June 23, 2025

TOP NEWS

FGCU achieves top international ranking for sustainability excellence

Goal 14: Life Below Water.

FGCU’s rankings in Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings 2025 for three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Source: timeshighereducation.com.

Thanks to the initiative of Dr. F. King Alexander, FGCU's Professor of Educational Leadership in the Department of Leadership, Counseling, and Human Development, FGCU is showcased among top universities in the world for its sustainability excellence.

Since 2019 the Times Higher Education (THE), owned by the London Times, has annually conducted the University Impact Rankings which identifies and evaluates universities around the world based on their achievements toward the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Through their research internship, Dr. Alexander mentored FGCU doctoral students Tabitha Dawes and Nika Verna to submit applications for SDGs' Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being; Goal 14: Life Below Water; and Goal 15: Life on Land on behalf of FGCU. Last week, the THE University Impact Rankings were released to the public.

(Above) Goal 15: Life on Land; (Below) Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

Overview of Ranking Results for the Three SDGs

Goal 14: Life Below Water

• FGCU ranked in the top 101-200 universities
• #2 in Florida
• Tied for 5th place in the United States with five other U.S. universities

Goal 15: Life on Land

• FGCU ranked in the top 101-200 universities
• #2 in Florida
• Tied for 6th place in the United States with two other U.S. universities

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

• FGCU ranked in the top 801-1000
• #3 in Florida
• Tied for 21st place in the United States

Based in the United Kingdom, THE serves as the definitive source of data, insight and expertise in higher education worldwide. Ranking 2,526 universities from 130 countries and territories, THE recognizes the universities that distinguish themselves through their contributions to global sustainable development. These universities demonstrate their commitment to finding solutions to persistent global challenges, including environmental sustainability and economic growth.

It's worth noting a recent commentary by Angel Calderon from RMIT University published in University World News. Calderon stated that while the THE Impact Rankings face challenges—including result volatility and the complex task of processing over 270,000 evidence documents from participating universities—the assessment remains valuable for institutional improvement.

According to Calderon, despite some universities' hesitation to participate due to concerns about potential reputational risks, these rankings provide universities with "invaluable information to drive improvement and evidence-based pathways for impact" in addressing global sustainability challenges.

Reflecting on FGCU’s achievement, Dr. Alexander emphasized the importance of this ranking system.

“I have been very fortunate to have worked with Duncan Ross (former editor of THE and the individual who created this ranking) since its inception in 2019. There is no more important university ranking than this one which measures how universities are working to improve and save this planet.”

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

Take note of the dining hours for June 2025

Questions? Contact: Business Services

Scholarly Innovation & Student Research (SISR)

WiSER Program Call for Proposals

SISR invites faculty to submit applications for a WiSER Research Assistant.

The WiSER (Work in Scholarly Experiences & Research) program enables faculty to hire student research assistants for 10 hours per week for Fall and Spring semesters.

WiSER provides students with opportunities to work as paid research assistants to help with faculty research. The program was created to offer high-impact learning experiences to students and to give faculty a chance to mentor future scholars and share best professional practices.

The call will be active all summer with a priority deadline of August 1st, 2025.

What’s the SCOOP on Service-Learning?

The Office of Service-Learning & Civic Engagement invites faculty to spotlight an engaging co-curricular opportunity designed to introduce students—particularly first-year students—to the value and impact of service-learning at FGCU.

Join us for The Scoop on Service-Learning

📅 Tuesday, June 24

🕚 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

📍 Library Lawn

🔗 RSVP: https://fgcu.campuslabs.com/engage/event/11259037

This interactive, outdoor event offers students an opportunity to learn about FGCU’s service-learning graduation requirement, explore ways to engage with community partners, and connect with campus resources—all in a welcoming atmosphere featuring free ice cream.

Faculty are encouraged to:

• Integrate the event into summer syllabi as an experiential learning opportunity
• Promote the event during class sessions or through Canvas
• Offer reflective assignments or extra credit for attendance and participation

By supporting events like The Scoop on Service-Learning, faculty play a key role in cultivating a culture of civic responsibility and community engagement from the outset of the student experience.

For more information about incorporating service-learning into your courses, visit:

🔗 www.fgcu.edu/studentlife/servicelearning/facultyresources.

Lucas Center for Faculty Development

We invite you to join us for the Lucas Center Dialogues on Culture & Community. Sessions are open to faculty, staff, and students who are interested in thinking together about our individual and collective roles in shaping our community and contributing to the culture of FGCU. 

We encourage and welcome participation from members of all of these groups, and we hope you will bring a friend or student and end your month in dialogue with engaged and committed colleagues.

Click here for more information on the Dialogues on Culture and Community sessions.

The next discussion will take place in the Lucas Center (LIB-221) FRIDAY, June 27 , from 12:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m. Feel free to bring a lunch. Drinks and snacks will also be available in the Lucas Center.

Click here for more information on the Dialogues on Culture and Community sessions.

About the Creamery



FGCU's student-operated ice cream business offers a unique, hands-on learning experience that empowers students to develop practical skills in all aspects of entrepreneurship.

From sourcing ingredients and overseeing production to crafting marketing strategies and delivering exceptional customer service, students gain firsthand knowledge of managing a business. 

This experience builds expertise in leadership, financial management, teamwork, and innovation while instilling a strong sense of accountability and ownership.  

It’s more than just a business lesson—it’s about applying those lessons in a real-world setting, building confidence, and preparing for future success.

University Library

Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) Announcements

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.

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.

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.