Florida A&M University: A Legacy of Excellence in Tallahassee

Florida A&M University (FAMU), a historically Black land-grant university in Tallahassee, Florida, stands as a beacon of academic excellence and cultural significance. Founded in 1887 as the State Normal College for Colored Students, FAMU has evolved into a comprehensive university offering 97-degree programs and serving a diverse student body. This article explores the rich history, academic offerings, campus life, and enduring impact of FAMU on the Tallahassee community and beyond.

Historical Roots and Evolution

The story of FAMU begins with a vision for providing educational opportunities to African Americans in Florida.

The Genesis of FAMU

In 1884, Thomas Van Renssaler Gibbs, a Duval County educator and state legislator, championed House Bill 133, which laid the foundation for a normal school for colored students in Jacksonville. This initiative led to the establishment of the State Normal College for Colored Students in Tallahassee on October 3, 1887, with fifteen students and two instructors. Thomas DeSaille Tucker, an attorney from Pensacola, was appointed as the first president, with Gibbs joining as the second faculty member.

Transition to a Land-Grant Institution

In 1891, the college received $7,500 under the Second Morrill Act for agricultural and mechanical arts education. Consequently, the State Normal College for Colored Students became Florida’s land-grant institution for colored people and was renamed State Normal and Industrial College for Colored Students. This marked a significant step in expanding the college's mission to include practical training in agriculture and mechanics.

Achieving University Status

The early 20th century brought further transformation. In 1905, control of the college was transferred from the Board of Education to the Board of Control, officially designating it as an institution of higher education. In 1909, the name changed to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes (FAMC). The college awarded its first degrees the following year, with an enrollment of 317 students. Despite a setback caused by a tragic fire that destroyed Duval Hall, progress continued with a $10,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie for a new library facility. This library held the distinction of being the only Carnegie Library located on a black land-grant college campus.

The Lee Era and Expansion

Under the administration of John Robert Edward Lee, Sr., from 1924 to 1944, the college experienced significant growth. Buildings were constructed, land was acquired, faculty were hired, courses were upgraded, and accreditation was received from several state agencies. By 1944, FAMC had 48 buildings, 396 acres of land, 812 students, and 122 staff members.

Elevating to University Status

In 1953, during the presidency of Dr. George W. Gore, the Florida legislature elevated the college to university status, officially becoming Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. This transition involved restructuring existing programs and designing new academic offerings to meet the demands of producing quality students at the professional and graduate levels.

Academic Profile and Rankings

Florida A&M University is recognized for its commitment to academic excellence and its diverse range of programs.

Academic Programs

FAMU offers 97-degree programs, catering to a wide array of academic and professional interests. The university's academic structure is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education, preparing them for success in their chosen fields.

Rankings and Recognition

In the edition of Best Colleges, Florida A&M University is ranked No. 169 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. 21 in Lowest Acceptance Rates. U.S. News & World Report college rankings placed Florida A&M 170th among national universities, 91st among public universities, third among HBCUs, and first among public HBCUs. These rankings reflect FAMU's commitment to academic quality and student success.

Research and Funding

Florida A&M's annual research funding is $44.5 million. The university has access to research funding from many Federal agencies. FAMU's two largest research areas are agriculture and health sciences. This robust research activity contributes to the university's reputation as a center for innovation and discovery.

Campus Life and Student Experience

FAMU provides a vibrant campus environment that fosters student engagement, leadership, and community involvement.

Campus Setting and Facilities

Florida A&M University is located at 1601 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Tallahassee FL 32307 850-599-3550. The Florida A&M Tallahassee Campus consists of 132 buildings spread across 420 acres (1.7 km2). The campus is situated just south of the State Capitol and Florida State University. FAMU also has a law school campus in Orlando, Florida, and the Research and Development Center in Quincy, Florida. The university's main campus in Tallahassee features a mix of historic and modern buildings, providing a unique setting for learning and living.

Residential Life

Florida A&M requires all first-year students to live on campus if their families are over 35 miles (56 km) from the FAMU campus. Florida A&M's residential living community consists of eleven on-campus residence halls housing over 3,400 students. The university offers a diverse number of living options including traditional dorms, suite-style halls, and on-campus apartments. In 2020, FAMU opened the FAMU Towers, a residence hall offering co-ed floors and 700 double rooms, in close proximity to campus eatery, The Hub.

Student Activities and Traditions

FAMU is known for its rich traditions and active student life. The Eternal Flame at the center of campus symbolizes Rattler excellence, a testament to the university's commitment to its students. The newest monument to grace the campus of the university is an 8-foot high coiled rattler sculpture by the artist Brad Cooley, Jr., having made its debut Nov. 2020 on Wahnish Way in front of the new student services building. These locations are a must-see on any visit to FAMU. FAMU is one of the largest HBCUs in the nation with a student body of nearly 10,000 students hailing from all regions of the United States and several foreign countries.

Read also: Top HBCU Bands

Student Representation

Miss FAMU, Mister FAMU, and other students represent the university in its royal court. Miss FAMU, Mister FAMU, and female students known as "attendants", are elected by the student body; there are one each of freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate attendants and a queen of "orange and green". The male "escorts" of the attendants are appointed by Mister FAMU through an application process. The only male escort that wears a crown besides Mister FAMU is the king of "orange and green".

Military Programs

FAMU has a rich history of military programs. While there is no Naval ROTC detachment on campus, students can enroll in the Army or Marine Corps, upon graduation. Air Force, a cross-campus arrangement permits their taking Air Force ROTC training with the AFROTC detachment at nearby Florida State University (FSU).

The Marching 100

The FAMU marching band, the Marching 100, received national recognition in January 1993 when it performed in the 42nd presidential inauguration parade by invitation of Bill Clinton. The band has also performed in the Super Bowl and in the 44th presidential inauguration parade for Barack Obama.

Athletics

Florida A&M University is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and participates in NCAA Division I-FCS. FAMU's sports teams are called the Rattlers. FAMU offers men's sports in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis and track and field.

Football Legacy

From 1938 to 1961, the football team won the Black College National Championship eight times, including six times under head coach Jake Gaither, in 1950, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1959 and 1961. When Gaither retired after 25 years of coaching in 1969, his FAMU teams had a 203-36-4 (wins-losses-ties) record, for a .844 winning percentage. Thirty-six players from Gaither's teams were All-Americans, and 42 went on to play in the National Football League. During his 25 years as head coach, FAMU won 22 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. Gaither was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

Historic Landmarks

The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. It received that designation on May 9, 1996. The district is centered along the section of Martin Luther King Boulevard that goes through the campus. According to the National Register, it covers 370 acres (1.5 km2), and contains 14 historic buildings and 1 object. One campus building, the old Carnegie Library, is listed separately on the National Register. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed Lee Hall at Florida A&M on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. The Samuel H. Coleman Memorial Library is the university's main library, named for the man who served as the university's general alumni president for 14 years. After the university's main building containing administrative offices, cafeteria, and library were destroyed by fire, Andrew Carnegie donated a $10,000 gift for the construction of a new library facility. The construction of Coleman Library began during the post-World War II era. The new library was officially dedicated during FAMU's 1949 annual Founders Day celebration in honor of civil leader Samuel H. Coleman. The library was built in 1948, renovated in 1972, expanded in 1990 and again in 2004. The library of what was then the State Normal and Industrial College for Colored Students was located in the grandest building on the campus, Duval Hall, the former mansion of Florida governor William Pope Duval, which also held the university's administrative offices and cafeteria. It was destroyed by fire in 1905. In 1907, when the city of Tallahassee turned down philanthropist Andrew Carnegie's offer of a library building, because by his rules it would have had to serve black patrons, Carnegie funded instead the Carnegie Library at FAMU.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Florida A&M University is committed to providing access to higher education for students from all backgrounds.

Admissions

Florida A&M University accepts the Common Application. The fall 2022 incoming freshmen class had an average high school GPA of 3.8 and an average SAT score of 1019 and ACT score of 22. Florida A&M University student enrollment population consists primarily of undergraduates. 83% of the school's enrolled students are African-American. The next largest demographic group is White (non-Hispanic) students at 7%, followed by Hispanic students at 6%.

Tuition and Fees

The school's in-state tuition and fees are $5,785; out-of-state tuition and fees are $17,725.

Financial Aid

Eighty percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $11,558. This commitment to financial aid ensures that students have the resources they need to succeed academically.

Social Activism and Civil Rights

Florida A&M University has a long and proud history of social activism and civil rights advocacy.

Role in the Civil Rights Movement

Demonstrations such as the Tallahassee bus boycotts and CORE-led sit-in protests were influenced by the efforts of Florida A&M students to challenge racial segregation during the Civil Rights Movement. On May 26, 1956, Wilhemina Jakes and Carrie Patterson, two Florida A&M University students, were arrested by the Tallahassee Police Department for "placing themselves in a position to incite a riot." Both Jakes and Patterson were let out on bonds, but later returned home to crosses burning on their yards that had been placed by members of the Ku Klux Klan.

CORE Chapter

Thanks to the leadership of FAMU students and sisters Priscilla and Patricia Stephens Due, Florida A&M's CORE chapter played an active role in several protests across Tallahassee from 1959 to 1964. In November 1959, CORE members conducted their first of many "tests" that attempted to challenge the practices of racial segregation in the Tallahassee area, with their focus being on whether the city's bus system continued to operate under segregated lines out of "cultural habit" or an "officially imposed pattern." Similar tests were carried out at dime stores around the city, which attempted to measure "discrimination on an empirical level" rather than act as an early version of what would eventually be the student's sit-in protests.

Sit-In Protests

In February 1960, news spread to Tallahassee's CORE chapter about the Greensboro sit-ins and the group was encouraged to participate in their own as an act of solidarity. Eight Florida A&M students and two local high schoolers volunteered to participate in the group's first sit in at their local Woolworth lunch counter. After being refused service, students remained at the counter for two hours and did not leave until law enforcement arrived. The CORE chapter later agreed to return to Woolworth the following week with a larger, more well-trained group of students. Rather than letting protestors disperse like before, Tallahassee police arrested 11 out of the 17 protestors present on the grounds of "disturbing the peace." Among those arrested were the Due sisters along with 6 other Florida A&M students. On March 17 the 11 original protestors arrested were found guilty on counts of "disturbing the peace" and "unlawful assembly," leading for them to either paying a $300 fine or serve a 60-day jail sentence for their crimes.

Continued Activism

In 1963, Florida A&M students demonstrated against segregation in the city. Throughout September 14-16, mass protests led to around 350 arrests, many of which were FAMU students. Major arrests occurred on September 14 following a protest on the segregated State Theater led by Patricia Stephens Due, with over 248 student arrests in one day on the ground of "willful trespass." Around 250 more student protestors arrived to the jail under the guidance of Reverend's C.K. Steele, E.G.

Notable Alumni

Florida A&M University has produced numerous distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields.

E. Lilyan Spencer (1906-1957), tennis player, basketball coach and principal.
Frederick S. Humphries (born 1935), eighth president of Florida A&M University from June 1, 1985, to December 31, 2001.
Sybil C. Mobley (born 1925), founding dean of Florida A&M University'sSchool of Business and Industry.
Althea Gibson (born 1927), first African American to win a Grand Slam title (the French Championships).
Bob Hayes (born 1942), only athlete to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.
John W. Kimberly Godwin, former professor at Florida A&M University. In April 2021, Godwin was named president of ABC News.
Anika Noni Rose (born 1972), actress and singer. She is best known for voicing Tiana, Disney's first African-American princess, as seen in The Princess and the Frog (2009).
Roy Wood Jr.

Recent Developments

Florida A&M University continues to evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of its students and the community.

Recent Donation

In May 2024, Florida A&M administrators announced during a commencement ceremony that it had received a $237 million donation, the largest single personal donation to Florida A&M in its 136-year history and the largest gift ever to a HBCU, from Gregory Gerami, CEO of Batterson Farms Corporation. The gift quickly came under scrutiny due to questions about its legitimacy. The donation was stock from Gerami's private company and its value could not be determined.

Visiting Tallahassee

Tallahassee offers a variety of attractions and activities for visitors.

Local Attractions

Coming to town for the Banana Ball World Tour? We’ve curated some of the best spots to stay, local favorites for a pre-game meal, and must-see Tallahassee attractions to explore before the first pitch.

Floral Guide

Tallahassee Floral Guide ⤵️Blossoms are opening up all around Tallahassee! 🌸 Check out the top 5 must-see locations for experiencing the season`s most stunning floral displays. Where is your favorite place to see blooms on display?📍 Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park📍 Dorothy B.

Black History Month Festival

28!In honor of Black History Month, the festival will feature live entertainment, cultural performances, community engagement activities, and family-friendly programming designed to highlight the richness of African and African American culture.📍 Will Packer Amphitheater, FAMU🗓️ Saturday, Feb. 28 | 11 AM - 5 PM

Outdoor Activities

Whether you`re a seasoned rider or just getting started, Tallahassee’s 700+ miles of trails offer the perfect mix of challenge and adventure. Explore the trails to experience thrilling singletracks and stunning views while pushing your endurance to new heights. 🌲 And afterward, you can rest up for a round or two at our many biker-friendly beer gardens around town.

Historical Sites

Congrats to Mission San Luis! Walk through an Apalachee council house, step inside a Spanish fort, and uncover stories from Floridas colonial past-all brought to life by incredible living history interpreters. A must-visit for history buffs and adventurers alike!Did we mention its dog-friendly?

Cascades Park

Expect magic, music, swordplay, and some of the most stunning costumes you’ve ever seen in the park. Festival opens at 6 PM. Performance begins at 7:30 PM.📍 Location: Cascades Park, Tallahassee📅 February 19 - 22. Bring a blanket, bring a friend, and come enjoy food trucks, artisans, and the show, and celebrate Opening Night. See you at the park.

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