August 3, 2026 | Fall News
Look for the next edition on August 17
| | Beyond the nest: FGCU student research, from the classroom to the community and the world | | Mathletes Circle photo FGCU Mathletes Circle students at a mathematics outreach event on campus | | |
Faculty at FGCU offer a genuine expression of curiosity and innovation, turning their courses and disciplines into career paths for students through research and hands-on classroom experience and equipping them with transferable skills that will follow them beyond graduation.
In biology, faculty-led research immerses students in the full scientific process, from field collections and laboratory analysis to data interpretation and conference presentations. Community partnerships with local wildlife organizations tie student research directly to regional environmental issues.This mentorship extends beyond the nest, with former students receiving guidance on graduate school applications, personal statements, and career opportunities, including opportunities to study abroad through faculty connections.
| FGCU Biological Sciences students | |
Biology faculty integrate the community-science platform iNaturalist, a free resource available to faculty looking to advance their student research assignments.
The tool connects millions of scientists and naturalists worldwide through shared observations and global data. On the FGCU campus alone, iNaturalist has documented 1,333 species, including 750 animals, 538 plants, and 36 fungi. Research-grade observations are also shared with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), a global biodiversity data repository.
Explore more:
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In mathematics, student research extends beyond the classroom through participation in regional STEM organizations and outreach programs. Students engage in all stages of the research process, from project design and data collection to conference dissemination, while completing ethics training through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
Partnerships with local schools, the FGCU TRIO program, and regional STEM organizations create opportunities for students to present at regional and national conferences and engage with educators, researchers, and community leaders.
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Participation in conferences on research in undergraduate mathematics education (RUME) and FGCU Eagle Expo further expands students’ professional networks and academic portfolios.
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In the humanities, faculty intentionally design research so students gain experiences that prepare them for graduate school, careers, or competitive opportunities.
Through the WiSER Research Internship and Seidler Undergraduate Fellowships, students gain hands-on experience collecting data, facilitating focus groups, and analyzing qualitative data, building transferable skills, leadership experience, and professional connections. This work has helped establish FGCU as a national leader in micro-credentialing, with the Southern Illinois University System building a system-wide initiative using FGCU’s framework.
This year, students traveled internationally to present research across disciplines, from zebrafish cardiology at the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology in Scotland to a piano competition in Colombia, showcasing how FGCU student research competes and contributes on a global stage.
Explore more:
| (Above) Student Madisyn Hildenbrand presenting at the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology in Scotland. | (Above) Senior Psychology major Grace Carey works on data organization for FGCU's Transferable Skills Micro-credentials research and is expected to present initial findings at a national conference this year. | | Bower School of Music & the Arts' student Quang Vo performs at a piano competition in Colombia where he won third place competing against the best young pianists in the world. | | |
The faculty work highlighted is a small sample of some of the robust research being conducted across FGCU’s colleges and schools.
These efforts reflect FGCU’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, Innovating for Student Success, to advance high-impact practices, workforce-aligned learning, and student well-being in alignment with Goals 1, 2, and 3, while also reinforcing the university’s commitment to global scholarship and international mobility.
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The outcomes, travel experiences, and presentations belong to the students, while faculty are the ones designing the research opportunities and mentorship behind it.
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Colleges & Schools | Florida Gulf Coast University
| | Faculty Resources & Best Practices | |
Simple Syllabus is FGCU’s official syllabus management system
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As you prepare to teach this academic year, remember that Simple Syllabus is the only official syllabus management system for the university and your classes.
If you wish to hand out a printed copy of your official syllabus, ensure that you are giving the most up-to-date version. With that in mind, communicate to your students that the syllabus information may be updated at your discretion during the course of the semester, and that you will inform your students if changes occur.
Simple Syllabus training will be offered in the fall. Dates below:
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. | Location: LH 1202
- Thursday, August 13, 2026, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Location: LH 1202
Refresher materials and FAQs can be found on the PIP webpage: https://www.fgcu.edu/planning/
If you have questions, contact: Merri Incitti, Wheatly Dorsainvil, Alexis Arnow, or Brenda DePasquale.
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Wellness works here
FGCU remains committed to supporting a dynamic and positive work environment in the 2026-2027 academic year. The following resources and benefits are worth keeping in mind to help you maintain momentum, focus, and work-life balance.
Benefits & Discounts for Employees
Visit the Human Resources Employee Benefits & Discounts page for a comprehensive list of university benefits and programs and eligibility information: www.fgcu.edu/hr/benefits/discounts.
For Your Students and Student Employees
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Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) – Free mental health counseling and support for currently enrolled FGCU students, including individual counseling, group counseling, psychiatric services, and crisis intervention. Call (239) 590-7950 to schedule. For after-hours emergencies, students can reach the CAPS Crisis Line at (239) 745-3277 (745-EARS).
We encourage you to utilize these resources as we work together to build a supportive and thriving workplace for every Eagle.
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Make Gradebook statuses easier to spot with custom colors!
Canvas Gradebook status colors can help you quickly identify late, missing, resubmitted, dropped, or excused work. You can customize these default colors in your Gradebook settings by selecting a preset color or entering a supported hex code. This is a simple way to personalize your Gradebook view and make important submission statuses easier to scan at a glance.
Learn how to change grading status colors: Canvas Guide, How do I change the color for a grading status in the Gradebook?
| Missed a tip? Bookmark Digital Learning's Canvas QuickTip Archive and access expert guidance whenever you need a refresh to use Canvas more efficiently and effectively. CLICK to browse the Archive. | |
Next Academic Affairs Newsletter Deadline
Content submission deadline for the next edition: Monday, 5 p.m., August 10. The newsletter will run on Monday, August 17.
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Career Advancement Assistance Program
The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the Career Advancement Assistance Program. The purpose of the Career Advancement Assistance Program is to provide time for faculty members to engage meaningfully in activities that yield outputs and impacts enhancing FGCU’s scholarly impact and timely promotion of faculty members.
- Faculty categories included in this initiative are those on the professor and instructor tracks. The Career Advancement Assistance Program partially relieves teaching obligations to provide time for scholarly, research, or career development endeavors. During the Career Advancement Assistance Program, faculty teaching load and/or other assignments will be reduced, and no overload teaching will be permitted.
- The number of awards is contingent on the availability of funding through the Provost’s office.
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The deadline for the Spring 2027 Career Advancement semester is Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Please submit your application in its entirety to Julie Leyden (jleyden@fgcu.edu).
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The deadline for the Summer 2027 Career Advancement semester is Monday, November 16, 2026. Summer semester is now available for 12-month AND 9-month faculty. Please see the guidelines for details.
Access the application cover page and detailed information about the program here:
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Military & Veteran Success Office Launches Faculty and Staff Training to Support Military-Connected Students
Florida Gulf Coast University’s Military & Veteran Success Office is inviting faculty and staff to complete a professional development training designed to strengthen campus-wide support for military-connected students. The training, Understanding Military-Connected Students: Faculty & Staff Overview, is now available in Workday Learning and provides an introduction to the experiences of student veterans, active-duty servicemembers, reservists, National Guard members, and military-affiliated family members.
As a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus, FGCU is committed to creating an environment where military-connected students feel recognized, supported, and empowered to succeed. This training supports that commitment by helping faculty and staff better understand the unique strengths, challenges, and transitions that may shape the student experience for veterans, servicemembers, and military-affiliated families. Participants will gain a broader understanding of military-connected student populations, learn ways to build awareness and strengthen support, and identify practical approaches for helping students connect with campus resources.
The Military & Veteran Success Office encourages all FGCU faculty and staff to complete the training as part of the university’s ongoing mission to support student success and foster an inclusive, informed campus community. The training is available through Workday Learning. Faculty and staff may access it by scanning the QR code on the promotional flyer or by searching for "Understanding Military-Connected Students: Faculty & Staff Overview" in Workday. For more information, contact the Military & Veteran Success Office. Be part of the mission.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Graduate & Professional Schools Fair
Cohen Student Union Ballroom
October 13, 2026
10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
The entire Eagle community is invited! Please include this in your
course syllabi.
This fair is open to all FGCU students interested in exploring graduate and professional school opportunities. Three easy ways you can help:
- Promote the event by adding it to your undergraduate course syllabi as an assignment, a class activity, extra credit, or an announcement.
- Encourage attendance by highlighting the value of early graduate and professional (law, medicine, etc.) school exploration.
- Showcase your graduate program by attending the fair and engaging with prospective students who are eager to learn more about FGCU’s graduate offerings.
Visit the event page Graduate & Professional School Fair for the latest information.
Questions? Contact Dr. Dawn Kirby, Shannon Acosta, and Jessica Rhea.
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The Global Engagement Office (GEO) invites you to design and implement -
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
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Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) | | |
Why Research Compliance Education Matters?
Understanding export controls, foreign influence, conflict of interest reporting, and research compliance helps protect your research, your collaborators, and your professional reputation. These requirements are designed to support open scholarship while ensuring compliance with federal laws that govern international collaborations, funding sources, data sharing, and technology use. Staying informed allows you to engage confidently in global research partnerships, avoid unexpected delays or disruptions to your projects, and reduce personal and institutional risk. Ultimately, research compliance education empowers faculty to focus on what they do best—advancing knowledge and discovery, while safeguarding academic freedom, research integrity, and continued eligibility for external funding.
Read more here: FGCU - Research Compliance
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Notice of Hanover Grant Academy 2026-2027
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (OSRP) is soliciting nominations for the 2026-2027 Hanover Grant Academy. The goal is for eight faculty to undergo an intensive proposal development plan over a one year time frame. The Academy consists of approximately 4-6 in person meetings during the year and one on one meetings with the Hanover experts.
The requested information for application can be accessed here. A key factor in selection will be the goal of submitting a proposal for extramural funding. Hanover will provide grantsmanship training, proposal critique, guidance on project and alignment with grant opportunities, and proposal revision assistance. Faculty selected are expected to submit a proposal for extramural funding at the completion of the grant academy. Faculty are permitted to apply for an additional round of intensive proposal development assistance provided an application for extramural funding was submitted during their previous participation.
The application submission deadline is September 14, 2026 by 5 PM. Please submit the application as a single pdf to Dr. Rosemary Higgins rhiggins@fgcu.edu. Questions can be referred to Dr. Higgins.
Join ORSP and Hanover Research on Tuesday, August 11, from 12:00-1:00 PM for an overview of the Hanover Grant Academy. During this session, Hanover Research will highlight the grant-seeking and grant-writing support, resources, and training that faculty will receive throughout the year-long academy.
A light lunch will be provided. Please RVSP to Julie Leyden at jleyden@fgcu.edu.
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Notice of Intent for Extramural Proposals
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) has Streamlyne in place for PreAward Applications. If you are unsure about a submission and not quite ready to enter your request into Streamlyne, ORSP has developed a Notice of Intent (NOI) for Principal Investigators or Project Directors to complete to request a consultation for proposal submission for extramural funding. The NOI requests information for the investigator, proposal, and agency. This will assist applicants and ORSP in facilitating the process of applications.
ORSP can also review the request for proposal for details regarding required information to guide investigators on required elements for a submission. Some proposals are quite simple; others require a significant number of documents.
The NOI can be found at: https://fgcu.formstack.com/forms/notice_of_intent_form.
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SciENcv Update
NIH and NSF now require that the PI and all Key Personnel generate their Biosketches and Current & Pending Support documents for every proposal submission through SciENcv. They also require an ORCID iD to be linked to SciENcv.
If you have not yet signed up for an ORCID iD number, please do so as soon as possible to avoid any delays at the time of proposal submission. If you have not yet created a SciENcv account to maintain your Biosketch and Current & Pending, ORSP suggests that you do so now.
There are several ways to log in to SciENcv; however, the most efficient method is through login.gov. If you do not already have a login.gov account, you should first create one using your FGCU email address and then use it to set up your SciENcv account.
To create an ORCID iD, go to this link and sign up where indicated. If you already have your SciENcv and ORCID ID accounts, the SciENcv site will prompt you to link the accounts.
ORSP is aware of ongoing issues and delays in responses from the associated help desks. Please contact ORSP early so we can assist you with generating Biosketches and Current & Pending Support documents that are compliant with grant submission requirements.
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Required Training for NSF and NIH Submissions
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has required training starting December 2, 2025. The new requirements set forth in NSF Important Notice No. 149 will take effect.
What you need to know:
- Proposals submitted before December 2, 2025, including those submitted during the recent lapse in appropriations, are not subject to those requirements originally set to take effect on October 10, 2025.
- As of December 2, 2025, such new certifications are required at the time of proposal submission within the Cover Sheet, Biographical Sketch, and Current and Pending (Other) Support forms. These include new certifications related to:
- Completion of research security training by all senior/key personnel; and
- An institution of higher education’s status regarding contracts or agreements with any Confucius Institute.
- Organizations are required to provide supporting documentation, including copies of grants, contracts, and agreements, upon request by NSF.
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You are instructed to take this course, download and save your completion certificate and provide it to ORSP_preaward@fgcu.edu. This certificate must be uploaded with your proposal to NSF.
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To assist research organizations and investigators, NSF has published a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page summarizing the new requirements, certification procedures, and relevant timelines. Access the FAQs here.
Training can be done using the following link and takes 45-60 minutes: https://www.secure-center.org/ctm.
NIH research security training (RST) becomes mandatory for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026 - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-26-017.html
If you have questions, please reach out to ORSP.
| | OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR STUDENTS | | |
Part-Time Job & Internship Fair
Tuesday, August 25 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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This is a perfect event to mention in your first week of classes. Students who are balancing finances and looking for flexible work or firsthand internship experience will find real opportunities here. Sharing it early sets a positive tone and shows students you are invested in their success beyond the classroom.
Share with: All students, especially first- and second-year students getting established.
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The next regular edition will run on August 17.
Submit your content by Monday, 5 p.m. August 10.
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