Office of the Provost and Division of Academic Affairs
The Office of the Provost at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is committed to supporting our faculty and staff with the resources that will enable them to provide our students with an academic experience that focuses on developing every aspect of their lives. During their time at FGCU, faculty and students have access to innovative teaching methods, state-of-the-art technology, and diverse co-curricular activities designed to respond to their unique needs.
Meet the Provost
Debbie M. Thorne, Ph.D. is the Executive Vice President and Provost. In this role, she provides vision and leadership in all matters relating to academic programs and the pursuit of academic excellence at Florida Gulf Coast University. She joined FGCU in 2025 and works with President Aysegul Timur and President’s Cabinet to shape and execute the university’s strategic plan and priorities.
Prior to her appointment at FGCU, she was in residence at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte through the American Council on Education's fellowship program. From 2017 to 2024, she served as the senior vice provost at Texas State University with responsibilities for academic budgets and resources, faculty recruitment, success, and retention, and shared governance. Dr. Thorne joined Texas State as Chair, Department of Marketing and later served as Presidential Fellow and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, with oversight for curriculum, distance and online learning, and international affairs.
Reflecting deep roots as a scholar-teacher and FGCU Professor of Marketing, Dr. Thorne is the recipient of multiple teaching and research awards and an invited lecturer for universities in Austria, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, and Thailand. She is widely published and co-author of Business & Society: A Strategic Approach to Social Responsibility (8th edition). She has also taught at Mississippi State University and the University of Tampa.
Dr. Thorne received a Ph.D. in business administration from The University of Memphis, M.S. from Texas A & M University, and B.B.A from Abilene Christian University. Before academe, Dr. Thorne was in product development with Texas Instruments. She enjoys international travel and foods, collegiate athletics, and traversing cultural districts.
Dr. Tony A. Barringer is the Interim Provost and Associate Provost/Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. As interim provost, Dr. Barringer oversees the daily administrative operations for the division of Academic Affairs. Over his tenure at Florida Gulf Coast University, he has also served as Interim Dean, Associate Dean, and Division Chair. Prior to joining FGCU in 1997, he taught at the College of Lake County and Southeast Missouri State University. He has over twenty years of practical experience in criminal justice and has taught in higher education for nearly as long.
Dr. Barringer has presented nationally and internationally, served as a consultant to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice, and, because of the impact of his research and practice, served as a guest discussant at the Florida Department of Corrections’ Re-entry Summit. He has acted as Principal or Co-Principal Investigator for approximately $1 million in funded state and federal grants in juvenile justice and wraparound services and has published widely on the subject of minorities’ experiences with the criminal justice system.
Dr. Barringer earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a M.S. in Public Administration from Southeast Missouri State University and a doctorate from Northern Illinois University.
Academic Affairs Information
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Office of the Provost
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Communications From the Provost
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2024
Toggle More InfoAugust 16
Documenting Academic Activity - Fall 2024 Courses
Access attachment: Verification of Attendance with Canvas 08 2024
Dear Colleagues:
A reminder that federal financial aid regulations require the confirmation of attendance in order for students to receive financial aid. The confirmation of attendance for fall 2024 courses is achieved by students completing an academic activity through the Canvas Learning Management System. The activity must be completed for each course in which they are enrolled prior to the disbursement of their financial aid. The attached document provides options on how to create an academic activity using Canvas to comply with the financial aid regulation.
Examples of acceptable evidence of attendance through an academically related activity include:
- Submitting an academic assignment
- Taking an exam/quiz
- Submission of an academic assignment or exam
- Documented participation in an interactive tutorial
- Post by the student showing participation in an online study group assigned by the instructor
- Post by the student in a discussion forum showing participation in an online discussion about academic matters
This assignment or academic activity should be listed as due by August 25 but should remain open throughout the term. This will allow students to complete the assignment and receive a late disbursement without causing extra work for the faculty member.
The confirmation of attendance via an academically related activity is required for all students, as this facilitates the receiving of aid throughout the academic year should the students’ eligibility change. This is required for all classes, including internships, dissertations and clinicals.
We thank you for your cooperation and effort with this process. Please direct any questions to Victoria Hartley, associate director of Financial Aid, at vhartley@fgcu.edu.
Mark Rieger, Ph.D. | Executive Vice President and Provost
August 27
Passing of Dr. Joe Wisdom
Dear Colleagues,
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Joe Wisdom. Dr. Wisdom joined FGCU in 1997 as an inaugural faculty member and served the FGCU community until he retired in 2012. In addition to his role as associate professor of English, his positions included two years as associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and 12 years as chair of the Department of Language & Literature. Throughout his 15 years at FGCU, he was always a devoted colleague, mentor and teacher.
Joe Wisdom, as his name itself suggests, was both an “everyman” in the literary sense and full of insights. His area of expertise was 20th century American literature, and he had a particular love for William Faulkner’s works. His students will remember him for not only what he knew about the literature and underlying contexts of what he taught, but also for the way he could direct and manage a classroom discussion to keep it interesting and on track.
“Doctor Doctor,” as his close friends called him, spent his retirement here in Fort Myers surrounded by family and friends, many of whom would frequently gather under the chickee on the canal in his back yard, where he was always ready to talk about the last book he read.
I thank Conan Griffin for crafting this message in his honor. Dr. Wisdom’s obituary may be found at gendronfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Joe-Wisdom/ - !/Obituary.
Mark Rieger, Ph.D. | Executive Vice President and Provost
August 29
The Skills Advantage - FGCU"s Quality Enhancement Plan
Dear Colleagues,
This fall marks the launch of The Skills Advantage: From Campus to Career - FGCU's new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). You'll be seeing and hearing information about The Skills Advantage all term, but we want to make sure you know about opportunities for faculty and staff to find out more and get involved.
What are the goals?
- Elevate the role of transferable skills as part of FGCU’s undergraduate education, and help faculty embed skills-forward teaching in their disciplines.
- Make the core skills that students are already learning visible by growing our portfolio-based transferable skill badging program.
- Build a skills-to-careers pipeline connecting students with employers, empowering students across all majors and helping them achieve workplace success after graduation.
Where can I find more information?
- Website: www.fgcu.edu/theskillsadvantage
- Faculty/staff Information Sessions: Click here to register!
- Thursday, Sept. 5 | noon – 1 p.m. | Reed Hall, 249
- Wednesday, Nov. 13 |10 a.m. – 11a.m. | Lutgert Hall, 1202
If you are planning to make transferable skill badging a part of your course, it's important that you complete at least one of these faculty training programs:
- Canvas course: For full-time or part-time faculty who are self-implementing a badgeable assignment in their course. To be added to the course, contact Patricia Rice at price@fgcu.edu.
- Assignment workshops: For full-time or part-time faculty who are modifying an existing
assignment to make it badgeable. Registration required (limited seating): Click here
to sign up.
- Thursday, Sept. 19 | noon – 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 19 | 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- Faculty cohort: A deeper dive into skills pedagogy, skills-forward teaching and skill badging. Faculty
will design new badgeable assignments for their courses and become Skills Advantage
faculty champions.
- Open to full-time faculty teaching undergraduates in any academic unit.
- Semester-long (biweekly meetings), compensated, spring cohort applications open in October.
- For more information, contact Patricia Rice at price@fgcu.edu
The core skills team is happy to talk with you further about The Skills Advantage.
- Dr. Glenn Whitehouse, director of core skills: gwhiteho@fgcu.edu (239) 590-7218
- Patricia Rice, coordinator of core skills: price@fgcu.edu (239) 590-7205
Mark Rieger, Ph.D. | Executive Vice President and Provost
September 5
Reporting Structure Change: Scholarly Innovation and Student Research (SISR) to Honors College
The Office of Scholarly Innovation and Student Research (SISR) is now part of the Honors College. Previously, it was under the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
The Honors College closely aligns with SISR’s mission of cultivating scholarly excellence, mentoring, and student success. SISR offices will remain in Edwards Hall, Suite 213, at present.
SISR offers gateway research experiences for FGCU undergraduate and graduate students:
- Through the Work in Scholarly and Experiential Learning (WiSER) program, students can be hired to work with faculty members on their research
- Through an application for research funds, students can travel to present their research at a conference or purchase supplies for research projects.
To help students make the most of these opportunities, SISR provides professionalization workshops (e.g. “How to Make a Research Poster” and “Crafting Your Elevator Pitch for Conferences”), assists with publication opportunities, and administers an undergraduate research badge.
For more information on SISR, please visit www.fgcu.edu/sisr or contact Dr. Megan Norcia, director of Student Innovation and Scholarly Research, at mnorcia@fgcu.edu.
We congratulate SISR on its new home in the Honors College.
Mark Rieger, Ph.D. | Executive Vice President and Provost
September 12
Now Open: Adjunct Faculty Workspace Available in FGCU Library
Dear Adjunct Faculty,
We invite you to visit the newly established adjunct faculty workspace located at the Wilson G. Bradshaw Library, fourth floor, room 436. This space was created as a direct response to your requests for dedicated space to prep for classes, meet with students and simply relax comfortably. The space includes several workstations with ethernet cables to connect your laptop, whiteboards, a microwave oven and a Keurig coffee maker. We will soon be adding a refrigerator, and we hope to add a copy machine in the future. All adjunct faculty with an active FGCU ID card will have swipe access to this room.
The adjunct workspace is one way the university is working to ensure you have the resources you need to conduct your business comfortably and effectively. We welcome feedback about additional ways we can augment this space to meet your needs. When you visit the space, you will find a QR code posted on the wall, which will link you to a form to leave feedback and suggestions.
Full-time faculty, staff and administrative colleagues value the service you provide to FGCU. Students benefit tremendously from the experiences and expertise you bring to your teaching.
Thank you for all you do to enhance the educational experience of FGCU students. We look forward to seeing you in the adjunct workspace.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
September 16
Now Open! 2024-25 Excellence Award Nominations - Due November 15
Access attachments: Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards guidelines
Faculty Team Service Excellence Awards guidelines
Excellence in Advising Award guidelines
Excellence in Librarianship Awards guidelines
Individual Faculty Service Excellence Awards guidelines
Faculty Scholarship Excellence Awards guidelinesIt is the time of year that we are given the opportunity to recognize the excellent work of our adjuncts, advisors, instructors, librarians and professors.
FGCU faculty, staff and students are encouraged to submit nominations for the Advising, Librarianship, Scholarship, Service and Teaching Excellence Awards. Attached in this email are the Faculty Senateapproved guidelines outlining the nomination process and characteristics for each award. The categories include:
Advising:
- Senior Advisor Excellence Award
- Junior Advisor Excellence Award
Librarianship:
- Senior Faculty Librarian Excellence Award
- Junior Faculty Librarian Excellence Award
Scholarship:
- Senior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award
- Junior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award
Service:
- Team Service Excellence Award
- Senior Faculty Service Excellence Award
- Junior Faculty Service Excellence Award
Teaching:
- Senior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
- Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
- Senior Instructor Teaching Excellence Award
- Junior Instructor Teaching Excellence Award
- Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
The Office of the Provost will collect all nominations. Submit nominations to Julie Eacho via interoffice mail or email at jeacho@fgcu.edu by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 15. Please consider participating in this very important process.
Stay tuned for future announcements about additional award opportunities.
Award winners will be announced at the Celebration of Excellence Awards ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, 2025, and will be kept confidential until that time. More information on this exciting event will be sent to the university community as we get closer to the date.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
September 23
Nominate Now! 2024-25 John Herman Award for Excellence in General Education – Due November 15
Inspired by the late Dr. John Herman and his remarkable ability to engage students from across disciplines, the John Herman Award for Excellence in General Education will recognize one member of the FGCU teaching community for their commitment to enhancing students’ liberal arts experience.
Faculty, staff and students are invited to submit award nominations to Dr. Joseph V. Ross at jvross@fgcu.edu by 5 p.m. November 15. The award winner will be recognized at the Celebration of Excellence Awards ceremony in April.
Please see the attached document for more information, including nomination procedures and documentation guidelines.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
September 24
FACULTY ALERT: FGCU is continuing to monitor Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine
Dear Colleagues,
FGCU is working with weather and emergency management officials to determine Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine’s impact to our campus community. No changes to campus operations have been made at this time, and we will keep you updated should this change.
However, I understand that many of our faculty and students commute to campus from beyond Lee County. Some may be thinking of evacuating from the area or taking steps to protect their homes and property. As students and employees make personal storm-related decisions, I ask that we all lead with flexibility in mind.
- If you decide to transition to a different modality this week, you must communicate the change as soon as possible with your students and ensure that required instructional contact time is met.
- As part of this, it is important for students to be in touch with instructors about their personal plans.
- Employees who plan to take personal leave or work remotely need to follow the university’s
established policies and procedures.
Messages will be going out shortly to students and all employees stressing these points.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
September 27
Academic Affairs: Friday Operations & Directives
Dear Colleagues,
FGCU is aware that members of our campus community – faculty, staff and students – commute to campus from across the Gulf Coast, and some made the decision to evacuate the area. Knowing this, it is imperative that you lead with flexibility as we return to normal operations.
Students could be without power, and it might not be safe for them to commute to campus, depending on storm conditions.
As we return to normal operations Friday, it is critically important for you to lead with flexibility with students and your colleagues.
- If faculty or instructors decide to transition their modality, they must communicate the change as soon as possible with their students.
- Instructors need to ensure that required instructional contact time is met. Additionally, faculty members will provide guidance on make-up work or other activities as needed.
If you have questions about how to handle a situation, please let me know.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
September 30
Instructional Guidance
Dear Colleagues,
I write you today in appreciation of your flexibility and understanding as FGCU responded to the impacts of Hurricane Helene in our community. As you saw in today’s message, our campus grounds, facilities and utilities were not impacted by the storm, but we know many in our FGCU community were not as fortunate.
There are members of our community who are without power, have experienced home damage or are unable to commute to campus due to roadway conditions. As we move forward with full reopening plans, I want to remind you to be as flexible and reasonable as possible when working with our students.
Instructors need to ensure that required instructional contact time is met. We ask instructors to make all efforts to ensure academic continuity through messaging and assignment updates, modifications and date extensions in the Canvas Learning Management System. We have informed students that they should be in contact with their professors for any guidance that is required regarding make-up work or other activities.
If you have questions about how to handle a situation, please let me know.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
October 30
Sustainability Course Graduation Requirement
Access attachment: FAQ - Sustainability Course Graduation Requirement
Dear Students,
Since 1997, FGCU has championed sustainability as a core institutional value, building it into the curriculum with a Sustainability Course Graduation Requirement (SCGR).
Although undergraduate degree-seeking students have usually met this requirement by taking a course titled University Colloquium, FGCU started offering a menu of approved courses in fall 2024 to help students meet this graduation requirement. Please note that IDS 3920 University Colloquium is included in the menu of courses.
Attached to this email is an FAQ (frequently asked question) sheet that will help guide you as you select a course to meet the graduation requirement.
If you have questions regarding this graduation requirement or SCGR course selection, please consult with your academic advisor. You can find your academic advisor listed at the top of your Degree Works audit.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
October 30
Sustainability Course Graduation Requirement
Access attachment: FAQ - Sustainability Course Graduation Requirement
Dear Faculty,
The message below has been sent to undergraduate students regarding the Sustainability Course Graduation Requirement (SCGR).
Since 1997, FGCU has championed sustainability as a core institutional value, building it into the curriculum with a Sustainability Course Graduation Requirement (SCGR).
Although undergraduate degree-seeking students have usually met this requirement by taking a course titled University Colloquium, FGCU started offering a menu of approved courses in fall 2024 to help students meet this graduation requirement. Please note that IDS 3920 University Colloquium is included in the menu of courses.
Attached to this email is an FAQ (frequently asked question) sheet that will help guide you as you select a course to meet the graduation requirement.
If you have questions regarding this graduation requirement or SCGR course selection, please consult with your academic advisor. You can find your academic advisor listed at the top of your Degree Works audit.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
November 1
Reminder! 2024-25 Excellence Award Nominations Due November 15
Access attachments: Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards guidelines
Faculty Team Service Excellence Awards guidelines
Excellence in Advising Award guidelines
Excellence in Librarianship Awards guidelines
Individual Faculty Service Excellence Awards guidelines
Faculty Scholarship Excellence Awards guidelinesFGCU faculty, staff and students are encouraged to submit nominations for the Advising, Librarianship, Scholarship, Service and Teaching Excellence Awards.
Nominations need to be submitted to Julie Eacho (Office of the Provost) via interoffice mail or email at jeacho@fgcu.edu by 5 p.m. Friday, November 15.
Attached in this email are the Faculty Senate-approved guidelines outlining the nomination process and characteristics for each award. The categories include:
Advising:
- Senior Advisor Excellence Award
- Junior Advisor Excellence Award
Librarianship:
- Senior Faculty Librarian Excellence Award
- Junior Faculty Librarian Excellence Award
Scholarship:
- Senior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award
- Junior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award
Service:
- Team Service Excellence Award
- Senior Faculty Service Excellence Award
- Junior Faculty Service Excellence Award
Teaching:
- Senior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
- Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
- Senior Instructor Teaching Excellence Award
- Junior Instructor Teaching Excellence Award
- Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
This is your opportunity to recognize the excellent work of our adjuncts, advisors, instructors, librarians and professors. Please consider participating in this very important process.
What’s Next:
Award winners will be announced at the Celebration of Excellence Awards ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, 2025, and will be kept confidential until that time. Stay tuned for announcements about additional award opportunities.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
November 20
Applications Open for FGCU President’s Award for Exemplary Online Teaching
Quality online education is one of the primary elements of the State University System of Florida's 2025 Strategic Plan for Online Education. FGCU President’s Award for Exemplary Online Teaching for academic year 2024-25 will recognize one outstanding FGCU online faculty member for their commitment to enhancing the quality of the online education experience of FGCU students.
Faculty with at least two semesters of online teaching at FGCU in the past two years (spring 2023 through fall 2024) will receive an email containing application information. The application deadline is 9 a.m. February 10, 2025. The winner will be recognized at the Celebration of Excellence Awards ceremony in April 2025.
For more information, visit the Digital Learning website. For information on the SUS initiative, visit the SUS President’s Award Program.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
December 10
Expanding Faculty Use of Canvas for Student Success
Access attachment: Resolution - Canvas Utilization FINAL
Good afternoon,
On behalf of Faculty Senate President Lyndsay Rhodes and I, we hope that each of you are doing well and have had a very productive semester. To foster greater student success, the university has employed our shared governance processes to identify ways to improve the teaching and learning experience at FGCU. As a result of many discussions, it was determined that greater utilization of the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) would benefit students and faculty as we aim for enhanced student success through a more data-driven approach. In a demonstration of collaboration with this initiative, Faculty Senate passed a resolution of support on December 6 (see attached).
What we are asking:
By the fall 2025 semester, all course sections will use their Canvas courses consistently by:
- Posting course syllabi and schedules
- Documenting attendance
- Submitting and grading assignments (gradebook)
This will help us better align our classroom practices with the university’s strategic plan and the student success plan. The process will start in the spring 2025 semester to allow time for additional support for faculty and piloting for backchannel processes (related to the Wings Up Student Success platform).
For the spring 2025 semester, we ask that all faculty utilize Canvas to:
- Grade at least one assignment within the first three weeks (outside of the attendance verification assignment)
- Grade another assignment within the first seven weeks (before the withdrawal date, March 17, 2025)
This will allow us to begin piloting the data flow from Canvas into student success support services. Faculty who are already fully utilizing Canvas gradebook will not need to make any changes as their grades have already historically flowed into our institutional research student support data tables (Tableau).
Background on Support for Canvas Tool Usage:
Over the past year, a variety of shared governance groups identified the need for more purposeful utilization of Canvas to support student outcomes. These groups included the Ad-hoc Quality Online Education Committee, Continuity of Instruction Plan Committee, Gateway Course Coordinators and Student Success Council, among others.Integration for Additional Early Support for Students:
The use of gradebook and attendance tracking will allow for more enhanced student support through the Wings Up Student Success platform. This technology will allow for more effective student tracking and identification of students who may need additional assistance outside the classroom.Our Commitment to Support
We recognize that many faculty already fully utilize Canvas to enhance teaching and learning in their courses, and we thank you. However, to support this transition for faculty who may not be fully utilizing Canvas tools or would like a refresher, Digital Learning is offering drop-in sessions and appointments during December and January. This is in addition to their regular offerings of Canvas and course design support.As always, we welcome feedback on how we can facilitate this process in support of our amazing faculty. We thank you for your continued dedication to our students.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
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2025
Toggle More InfoJanuary 8
Interviews January 9-10 for Learning Assistants Program Director
Dear Colleagues,
The search for FGCU’s next Learning Assistants Program Director is underway. The search committee will be conducting first round virtual interviews Thursday, January 9, and Friday, January 10. Contact Melissa Perez (mperez@fgcu.edu) to request a meeting link.
The director of the Learning Assistants Program is responsible for the comprehensive leadership and management of the program, including strategic planning, academic oversight, personnel management and fiscal administration. The director will champion the program’s mission by communicating the vision and goals of the unit to community and professional constituencies to identify opportunities for innovation, collaboration and interdisciplinary work that benefit faculty and students and raise the visibility of the institution and its disciplines. The director will ensure the program’s overall academic quality and align it with university goals, policies, strategic plans and relevant regulations.
For more information, click here or visit the website for the Office of the Provost, www.fgcu.edu/about/leadership/officeoftheprovost.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
January 30Nominate now! Chair Excellence Award Nominations Due February 14
Access attachment: 2024 - 2025 FGCU Chair Excellence Award Guidelines
The FGCU Council of Chairs and I are pleased to announce the call for nominations for the annual FGCU Chair Excellence Award. This award is separate from, and not related to, the in-unit faculty Excellence Awards programs.
Nominations are due by 5 p.m. February 14. Submit nominations to Julie Eacho at jeacho@fgcu.edu or through interoffice mail (Edwards Hall, Room 314).
Approved guidelines outlining the complete nomination and selection process for this award can be found in the attached document. Award winners will be announced April 23 during the annual Celebration of Excellence Awards ceremony, and winners will be kept confidential until that time.
Please consider participating in this award process.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
January 30
2025 Compression & Inversion Review
Access attachment: 2025 Compression and Inversion Review - Final
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to present the Final Report on the Compression & Inversion Funds allocation, including a summary of the methodology, analysis, and distribution process, as outlined in Article 23 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement ratified in August 2024.
As agreed, a total of $400,000 has been allocated for base salary adjustments to address issues of compression and inversion among in-unit employees. The goal of this allocation is to reduce or eliminate the salary gaps resulting from these factors. Our analysis has been completed, and I would like to highlight a few key points:
- Consistency in Methodology: The same methodology used in the 2023 analysis was applied this year to ensure consistency in identifying compression and inversion among in-unit employees.
- Salary Adjustment Caps: A 3% cap was set for salary increases in the 2024 analysis compared to a 6% cap for 2023, aimed at bringing salaries closer to parity by addressing the compression and inversion across ranks and positions.
- Proportional Funding Allocation: A dollar cap was also applied to ensure a fair distribution of the allocated funds, using a similar approach to the 2023 distribution method.
- Additional Investment: Upon completing the analysis, it was determined that the initial $400,000 would not fully address the salary gap. As a result, the administration approved an additional $20,903.57 to ensure full funding for the impacted employees, maintaining the 3% cap. This brings the total administrative investment to $420,903.57.
- Impact of the Allocation: The 2024 allocation has positively impacted 146 individuals receiving salary adjustments due to compression and inversion, compared to 87 employees in 2023.
Employee retention is a critical priority for the university, and compensation remains a key focus of the administration. Through careful financial management, we have been able to allocate a total of $720,903.57 over the past two years to address compression and inversion issues, making substantial progress toward closing the salary gap for our in-unit employees.
Thank you for your continued dedication and contributions to our university community.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
February 11
Reminder! Chair Excellence Award Nominations Due Friday
Access attachment: 2024 - 2025 FGCU Chair Excellence Award Guidelines
Nominations for the FGCU Chair Excellence Award are due by 5 p.m. Friday, February 14. Submit nominations to Julie Eacho at jeacho@fgcu.edu or through interoffice mail (Edwards Hall, Room 314).
This award is separate from, and not related to, the in-unit faculty Excellence Awards programs. Approved guidelines outlining the complete nomination and selection process for this award can be found in the attached document. Award winners will be announced April 23 during the annual Celebration of Excellence Awards ceremony, and winners will be kept confidential until that time.
Please consider participating in this award process.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
February 21
Fellowship Opportunity For Your Students – Deadline to apply: March 7
Access attachment: Florida Council of 100 -- 2025 Robert L. Ward Fellowship Program position description (January 2025)
The Florida Council of 100 is seeking a fellow for summer 2025 and is accepting applications from qualified graduate students (or undergraduate students who will graduate this spring). Attached is a description of this paid position. The application deadline is March 7.
The Florida Council of 100 (fc100.org) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of business leaders committed to promoting economic growth and improving the quality of life for the people of our state. The council works closely with the Governor and state agencies, the legislature, the court, and other private organizations, to effect positive change in the state and improve the quality of life for Floridians.
To apply, applicants should respond to Steven Birnholz, executive vice president, Florida Council of 100, at sbirnholz@fc100.org by March 7.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
February 24
FGCU Faculty Workload Guidelines
Access attachment: FGCU University Workload Guidelines Approved 01.31.2025
Dear Faculty,
FGCU proudly announces the approval of new workload guidelines for faculty. These guidelines are designed to support the university’s mission of fostering student success, regional economic and cultural growth, and sustainability. By promoting equitable workload distribution, FGCU aims to empower faculty as educators, scholars, and community leaders, ensuring they can maximize direct engagement with students while fulfilling teaching, scholarly activities and service requirements. The guidelines can be found in the attached document.
The guidelines emphasize autonomy, academic freedom, and responsibility, aligning with FGCU's commitment to delivering the highest quality educational services. Faculty are expected to be accessible beyond scheduled classes and office hours, in accordance with university policies, the current collective bargaining agreement, and related state regulations.
This transparent and flexible framework will enhance faculty success and advance FGCU’s strategic goals.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
March 4
Passing of Dr. Bill Mitsch
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. William (Bill) Mitsch, Professor Emeritus at Florida Gulf Coast University. Dr. Mitsch joined FGCU in September of 2012. Until his retirement in October 2022, Dr. Mitsch was Eminent Scholar and founding director of the Everglades Wetland Research Park at the Kapnick Center in Naples, and the Juliet C. Sproul Chair for Southwest Florida Habitat Restoration and Management.
Before moving to Florida, he was at The Ohio State University (OSU) for 27 years, including 20 years as director of the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park that he founded, and 15 years as distinguished professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources. He was designated as professor emeritus in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at OSU.
Dr. Mitsch’s research and teaching focused on wetland ecology and biogeochemistry, wetland creation and restoration, ecological engineering and ecosystem restoration, solving harmful algal blooms with nature-based solutions, and ecosystem modeling. Dr. Mitsch authored or co-authored close to 800 research papers, abstracts and other publications including 23 books. This includes the popular textbook “Wetlands” that is now in its 5th edition and has just been translated to Chinese. He founded and was editor-in-chief for 25 years of the international journal Ecological Engineering.
Dr. Mitsch’s obituary may be found at https://www.egan-ryan.com/obituary/William-Mitsch).
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
March 6
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Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
March 10
Attestation of Textbook and Course Materials Must Be Entered In HelioCampus Form
Access attachment: Detailed instructions for navigating HelioCampus
Good afternoon,
To comply with Florida Board of Governors (BOG) Regulation 8.003 - Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability and Transparency, all full-time and part-time faculty and instructors must complete an online form through HelioCampus about required materials used for each course section being taught this semester.
To access the platform, visit https://helio.fgcu.edu and log in with your single sign-on (SSO). The form is due March 31.
As discussed with Faculty Senate, FGCU adopted the use of HelioCampus to electronically capture the information required by the BOG. The HelioCampus system makes it very easy to sign all the necessary attestations without having to email or collect paper documents.
Detailed instructions for navigating HelioCampus are attached to this email. When the form is distributed, all faculty will receive notifications and reminder emails from HelioCampus (heliocampus@fgcu.edu).
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
March 19
Faculty Participants Needed for May Commencement – Sign-Up Deadline: April 23
Dear Colleagues,
I am reaching out to encourage you to participate in the spring commencement ceremony for your college or school. This encouragement stems from exceptionally low faculty attendance that doesn’t accurately depict our appreciation and dedication to our students at recent ceremonies.
How to participate:
Commencement is scheduled May 3-4 at Alico Arena, and the full schedule can be found online at fgcu.edu/commencement. Faculty participants are part of the ceremonies, including marching in the faculty processional in full regalia and sitting alongside degree candidates.
Sign up as a faculty participant by April 23 by filling out this Qualtrics survey!
Why faculty should participate:
Being that commencement allows an opportunity to publicly acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of our students, attending commencement signifies faculty’s role in the students' academic journey, including showing support and congratulations at the end of the educational process. By actively participating in this significant milestone, it also reinforces the importance of the institution's mission and academic values.
No doubt, seeing those who have taught, motivated and mentored them makes commencement meaningful for our graduates. I urge you all to take this opportunity to appreciate your students and all they have achieved. They could not have done it without you!
Need regalia?
FGCU encourages faculty participants to wear regalia from the school they graduated from. Faculty may rent regalia through the FGCU Bookstore if they do not own their set. To have regalia match their college colors, faculty need to place an order by Friday, March 21.
Place a regalia order by emailing Tanya Preisinger at AM8356@BNCollege.com. (Faculty renting regalia from the bookstore will receive FGCU’s 25% employee discount.) After March 21, faculty participating in commencement will be fitted with FGCU regalia colors, as supplies last, through the FGCU Bookstore.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
March 24
Reminder: Enter Attestation of Textbook and Course Materials In HelioCampus by March 31
Access attachments: Attestation Helio Attachment
Attestation of Textbook and Course Materials Must Be Entered in HelioCampus Form Email 1
Good morning,
We greatly appreciate the faculty members who have already completed their attestation form in HelioCampus. If you have not completed your form, this is a reminder to do so no later than March 31. To access the platform, visit https://helio.fgcu.edu and log in with your single sign-on (SSO).
In compliance with Florida Board of Governors (BOG) Regulation 8.003, all full-time and part-time faculty and instructors must complete an online form through HelioCampus about required materials used for each course section being taught this semester.
Detailed instructions for navigating HelioCampus are attached to this email, as is my March 10 message to faculty about this request.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
April 7
Celebrate Students, Faculty and Staff at Eagle X and Celebration of Excellence
Dear FGCU Community,
It’s that time of year when we recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff. Here’s how you can be a part of the celebrations:
Eagle X:
FGCU's largest annual showcase of student excellence in research, internships, leadership and service-learning will be held at Alico Arena from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22. We thank the outstanding faculty and staff that continuously work with our students to help make these projects and presentations possible. We encourage you to attend the event, allow your students to present at the event, and invite your classes to join you in supporting the incredible efforts put forth by our students and faculty. To view the session schedule and for additional information, visit www.fgcu.edu/eaglex/.
Celebration of Excellence:
Celebrate the accomplishments of students, faculty and staff at the Celebration of Excellence. The award ceremony will be held in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 23. We will recognize students of the year from each college and school, Faculty Excellence Award winners, Student Success Champions and many other award categories. We invite our entire campus community, family and friends to attend.
I hope that everyone will take the time celebrate the achievements of our students and colleagues.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
April 11
Access attachment: QEP Skills Advantage Faculty Cohort Fall 25
Apply For The Skills Advantage Faculty Cohort By April 22
Dear Colleagues,
This message is to let you know FGCU is recruiting faculty development cohorts for The Skills Advantage: From Campus to Career, FGCU's new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).
The cohorts are a one-semester deep dive into skills pedagogy, skills-forward teaching and skill badging. Faculty will design and embed two badgeable assignments for their courses.
The fall and spring cohorts are open to full-time faculty teaching undergraduates in any academic unit, and the fall cohort is limited to 12 participants. This is a compensated faculty development activity. The cohort will meet biweekly throughout the fall term. An adjunct cohort opportunity begins in spring 2026.
For more information, view the attached document. Sign up by filling out the faculty cohort interest form by April 22.
Interested but can't join the cohort right now? There are other paths to get involved!
- Canvas Course: This self-paced Canvas course provides all the information you need to create and embed a course assignment that helps students make progress toward the transferable skill badges. To be added to the course, send an email to theskillsadvantage@fgcu.edu.
- BadgeIt! Workshops: Open to full-time or part-time faculty who are modifying an existing assignment to make it badgeable. Stay tuned for fall workshop dates.
For more information about The Skills Advantage, visit https://www.fgcu.edu/theskillsadvantage/ or send an email to theskillsadvantage@fgcu.edu.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
April 17
Passing of Dr. Doug Carothers
Dear Colleagues,
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Doug Carothers. He served as professor of special education at FGCU from 2003 until his retirement in 2023. Dr. Carothers was a visionary leader, dedicated educator and compassionate mentor whose contributions have left an enduring legacy.
As the director of the Soaring Eagle Academy, now known as FGCU R.I.S.E., which he helped establish in 2021, Dr. Carothers provided students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience college life, promoting independence and social engagement. His unwavering commitment to fostering inclusivity,
guidance and mentorship inspired countless individuals. Dr. Carothers will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.
During this time of grief, I encourage you to seek out assistance. The following resources are available to the FGCU community:
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, including mental health counseling, are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (833) 746-8337 or online at www.mylifeexpert.com. Use company code: Florida.
- FGCU’S Community Counseling Center provides services to employees and community members. For more information, call (239) 745-4777 or visit www.fgcu.edu/mariebcollege/counseling/communitycounseling.
If you know of a student who needs assistance, please let them know about the following resources:
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): No appointments necessary. Call (239) 590-7950 or email caps@fgcu.edu
- 24/7 CAPS Crisis Line: (239) 745-EARS (3277)
- Student Care Services: care@fgcu.edu
- Togetherall: https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/student
- UBYou: https://link-to.app/ubyou
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
April 18
Announcing FGCU’s New Quality Standards for Online Education
Dear Colleagues,
I hope this message finds you well and that your semester has been productive and rewarding. In continued partnership with faculty and to support student success in online learning, FGCU has developed a set of Quality Standards for Online Education through our shared governance processes.
A matrix outlining the 23 quality standards and how faculty and others can meet them is available through the webpage for Online Education Quality Assurance. These standards will start to go into effect in the fall 2025 semester, with more set to take effect for the spring 2026 term as systems and processes necessary to support them are developed.
Why This Matters
These standards ensure FGCU’s alignment with national, state and accreditation requirements while creating a consistent foundation for high-quality online education. They aim to foster an engaging, inclusive and effective online learning environment for all FGCU students.
Recognizing Existing Faculty Efforts
We recognize that many faculty have already completed professional development, training or other activities that demonstrate their knowledge or proficiency with one or more of the training standards. In these cases, faculty do not need to complete the same training again. We will identify and acknowledge those who have already met specific requirements to avoid duplication of effort.
Our Commitment to Support
Many faculty already meet or exceed these expectations in their online courses, and your continued commitment is greatly appreciated. To support all faculty, Digital Learning will continue to provide support, including training opportunities, one-on-one consultations, and access to tools that help document and track progress toward meeting the standards.
Feedback can be shared via email at elearning@fgcu.edu. Thank you for your continued efforts to elevate the quality of online education at FGCU.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
April 25
Expanding Faculty’s Canvas Use for Fall 2025
Good morning,
As announced at the end of the fall 2024 semester, it was determined that greater use of the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) would benefit students and faculty as we aim for enhanced student success through a more data-driven approach. I am thrilled to report that nearly all FGCU faculty used Canvas this semester to grade two assignments during the first seven weeks, before the withdrawal date.
As a reminder, we are now expanding these efforts for the fall semester and ask faculty to use their Canvas courses consistently for all course sections by:
- Posting course syllabi and schedules
- Documenting attendance
- Submitting and grading assignments (gradebook)
Why this is important:
This will help FGCU better align our classroom practices with the university’s strategic plan and student success plan. It will also enable us to begin piloting the flow of grade attendance data from Canvas into student success support services through the Wings Up for Student Success platform. This technology allows for more effective student tracking and timely identification of students who may need additional assistance outside the classroom.
Our commitment to support:
Faculty who are already fully using Canvas gradebook do not need to make any changes, as their grades have already flowed into our institutional research student support data tables (Tableau). To support faculty who may not be fully utilizing Canvas tools or would like a refresher, the Digital Learning webpage provides information on the different types of support available to faculty.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our students.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
May 2
Summer Courses Attestation Form of Textbook and Course Materials Due July 1
Access attachment: Attestation Helio Attachment Summer 2025
Good afternoon,
To comply with Florida Board of Governors (BOG) Regulation 8.003, all full-time and part-time faculty and instructors must complete an online form through HelioCampus about required materials used for each course section being taught during the summer term. This must be completed even if you do not require any materials.
To access the platform, visit https://helio.fgcu.edu and log in with your single sign-on (SSO). The form is due July 1.
Detailed instructions for navigating HelioCampus are attached to this email. When the form is distributed, faculty and instructors will receive notifications and reminder emails from HelioCampus (heliocampus@fgcu.edu).
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
June 20
What FGCU’s First Day Ready Program Means for Faculty
Good morning,
I hope this message finds you well. I am thrilled to share an exciting development that will significantly enhance our students’ academic experience – FGCU’s implementation of the First Day Ready program.
This initiative is designed to ensure that our students have access to all required course materials from the very first day of class. Through this program, students will receive their materials – print or digital – based on the format selected during the course material adoption process. Through this opt-out program, students will receive all course materials at a fixed rate of $20 per credit hour, which will be billed to students’ university accounts.
Here’s what’s important for you to know:
- No changes are required in how faculty currently select and adopt course materials.
- Accurate and complete course material adoption information is critical. Doing so will help minimize or eliminate discrepancies and delays in students receiving their required materials.
- Students are automatically enrolled in the program with their undergraduate course registration, but they will have the option to opt out if the program does not meet their needs.
- Print materials will be available for pickup at the bookstore or delivered to the student, based on the student’s selection. Digital materials will be seamlessly accessible through Canvas, aligned with students’ course registrations.
- The program operates as a rental model, meaning students will use the materials for the duration of the term and will have the option to purchase them at the end of the semester if they choose.
We are excited about the positive impact this program will have on students, especially when it comes to affordability, access and academic readiness. To make this program a success, your continued attention to verifying course material adoptions is essential.
For more details about the program, including a list of frequently asked questions, visit: fgcu.edu/firstdayready.
Thank you for your commitment to our students and for helping us launch this initiative with excellence.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
June 30
University Library Closure July 7
Dear Faculty and Staff,
The Wilson G. Bradshaw Library will be closed Monday, July 7, due to a scheduled power outage in order to connect Modular 4’s power to the existing transformer. This is part of the ongoing work related to the construction of Academic Building 10.
Please keep in mind that the university observes the Independence Day holiday (July 4). As result, the library will close at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 3, and reopen at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 8.
Here’s what you need to know for July 7:
University Library
- Librarians and staff will be available for assistance via the online “ASK US” chat feature on the library website, email and phone calls through Microsoft Teams.
Help Desk
- Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- The Help Desk will relocate to Ben Hill Griffin Hall, Computer Lab 262.
- Phones and emails will continue to be answered, walk-ins will be taken, and in-person classroom and office support will be provided.
- Devices will not be taken in for service or distributed from this location.
Center for Academic Achievement (CAA)
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- All CAA services will be conducted in Academic Building 9, Room 138.
Lucas Center:
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Lucas Center staff will be available for assistance via email and Teams. Please send an email to Lucascenter@fgcu.edu.
Normal library hours of operations and services will resume Tuesday, July 8. For hours, visit https://library.fgcu.edu/calendar.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
June 30
University Library Closure July 7
Dear Students,
The Wilson G. Bradshaw Library will be closed Monday, July 7, due to a scheduled power outage in order to connect Modular 4’s power to the existing transformer. This is part of the ongoing work related to the construction of Academic Building 10.
Please keep in mind that the university observes the Independence Day holiday (July 4). As a result, the library will close at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 3, and reopen at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 8.
Here’s what you need to know for July 7:
University Library Services
- Librarians and staff will be available for assistance through the online “ASK US” chat feature available on the website: https://library.fgcu.edu. Library employees will also be available to respond to emails and phone calls through Microsoft Teams.
Help Desk
- Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- The Help Desk will relocate to Ben Hill Griffin Hall, Computer Lab 262.
- Phones and emails will continue to be answered, walk-ins will be taken and in-person classroom and office support will be provided.
- Booking for service appointments will continue.
- Devices will not be taken in for service or distributed from this location.
Center for Academic Achievement (CAA)
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- All CAA services, including peer academic coaching, the writing lab and peer tutoring, will be conducted in Academic Building 9, Room 138.
- Virtual appointments will continue as scheduled.
- Supplemental Instruction (SI) will continue as scheduled. SI Leaders will communicate with students via Canvas regarding classroom locations.
Lucas Center
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Lucas Center staff will be available for assistance via email and Teams. Please send an email to Lucascenter@fgcu.edu.
Normal library hours of operations and services will resume Tuesday, July 8. For hours, visit https://library.fgcu.edu/calendar.
Tony Barringer, Ed.D. | Interim Provost
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