Florida A&M University

Florida A&M University

Florida A&M University, often called FAMU, is a public university in Tallahassee, Florida. It was founded in 1887 and is important because it is the only public university in Florida that was created to support Black students. FAMU is also one of the largest universities of its kind in the United States.

The university is part of the State University System of Florida and can grant degrees ranging from bachelor’s to doctoral levels. It has been officially recognized for its quality by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Students at FAMU are very proud of their sports teams, called the Rattlers. These teams compete in Division I of the NCAA and are members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

History

Black activist Jonathan C. Gibbs introduced a bill in 1885 to create the State Normal College for Colored Students. This happened after Florida changed its constitution to keep schools separate by race. The college was built in Tallahassee because the area had many African Americans. It started classes in 1887 and later became a land-grant college, receiving money to help students learn useful skills.

Over the years, the college changed its name several times. It became Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes in 1909 and finally Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1953. Today, Florida A&M is the only public historically black university in Florida.

Students at Florida A&M have been active in fighting for equal rights. In the 1950s and 1960s, they helped lead protests against unfair bus rules and dining areas. Their actions brought attention to the need for change in Tallahassee.

In 2011, a student passed away after a group activity. This led to changes in how the university handles such activities.

In 2024, the university received a large donation, but there were questions about the donation. An investigation showed that the donation was not worth much, and the university had to deal with this situation.

Florida A&M student activism during the Civil Rights Era

Florida A&M students played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement. They helped organize protests against unfair bus rules and dining areas in Tallahassee. In 1956, two students were arrested for standing up for their rights, which led to more protests. In 1960, students joined sit-ins at lunch counters, where they were refused service. These actions helped bring attention to the need for equal treatment.

University presidents

1. Thomas Desaille Tucker 1887–1901
2. Nathan B. Young 1901–1923
3. William A. Howard 1923–1924
4. John Robert Edward Lee 1924–1944
5. J.B. Bragg April 5, 1944 – September 1, 1944
6. William H. Gray Jr. 1944–1949
7. H. Manning Efferson July 7, 1949 – April 1, 1950
8. George W. Gore 1950–1968
9. Benjamin L. Perry Jr. 1968–1977
10. Walter L. Smith 1977–1985
11. Frederick S. Humphries 1985–2001
12. Henry Lewis III January 2002 – June 2002
13. Fred Gainous 2002–2004
14. Castell V. Bryant January 2005 – May 2007
15. James H. Ammons July 2, 2007 – July 16, 2012
16. Elmira Mangum April 1, 2014 – September 15, 2016
17. Larry Robinson November 30, 2017 – July 2024 (interim: May–July 2007, July 2012 – April 2014, September 2016 – November 2017)
18. Timothy L. Beard August 5, 2024 (interim)

Academics

Florida A&M University offers many programs for students to study. You can earn a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree there. The university has 14 different schools and colleges.

Students can join special programs if they do very well in high school. FAMU is part of a group that helps students with scholarships. The university also has special chairs for teachers who are experts in their fields.

FAMU has colleges for subjects like agriculture, education, law, pharmacy, and more. In 2022, new students usually had a high school GPA of 3.8 and scores of about 1019 on the SAT test. Most students at FAMU are African-American, but there are students from many other backgrounds too.

Campus

Florida A&M University’s main campus is in Tallahassee, Florida, close to the State Capitol and Florida State University. It also has a law school in Orlando, Florida and a research center in Quincy, Florida. The College of Pharmacy has smaller campuses in Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Crestview, Florida.

First-year students usually live on campus if they are more than 35 miles from school. Florida A&M has eleven residence halls for over 3,400 students, with many types of housing options. In 2020, they opened FAMU Towers, a new residence hall near a campus dining area. In 2025, they opened Venom Landing, which has 700 beds.

Part of the campus in Tallahassee is a historic district because it has many old and important buildings. The main library, named after Samuel H. Coleman, was built in 1948 and has been updated many times. It now has study rooms, a lounge, and modern technology areas. The library holds almost 2 million books, e-books, and other materials.

The campus also has many research centers focusing on topics like the environment, technology, and health.

Athletics

See also: Florida A&M Rattlers and Lady Rattlers

Florida A&M University is part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and competes in NCAA Division I-FCS. The school's sports teams are called the Rattlers. They have many sports for both men and women, like football, basketball, and track and field.

The football team was very successful in the past, winning a big championship called the Black College National Championship eight times between 1938 and 1961. One of their famous coaches, Jake Gaither, helped the team win many games and was later honored in the College Football Hall of Fame. The basketball team has also done well, getting to play in a big tournament three times in recent years.

Student life

Florida A&M University (FAMU) is a large school with nearly 10,000 students from the United States and other countries. Students at FAMU are often called "FAMUly" or part of "Rattler Nation." There are over 100 student groups on campus.

Some important groups include the Student Government Association, which represents all students. There is also a special group called the FAMU Royal Court, which includes Miss FAMU, Mister FAMU, and other students who help represent the university. The FAMU Gospel Choir began in 1957, and the school has groups for students who want to become officers in the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps through ROTC programs.

The FAMU marching band, called the Marching 100, is very famous. It has performed at important events like presidential inaugurations and the Super Bowl. The school also has its own newspaper, magazine, TV news, and radio station.

Main article: Marching 100

Notable alumni

Florida A&M University has many successful graduates who have made impacts in different fields.

Some well-known alumni include Cannonball Adderley, a famous jazz musician, and Althea Gibson, the first African American to win a major tennis championship. Bob Hayes won both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.

Other notable graduates are Andre Dawson, a Baseball Hall of Fame member, and Kimberly Godwin, the first Black woman to lead a major American news network. Many alumni have also become successful in politics, entertainment, and business.

Notable faculty

Florida A&M University has had many talented teachers. One well-known teacher is D. Antoinette Handy, a flautist and music scholar.