Headlines

FAMU: Ammons Evaluation Will Take Several Months

Posted: 6:01 AM Jun 14, 2012
Reporter: The News Service of Florida

June 14, 2012 -

The chairman of the state university system Board of Governors is reviewing a response from Florida A&M University on how it intends to move forward with an annual evaluation for embattled President James Ammons, that indicates it may be several months before the review is finished, a BOG spokeswoman said Thursday. FAMU Trustees Chairman Solomon Badger wrote earlier this week to Board of Governors Chairman Dean Colson assuring him that the school was moving forward with an evaluation, but indicating it may not be until late in the fall before it completes the review. "Between July 1 and Oct. 31 the board will develop a process and conduct an evaluation for the president as required by his employment contract," Badger wrote. He also indicated that FAMU trustees would review proposed goals Ammons and the board have set forth once university officials have a better idea of what the university's budget is. The budget will be approved by the Board of Governors at its meeting next week. Colson and others have been critical of Ammons and the university's handling of a number of issues, particularly audits which were determined to have been done fraudulently. The school is also in the midst of heavy scrutiny over the hazing death of a band member. When asked if Badger's letter on FAMU's plan for Ammons' evaluation satisfied Colson, spokeswoman Kelly Layman said he was reviewing the letter but likely would wait until after the Board’s regular three-day meeting in Orlando next week before evaluating the need for any further communications. The FAMU audit and other issues involving the Tallahassee university are on the Board’s agenda.