Faculty Senate

December 4, 2025

Dear Faculty,   On behalf of the Faculty Senate Appointments Team, I would like to highlight the following service opportunity for faculty involvement across campus.   The FGCU Employee Housing Implementation Committee is looking for a faculty representative. The ideal candidate would be a faculty member who has recently relocated to Southwest Florida in the last year or two. Role: Guide implementation of the new employee housing project (Eagle View Village) by giving feedback regarding initial plans. This committee will review and recommend a management firm through FGCU’s procurement process, provide input on an internal marketing plan and initial rental policies, and address other issues as they arise. Time Commitment: Time requirements will vary depending on the issues needing review. It is anticipated that the first few months of 2026 will be when most decisions will be made. This will likely involve two or three meetings per month for two or three months, followed by a more sporadic schedule. If you are interested or would like to nominate a colleague for this position, email Appointments Team Chair Dan Vo at dvo@fgcu.edu by December 12. In your nomination, please include a short paragraph describing your interest in the role and the qualifications you bring to the committee.   Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026

September 24, 2025

Dear Faculty,

On behalf of the Faculty Senate Appointments Team, I would like to highlight the following service opportunities for faculty involvement across campus.

1. Taskforce on Regional Sustainability and Resiliency: Two-year term position that begins fall 2025 and concludes fall 2027. The taskforce will meet monthly with possible field trips to sites, including Babcock Ranch.
   • This taskforce is an advisory group that will work on expanding program offerings on sustainability and community resilience in Southwest Florida, elevating FGCU faculty as worldwide experts in the field and establishing an interdisciplinary research institute as a global hub.
   • This taskforce will work with regional partners to meet FGCU’s strategic goal to devise strategies and implement actions that enhance community resilience.
   • The faculty representative will share ideas on how FGCU and regional partners can advance scholarship and practices related to sustainability and resilience.
2. University Sustainability and Resiliency Council: Two-year term position that begins fall 2025 and concludes fall 2027. The group will meet monthly.
   • This council will serve as an advisory group that will promote, implement and advance sustainability and resiliency practices on FGCU’s main campus and properties.
   • This group will focus on ways to continue engaging in and modeling these practices as employees and students, and how to elevate and make FGCU’s commitment to its founding principle of instilling an environmental consciousness among university stakeholders more visible.
   • The faculty representative will share ideas on how we can improve facilities and practices for sustainability and resilience.

If you are interested or would like to nominate your colleagues for these positions, email Appointments Team Chair Dan Vo at dvo@fgcu.edu by October 1.

Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026

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September 12, 2025

1. September – October Review Cycle: Closes October 31 with decisions announced no later than November 25
2. November – December Review Cycle: Closes December 31 with decisions announced in January
3. February – March Review Cycle: Closes March 31 with decisions announced in April

August 8, 2025

1. Internal Communication Committee (ICC): One-year term position, with one opening available and the possibility of extension. This position begins fall 2025 and concludes summer 2026, unless the faculty member wishes to remain involved. A retreat is planned for August 8, and the next meeting of the committee is August 22.
• The ICC plans community conversations (topic-based panels, forums, listening sessions, town halls, etc.) as well as reviews and makes recommendations on university communications efforts, such as the MyFGCU app. The committee contributes innovative ideas to enhance current communication efforts and propose new strategies to address gaps and reduce communication silos.
• The committee meets once a month as a group, with subcommittees meeting more frequently. However, it tends to slow down during the summer months.
  
  

2. University Parking Citations Appeals Board: Two-year term position with one opening available.
• The board meets four times per semester to review parking citation appeals. This position starts fall 2025 and concludes summer 2027. The first meeting is scheduled for August 29. 

Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026

July 11, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

• New Pathway for Instructors to Transition into Ranked Faculty Positions:
  Instructors may now request a change in appointment to a ranked faculty position through a defined process that includes submission of a dossier for review by a faculty panel, chair/supervisor and academic leadership.
  
  
• Petition Process for Early Promotion Eligibility:
  Faculty members are now eligible to petition their Peer Review Committee for early promotion consideration after three full years in rank or level, with adequate evidence, per the new process. A successful petition permits early submission of a promotion portfolio; however, it does not guarantee successful promotion.
  
  
• Expanded Letter of Promotion Denial:
  In alignment with the CBA and our commitment to clarity in faculty advancement, any letter of denial for promotion must now include a descriptive, evidence-based explanation. This justification must directly reference the promotion criteria and offer actionable recommendations to guide future applications.

March 26, 2025

Dear Faculty,

The deadline to submit applications for the Faculty Senate Professional Development Fund Grants (PDFG) for this academic year is 11:59 p.m. March 31. Decisions from this review cycle (February-March) will be announced no later than April 18.

Click here to view the online application. Additional information about the PDFG process is attached to this email. The PDF includes a list of committee members that you can contact for more information. 

The next opportunity to apply for PDFG funds will be the 2025-26 academic year. Applications open in September and decisions will be announced November 2025.

Lyndsay Rhodes - Faculty Senate President 2024-2025

February 7, 2025

Faculty,

The Provost Candidate on-campus schedules have been set. In addition to the open forums, Faculty are invited to join Senate Leadership meetings scheduled with each candidate. Schedules for these events are below. Additionally, candidate CVs are linked on the www.fgcu.edu/provostsearch website. 

 Public forums and interviews for finalists in Florida Gulf Coast University’s search to fill the role of executive vice president and provost are scheduled Feb. 12-18.

 Wednesday, Feb. 12: Daniel O'Sullivan, Ph.D.

• Search Committee Meeting - Interview: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 138
• Faculty Senate Meeting: 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 222
• Public Forum: 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 106, and via Teams. 

 Thursday, Feb. 13: Tony Barringer, Ed.D.

• PublicForum: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 106, and via Teams. 
• Search Committee Meeting – Interview: 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 138
• Faculty Senate Meeting: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 222

 Friday, Feb. 14: Debbie Thorne, Ph.D.

• Faculty Senate Meeting: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 222
• Search Committee Meeting – Interview: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 138
• Public Forum: 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 106, and via Teams. 

 Monday, Feb. 17: Corrie Fountain, Ph.D.

• Public Forum: 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 106, and via Teams. 
• Faculty Senate Meeting: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 222
• Search Committee Meeting – Interview: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 138

 Tuesday, Feb. 18: Lorenzo Smith, Ph.D.

• Search Committee Meeting – Interview: 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Academic Building 9, Room 138
• Public Forum: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 106, and via Teams. 
• Faculty Senate Meeting: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 222 

 Visit fgcu.edu/provostsearch for more information.

Lyndsay Rhodes - Faculty Senate President 2024-2025