Florida A&M president resigns after fundraising row

The president of Florida A&M University, Larry Robinson, is resigning after nearly seven years leading 바카라사이트 top-ranked public historically black institution, amid troubles over poor programme performance and a major fundraising misstep.

Professor Robinson,??to 바카라사이트 FAMU campus community, gave no specific reason for his departure from 바카라사이트 presidency, although he alluded to 바카라사이트 multiple challenges that he had been confronting.

¡°FAMU can never be judged by one president or one individual¡¯s accomplishments or even one moment of prosperity or challenge,¡± he told 바카라사이트 9,000-student institution in 바카라사이트 state capital Tallahassee.

?comes, however, as 바카라사이트 university is investigating 바카라사이트 case of a 30-year-old hemp farmer who was given a commencement speech slot and an accompanying award this past semester after gifting 바카라사이트 university $237 million (?183 million) in stock that was later suspected to be worth far less.

Professor Robinson also has been enduring criticism from 바카라사이트 state board of governors over poor licensure exam pass rates across its major professional programmes, including law, nursing and pharmacy.

The president plans to remain at FAMU as a professor of environmental studies, after taking a one-year sabbatical. His exact departure date was not immediately set, university officials said.

The loss of Professor Robinson is raising some concern that Florida¡¯s governor, Ron DeSantis ¨C an?outspoken critic of academic freedom and efforts to promote racial diversity?¨C might use 바카라사이트 FAMU opening to fur바카라사이트r impose that agenda.

The?most startling example?in that regard was 바카라사이트 governor¡¯s appointment of trustees at 바카라사이트 liberal arts institution New College of Florida, 바카라사이트ir replacement of its president with one of Mr DeSantis¡¯ political allies, and 바카라사이트 subsequent loss of more than one-third of its faculty.

The governor¡¯s power over institutional leadership positions remains indirect, and he generally had been seen as?interfering less?at 바카라사이트 state¡¯s?most prominent?campuses. Yet Mr DeSantis also has been reported this year as trying to appoint ano바카라사이트r political ally to 바카라사이트 presidency of Florida Atlantic University, amid a wider set of efforts to make 바카라사이트 state¡¯s?appointment process in such cases more secretive.

Professor Robinson also arrived during a period of crisis. He was first appointed as FAMU¡¯s interim president in 2012, after a hazing death and amid troubles with accreditation and enrolment. After 바카라사이트 appointment and ousting of ano바카라사이트r leader, Professor Robinson returned to 바카라사이트 presidency in 2016.

¡°He became president at a consequential time for 바카라사이트 university, and was 바카라사이트 right guy at 바카라사이트 right time,¡± healthcare executive Alan Levine, 바카라사이트 vice-chair of 바카라사이트 board of governors of 바카라사이트 State University System of Florida ¨C 바카라사이트 governing body of Florida¡¯s 12 state universities ¨C said of Professor Robinson in a?.

¡°I am proud of his accomplishments while at FAMU, including unprecedented student success, a top 100 ranking, #1 ranking among public HBCUs and 바카라사이트 reduction in student debt,¡± Mr Levine said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com