Florida A&M University

Florida A&M University
Name	Florida A&M University
Established	03 October 1887
Type	Public HBCU land-grant university
Endowment	$124.7 million (2021)
President	Larry Robinson
Students	9,215 (Fall 2022)
City	Tallahassee
State	Florida
Country	United States
Campus	Urban, 420 acre
Colors	Orange and green
Nickname	Rattlers
Affiliations	University of the State of Florida, SACS, Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Website	www.famu.edu

Florida A&M University. Founded on October 3, 1887, it is one of the largest historically black universities in the United States by enrollment and is a land-grant institution. As a member of the State University System of Florida, it is renowned for its programs in pharmacy, business, and engineering, and for producing more African-American baccalaureate graduates than any other institution in the nation. The university's mission emphasizes academic excellence, public service, and fostering a culturally rich environment.

History

The institution was established by the Florida Legislature in 1887 as the State Normal College for Colored Students, operating under the Morrill Act of 1890. Its first president was Thomas DeSaille Tucker, and classes began with 15 students in a building loaned by the Presbyterian Church. In 1909, the school moved to its permanent location in Tallahassee on the former Walker Plantation and was renamed the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes. Under the leadership of President Nathan B. Young, the college expanded its curriculum beyond teacher training to include agriculture and mechanics. It achieved university status in 1953 and has since been a pivotal institution in the Civil Rights Movement, with students participating in the Tallahassee bus boycott and other protests.

Academics

It is organized into several colleges and schools, including the FAMU College of Law, the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the School of Business and Industry. The university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and is particularly noted for its Pharm.D. program, which is consistently ranked among the top in the nation. Other prominent programs include those in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, a unique joint venture with Florida State University, and the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication. The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Campus

The main campus spans over 420 acres on the highest of Tallahassee's seven hills, adjacent to the campus of Florida State University. Notable facilities include the Lee Hall, a historic administration building, the Foster-Tanner Fine Arts Center, and the modern Grand Ballroom. The campus is also home to the Black Archives Research Center and Museum, housed in the historic Carnegie Library, which contains one of the nation's largest collections of African-American artifacts. Recent developments include the FAMU Way streetscape project and new residential facilities like the Polkinghorne Village.

Student life

Student life is vibrant with over 100 student organizations, including a prominent chapter of the Student Government Association and a highly active National Pan-Hellenic Council. The university is renowned for its marching band, the Marching 100, which has performed at events like the Super Bowl and presidential inaugurations. Major annual events include homecoming, the Florida Classic football game against Bethune-Cookman University, and the Set Friday pep rallies. The campus newspaper, The Famuan, and radio station, WANM, are key media outlets.

Athletics

Athletic teams, known as the Florida A&M Rattlers, compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The football team has won numerous Black College Football National Championships and plays home games at Bragg Memorial Stadium. The men's basketball team has made appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, and the women's track and field program has produced several Olympians. The athletic department is also known for its rivalry with Bethune-Cookman University in the Florida Blue Florida Classic.

Notable alumni

Alumni have achieved distinction in numerous fields. In law and politics, notable figures include U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown, former Secretary of the Army Togo D. West Jr., and the first African-American mayor of Orlando, Buddy Dyer. In the arts and media, alumni include actress Essence Atkins, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michele Norris, and musician Julius Erving. Leaders in business include R. Donahue Peebles, a real estate developer, and Alfreda Johnson Duster, a noted philanthropist. Many alumni have also excelled in professional sports, such as NFL Hall of Famer Bob Hayes and baseball star Vince Coleman.

Category:Universities and colleges in Florida Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States Category:Land-grant universities and colleges Category:Tallahassee, Florida Category:Educational institutions established in 1887