William McCormick will continue to serve as president of Florida Memorial University after serving as interim president for the last six months. The Florida Memorial University Board of Trustees released a statement that it had unanimously cast a vote of confidence in McCormick. McCormick replaced former President Jaffus Hardrick after his sudden resignation in June.
“The Board is confident in President McCormick’s leadership and his ability to navigate FMU through this pivotal time,” Board Chair Walt Weatherington said in the press release. “His vision for the university not only aims to uphold our tradition of excellence but also positions us to meet the demands of a rapidly changing educational landscape.”
According to the press release, McCormick has fostered “an environment of fiscal oversight, collaboration, innovation, and academic excellence.”
“Leading FMU during this time has been a tremendous honor,” McCormick said in the press release. “I am deeply grateful for the support of the Board of Trustees and the entire university community.”
Before taking on the role of interim president, McCormick was a Board of Trustees member in addition to being the founder and CEO of Americlaims Billing, Inc. Americlaims Billing Inc. is a medical billing company located in Florida. He was also the previous president of the NAACP’s Fort Lauderdale Branch. The Florida Small Business of the Year Entrepreneurship Award, the NAACP Civil Rights Award, and the Florida Memorial University Alumni Hall of Fame Award are just a few of the honors he has earned for his professional and volunteer achievements.
Former President Hardrick’s resignation came abruptly in June; he stated an unidentified health issue as the reason. Soon after, McCormick was appointed interim president. There were many highs and lows during Hardick’s tenure as president of Florida Memorial. A $1 million contribution from JPMorgan Chase to support the university’s existing technology degree programs and the establishment of the first-ever TechNolij Innovation Center to bridge the racial wealth gap via technology education were two of the significant advancements made at the university during Hardrick’s leadership. In addition, Hardrick is recognized for having founded the ROAR Marching Band.
But there were drawbacks as well. The university experienced a COVID-19 outbreak on campus, a cybersecurity assault by INC Ransom, and claims of sexual harassment from staff and student-athletes. In an effort to save expenses, the university also terminated four tenured professors, slashed 18 faculty and staff positions, and discontinued 16 underperforming degree programs during his tenure.
A Change.org petition championed for Hardick’s removal back in 2021. The Miami Times reported that during a 12-month probation imposed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) for Florida Memorial’s noncompliance with federal, state, and financial standard requirements, over two dozen faculty members voted “no confidence” in Hardrick via a Survey Monkey Poll that year.
McCormick’s new role serves as a turning point for the university.
