The governor's action drew a quick response from a group of several hundred FAMU students who marched to the governor's house Thursday night. They massed outside the governor's home and said they would not leave until Scott rescinded his recommendation.
At one point, Scott came out of his home and addressed the group using a megaphone and had heated exchanges with the crowd.
Earlier, Scott had told the chairman of FAMU's board of trustees, Solomon L. Badger III, that he felt the board should take further action against university President James Ammons when it meets Monday, the statement said. The governor also "placed a call" to Ammons to notify him of these conversations.
"I think it's in his best interests (to) make sure that there is no question that this university is doing the right thing and cooperating," Scott said Thursday.
The discussions came after Scott returned Thursday from a trade mission to Israel and was briefed by staffers on recent developments out of the Tallahassee university, according to the governor's office.
Ammons responded Thursday that he was "sure that this investigation will determine that, under my leadership, the administration acted appropriately." At the same time, he said he was prepared to accept his fate.
Scott's office would not say whether any new information about the death of student Robert Champion last month in Orlando prompted the governor's recommendation. Scott had been traveling on a trade mission to Israel and, upon his return Thursday, was briefed on the "latest developments," his office said.
Though police have not detailed exactly what happened to Champion, a member of FAMU's "Marching 100" band, they have blamed a hazing incident aboard a parked bus that took place after the Florida Classic football game.
Some claimed Champion had been punched repeatedly. A 911 caller told a dispatcher he vomited and lost consciousness. Champion died a short time later at a local hospital.
FAMU trustees discussed suspending Ammons, who has led the historically black university since 2007, during a meeting last week but opted instead to reprimand him. Some trustees said he had done a poor job of keeping them informed and consulting them about issues related to Champion's death.
The 26-year-old's death has set off a public outcry about hazing at FAMU, and particularly in its famous marching band, and prompted investigations into not only the most recent death but how the university handled other hazing allegations.
A separate incident that came to light this week involved a freshman FAMU band member who was beaten so harshly during a hazing incident that her femur cracked, authorities said. That student plans to sue the university, as does Champion's family.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating Champion's death as well as possible fraud issues at the university.
After Champion died, Ammons moved to fire FAMU's band director, Julian White. But FDLE asked that any disciplinary action at the school be postponed until its work is finished.
White, the band director for 13 years, has said that he will fight an effort to fire him and that during his tenure he took action to end violent hazing.
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