Florida A&M University will be having their first President’s Convocation of the academic year this Friday, Sept. 10, at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center. Classes will be suspended for the occasion, which is scheduled to take place from 10:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
This is also the first convocation since classes and campus activities have returned to being in-person. With the pandemic still being a concern, though, steps are being taken to allow everyone the opportunity to experience convocation safely.
“We are making sure that there is a virtual option as well, so those who do not feel comfortable can still receive the president’s plan for the academic year,” said FAMU Student Body President Carrington Whigham.
In addition to the virtual option, masks continue to be encouraged on campus to help keep students and faculty safe.
Students are excited for this occasion and look forward to being in the “FAMUly” atmosphere, and some are already planning to wear masks and be safe in regard to COVID-19 while attending.
“It’s not only going to feel good to fellowship among my sisters and brothers, but it will feel amazing to be safe while doing it,” said Stefan Davis, a junior political science student at FAMU.
Mariah Porter, a junior occupational therapy student at FAMU, is considering attending as well and plans to wear a mask if she makes it to the event.
“I genuinely am considering going to convocation to celebrate our school pride. We should take advantage of events like these, as students,” said Porter. “If I do attend, I plan to be COVID responsible.”
Other students feel that they should have been notified earlier about the convocation.
The information for convocation was sent out via email by the university on Sept. 3, a week before the event. For students with other obligations, this may not have been enough time.
“I wish the convocation date would have dropped earlier, so I could make arrangements,” said Jordan Spells, a senior history education major.
Spells will have to miss convocation because of work, but would have been excited to attend if he had more time to plan for it.
Students who have to miss out for whatever reason should look out for information on how to access the virtual option, which will be sent out by the university via email.