james_ammons_web.jpgFlorida A&M University President James Ammons, who submitted his resignation last week, is out as head of the predominantly black state university effective immediately, according to the Famuan Online website.
The FAMU Board of Trustees, at a meeting today (July 16), named Larry Robinson, current provost, as interim president.

The board will look into making his appointment permanent at its next meeting in late August.

The trustees allowed Ammons to waive the 90-day notice required in his contract in exchange for percentages of his bonuses.

“As of a little after 9 a.m., Ammons was no longer president of FAMU,” the website reported.

Ammons’ administration came in for sharp attacks following the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion in November 2011. The famed Marching "100" band has since been suspended until the 2013-2014 school year and Ammons recently presented the board with a plan to eliminate hazing from campus.

But Ammons’ tenure became precarious after he was censured twice by the board, in December, and also in June when trustees approved an 8-4 no confidence vote against him.

Ammons submitted resigned his letter of resignation July 11 to Board of Trustees Chairman Solomon Badger, and trustees called for an urgent meeting after news broke that Ammons planned to resign effective Oct. 11.

Photo: James Ammons