President of Florida A&M University Larry Robinson is leaving his position in the midst of an investigation into a questionable $237 million contribution that went awry and was called a “embarrassment” by a high-ranking official. Robinson is leaving his position as head of the state’s only public historically Black university.
Although the precise date of Robinson’s resignation as president is not yet known, the decision was made on Friday. Robinson has been the school’s president for almost seven years.
His exit leaves a significant hole in Florida’s university system, which trustees will fill in the upcoming months.
The appointment process may be impacted by Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration, which has been actively changing the state’s higher education landscape.
In a letter to the university, Robinson stated that, “As you can imagine, this decision comes with many emotions — some sadness, of course, but at the same time, hope and anticipation,. That hope is not just about what lies next for me and my family, but also what is next for the No. 1 Historically Black College and University in the nation.”
A letter to the FAMUly from Dr. Larry Robinson… pic.twitter.com/SaFDRtFfaa
— Florida A&M University (@FAMU_1887) July 12, 2024
Robinson’s retirement may appear sudden, but it comes at the same time as FAMU is conducting an investigation into a $237 million pledge that was allegedly intended to transform the school but collapsed soon after it was announced in public during a commencement ceremony.
It was discovered after FAMU had made the gift announcement that the potential contributor did not seem to have quite the amount of wealth required to make a pledge that size.
Shawnta Friday-Stroud, FAMU’s vice president for university advancement and executive director of the school’s fundraising foundation, resigned as a result of the scandal, which is expected to be further investigated by the university and system officials before the end of this month.
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The state Board of Governors, which is in charge of the state university system, scrutinized FAMU last month regarding the donation error and the institution’s poor performance in professional licensure programs for physical therapy, nursing, law, and pharmacy. This increased the pressure on Robinson and school trustees.
A Board of Governors member urged school trustees to respond, labeling the unsuccessful donation as a “embarrassment” to FAMU.
The next steps following Robinson’s departure, including appointing an interim leader before starting the presidential search, are anticipated to be discussed by the FAMU trustees at their upcoming meeting.
Now, Florida Atlantic University and FAMU are the two state universities looking for a new president. Since a Republican congressman last year claimed he was handpicked by DeSantis for the position but not chosen by trustees, FAU’s search has been entangled in scandal. This maelstrom helped state officials order a repeat of the search.
DeSantis’s selection to trustee boards and support of legislation that would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives have been crucial in the transformation of Florida’s college and university systems.
The most obvious example is when DeSantis appointed six trustees at New College of Florida in one fell swoop last year, promptly dismissing the president of the institution and installing Richard Corcoran, the Republican governor’s former chief of education, in her place.
