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FAMU’s Graduation Rates
2 Jan2009
FAMU graduation rates tell complex story
By Angeline J. Taylor • DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Florida A&M University’s recent commencement ceremony brings to light a startling statistic that serves as a challenge for the university’s administrators. The challenge involves the university’s graduation rate.
Florida Board of Governors’ figures show that about 42 percent of FAMU students graduate in four to six years. It’s a figure FAMU administrators are working to change, especially when considering graduation rates of sister institutions — Florida State University or University of Florida. FSU graduates 70.9 percent of its black students due to a specialized program. UF’s figures are close to FSU’s, according to the Florida Board of Governors.
However, FAMU’s graduation rate among black students ranks higher than state institutions such as Gulf Coast University and Florida Atlantic University. Both graduate black students at a rate of 37 percent in four to six years.
“We are not like our sister schools,” FAMU Provost Cynthia Hughes Harris said. “In our estimation, we are the leading producers of African-Americans with baccalaureate degrees.”
Alright, let me jump to this~
On a national average, she said black students graduate at the same rate at HBCUs and predominately white institutions.
“(But) if you take into consideration the fact that African-Americans at HBCUs come in with less preparation for college, HBCUs actually do a better job. They add value.”
Florida State, however, has found a way to add value and help black students graduate at higher percentages than their white peers through the CARE Program. CARE stands for the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement. It’s considered key to black students’ success, according to Education Sector — a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C. The organization said FSU graduated more black students within a six-year period than any other public university in the country. The special program focuses on promising students, often relaxing the typical admissions standards.
(more…)
I think after reading this article, I am left scratching my head on a few things.
1> Florida State University graduates 70.9% of its Black students–FAMU graduates 42.2%–both are universities. Yet when questioned about the disparity, FAMU compares its performance to schools that are doing worse.
2> FAMU Provost Cynthia Hughes Harris was quoted saying the following:”Our students come in and they are ready for the world. But many of them haven’t … been prepared for what that entails. As we expose them to it, they sometimes have to stop, take a breath and get ready for it again and then come back and move forward.” She also said: “(But) if you take into consideration the fact that African-Americans at HBCUs come in with less preparation for college, HBCUs actually do a better job. They add value.”
If HBCUs are accepting students that are less prepared for college, does this mean that our colleges are playing double duty as remedial high school and higher education?
3> If FSU is apparently lowering its standards to keep its many of its Black students through its CARE program, a couple of things:
a) Florida taxpayers are spending more money just to produce average students.
b) Are FSU’s Black students in general just as unprepared for the real world as FAMU?
4> For years folks have been saying that finances is a main contributor to college drop out rates amongst Black students. Yet in this scenerio, Black students manage to graduate at a higher rate from FSU. Either FSU is cheaper than FAMU (which I doubt), or the “too expensive” explanation does not work in this situation.
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11 Responses to FAMU’s Graduation Rates
DarkStar
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:33 am
A article in the Journal of Blacks in Hihger Education(?) noted that 65% of students who drop out of college, do so because of financial situations. In Maryland, Morgan, Coppin, and Bowie (I’m not sure of UM Eastern Shore) have been under fire for their graduation rates but they have provided statistics that appear to bear out 65% rate due to finances.
Many state HBCUs have been saying for some time that they accept students other colleges don’t, so remedial education is a part of the process.
If FSU is graduating at a greater rate than FAMU, then a look at what FSU is doing is in order.
FSU Undergrad: $17,212
FAMU Undergrad: $15,134
Duane
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 am
Many state HBCUs have been saying for some time that they accept students other colleges don’t, so remedial education is a part of the process.
There is a reason why these other schools do accept these students. And based on the last few decades, I do not think race is one of those reasons. Plus, if it is part of the process to provide remedial education in HBCUs, then does it even make sense to compare them to schools who historically do not provide that type of service?
DarkStar
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
There is a reason why these other schools do accept these students. And based on the last few decades, I do not think race is one of those reasons.
Huh?
Plus, if it is part of the process to provide remedial education in HBCUs, then does it even make sense to compare them to schools who historically do not provide that type of service?
From what I have read, most try not to be, but the state HBCUs are forced to compare themselves because the local/state politicians do so.
Does that makes sense?
Duane
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Huh?
I don’t think it can be made any plainer than what I said. There was a time in our history where Blacks were being turned away because of race. Today we live in an era where race is a qualifier.
..but the state HBCUs are forced to compare themselves because the local/state politicians do so.
Are politicians the only ones doing this? HBCUs have been for years complaining that they are not getting the same funding as *other* colleges and universities. Seems to me if they want to be equally-funded, they should be measured equally when it comes to student output. If some of these HBCUs are operating as part-time high schools, then I would think part of their budget should come from the same pot (so to speak) as local high schools in the area (if its not being done already). That in of itself opens up a whole ‘nother can of worms because there are plenty of non-HBCUs out there that are nothing more than high school without the school buses.
Just so that I am clear, I think there are many HBCUs that have proven their worth to the marketplace over the years. If someone is going to suggest shutting down HBCUs, then by the same measure, shut down other colleges that are of little worth to the marketplace. I did not hear that suggestion coming from Seth Harper in Atlanta.
DarkStar
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Duane, explain this comment please:
There is a reason why these other schools do accept these students. And based on the last few decades, I do not think race is one of those reasons.
What are “these other schools” and if you do not think race is one of the reasons, what are they?
Are politicians the only ones doing this?
When fighting for their survival when white politicians want to kill HBCUs, yes, from what I can tell.
HBCUs have been for years complaining that they are not getting the same funding as *other* colleges and universities.And that is correct, however at least in Maryland, the complaints are valid and the complaints are based on other direct issues. Then the historical underfunding comes into play. In fact, former governor Rob Ehrlich (R), agreed with this (especially since the hard numbers can’t be refuted) and increased funding to Maryland HBCUs to the highest level they have ever been.
DarkStar
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Seems to me if they want to be equally-funded, they should be measured equally when it comes to student output.
Except, they are starting way behind in the first place.
If some of these HBCUs are operating as part-time high schools, then I would think part of their budget should come from the same pot (so to speak) as local high schools in the area (if its not being done already).
I don’t agree with that one. If they are a college, maybe somewhere between JuCo and 4 Year if there can be no justification.
If they are a university, then thatssomething else.
Duane
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:05 pm
What are “these other schools†and if you do not think race is one of the reasons, what are they?.
These other schools = Any non-HBCU
As I said before, race has now become a qualifier instead of the deterrent for Black students looking to enroll in most colleges and universities. As you pointed out in your last comment, many of these kids are starting out way behind in the first place. But that has NOTHING to do with racial policies of the college and everything to do with how these kids are being prepared before they get there in the first place. That should be the responsibility of these primary schools, not colleges and universities, HBCUs or not.
Out here in Cali, UCLA was pressured by some Blacks in LA to sidestep prop 209 and increase Black enrollment while relaxing some of the other academic requirements. I use “pressured” lightly because they were already inching their way to do this anyway. UCLA calls it “holistic admissions”.
When fighting for their survival when white politicians want to kill HBCUs, yes, from what I can tell.
But let’s not forget that HBCUs are quick to compare themselves to historically mostly White schools when it comes to preparing Blacks for the workforce. HBCUs also compete and at times win against mostly-White when competing for corporate donations. But as I pointed out in the article quoted in this post, when one is under-performing, a comparison was made with schools that are doing worse. Seems to me that FAMU is trying to have it both ways. I cannot speak for all the other HBCUs.
DarkStar
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
You have to get into the history of FAMU before “passing judgement” on that one. (That’s not a slam.)
The D.S. abridged version is, they had programs, and were relieved of said programs because the white schools wanted them. They were historically underfunded and denied programs. Then, a new scale was put into place for all Florida schools that put the schools in brackets. The thing is, FAMU and another HBCU in the state, were hurt by the bracketing because of past actions against the school intended to build the white schools and harm the HBCUs.
My SIL is an FAMU alum and I got the full version from her and her fellow FAMU alumni friends
Duane
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Nah, you’re straight.
I’m really just asking questions here because I am curious about the whole thing.
I am curious about what programs were removed from FAMU that would cause them to lag this far behind FSU. Plus, I also wonder if other schools (non-HBCUs) were affected by this bracketing.
Rome was not built in a day, so I’ll try to track this one in the days ahead. In the meantime, I’m gonna hit these smoked chicken and ribs before all that’s left are greasy tupperware bowls.
Happy New Year!
Reggie
March 18th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
FAMU and FSU are two different school. To get into FSU you must have good GPA and you must have A and B and all high school works or commmunity college works. Any body can get into FAMU because there requirements are so low. If a student was not making good grade in high school, they have hard time of doing college works. FAMU take all the black students who was not doing good in high school, and that why there graduation rates are so low. The only reason that FSU have high black graduation rates because FSU only take the brightest black kids, and they don’t take dummy.
RJai
April 15th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Reggie you sound just as out of touch and uninformed as many people that comment on things they don’t know about. FAMU does not accept any student with a gpa below 3.0. Secondly, many out of state students that attempt to come to FAMU realize the cost of attendance is more than what they can handle. Also you are trying to compare a college with maybe 3-4,000 Blacks to a school with way over 10,000 Blacks. The number will always look better with a smaller number. There are more but I will stop here.