'Excellence with Caring' still matters at FAMU | Opinion

'Excellence with Caring' still matters at FAMU | Opinion

Ennis Leon Jacobs, Jr

Your Turn

May 3, 2025, 5:02 a.m. ET

As we celebrate the graduating Class of 2025 at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, we must recognize the university's national stature — a testament to the indomitable spirit, grit, and resilience of generations of extraordinary scholars, leaders, and visionaries committed to the principle of excellence with caring.

FAMU is not just an elite institution; it embodies a pioneering legacy dedicated to investing in humanity and transforming communities. It stands at the forefront of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), nurturing environments that empower individuals and reshape lives.

The HBCU experience fosters a vibrant ecosystem of faculty, staff, mentors, and professionals who support the development of students' potential and future careers far beyond what is typically found at non-HBCUs. More than 101 accredited HBCUs are spread across 19 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They proudly enroll almost 300,000 students, with higher graduation rates across diverse fields of study.

Approximately 80% of these students identify as African American, and around 70% percent come from low-income families. HBCUs serve as vital conduits for socioeconomic mobility among African Americans; they are the foundation of the Black middle class and are essential for empowering future generations.

Their influence extends beyond economic outcomes, positioning them as the bedrock of academic achievement and fostering growth in African American communities by sharing knowledge, resources, and partnerships.

Despite historically receiving disproportionately low state and federal funding, HBCUs have made significant contributions:

• Enrolling over 10% of African American college students nationwide.

• Accounting for 17% of the bachelor's degrees earned by African Americans and 24% of degrees earned by African Americans in STEM fields, often leading to high levels of professional success.

• The National Science Foundation, from 2002 to 2011, ranked HBCUs among the top eight institutions where African Americans earned bachelor's degrees in science and engineering, and went on to earn a PhD.

While most HBCUs are in the South and Southeast, regions with low economic well-being, underscoring the critical importance of generating economic activity. Their impact resonates across generations, producing many of the nation's best and brightest—politicians, civil rights activists, and business leaders.

FAMU alone has produced trailblazers such as Dr. LaSalle Lefall, a noted surgeon; Joseph Hatchett, a distinguished jurist; John Thompson, former Chairman of Microsoft; and Frederick Humphries, Ph.D., and Larry Robinson, Ph.D., celebrated scholars and educators.

We have also seen the rise of influential figures in government, including former congress members Alfred Lawson Jr., Carrie Pittman Meek, and current Congressman Al Green.

Furthermore, FAMU has given rise to remarkable talents in athletics, arts, and entertainment—legends like Bob Hayes and Althea Gibson, jazz icons Cannonball and Nat Adderley, and entertainment moguls like Will Packer and comedian Roy Wood, Jr.

FAMU's leadership remains paramount in addressing the unique challenges facing HBCUs, from historical underfunding to contemporary issues rooted in political dynamics. The ongoing risks these challenges pose to the long-term sustainability of our institutions cannot be overstated. Therefore, effective governance and visionary leadership are essential.

FAMU's next president must possess the capability to confront threats to its existence while crafting sustainable solutions that honor its legacy and heritage. All HBCU leaders must demonstrate agility across various domains without losing sight of our most precious asset: the lives of students who enter to learn, transform, and ultimately contribute positively to society.

The HBCU experience has radically transformed my own family. As the oldest of 11 siblings, I am proud to share that my father hailed from a sharecropping background and did not complete high school, while my mother, a high school graduate, worked as a domestic.

My five brothers and I proudly attended FAMU—two more chose Bethune-Cookman University, another HBCU in Daytona Beach. From our family, three of us became attorneys, one emerged as a nationally renowned theater producer, another as a general contractor, and one founded a youth athletic league that serves hundreds of young athletes.

For the countless alumni of FAMU, this institution holds a sacred place in our hearts, embodying excellence with caring. Our experiences here have irrevocably altered the trajectory of our lives. We care deeply about the future leadership of this institution and commit to holding its leaders accountable in preserving its incredible legacy.

Ennis Leon Jacobs, Jr., an attorney based in Tallahassee, is a 1987 graduate of the FSU College of Law, and a 1976 graduate of Florida A&M University. He is a chairman emeritus of the Florida Public Service Commission, and former member of the Florida Elections Commission, now serving as president of the board of directors of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.