for academic programs, ensuring alignment with SACSCOC Standard
8.1.
DIVISION OF AUDIT(DOA) HIGHLIGHTS
Under the leadership of Mr. Joe Maleszewski, the division achieved several key milestones in October 2024, including:
- Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Distributed engaging materials throughout the university community via the Daily Venom to promote Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This included three video sketches highlighting the risks of weak passwords, phishing emails, and using unsecured Wi-Fi.
- Information Technology Corrective Action Plans:Led two Corrective Action Plans with Information Technology Services to improve information handling and cybersecurity. The first addressed compliance with the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), a federal law governing financial institutions. The second followed up on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)/FAMU Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise (TTX), which assessed coordination, collaboration, information sharing, and response capabilities between the university, FBI, and FDLE in the event of a major cyber incident.
- Investigations/Complaints:The DOA received 18 new complaints in the first quarter of FY 2024-2025. In addition, 18 cases, including carryforward investigations, management referrals, and closed cases, have been resolved or published. Currently, there are 10 active investigations (4 carried over from the previous year) and 3 management referrals.
GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS HIGHLIGHTS
Under the leadership of Mr. Jamal Sowell, the department achieved several key accomplishments during October 2024, including:
- Performed Legislative Ask for 2025: Met with VPs and Departments for funding needs to create a priority funding list to get President Beard's approval for the 2025 legislative session focus.
- Legislators: Contacted every Florida Legislative Black Caucus member, Leon County Delegation, and Speaker Danny Perez to inform them about President Beard's vision and that we will give them our legislative priorities by the end of the year.
- State Executive and Federal: Assisted the Governor's and Senator Rubio's offices with hurricane preparation, shelter,
and recovery efforts while bringing the BOG and Governor's staff to campus.
RESEARCH, CONTRACTS AND GRANTS
Under the leadership of Dr. Charles Weatherford, a few accomplishments achieved in October 2024 are outlined below:
- $8,676,942 of research awards were received by the University during the month of October 2024.
- The Sponsored Research Office (SRO) achieved a staffing level equal to the SRO staffing level of two years ago.
- The FAMU National Science Foundation proposal “JAX Inclusive Mobility Engine” for $160,000,000 for ten years (Dr. Ren Moses PI), was invited to submit a full proposal after the preliminary proposal competition. Three proposals from Florida made it out of the preliminary round—FAMU and FSU had two of the proposals to move forward.
As an alumnus of the nation's top HBCU and a top 100 university, I am truly humbled and grateful to serve as the Interim President of this exceptional institution. I want to express my sincere appreciation to each of you for your continued contributions, which help strengthen both our students and Florida A&M University every day. And let us always keep in mind, as Rattlers, we must Strike, Strike, and Strike Again!
Boldy Striking,
Timothy Beard, Ph.D., CRC, BCMC
Interim President
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