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A University Built for Southwest Florida

Before there was a campus, there was a community vision. Ä¢¹½TV is a public regional university in Fort Myers serving nearly 17,000 students through more than 100 undergraduate and master's degree programs. Built in response to Southwest Florida's call for a comprehensive university of its own, Ä¢¹½TV opened its doors in 1997 and continues to drive educational opportunity, workforce development and community impact. Students learn on an 800-acre campus where half of the land is preserved or restored natural habitat, reflecting Ä¢¹½TV's longstanding commitment to sustainability.

At a Glance

  • REPUTATION | Recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as #3 Best Value In-State, #9 Best Colleges for Veterans and #10 Top Public Schools among Regional Universities (South)
  • ACADEMICS | Six renowned colleges offering 100+ degree programs across the arts, business, education, engineering, health and human services and honors
  • ATHLETICS | NCAA Division I athletics with 15 varsity teams competing in the ASUN Conference
  • STUDENT LIFE | 160-plus student organizations, 26 fraternities and sororities and 30+ sports clubs
  • COMMUNITY IMPACT | Built to serve Southwest Florida through education, research, workforce development, community partnerships and a commitment to service-learning

Campus

Group of Ä¢¹½TV Students

Our Mission

Ä¢¹½TV (Ä¢¹½TV) is a transformative, learner-centered institution dedicated to student success that strategically serves Southwest Florida and beyond.

Ä¢¹½TV, as a regional comprehensive institution, provides academic, economic, and cultural enrichment for our community through impactful partnerships and excellent teaching, learning, scholarship, and public service. We create pathways for our students to thrive as engaged, responsible, global citizens. Through undergraduate and graduate programs, Ä¢¹½TV students receive a distinctive education with experiential learning, community service, and participation in a living laboratory of sustainability practices.

Our Vision

Ä¢¹½TV (Ä¢¹½TV) aspires for national prominence and global recognition as a community-focused, comprehensive institution driving positive change and shaping the future of higher education.

Our graduates will be exemplars in an ever-changing world, known for their individual successes, dedication to sustainability, ethical leadership, and transformative global impact.

Learn about our Strategic Plan

Florida’s Answer: The National Higher Education Call to Action

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Our Institutional Values

These three core values embody the spirit, culture, principles and behaviors we strive to embrace as faculty and staff at Ä¢¹½TV. They represent not just who we are but who we aspire to become, and they stand in harmony with our foundational principles, mission, vision, code of conduct and commitment to free expression.

Learn about our Institutional Values

Accreditation

Ä¢¹½TV is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and 18 other professional accrediting agencies.

Ä¢¹½TV History and Leadership

Founded in 1991 as the 10th state university in Florida, Ä¢¹½TV was built on a site in Fort Myers donated by Ben Hill Griffin III and Alico, Inc. Classes began in 1997 under President Roy E. McTarnaghan, Ph.D., and four presidents have since led the university.

Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., became the university’s fifth president in 2023 following a unanimous endorsement from the Ä¢¹½TV Board of Trustees. An economist with more than 24 years of higher education experience, she earned a doctorate from the University of South Florida and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Istanbul.

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Ä¢¹½TV Athletics

Home to , Ä¢¹½TV Athletics competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Eagles combine athletic achievement with academic success, as student-athletes consistently maintain GPAs above the university average.

Among many athletic achievements, Ä¢¹½TV captured national attention during the men's basketball team’s historic “Dunk Cityâ€� run to the Sweet 16 in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, while the women's program has also made a name for itself, holding the NCAA single-season record for 3-pointers made.

FAQs

  • Is Ä¢¹½TV a public or private university?  

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  • Where is Ä¢¹½TV located?

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  • What makes Ä¢¹½TV different from other Florida universities?

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  • Why is sustainability so important at Ä¢¹½TV?

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  • How does Ä¢¹½TV contribute to Southwest Florida?

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