August 11, 2025

TOP NEWS

Setting the stage:

Academic success drives student success

Message from EVP and Provost Thorne

(3:30 minutes watch)

Introducing Canvas quick tips!

We're excited to announce our newest newsletter section featuring routine tips to help you use Canvas more efficiently and effectively, brought to you by the Digital Learning team. Each edition will deliver practical, bite-sized guidance to streamline your Canvas experience and enhance your teaching toolkit.

In this episode of Digital Learning’s Canvas quicktip we are focusing on student accommodations.

Explore the resources below for valuable guidance on how to add accommodations in Canvas.

• Adding accommodations in Canvas New Quizzes (extending time, adding attempts etc.)
• Adding accommodations in Canvas Classic Quizzes (extending time, adding attempts, etc.)
• Adjusting Due Dates for Individual Students
• March EduBite Webinar Recording: Accessibility Made Easy: Quick Wins for Accessible Courses

Faculty Spotlight. Are you a FGCU faculty member who has achieved a recent milestone or an accolade? Email us: academicaffairs@fgcu.edu.

Check out past editions of the Academic Affairs newsletter: Academic Affairs Events

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FGCU First Day Ready

Help your students be ready on their first day of class!

Questions? Email firstdayready@fgcu.edu or visit www.fgcu.edu/firstdayready

SAVE THE DATE!

Graduate & Professional School Fair on October 28, 2025

The entire Eagle community is invited!

🎓 FGCU Graduate & Professional School Fair

  Monday, October 28, 2025 

📍 Academic Building 9 138  

🕙 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 

We’re excited to invite you and your students to attend this important event designed to support our students’ academic and professional futures! 

This fair is open to all FGCU students interested in exploring graduate and professional school opportunities. It will provide students with the opportunity to connect directly with programs within the state of Florida and beyond that can shape their next steps.  Additionally, FGCU graduate & professional school resources will be promoted at the fair. 

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. 

Thank you for supporting our students’ success! We look forward to seeing you there!

Questions? Contact Dr. Dawn Kirby, Shannon Acosta, Jessica Rhea

FGCU's Office of the Ombuds is here to assist faculty, staff, and students!

Employees who may be experiencing a university-related concern or conflict are encouraged to reach out to the Ombuds Office as an informal and confidential resource.

The University Ombuds is available to assist with a wide range of university-related concerns, including:

• Policy and procedural guidance – Understanding which regulations, policies, or procedures apply to your specific workplace situation
• Communication challenges – Navigating difficult conversations or improving dialogue between parties
• Workplace relationships – Addressing concerns involving colleagues, supervisors, or other members of the university community

Whether you're seeking clarification on university processes, looking for strategies to resolve interpersonal conflicts, or simply need a confidential space to discuss workplace concerns, the Ombuds office provides a neutral, informal resource to help you explore your options and find constructive paths forward.

While the Office of the Ombuds is in Edwards Hall, 211, the Ombuds can speak or meet with visitors via phone, virtually, or another mutually agreed upon location.

Please note that information sent via email to the Office of the Ombuds is not confidential.

Visit the Ombuds’ webpage for more information.

Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP)

Learn About the Legislative Earmark Process

Omar Franco and Shannon Duncanson from Becker Poliakoff will be on campus Tuesday, August 12, to meet with faculty to discuss the Legislative Earmark process and explore opportunities for potential funding.

If you're interested in learning more about how the earmark process works and how it might support your projects, we encourage you to attend this in-person session.

Tuesday, August 12 

2:00-4:00 pm

Location: Edward Hall 210

EagleLink RSVP

Notice of Hanover Grant Academy 2025-2026



The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (OSRP) is soliciting nominations for the 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 is listed below. 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 deadline is September 15, 2025, 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. 

FGCU continues to use our negotiated Federal Rate Agreement

The indirect rates continue to be 43% for on-campus activities and 19% for off-campus activities. ORSP staff will work with faculty to ensure proper rates are applied.

Please reach out to ORSP if you have questions.

Lucas Center for Faculty Development

 Lucas Center Symposium on Teaching & Learning

A Celebration of Passionate Teaching

The Lucas Center is excited to announce the return of the Lucas Center Symposium on Teaching and Learning, to be held in-person on February 17 and 18 in the Bradshaw Library.

Call for Proposals Opens on September 29!

Symposium Dates:

Day 1: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Day 2: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Specific presentation dates, times and locations to be determined! 

Pugs! - Not Drugs

An event for faculty, staff, and students

September 3, 2025 | 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Veteran's Pavilion

Socrates Café Dialogue 13 | September 24, 2025

RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Missed an announcement? We've got you covered.

Global Engagement Office Launches ABEONA:

New International Travel Registry | Click here for the complete announcement. For any inquiries, please contact us at abeona@fgcu.edu.

New attendance tool in Canvas | Click here for the complete announcement.

WiSER Program Call for Proposals: Final deadline: August 15, 2025 | Click here to apply. Read the complete announcement here.

FREE entrance into the Naples Botanical Garden: FGCU faculty and staff receive free entrance into the Garden | Clear here for the complete announcement.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR STUDENTS

Service-Learning & Civic Engagement

Bring Service Learning to Your Classroom: Request a Custom Presentation Today | Requesting a presentation is easy—just fill out this quick form and save space in your syllabus: 👉 Request a Presentation. Click to view complete announcement.

Faculty: Encourage Your Students to Start the Year with Purpose — Promote WOW Day of Service!

FGCU’s annual Weeks of Welcome (WOW) Day of Service is happening on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM—and we need your help spreading the word!

This beloved campus tradition is a powerful way for students to build friendships, explore their career paths, and connect with the Southwest Florida community through a morning of meaningful service.

Please encourage your students to register early — space is limited and

YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER TO ATTEND!

Pre-register here:

fgcu.campuslabs.com/engage/event/11179304

Highlights of the event:

• Serve with local nonprofit partners across SWFL
• Free transportation, food, and new friends
• Learn how to track service-learning hours 
• Represent FGCU proudly in the community
• 
  

Encourage your students to sign up early and commit to showing up — our community partners will be counting on them!

View and Share the Event Link

Career Development Services Fall Events

Fall 2025 Career Recruiting Events & Workshops

FGCU Faculty and Staff

Career Development Services is thrilled to announce the Fall 2025 lineup of career recruiting events and student workshops! These events provide incredible opportunities for our students and alumni to connect with employers seeking talent for internships and full-time roles, empowering them to take the next steps in their career journeys.

We encourage faculty and staff to share these events with students and promote attendance at workshops to help prepare them for success. Event information, registrations and Job & Internship opportunities are located on Eagle Career Network. Visited our updated website.

Lutgert College of Business

Center for Supply Chain Excellence

FOUR (4) NEW CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS | Pursuing a certificate at Florida Gulf Coast University is a powerful move to advance your career, not just a resume booster. Our (4) four new Graduate certificates are thoughtfully crafted to equip you with high-demand skills, enhance your professional credibility and support your continued growth. CLICK here for the complete announcement and application links.

Submission requests must be sent to academicaffairs@fgcu.edu by end of business on the Wednesday of the prior week. Submissions received after this deadline will not be shared until the following newsletter.

Please send attachments as either a .PNG or .JPEG file 250kb or less.

.PDFs are NOT accepted.

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Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and content expressed in these programs, events, and materials are those of the author(s)/presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, positions, or endorsements of Florida Gulf Coast University's Academic Affairs Division.