Florida Gulf Coast University
Encyclopedia
Florida Gulf Coast University, also known as FGCU, is a coeducational public university located just south of the Southwest Florida International Airport
in the South Fort Myers
region of unincorporated
Lee County
, Florida
, United States
. The university belongs to the 11-campus State University System of Florida
. FGCU competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference
in Division I sports and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
to award associate's
, bachelor's
, master's and doctoral
degrees.
in 1991, although the site of the university was not chosen until 1992, and construction pushed back even further still (until 1995). The school first held classes in August 1997. Roy McTarnaghan was named as the university's founding president. In August 1998, the university completed its first phase of student housing, which featured traditional dorms in which two students shared a single room and cohabited together. On May 1, 1999, McTarnaghan announced his decision to step down from his position as President of FGCU.
-style dorms
were constructed, which allowed for FGCU students to have a greater degree of privacy. Every student would have his or her own room and there would be a kitchen that would be shared by the four other students in the apartment. The internet was not seen as the exclusive means by which students took classes, but as an additional supplement to the traditional classroom environment.
Under the new university structure, students would attend small, in-person classes that used an online system to increase communication between the professor and the students. Merwin engaged in an aggressive fund raising effort in order to make the construction of the highest quality facilities a reality for FGCU. In an eight year period, he raised more than $250 million for the university and engaged in a rapid expansion of the student and faculty populations. Multiple state-of-the-art buildings were constructed, including: Lutgert College of Business, Holmes Hall (U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering), Whitaker Hall, Academic Building 5, the student union
building, Alico Arena
and a massive expansion of on-campus housing. As a result of the fund raising and aggressive construction, student enrollment at FGCU has annually increased in double digits, from approximately 2,000 students in its first year to over 12,000 today. Over the next three years, undergraduate enrollment is expected to increase to more than 15,000 students. Later in 2007, Wilson G. Bradshaw
was named as the university's third president.
Bradshaw also began a serious exploration as to the possibility of football at FGCU. He commissioned an independent consulting firm to explore what the costs of football would be at the university. The consulting firm revealed it would cost as much as $144 million, and would not be feasible for the university in the near future.
. FGCU is located on 760 acres (3.1 km²) in Southwest Florida
. The campus site was originally donated by the Alico corporation after the Board of Regents reviewed 22 prospective sites. The campus has two entrances: the main entrance which features the "Florida Gulf Coast University" sign, and the north entrance. Both roads connect to FGCU Boulevard which is a circular road encompassing all of the academic buildings. The center of the campus is considered the "academic core": it is located over 150 acre (0.607029 km²) and contains all of the academic research and parking buildings throughout the university. There are two separate housing villages located on periphery of the campus: North Lake and South Lake Village. North Lake Village overlooks a massive lakes which allows for students to engage in recreational activities such as boating, and water skiing. North Lake is unique because of its apartment style housing. South Lake Village is located on the opposite end of the campus and currently has two five story buildings which features individual rooms for all of the students.
on its roadsigns.
, which are yet to be expanded. FGCU recently purchased 12 acres adjacent to the main campus from Miramar Development for $3.8 million. The FGCU board of trustees voted in January 2010 to assume ownership of 500 acres (2 km²) in Buckingham. Located between East Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres, the land already contains over 60 buildings and housing for 300 people. Originally, the piece of land was controlled by the Florida Environmental Protection Agency, but was abandoned and given to FGCU.
In 2007, the university purchased the former Bonita Beach Plantation Resort in Bonita Springs
for use as a marine research laboratory. The Norm and Nancy Vester Marine and Environmental Science Research Field Station site has 10 boat slips and is located on Estero Bay. The site includes laboratories, offices, apartments for visiting researchers and a classroom. In addition, the university has been preparing plans for a research center at the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
which is mid-way between Naples
and Marco Island.
In October 2006, a 12-person panel of leading Charlotte County
citizens was tasked with selecting the future location of an FGCU-Charlotte Satellite Center. There were five respondents to the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN). Each respondent met the minimum criteria of the ITN (although one was later removed from the process for falling short on (2) of the requirements) of 150 acre (0.607029 km²) of land, $5M in cash to the university. In a unanimous vote by the panel (notably including Charlotte County Board of Commissioners Chairman, Tom Moore), only one was chosen, Hudson Sun-River. In their proposal to the FGCU, Hudson Sun-River offered $5M in cash, 150ac of land (located within their 2,458ac 'University Village' master-planned development), $750,000 in annual operating funds and up to $70M of built-out infrastructure.
five years. The newest 400-bed residence halls, Biscayne and Everglades, get hot water from rooftop solar tanks.
. The Lutgert College of business is an AACSB
accredited institution, offering undergraduate degrees in Accounting
, Computer Information Systems, Economics, Finance
, Management
and Marketing
. In addition, the college offers the following graduate degrees: Accounting and Taxation, Computer Information Systems and Business Administration
(both traditional and executive). Princeton Review also cites it as one of the top 301 business schools in the country. Hospitality Management
is a popular major on campus, with students getting the opportunity to gain supervised field work experience at one of many resorts in the area. Professional Golf Management is a unique program with limited access, much like the Nursing
, Music
and Athletic Training programs. FGCU has a unique requirement prior to graduation, University Colloquium, as it was built in an ecologically sensitive area. The aim of this Colloquium is to educate graduates on the importance of ecology and preservation. FGCU recently announced the addition of a real estate undergraduate degree to begin in fall of 2012 As of 2011, the student body carries an average GPA of 2.97.
The academic demands and qualifications of FGCU students have continued to increase over the years.
, Environmental
, and Bioengineering. The first graduating classes of all three of these disciplines received their diplomas in May 2009. As of Fall 2010 FGCU's engineering program is ABET accredited. Holmes Hall was built primarily to facilitate the new Engineering program; however, Computer Science
majors also use the building for their majors, and some nursing classes take place there as well. As of 2011 the engineering program has become a separate entity known as the UA Whitaker School of Engineering, and FGCU ranks with a 80 % passing rate on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
, under Dr. Duane Dobbert, or in Human Identity under Dr. Walsh-Haney.
offices, as well as crime scene investigators or law enforcement detective
s. Those in Death Investigations specialize in Human Identity and Trauma Analysis. The Human and Trauma ID concentration, under the direction of forensic anthropologist
Dr. Walsh-Haney, trains students to identify human remains through skeletal attributes, and analyze decomposed and skeletal remains for signs of trauma
. The forensic behaviorist
track offers students an opportunity to learn how to analyze the psychological aspect of crime scenes, specifically pertaining to pedophilia
.
, Coastal Watershed Institute, Center for Environmental & Sustainability Education, FGCU Center for Leadership and Innovation, Florida Institute of Government, Center for Positive Aging, Whitaker Center for Science, Mathematics, & Technology Education, Institute for Youth and Justice Studies. Since FGCU first opened, the total funds awarded for research has amounted to $119 million.
FGCU remains less expensive than almost any other public university in the state of Florida. The chart above illustrates the current tuition per credit hour for residents and non residents of the state of Florida.
FGCU's athletics teams are known as the Eagles. FGCU is currently undergoing a transition to NCAA Division I for all athletics programs; final notification is expected in late spring of 2011. The Eagles currently compete in the Division I Atlantic Sun Conference
(A-Sun), which they joined in 2007.
FGCU intercollegiate athletics offers:
FGCU is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I and a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, as well as the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association. FGCU plays its men's and women's basketball games at Alico Arena
and its baseball games at Swanson Stadium
.
The average GPA of a student athlete at FGCU was 3.13 in the spring semester of 2010.
. One year later, in 2008, the Women's Basketball team qualified for the WNIT
, becoming the first team to qualify for the WNIT in its first season of Division I sports. During the 2008 WNIT Tourney, the team became the first Atlantic Sun
conference team to win a post-season game since 1998, when Florida International University
won in the Women's NCAA tourney. The Women's team won the Atlantic Sun Conference
regular season championship with a conference record of 17–3 but is ineligible to compete in the conference tourney, as the team is still in transition from Division II to Division I athletics. In the 2010-2011 season, the FGCU woman's basketball team won the Atlantic Sun Conference again.
, Casey Coleman
) pitching in the majors.
. West Lake Village was previous owned by American Campus Communities
and formally called College Club Apartments. The college purchased the apartment complex for $17 million and the apartments officially became part of FGCU Housing and Residence Life in October 2010. Themed housing is available, such as Honors and Wellness communities. South Village (SoVi) is a suite-style
residence hall with three buildings: Everglades Hall, Palmetto Hall, and Biscayne Hall, housing a total of over 1200 first-year students. In August of 2012, South Village will open its fourth residence hall, Osprey Hall, which will house approximately 500 first-year students. In total, there are currently over 2,700 students living in both North Lake Village and SoVi. Freshmen are not required to live on campus; however, given the unique apartment nature of the residence halls, on campus housing is still filled to capacity every year. Individual halls sponsor their own activities and socials, and leadership positions are available in the Resident Hall Association. A commonly used form of transportation on campus is called the Eagle Express. This shuttle operates daily, taking students from their residence halls to classes and activities around campus. There is also a shuttle which takes students from the dorms to Gulf Coast Town Center that runs from Thursday through Saturday.
currently on campus. Greek life is governed by the Panhellenic Council, National PanHellenic Council, and the Interfraternity Council. The Interfraternity Council comprises six fraternities, and the Panhellenic Council comprises four sororities. As of 2011, there is no Greek Housing on campus.
(SGA) and other leadership organizations are available. Dining options on campus include a food court
with several fast-food outlets, and C3, a Starbucks
coffee shop located in the library, and a bagel bar in the large Student Union. A sandwich shop called The Perch is also in the Union. South Village residence complex contains Fresh Food Company cafe.
The North Village residence halls are on a large lake with a beach, providing students a beach to relax on and to engage in water sports. Eagle's Landing is a small study and game lounge in the middle of North Village, adjacent to the common area. In addition, plenty of wetlands, green space, and ponds are present on campus, and the campus is surrounded by a huge nature preserve. The school's athletic venues, including Alico Arena
are right next to the complex.
Eaglepalooza is a party thrown by Student Government every fall. It is a campus-wide event that is free for the student body and features games, headlining performances and other spirit activities. The event in 2008 attracted 7,000 people, featuring big-name headliners Flo Rida
(who was forced to cancel due to schedule conflict) and Busta Rhymes
. Yung Joc
performed for the 2007 event. Sean Paul
and Mims
performed at the 2009 Eaglepalooza event. At 2010's Eaglepalooza, hip-hop group LMFAO
performed.
. Entertainment that is around the Southwest Florida
area include Downtown Fort Myers
, Naples Beach which has been called Best All-Around Beach by Travel Channel
in 2005, entertainment district 5th Avenue South in Naples
, downtown Cape Coral and The Everglades.
stations WGCU television and WGCU-FM
since 1996, when the license was transferred from the University of South Florida
in Tampa
. WGCU is a PBS member while WGCU-FM is an NPR
member and broadcasts news, talk and jazz
. The Eagle News is the school's official newspaper; it is printed weekly and also publishes news and blogs on their website.
from campus for its alleged torture of chickens. In addition, FGCU students are receiving nationwide attention for their call to prohibit Chick fil-A from being on campus because of the company's ties to anti-gay groups. At least half a dozen universities have been emboldened by FGCU's example and have also called for Chick fil-A to be banned from their campus as well.
and retired General Colin Powell
spoke to a crowd of 4,000 at FGCU's Alico Arena
on March 23, 2007, as a part of the University Lecture Series. Maya Angelou
also spoke to a crowd of about 4,000 FGCU students. Mikhail Gorbachev
spoke to a sold-out crowd of FGCU students as well. Current U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
has held an event here, as well as former VP Dick Cheney
. Between 2008 and 2010, the lecture series was put on hold, but returned in April 2011, with former first lady
Laura Bush
as the guest speaker.
Southwest Florida International Airport
-Statistics:-Accidents and incidents:* November 28, 2007 - A single-engine fixed wing aircraft crashed about 9:20 a.m. one mile west of Runway 6. The crash killed the pilot...
in the South Fort Myers
South Fort Myers, Florida
South Fort Myers is an unincorporated area of Lee County, Florida, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2000 the area had a population of 49,912....
region of unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Lee County
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The university belongs to the 11-campus State University System of Florida
State University System of Florida
The State University System of Florida is a system of eleven public universities in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2011, over 320,000 students were enrolled in Florida's state universities...
. FGCU competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
in Division I sports and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
to award associate's
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
, bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, master's and doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degrees.
Establishment
The school was established by then-governor Lawton ChilesLawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
in 1991, although the site of the university was not chosen until 1992, and construction pushed back even further still (until 1995). The school first held classes in August 1997. Roy McTarnaghan was named as the university's founding president. In August 1998, the university completed its first phase of student housing, which featured traditional dorms in which two students shared a single room and cohabited together. On May 1, 1999, McTarnaghan announced his decision to step down from his position as President of FGCU.
Expansion and Growth
In July 1999, William C. Merwin was named as FGCU's President. Merwin brought with him a different vision for FGCU. Instead of being a commuter school, which dealt mostly with non-traditional students who took classes online, he envisioned a traditional four-year university that leveraged modern-day technology to enhance both the learning and day to day experience of the FGCU student body. New apartmentApartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
-style dorms
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
were constructed, which allowed for FGCU students to have a greater degree of privacy. Every student would have his or her own room and there would be a kitchen that would be shared by the four other students in the apartment. The internet was not seen as the exclusive means by which students took classes, but as an additional supplement to the traditional classroom environment.
Under the new university structure, students would attend small, in-person classes that used an online system to increase communication between the professor and the students. Merwin engaged in an aggressive fund raising effort in order to make the construction of the highest quality facilities a reality for FGCU. In an eight year period, he raised more than $250 million for the university and engaged in a rapid expansion of the student and faculty populations. Multiple state-of-the-art buildings were constructed, including: Lutgert College of Business, Holmes Hall (U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering), Whitaker Hall, Academic Building 5, the student union
Student activity center
A student activity center is a type of building found on university campuses. In the United States, such a building is more often called a student union, student commons, or student center...
building, Alico Arena
Alico Arena
Alico Arena is a multipurpose arena on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. It is the home of the FGCU Eagles men's and women's basketball teams. It holds 4,500 people in basketball configuration...
and a massive expansion of on-campus housing. As a result of the fund raising and aggressive construction, student enrollment at FGCU has annually increased in double digits, from approximately 2,000 students in its first year to over 12,000 today. Over the next three years, undergraduate enrollment is expected to increase to more than 15,000 students. Later in 2007, Wilson G. Bradshaw
Wilson G. Bradshaw
Wilson G. Bradshaw is the third and current president of Florida Gulf Coast University.A native of Sanford, Florida and raised in West Palm Beach, Wilson Bradshaw holds bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology from Florida Atlantic University and a doctorate in psychobiology from the...
was named as the university's third president.
Recent History
Under Bradshaw, the years from 2007 to 2010 also saw an aggressive expansion of the campus facilities. Two new dorm buildings that could house over 800 additional student were built, and two more large dorm buildings are currently under construction. There was also a 24700 square feet (2,294.7 m²) expansion of the fine arts building, the construction of the 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) academic building 7, the addition of a solar panel field, a 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) expansion of the student union building, the purchase/donation of more than 530 acres (2.1 km²) of land and the acquisition of the college club apartments.Bradshaw also began a serious exploration as to the possibility of football at FGCU. He commissioned an independent consulting firm to explore what the costs of football would be at the university. The consulting firm revealed it would cost as much as $144 million, and would not be feasible for the university in the near future.
Campus
FGCU's campus is located south of Fort Myers, Florida and 21 miles (33.8 km) from Naples, FloridaNaples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
. FGCU is located on 760 acres (3.1 km²) in Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida is a region of Florida , United States located along its gulf coast, south of the Tampa Bay area, west of Lake Okeechobee and mostly north of the Everglades...
. The campus site was originally donated by the Alico corporation after the Board of Regents reviewed 22 prospective sites. The campus has two entrances: the main entrance which features the "Florida Gulf Coast University" sign, and the north entrance. Both roads connect to FGCU Boulevard which is a circular road encompassing all of the academic buildings. The center of the campus is considered the "academic core": it is located over 150 acre (0.607029 km²) and contains all of the academic research and parking buildings throughout the university. There are two separate housing villages located on periphery of the campus: North Lake and South Lake Village. North Lake Village overlooks a massive lakes which allows for students to engage in recreational activities such as boating, and water skiing. North Lake is unique because of its apartment style housing. South Lake Village is located on the opposite end of the campus and currently has two five story buildings which features individual rooms for all of the students.
Growth and New Construction
The 63000 square feet (5,852.9 m²) Lutgert College of Business building and the 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) Holmes Hall – U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering Building have recently been built. In addition, the 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) Herbert J. Sugden Hall – Resort & Hospitality Management Building has been completed. The university recently completed 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) Academic Building 7 for the College of Arts and Sciences and has published plans for Academic Building 8: a $24 million, 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) building for use by the College of Health Professions to be completed in July 2011. Other current construction projects on the campus include the 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) expansion of the student union building, the 24700 square feet (2,294.7 m²) addition to the fine arts building (which will be a 58000 square feet (5,388.4 m²) addition at build-out) and the construction of one of the largest solar panel fields at any university. The university recently broke ground on the construction of new dormitories which will house an additional 400 students on campus. The university has also announced that they will build a shared-use facility at the Naples Botanical Gardens. In 2008, FGCU became one of the first academic institutions in the country to include the metric systemMetric system
The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world...
on its roadsigns.
Acquisition of Additional Land and Creation of Satellite Campuses
There are three other satellite campus locations: Naples, the Cape Coral Center and the Charlotte Center in Punta GordaPunta Gorda, Florida
Punta Gorda is a city in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2007, the city had a population of 16,762. It is the county seat of Charlotte County and the only incorporated municipality in the county...
, which are yet to be expanded. FGCU recently purchased 12 acres adjacent to the main campus from Miramar Development for $3.8 million. The FGCU board of trustees voted in January 2010 to assume ownership of 500 acres (2 km²) in Buckingham. Located between East Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres, the land already contains over 60 buildings and housing for 300 people. Originally, the piece of land was controlled by the Florida Environmental Protection Agency, but was abandoned and given to FGCU.
In 2007, the university purchased the former Bonita Beach Plantation Resort in Bonita Springs
Bonita Springs, Florida
Bonita Springs is a city in Lee County, Florida, United States. The population was 43,914 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cape Coral–Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located on the southwest coast of the state....
for use as a marine research laboratory. The Norm and Nancy Vester Marine and Environmental Science Research Field Station site has 10 boat slips and is located on Estero Bay. The site includes laboratories, offices, apartments for visiting researchers and a classroom. In addition, the university has been preparing plans for a research center at the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Rookery Bay Reserve is at the northern end of the Ten Thousand Islands on the gulf coast of Florida, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve represents one of the few remaining undisturbed mangrove estuaries in North America....
which is mid-way between Naples
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
and Marco Island.
In October 2006, a 12-person panel of leading Charlotte County
Charlotte County, Florida
Charlotte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 141,627. In 2005, the population of the MSA was 154,030.The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county was 152,814...
citizens was tasked with selecting the future location of an FGCU-Charlotte Satellite Center. There were five respondents to the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN). Each respondent met the minimum criteria of the ITN (although one was later removed from the process for falling short on (2) of the requirements) of 150 acre (0.607029 km²) of land, $5M in cash to the university. In a unanimous vote by the panel (notably including Charlotte County Board of Commissioners Chairman, Tom Moore), only one was chosen, Hudson Sun-River. In their proposal to the FGCU, Hudson Sun-River offered $5M in cash, 150ac of land (located within their 2,458ac 'University Village' master-planned development), $750,000 in annual operating funds and up to $70M of built-out infrastructure.
Environmental Sustainability
Since its founding, 400 acres (1.6 km²) on the main campus has been set aside for environmental preservation. FGCU also has constructed a number of lakes on the campus which are home to large numbers of wild life; the lakes also help promote the ecology of the area. Environmental sustainability is the principal goal expressed in the university charter. Academic Building 7, the new facility housing science laboratories and classrooms for the College of arts and sciences, achieved platinum certification, the highest level awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The University’s 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) solar field supplies about 85 percent of the energy needed to operate Holmes and Lutgert halls as well as Academic Building 7, reducing FGCu’s reliance on Florida power & light Co. by 18 percent. An ice thermal storage plant sends chilled water through an underground loop that cools campus buildings, saving more than $1.64 million overfive years. The newest 400-bed residence halls, Biscayne and Everglades, get hot water from rooftop solar tanks.
Academics
The Fall 2010 acceptance rate for FGCU is 60.4 percent, more selective than previous terms. US News ranks FGCU as first-tier among Regional Universities in the SouthSouthern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. The Lutgert College of business is an AACSB
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business was founded in 1916 to accredit schools of business worldwide. The first accreditations took place in 1919. The stated mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation and thought leadership. It is regarded...
accredited institution, offering undergraduate degrees in Accounting
Accountancy
Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in...
, Computer Information Systems, Economics, Finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
, Management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
and Marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
. In addition, the college offers the following graduate degrees: Accounting and Taxation, Computer Information Systems and Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
(both traditional and executive). Princeton Review also cites it as one of the top 301 business schools in the country. Hospitality Management
Hospitality management
Hospitality management is the academic study of the hospitality industry. A degree in Hospitality management is often conferred from either a university college dedicated to the studies of hospitality management or a business school with a department in hospitality management studies...
is a popular major on campus, with students getting the opportunity to gain supervised field work experience at one of many resorts in the area. Professional Golf Management is a unique program with limited access, much like the Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is an American four year academic degree in the science and principles of nursing, granted by a tertiary education university or similarly accredited school...
, Music
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
and Athletic Training programs. FGCU has a unique requirement prior to graduation, University Colloquium, as it was built in an ecologically sensitive area. The aim of this Colloquium is to educate graduates on the importance of ecology and preservation. FGCU recently announced the addition of a real estate undergraduate degree to begin in fall of 2012 As of 2011, the student body carries an average GPA of 2.97.
The academic demands and qualifications of FGCU students have continued to increase over the years.
| Test Score or GPA 2011 | Score |
| Average ACT (out of a possible 36) | 21.9 |
| Average SAT (out of a possible 1600) | 1032 |
| Average High School GPA (out of 4.0) | 3.35 |
| Average College GPA | 2.97 |
Engineering Program
FGCU also offers CivilCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
, Environmental
Environmental engineering
Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the natural environment , to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites...
, and Bioengineering. The first graduating classes of all three of these disciplines received their diplomas in May 2009. As of Fall 2010 FGCU's engineering program is ABET accredited. Holmes Hall was built primarily to facilitate the new Engineering program; however, Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
majors also use the building for their majors, and some nursing classes take place there as well. As of 2011 the engineering program has become a separate entity known as the UA Whitaker School of Engineering, and FGCU ranks with a 80 % passing rate on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
Environmental Forensics
The university is currently expanding its graduate offerings and is adding to its research capabilities, with an Environmental Forensics Facility or "body farm" in the works, under the direction of Dr. Heather Walsh-Haney. The Division of Justice Studies in the College of Professional Studies is in its 3rd year of offering a Master of Science in Criminal Forensic Studies. Students can choose to become qualified as a Forensic Behavior AnalystProfessional practice of behavior analysis
The professional practice of behavior analysis is one domain of behavior analysis: others being behaviorism, experimental analysis of behavior and applied behavior analysis...
, under Dr. Duane Dobbert, or in Human Identity under Dr. Walsh-Haney.
Death Investigator Concentration
The Death Investigator concentration prepares students to work in the field as medico-legal death investigators for Medical examiner'sMedical examiner
A medical examiner is a medically qualified government officer whose duty is to investigate deaths and injuries that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdictions to initiate inquests....
offices, as well as crime scene investigators or law enforcement detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
s. Those in Death Investigations specialize in Human Identity and Trauma Analysis. The Human and Trauma ID concentration, under the direction of forensic anthropologist
Forensic anthropology
Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology and human osteology in a legal setting, most often in criminal cases where the victim's remains are in the advanced stages of decomposition. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification of deceased...
Dr. Walsh-Haney, trains students to identify human remains through skeletal attributes, and analyze decomposed and skeletal remains for signs of trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
. The forensic behaviorist
Behaviorism
Behaviorism , also called the learning perspective , is a philosophy of psychology based on the proposition that all things that organisms do—including acting, thinking, and feeling—can and should be regarded as behaviors, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior...
track offers students an opportunity to learn how to analyze the psychological aspect of crime scenes, specifically pertaining to pedophilia
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
.
Colleges and Academic Divisions
Florida Gulf Coast University academics are divided into six colleges. These colleges include:| College/school founding | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| College/school | Year founded | ||
| College of Arts and Sciences | 1995 | ||
| College of Health Professions | 1997 | ||
| College of Professional Studies | 1997 | ||
| College of Education | 2001 | ||
| U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering | 2005 | ||
| Lutgert College of Business | 2008 | ||
Research
In FGCU's inaugural year, under $3 million of research was funded. By 2010, $14.4 million in funds were granted for research annually. Research institutes include: the Biotechnology Research Group, the Lucas Center for Real EstateReal estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, Coastal Watershed Institute, Center for Environmental & Sustainability Education, FGCU Center for Leadership and Innovation, Florida Institute of Government, Center for Positive Aging, Whitaker Center for Science, Mathematics, & Technology Education, Institute for Youth and Justice Studies. Since FGCU first opened, the total funds awarded for research has amounted to $119 million.
Tuition
As a result of the economic recession, FGCU has had double digit tuition rate increases the past several years.| Undergraduate FL Resident Differential | Undergraduate FL Resident No Differential | Undergraduate Non FL Resident Differential | Undergraduate Non FL Resident No Differential | Graduate FL Resident | Graduate Non FL Resident | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (per credit hour) | $166.04 | $153.24 | $710.27 | $697.47 | $322.08 | $1,117.08 | |
| ID Card Fee | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 | |
| Repeat Surcharge (per credit hour) | $163.38 | $163.38 | $163.38 | $163.38 | N/A | N/A |
FGCU remains less expensive than almost any other public university in the state of Florida. The chart above illustrates the current tuition per credit hour for residents and non residents of the state of Florida.
Student Enrollment and Demographics
FGCU has a multitude of students from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and nationalities.| Ethnic enrollment, 2010 | Total Population | Percent | US Census |
| American Indian Native Americans in the United States Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as... |
93 | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Asian American Asian American Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,... |
263 | 2.2% | 4.3% |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 719 | 6.0% | 12.4% |
| Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ... |
1789 | 14.9% | 14.7% |
| White (non-Hispanic) White American White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa... |
8873 | 73.7% | 73.9% |
| International, Other | 186 | 1.5% | |
| Race/Ethnicity Unknown | 124 | 1.0% | |
| Total | 12047 | 100% | 100% |
Athletics
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
(A-Sun), which they joined in 2007.
FGCU intercollegiate athletics offers:
- men's and women's golf,
- men's and women's tennis,
- men's and women's basketball,
- women's softball,
- men's baseball,
- men's and women's cross country,
- women's volleyball,
- men's and women's soccer
- women's swimming and diving.
FGCU is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I and a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, as well as the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association. FGCU plays its men's and women's basketball games at Alico Arena
Alico Arena
Alico Arena is a multipurpose arena on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. It is the home of the FGCU Eagles men's and women's basketball teams. It holds 4,500 people in basketball configuration...
and its baseball games at Swanson Stadium
Swanson Stadium
Swanson Stadium is a baseball park located on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida, next to Alico Arena, the school's basketball facility....
.
The average GPA of a student athlete at FGCU was 3.13 in the spring semester of 2010.
Basketball
FGCU women's basketball has experienced significant success in recent years. On March 24, 2007, FGCU women's basketball team ended their 35–1 season with a loss in the Division II National Championship to Southern Connecticut State UniversitySouthern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
. One year later, in 2008, the Women's Basketball team qualified for the WNIT
WNIT
WNIT is the PBS member television station for South Bend, Indiana. Its studios are located in South Bend. WNIT broadcasts on digital channel 35 ....
, becoming the first team to qualify for the WNIT in its first season of Division I sports. During the 2008 WNIT Tourney, the team became the first Atlantic Sun
Atlantic Sun
The Atlantic Sun is a local newspaper for the West Coast region of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. An affiliate of Cape Community Newspapers, the newspaper does not have its own website, but the news is distributed via IOL....
conference team to win a post-season game since 1998, when Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
won in the Women's NCAA tourney. The Women's team won the Atlantic Sun Conference
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
regular season championship with a conference record of 17–3 but is ineligible to compete in the conference tourney, as the team is still in transition from Division II to Division I athletics. In the 2010-2011 season, the FGCU woman's basketball team won the Atlantic Sun Conference again.
Baseball
The FGCU baseball team has won the Atlantic Sun Conference championship three years in a row and will be allowed to compete in the NCAA post season for this first time in the 2010 season as a result of the two year NCAA reclassifying period. FGCU currently has several former baseball players playing in the minor leagues, and currently has two pitchers (Chris SaleChris Sale
Christopher Allen Sale is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball. He was born in Lakeland, Florida.-College:...
, Casey Coleman
Casey Coleman
Kenneth R. "Casey" Coleman Jr. was a sportscaster and radio personality in the Cleveland area for nearly 30 years.-Early life:Coleman was born in Cleveland in 1951 to legendary play-by-play announcer Ken Coleman...
) pitching in the majors.
Legal Controversy
FGCU was the defendant in a federal lawsuit that charges the school with retaliation against two female coaches after they challenged the school's compliance with Title IX. Its former General Counsel, Wendy Morris, also filed a lawsuit in federal court in April 2008, alleging that the university retaliated against her when she expressed concerns about gender discrimination in athletics, and that her employment was terminated as a direct result of her refusal to go along with the school's actions. However, an independent review cleared the school of any wrongdoing.Residence life
About 25 percent of the student population lives on campus which is consistent with most universities within the state of Florida. On-campus housing is made up of three sections: North Lake Village, South Village, and West Lake Village. North Lake Village is located on an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) lake and features apartment-style residence halls, with waterfront recreationSurface water sports
The following is a list of surface water sports; these are sports which are performed atop a body of water.-Discing:Discing consists of standing on a circular wooden disc and being towed behind the boat. The disc supports the rider by means of spreading the weight out evenly across the water...
. West Lake Village was previous owned by American Campus Communities
American Campus Communities
American Campus Communities Inc. is a university housing development company with its headquarters in Bee Cave, Texas, near Austin....
and formally called College Club Apartments. The college purchased the apartment complex for $17 million and the apartments officially became part of FGCU Housing and Residence Life in October 2010. Themed housing is available, such as Honors and Wellness communities. South Village (SoVi) is a suite-style
Suite
In music, a suite is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral pieces normally performed in a concert setting rather than as accompaniment; they may be extracts from an opera, ballet , or incidental music to a play or film , or they may be entirely original movements .In the...
residence hall with three buildings: Everglades Hall, Palmetto Hall, and Biscayne Hall, housing a total of over 1200 first-year students. In August of 2012, South Village will open its fourth residence hall, Osprey Hall, which will house approximately 500 first-year students. In total, there are currently over 2,700 students living in both North Lake Village and SoVi. Freshmen are not required to live on campus; however, given the unique apartment nature of the residence halls, on campus housing is still filled to capacity every year. Individual halls sponsor their own activities and socials, and leadership positions are available in the Resident Hall Association. A commonly used form of transportation on campus is called the Eagle Express. This shuttle operates daily, taking students from their residence halls to classes and activities around campus. There is also a shuttle which takes students from the dorms to Gulf Coast Town Center that runs from Thursday through Saturday.
Greek life
Florida Gulf Coast University has 18 fraternity and sorority chaptersFraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
currently on campus. Greek life is governed by the Panhellenic Council, National PanHellenic Council, and the Interfraternity Council. The Interfraternity Council comprises six fraternities, and the Panhellenic Council comprises four sororities. As of 2011, there is no Greek Housing on campus.
| Fraternities | Sororities |
|---|---|
|
Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle... Chi Omega Chi Omega is a women's fraternity and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega has 174 active collegiate chapters and over 230 alumnae chapters. Chi Omega's national headquarters is located in Memphis, Tennessee.... Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta , also known as Tri Delta, is an international sorority founded on November 27, 1888, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. With over 200,000 initiates, Tri Delta is one of the world's largest NPC sororities.-History:... Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University... Kappa Delta Kappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the State Female Normal School , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university... Sigma Iota Alpha Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. --is a Latina-based Greek lettered intercollegiate sorority founded on September 29, 1990, by 13 dedicated ladies from four universities in the state of New York: SUNY Albany, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY New Paltz, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute... Sigma Lambda Gamma Sigma Lambda Gamma ' is a historically Latina-based national sorority with multicultural membership founded on April 9, 1990, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.-History:... Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean... Zeta Tau Alpha Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
Campus Recreation
The school has over 100 student clubs and organizations, representing nearly every interest. Sport Clubs and Intramural Sports are also offered along with other recreational venues. Campus Recreation is that largest student employer on campus with over 100 student-staff. Offering positions as Fitness Center Staff, Personal Trainers, Group Fitness Instructors, Lifeguards(Lake Front and Pool), Intramural Sports Referees and even Marketing/Advertising opportunities.Student Government AssociationStudent governments in the United States
In the United States, these groups are often known as student government, associated students, student senate, or less commonly a student's union...
(SGA) and other leadership organizations are available. Dining options on campus include a food court
Food court
A food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
with several fast-food outlets, and C3, a Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
coffee shop located in the library, and a bagel bar in the large Student Union. A sandwich shop called The Perch is also in the Union. South Village residence complex contains Fresh Food Company cafe.
The North Village residence halls are on a large lake with a beach, providing students a beach to relax on and to engage in water sports. Eagle's Landing is a small study and game lounge in the middle of North Village, adjacent to the common area. In addition, plenty of wetlands, green space, and ponds are present on campus, and the campus is surrounded by a huge nature preserve. The school's athletic venues, including Alico Arena
Alico Arena
Alico Arena is a multipurpose arena on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. It is the home of the FGCU Eagles men's and women's basketball teams. It holds 4,500 people in basketball configuration...
are right next to the complex.
Eaglepalooza is a party thrown by Student Government every fall. It is a campus-wide event that is free for the student body and features games, headlining performances and other spirit activities. The event in 2008 attracted 7,000 people, featuring big-name headliners Flo Rida
Flo Rida
Tramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida , is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He released his debut album, Mail on Sunday, in March 2008. His debut single "Low", featuring T-Pain, was a #1 hit for ten weeks in United States in early 2008. Two other singles resulted from...
(who was forced to cancel due to schedule conflict) and Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
. Yung Joc
Yung Joc
YaMar Jon Robinson , better known by his stage name Yung Joc, is an American rapper.-Early life:Robinson's father, Vivian Young, ran a hair-care products company and helped him write a jingle for Revlon; Robinson founded his own label to release his music.-New Joc City :After Teaming with producer...
performed for the 2007 event. Sean Paul
Sean Paul
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:...
and Mims
Mims
Mims or MIMS may refer to:* Mims, D. Jeffrey, American artist, born 1954* Mims , stage name for American rapper Shawn Mims* Mims, Florida, USA* Forrest Mims, magazine columnist and author.* Mims, Leland G., Louisiana local politician...
performed at the 2009 Eaglepalooza event. At 2010's Eaglepalooza, hip-hop group LMFAO
LMFAO (group)
LMFAO is an American electro pop duo consisting of rappers, producers, dancers, and DJs Redfoo and SkyBlu . The group formed in 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Redfoo is SkyBlu's uncle. Redfoo is also the son of music mogul Berry Gordy, SkyBlu a grandson...
performed.
Off-Campus Recreation
Nearby off-campus diversions include Gulf Coast Town Center and Miromar Outlets, both located two miles (3 km) from campus, which are open-air malls featuring nightlife. Coconut Point is another open-air mall only a bit further away, on Tamiami TrailTamiami Trail
The Tamiami Trail is the southernmost of U.S. Highway 41 from State Road 60 in Tampa to U.S. Route 1 in Miami. The road also has the hidden designation of State Road 90....
. Entertainment that is around the Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida is a region of Florida , United States located along its gulf coast, south of the Tampa Bay area, west of Lake Okeechobee and mostly north of the Everglades...
area include Downtown Fort Myers
Fort Myers Downtown Commercial District
The Fort Myers Downtown Commercial District is a U.S. historic district located in Fort Myers, Florida. The district is bounded by Bay and Lee Streets, Anderson Avenue and Monroe Street. It contains 69 historic buildings....
, Naples Beach which has been called Best All-Around Beach by Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
in 2005, entertainment district 5th Avenue South in Naples
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
, downtown Cape Coral and The Everglades.
Career Development and Internships
The office of Career Development Services acts as a referral services for the students seeking internships and full time employment in the area. The department offers major selection, interview coaching, and guidance for undergraduate, graduate, doctoral students, and alumni of the universityMedia
The university has operated public broadcastingPublic broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
stations WGCU television and WGCU-FM
WGCU-FM
WGCU-FM is an NPR-member radio station. Licensed to Fort Myers, Florida, USA, the station is owned by Florida Gulf Coast University.WGCU's schedule consists of jazz and NPR news and talk...
since 1996, when the license was transferred from the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
in Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. WGCU is a PBS member while WGCU-FM is an NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
member and broadcasts news, talk and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. The Eagle News is the school's official newspaper; it is printed weekly and also publishes news and blogs on their website.
Student Activism
The school has gained media attention for its involvement in activism, namely in banning fast-food chain KFCKFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
from campus for its alleged torture of chickens. In addition, FGCU students are receiving nationwide attention for their call to prohibit Chick fil-A from being on campus because of the company's ties to anti-gay groups. At least half a dozen universities have been emboldened by FGCU's example and have also called for Chick fil-A to be banned from their campus as well.
Performing Arts and Music
FGCU is home to the black box theater where multiple plays and performances are held every year. The university just completed a 24700 square feet (2,294.7 m²) expansion of the fine arts building where the Bower School of Music is to be located.Distinguished Speaker Series
FGCU has a distinguished speaker series where one major, high-profile speaker comes and speaks to the students every year. Former Secretary of StateUnited States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
and retired General Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
spoke to a crowd of 4,000 at FGCU's Alico Arena
Alico Arena
Alico Arena is a multipurpose arena on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. It is the home of the FGCU Eagles men's and women's basketball teams. It holds 4,500 people in basketball configuration...
on March 23, 2007, as a part of the University Lecture Series. Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly...
also spoke to a crowd of about 4,000 FGCU students. Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
spoke to a sold-out crowd of FGCU students as well. Current U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
has held an event here, as well as former VP Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
. Between 2008 and 2010, the lecture series was put on hold, but returned in April 2011, with former first lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
as the guest speaker.
Notable Alumni
| Alumni | Notability |
|---|---|
| Don Carman Don Carman Donald Wayne Carman was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.-Career:Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1978, Carman would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Philadelphia Phillies on October 1, 1983, and appear in his final game on July 18,... |
Retired Major League Baseball Major League Baseball Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League... pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League... |
| Courtney Jolly Courtney Jolly Courtney Jolly is a former professional monster truck driver who drove Pastrana 199 on the USHRA Monster Jam circuit.- Career :... |
Currently a professional monster truck Monster truck A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension... driver |
| Andy Stickel | Bass player for modern rock band 7 Blue Skies 7 Blue Skies 7 Blue Skies is an alternative rock band formed in 2004. The group is well known for their high energy live performances, as well as for always performing barefoot... |
| Derek Lamely Derek Lamely Derek Lamely is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Lamely was born in Belleville, Illinois. He was a member of the Texas State Championship team at Montgomery High School. He played college golf at Florida Gulf Coast University before... |
Professional Golfer on the PGA Tour. |
| Casey Coleman Casey Coleman (baseball) Joseph Casey Coleman is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.-Career:Coleman was drafted by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. He was called up to the majors for the first time on August 2, 2010... |
Pitcher for the Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National... . |
| Chris Sale Chris Sale Christopher Allen Sale is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball. He was born in Lakeland, Florida.-College:... |
Pitcher for the Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans... . |
| Brooke Sweat | Professional Volleyball Player. |
| Matt Caldwell | Currently serving in the Florida House of Representatives Florida House of Representatives The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at... . |
See also
- Germain ArenaGermain ArenaGermain Arena is a 7,128-seat multi-purpose arena in Estero, Florida, United States.The arena was first named Everblades Arena in 1998 after the hockey team that played there. TECO Energy was the first company to obtain the naming rights to the building, changing the name to TECO Arena. In 2004,...
, stadium two miles (3 km) south which is home to FGCU's hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team - List of Florida Gulf Coast University people
- Paradise CoastParadise CoastThe Paradise Coast is the colloquial name for vacation destinations Naples, Florida and Marco Island. The nearby Everglades are often included in the region as well. The main draws to the area are the beachside location, vibrant arts scene, high-end shopping/dining, and nature preserves of the...