HBCU Transformation Project
FAMU HBCU Transformation Project - Thanks to the Partnership for Educational Advancement (Ed Advancement) and Blue Meridian Partners for providing much-needed resources that allow Historically Black Colleges and Institutions (HBCUs) like Florida A&M University (FAMU) to build the necessary infrastructure to ensure institutional sustainability and fiscal success well into the future. Thus, FAMU continues its long history as a catalyst for African-American upward socio-economic mobility through higher education.
The Challenge
Creating and sustaining a technology-based infrastructure to support the institutional processes and operations that significantly increase student enrollment, retention, and graduation at Florida A&M University.
Our Approach
Combine the breadth and depth of knowledge held by university administrators and faculty with the technical expertise coupled with financial assets and resource products provided through Ed Advancement. Building tools and methodologies for scalable digital solutions and operations for FAMU to remain a viable center of higher learning, producing a talent pool to serve the societal needs for the future.
We Seek
Through our partnership with Ed Advancement, supported in part through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, United Negro College Fund, and Blue Meridian Partners we seek to create a transformational business model by which HBCU institutions can emulate to be competitive, viable, and operationally sound for the foreseeable future. The HBCU Transformation Project will allow HBCUs to continue as a beacon for African-American upward socio-economic mobility and a tremendous source of intellectual capital for the global economy.
HBCU Transformation Project and Higher Education
Opportunities for freed black children to further their educational journey after high school were limited. As a direct response to minimal options, Black people began to seek multiple opportunities on their own in the name of higher education. John Chavis, of North Carolina, is noted as the first African-American college student.
The HBCU Transformation Project Presidential Summit, held on March 13-14, 2023, in Greensboro, NC, represented the first time institutional leaders from public and private HBCUs came together to engage, understand and discuss opportunities.
Higher education institutions can adopt AI-enabled tools in support of nearly every campus priority, from supporting great teaching and learning to enhancing student success resources to improving internal operational effectiveness.
FAMU Transformation Team
- Donald Palm, Executive VP/COO – FAMU
- J Byron Greene, Transformation Officer - FAMU
- Jim Runcie, CEO-Ed Advancement
- Robin Minor, SVP-Ed Advancement
Partners
- Partnership for Education Advancement
- Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Foundation
- United Negro College Fund
- Blue Meridian Partners
Upcoming Activities
- Meetings
- Conferences
- Working Sessions
- Other
Current FAMU Transformation Projects
Unified CRM Systems Approach for the "Enrollment Funnel" Front-End Engagement
Project Leaders: Hugh Durham, Bill Hudson
Florida A&M University (FAMU) has begun an initiative to improve its student profile and improve institutional practices and capabilities aimed at attracting and retaining top-tier scholars through to graduation. As part of a larger engagement with the HBCU Transformation Project supported by the Partnership for Education Advancement, FAMU is currently engaged with Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) to develop its Strategic Enrollment Plan (SEP). SEP is a campus-wide initiative that seeks inputs and insights from a cross-sector of administrators, faculty, and staff throughout the university to examine the current state of affairs and offer improvement solutions utilizing a data-driven strategic approach. As it is said, “enrollment is everyone’s responsibility.”
FAMU SEP Focus Areas:
• Marketing and Recruitment
• Undergraduate Academic Programs
• Graduate Academic Programs
• Finance and Financial Aid
• Student Success
FAMU SEP Leadership Team:
Sonya Stephens, Asst. VP SPAIE – SEP Initiative Owner
Donald Palm, Executive VP/Chief Operating Officer
Allyson Watson, VP Academic Affairs/Provost
Lewis Johnson, Assoc. VP Academic Affairs
Jennifer Collins, Assoc. VP Academic Affairs
Juan Alexander, Assoc. VP Student Affairs
Byron Greene, HBCU Transformation Officer
Workshops
• SEP Action Plan Writing Workshop – September 9, 2024
• SEP Action Plan Writing Workshop – September 10, 2024
• Action Plan Writing Workshop – October 22-23, 2024
• SEP Action Planning Orientation – October 18, 2024
Documents
• Data Informed Decision Making: How to Use Data to Improve Outcomes
Develop Seamless/Unified System for the Human Resources Onboarding Process
Project Leaders: Terrisa Brown, Byron Greene
Re-Enrollment for Stopped-Out Populations. Retention Coaching for Student Success and Progression
Project Leaders: Jennifer Collins, Jamie Davis, Hugh Durham
Develop efficient operations through technology - Asset Works software
Project Leaders: Kendall Jones, Laureatte Scott
Develop/Implement Model for "Right-Sizing" Financial Aid Awards and Efficient Award Processing
Project Leaders: Lassandra Brice, Nigel Edwards
The Partnership for Educational Advancement has provided resources, expertise, and direct funding of more than $2 million towards the FAMU – HBCU Transformation Project to-date.