July 7, 2026 | Summer News
The next edition comes out on August 3. Enjoy your summer!
| | Why I serve: A note from Provost Thorne | | (Left to right) Emma, Provost Thorne, and Gaby. | | |
Each time we celebrate commencement, I am struck by the thousands of new beginnings launched for our new Eagle alumni. Every smile, cheer, and Wings Up moment reminds me of why I ultimately serve FGCU. Simply, it’s our students and their success.
One of my first questions as new EVP and Provost in July 2025 was, “When are our student employees returning to work?” I wanted to be certain I had plenty of ways to get to know our students. When I learned the office had one student assistant, I urged our team to advertise and add another student or two to our office roster.
Here is how it ended up: Meet my “student counsel.”
Emma facilitates data entry for Interfolio to support faculty excellence. She is the veteran of our student team.
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Gaby assists in daily operations, including preparations for special events that capture the unique spirit of FGCU.
Kameron supports daily operations and events and recently used his digital media skills to propose a new design for the Academic Affairs newsletter to improve office communications. He is also an occasional flower arranger.
We hoped to hire Ari, but she also had an opportunity to work in a faculty member’s research lab. Although I encouraged her to take the research role, she's still part of my student counsel.
| (Above) Provost Thorne and Ari at Eagle X 2026. (Left) Kameron and Provost Thorne. | While finding your “why” has become a cliche, it is a timeless method for recentering on core values and strategic direction. Most importantly, you meet really special people along the way. | | Explore, create, lead: FGCU’s journals prepare students for what is next | | The Mangrove Review team at the Florida College English Conference in Ybor City (Tampa, Florida), part of an extraordinary year for the student-run literary journal. | | |
Mangrove Review
Since its first, slim publication in 2002, Mangrove Review has provided an unparalleled showcase of student creativity and professional expertise, from training staff and critiquing submissions to working with a design team to finalize layout. Each spring, this work culminates in a new issue with poems, stories, photographs, and other forms of art and literature.
The journal’s reach goes beyond English and art majors. Students from different disciplines and career paths, including commuters and transfer students, enrich the community at every level. Reflecting FGCU’s Strategic Plan: Innovating for student success, Mangrove Review elevates partnerships for regional impact through affiliated programs such as Open Arts at the Library, the Samuel Pepys Reading Series, Storytelling at FGCU, and support for the Sanibel Island Writers Conference.
As generative AI continues to reshape the academic and professional landscape, Mangrove Review helps students develop critical thinking and transferable skills through reviewing original, human-created content and collaborating with others in reviews and publication processes. These inherent relational skills cannot be replaced by AI. Each volume is led by an editor in chief supported by lead editors for each genre, who recruit and train assistant editors to conduct blind reviews.
Mangrove Review welcomes submissions from students, faculty, staff, alumni, authors, and artists from around the world. The 2026 issue showcased seventy talented artists and writers. Learn more: fgcu.edu/mangrovereview.
Aquila: The FGCU Student Research Journal
Launched in 2014 and now housed in the University Library, Aquila is an interdisciplinary student-centered journal with two goals: celebrating student scholarship and professionalizing student editors with career-ready skills.
| | Aligned with FGCU’s Skills Advantage Program, the journal incorporates the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies, encouraging student toward professional goals and producing artifacts students can use in transferable skills digital badges in areas such as written communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. | Aquila: The FGCU Student Research Journal is an interdisciplinary, student-centered journal published by the University Library, showcasing undergraduate and graduate scholarship from across all colleges and disciplines. | |
Every publication receives a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), making the work permanently discoverable through Google Scholar.
Undergraduate and graduate students from any major can contribute original research, literature reviews, case studies, and, beginning fall 2026, recorded performances.
The March 2026 issue included four articles on research conducted by FGCU students and faculty. The articles explored golf swing kinetics, vitamin A, criminal recidivism and justice for crime victims, and human-to-animal interactions.
Learn more: journals.flvc.org/FGCUAquila
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Save Time with the SpeedGrader Comment Library
The Comment Library in SpeedGrader allows faculty to save and reuse text feedback across the courses they teach. This is a helpful tool for comments that are typed often, such as formatting reminders, general tips for improvement, and recognition for originality.
Consider starting small by saving a few comments you regularly use. You can then customize them for each student as needed. The Comment Library can reduce repetitive typing while helping you provide consistent, timely, and high-quality feedback.
Learn more about using the Comment Library in SpeedGrader.
Please reach out to Digital Learning with any questions.
| 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. | | |
Get Ready for the New Academic Year
As we gear up for a new academic year, take a few minutes this summer to review and update your university presence. Ensuring our faculty and staff receive the recognition they deserve is a component of Goal 4 of FGCU’s Strategic Plan. That recognition starts with the basics: professional profiles and strong presence on the university website.
University Profiles
Fill out the Faculty/Staff Directory Update form. This is an opportunity to showcase your latest research and scholarly activities. Note that certain changes, such as office location and title, may need to be requested through HR, as they are tied to Workday.
Professional Portrait Session
The next FGCU open studio for faculty and staff is Friday, August 14, 2026, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m., in the AB9 Atrium. No appointment required. Marketing and communications best practices recommend updating profile photos every 2–3 years. For details, visit fgcu.edu/advancement/universitymarketing/studio.
Email Signature
Please double-check the currency and accuracy of your email signature and ensure its compliance with UMC guidelines for email signatures. If your email signature includes a link to a university page, verify it is still active, as parent pages may have changed.
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Academic Affairs News 2026-27 Schedule
Academic Affairs News will begin a bi-weekly schedule on Monday, August 3. Content submission deadline: 5 p.m., July 22. See you in August!
| | Contact Dr. Jennifer Sughrue for more information. | |
Get involved with the Inside FGCU employee newsletter
Inside FGCU is recruiting employees to serve on the 2026-27 Inside FGCU Editorial Advisory Committee.
The committee consists of five to seven FGCU employees who can meet monthly as a team to review story pitches, create content, and guide the future of Inside FGCU. No past communications experience is required. If you are interested, please fill out the Formstack application.
The Editorial Executive Committee will be in touch with applicants about next steps in early August. If you have any questions, send an email to newsletter@fgcu.edu or Rubi Olvera at rolverachavarria@fgcu.edu.
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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 be out August 3.
See you in August!
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