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.

About

The collaboration between FAMU and the Partnership for Educational Advancement (Ed. Adv.) was created after an extensive institutional needs assessment. Through the funding and resource support, FAMU is in position to facilitate change management practices to bring about greater operational effectiveness and outcomes in an effort to achieve university strategic priorities outlined in its 2022-2027 strategic plan, Boldy Striking. Through this partnership, FAMU seeks to transform its organizational processes and expand its infrastructure capacity and service capabilities.

Partnership for Education Advancement

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

The Value of HBCUs | Dr. Harry Williams | TEDxDover

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.

HBCU Presidential Summit

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.

AI, Equity and Affordability

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

Upcoming Activities

Meetings
Conferences
Working Sessions
Other

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Slate CRM | Admissions

Unified CRM Systems Approach for the "Enrollment Funnel" Front-End Engagement

Project Leaders: Hugh Durham, Bill Hudson

Strategic Enrollment Project (SEP) | Academic Affairs

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

Digital Employee Onboarding | Office of Human Resources

Develop Seamless/Unified System for the Human Resources Onboarding Process

Project Leaders: Terrisa Brown, Byron Greene

Inside Track | Academic and Student Affairs

Re-Enrollment for Stopped-Out Populations. Retention Coaching for Student Success and Progression

Project Leaders: Jennifer Collins, Jamie Davis, Hugh Durham

Energy Management System | Facilities and Operations

Develop efficient operations through technology - Asset Works software

Project Leaders: Kendall Jones, Laureatte Scott

Advanced Financial Aid Systems | Financial Aid and Enrollment Services

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.

HBCU Transformation Project

The Challenge

Our Approach

We Seek