President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., recently met with State Senator Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, vice chair of the Senate Education Appropriations Committee, and State Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, chair of the House Education Appropriations Committee, to discuss the University’s 2016-17 legislative priorities.
Mangum presented both Sen. Montford and Rep. Fresen with FAMU’s 2015 Legislative Champion’s Awards in recognition of their crucial support in advancing several of the University’s top priorities during the 2015 Legislative Session. The University presented Legislative Champion’s Awards to FAMU grads Sen. Arthenia Joyner, Tampa; Rep. Mia Jones, Jacksonville; and Rep. Alan Williams who also played key roles for FAMU during the 2015 session.
Mangum also met with State Senator Don Gaetz, R-Destin, chair of the Senate Education Appropriations Committee; Senator Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, member of the Senate Education Appropriations Committee; and Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Ft. Myers, member of the House Education Appropriations Committee. Among the items Mangum discussed during her visits with legislators were the University’s need for $26.5 million to construct a Student Affairs Building that will, for the first time in a long time, allow FAMU to consolidate essential student services under a single roof; a $5.9 million Student Success proposal to begin offering our unique student population the kinds of essential services necessary to help them complete college in a timely manner, with the least amount of debt possible; and a $9.5 million Faculty Vitality and Curriculum Enhancement request that would allow the University to attract additional high-quality faculty in areas of strategic emphasis.
Mangum’s visits helped to begin the conversation with legislators in advance of the start of the 2016 Florida Legislative Session, which begins January 12, 2016.
