Faculty Governance
Faculty governance at 蘑菇TV safeguards academic quality, promotes effective and open communication, insists upon academic integrity, emphasizes rights and shared responsibilities of students, staff, community, faculty, and administration, and sustains a dynamic learning environment.
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Mission Statement
Toggle More InfoThe purpose of faculty governance at 蘑菇TV is to safeguard academic quality, promote effective and open communication, insist upon academic integrity, emphasize rights and shared responsibilities of students, staff, community, faculty, and administration, and sustain a dynamic learning environment. This mission is accomplished through a system of collegial faculty self-governance ensuring that the rights of faculty are supported and faculty responsibilities in fulfilling the mission of the university are properly executed.
Next Meeting:
Friday, September 11, 2026 9:30AM - 11:45AM
2026-27 Senate Meeting Schedule
Questions?
Standing Teams
Faculty Senate oversees 13 standing teams that perform important work reviewing and advising numerous areas of the university.
Faculty Awards
蘑菇TV Faculty are eligible for awards in teaching, service, scholarship, mentoring, advising, and department leadership.
Resources
Explore the past work of the Faculty Senate and find important documents regarding the faculty experience.
Faculty Senate Officers
Communications From Faculty Senate
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2026
Toggle More InfoSeptember 3, 2026
Apply for Student Success Council Action Teams by September 11
Dear Fellow Faculty,
The Faculty Senate Appointments Team would like to share the following service opportunities with you. 蘑菇TV is looking for five faculty members to serve on the Student Success Council Action Teams (one faculty member in each action team).
1. The Retention & Graduation Action Team (also known as Eagle Persistence and Completion), led by Christina Kreiger, director of Retention & Engagement, advances institutional efforts to improve student retention and graduation. The team identifies barriers to student persistence; monitors progress toward key student success and performance-based funding metrics and implements cross-divisional strategies and recommendations to improve student outcomes.
2. The Access & Affordability Action Team, led by Jorge Lopez, associate vice president for Strategic Enrollment & Student Success, prioritizes resources to ensure 蘑菇TV鈥檚 high-quality education is affordable and accessible. It will promote initiatives to maximize financial assistance and develop accountability measures that monitor progress toward institutional goals related to access, affordability and student success.
3. The Programs of Strategic Emphasis Action Team, led by Dr. Dawn Kirby, associate provost for Academic Programs and Curriculum Development, focuses on 蘑菇TV鈥檚 commitment to academic excellence and student success in academic programs, including a review of how 蘑菇TV sustains mission-driven curriculum and performance outcomes. Faculty who are experienced with program review and/or curriculum will be well-suited to this team鈥檚 goals.
4. The Transfer Student Action Team, led by Dr. Charles 鈥淏illy鈥� Gunnels, associate provost for Academic Excellence & Innovation, will work to strengthen 蘑菇TV鈥檚 support for transfer students across three stages: before 蘑菇TV, transition to 蘑菇TV and success at 蘑菇TV. The initial work will focus on clarifying responsibilities across the transfer student lifecycle, exploring program-specific transfer admission and readiness requirements, and improving academic and co-curricular support for transfer students within high-enrollment majors.
5. The Internships and Career Engagement Action Team, led by Jessica Rhea, senior director of Experiential Learn & Career Development, develops special projects that ensure our students have professional development opportunities (including internship courses) and career readiness resources integrated into their educational experiences to help them be successfully employed or continuing their education after graduation.
If you are interested or would like to nominate a colleague for one of these service opportunities, email Appointments Team Chair Dan Vo at dvo@fgcu.edu by 5 p.m. September 11. In your nomination email, include the name of the Action Team you鈥檙e making the nomination for and a brief statement that explains your interest and qualification for the role.
Thank you all for your service and dedication,
Derek Lura
Faculty Senate President 2025-2027
August 10, 2026
Moving to a 15-Week Academic Calendar in Fall 2026
Dear Fellow Faculty,Happy end of summer and start of the fall semester. As you鈥檙e working on plans for your fall 2026 courses, I would like to remind you that we are transitioning from a 16-week to a 15-week calendar.What's Changing:
- Previous Calendar: Week 15 was the last week of class, with week 16 set as a finals week that is not counted as instructional time (no classes, finals only or free time if your course has no final exam).
- New Calendar: Week 15 is finals week, and this week is counted as instructional time. All courses will have a final exam period, and classes should meet during their assigned period. You may use this time for a regular class, special activity or an exam.
Key Points:
- All courses (beginning fall 2026) will have an assigned final exam period and must use that time for academic purposes.
- You are not required to administer a traditional final exam if you use alternative assessments (papers, projects, etc.), but the class must meet during the assigned period.
- You should use the same modality for the exam timeslot as you use for your other classes (in-person classes should meet in-person).
- Check your scheduled exam time. Exam periods are assigned using a preexisting crosswalk
based on course meeting patterns, the same way they are assigned for the current final
exam week.
- Asynchronous online courses will not be assigned a final exam period but should remain active during exam week.
- Courses that meet primarily online with a few required face-to-face sessions will be reviewed individually (i.e. courses that meet primarily online with two to three required in-person meetings).
Background on This Decision:
When designing an academic calendar, our Institutional Affairs Team must balance multiple factors, including graduation and housing timelines, final exam scheduling, accelerated program lengths, contact hours and Human Resources requirements.
Over several years, we collected faculty feedback, and two themes emerged consistently: semester length and the structure of exam week. In response to this feedback and with Faculty Senate approval, we were tasked to develop the new calendar. This change also better aligns our institution with others in the State University System of Florida (SUS).
Important Fall 2026 Dates (Full Term):
- Monday, August 17: Fall 2026 Classes Begin
- Monday, September 7: Labor Day (no classes)
- Tuesday, October 27: Study Day (no classes)
- Wednesday, November 11: Veteran鈥檚 Day (no classes)
- Wednesday, November 25, to Saturday, November 28: Thanksgiving Day Observed (no classes)
- Monday, November 30: Finals Begin
- Friday, December 4: Finals End
If you have questions or concerns about how to best utilize your class time during the exam week, we suggest you discuss your plans with your supervisor and peers. We understand that this change may require adjustments to your course planning, and Faculty Senate is here to support you through this transition. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you all for your service and dedication,
Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2027
June 3, 2026
Faculty Parking Concerns and Suggestions
Hello Fellow Faculty,
We recently had a very productive meeting with James Welch, assistant director of Parking Services, and Patrick Gallagher, coordinator for Parking Services, and we want to share the information we learned with you. We hope this will alleviate some concerns and pose some potential solutions. We realize that these are not going to fix all our problems, but every piece helps. Parking Services is working to increase signage across campus to make it clear where visitors, students and faculty can park to reduce the number of violations and make it easier for visitors to register their vehicles.
Shared Reserve Parking and Faculty Carpools
Faculty who would like to participate in carpools are encouraged to do so. If a group of faculty have agreed to share a reserved parking spot, that spot can be used by any of the carpool members, so long as all member鈥檚 vehicles have an active Faculty/Staff parking permit (visitor parking in reserved spaces is not allowed without notification, see below).
Adjunct Faculty & Shared Reserved Parking
If you have adjunct faculty in your college or department who are teaching after hours, please consider communicating with them to see if there is a faculty or staff member in your college or department that is willing to share their reserved parking spot. This can help to give adjunct faculty a reliable and convenient place to park and to help ensure they aren鈥檛 parked in other people鈥檚 spots. It鈥檚 also worth noting that other personnel services (OPS) employees, adjunct faculty and vendors pay an annual permit fee of $30.
VIP and Visitor Parking
Visitors need to register their vehicles but can park in college and reserved locations with the permission of the spot owner and notification to Parking Services. If you would like to share a reserved parking spot with a visitor, please work with your department or college administrative specialist to see if there are college spots available or to ensure Parking Services is notified if someone else will be parking in your reserved spot.
Back-In Parking
If you prefer to back into your parking space, you must have a front license plate. The plate reader system helps to increase operational efficiency and decreases operational costs. To obtain a front license plate, visit the main desk for Parking Services in McTarnaghan Hall, Room 120B. They have the plates available and will walk you through the in-person process.
If you have additional suggestions or concerns that you鈥檇 like us to follow-up on, contact me via email (dlura@fgcu.edu) or our 蘑菇TV Faculty Senate Microsoft Teams page.
Thank you,
Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026
May 13, 2026
Faculty: Apply for the Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability Council by May 20
Hello Fellow Faculty,On behalf of the Faculty Senate Appointments Team, I would like to highlight the following service opportunity for faculty involvement across campus. We are looking for one in-unit faculty from the University Library, one from the Honors College, and two in-unit faculty members for the remaining colleges/schools to serve on the Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability Council (IEAC).Responsibilities and DutiesThe council is an advisory group to university leadership on institution-wide planning, evaluation and continuous improvement. The council promotes academic excellence and student success through alignment of goals, outcomes and strategic initiatives. It coordinates cross-divisional efforts and ensures priorities reflect 蘑菇TV鈥檚 mission and strategic direction. Members serve as conduits of information sharing on accreditation, assessment and resource allocation, ensuring initiatives are cascaded across divisions. The council utilizes a broad-based approach to quality assurance that supports its mission and serves as a framework for planning with emphasis on 鈥渕acro鈥� aspects of university-wide planning and evaluation.Expectations:- Attend and participate in IEAC meetings.
- Communicate to the committee on initiatives or projects from their respective unit/areas.
- Support the dissemination of the information shared at IEAC meetings to colleagues in their represented units/areas.
Meetings and Attendance:- Meetings will occur monthly during fall and spring semesters.
- Members who are unable to attend should send an alternative representative if possible.
Meetings Schedule:- 2026-27 Academic Year: August 12, October 7, November 4, December 2, February 10, March 10 and April 7. All meetings take place from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
To view the council鈥檚 membership roster, visit the .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 May 20. In your nomination, please include a short paragraph describing your interest in the role and the qualifications you bring to the council.Thank you all for your service and dedication,Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026-May 11, 2026Moving to a 15-Week Academic Calendar in Fall 2026Hello Fellow Faculty,
As you鈥檙e working on plans for your fall 2026 courses, I would like to remind you that we are transitioning from a 16-week to a 15-week calendar.
What's Changing:
- Previous Calendar: Week 15 was the last week of class, with week 16 set as a finals week that is not counted as instructional time (no classes, finals only or free time if your course has no final exam).
- New Calendar: Week 15 is finals week, and this week is counted as instructional time. All courses will have a final exam period, and classes should meet during their assigned period. You may use this time for a regular class, special activity or an exam.
Key Points:
- All courses (beginning fall 2026) will have an assigned final exam period and must use that time for academic purposes.
- You are not required to administer a traditional final exam if you use alternative assessments (papers, projects, etc.), but the class must meet during the assigned period.
- Check your scheduled exam time. Exam periods are assigned using a preexisting crosswalk based on course meeting
patterns, the same way they are assigned for the current final exam week.
- Asynchronous online courses will not be assigned a final exam period.
- Courses that meet primarily online with a few required face-to-face sessions will be reviewed individually (i.e. courses that meet primarily online with two to three required in-person meetings).
Background on This Decision:
When designing an academic calendar, our Institutional Affairs Team must balance multiple factors, including graduation and housing timelines, final exam scheduling, accelerated program lengths, contact hours and Human Resources requirements.
Over several years, we collected faculty feedback, and two themes emerged consistently: semester length and the structure of exam week. In response to this feedback and with Faculty Senate approval, we were tasked to develop the new calendar. This change also aligns our institution with others in the State University System of Florida (SUS).
Important Fall 2026 Dates (Full Term):
- Monday, August 17: Fall 2026 Classes Begin
- Monday, September 7: Labor Day (no classes)
- Tuesday, October 27: Study Day (no classes)
- Wednesday, November 11: Veteran鈥檚 Day (no classes)
- Wednesday, November 25, to Saturday, November 28: Thanksgiving Day Observed (no classes)
- Monday, November 30: Finals Begin
- Friday, December 4: Finals End
If you have questions or concerns about how to best utilize your class time during the exam week, we suggest you discuss your plans with your supervisor and peers. We understand that this change may require adjustments to your course planning, and Faculty Senate is here to support you through this transition. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you all for your service and dedication,
Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026
April 30, 2026
Save The Date: May 13 Academic Advising Taskforce Report & Strategic Enrollment Plan Presentations
Hello Fellow Faculty,
Please see the attached report from the Academic Advising Taskforce, which includes recommendations for changes to the structure and practice of advising, by all members of the 蘑菇TV community, but of greatest interest to our Academic Advisors.
To help with disseminating the taskforce recommendations and move collectively toward implementation, Dr. Charles (Billy) Gunnels, Dr. Paul Dosal and I would like to invite feedback from the faculty. To this effect, we will be hosting a meeting to present these results and the Strategic Enrollment Plan from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, in Cohen Student Union, Room 201. A virtual option will also be provided. For your convenience, a calendar file is included as an attachment to this email with the event details (and virtual link).
The purpose of this meeting is to give faculty the opportunity to learn about and discuss the draft Strategic Enrollment Plan and the Academic Advising Task Force recommendations before final recommendations are implemented for the fall semester. This meeting will provide a space for faculty to learn about the drafts, ask questions and participate in the conversation.
If you are unable to attend, but would like to share your feedback, suggestions, questions or concerns, email me at dlura@fgcu.edu.
Thank you all for your service and dedication,
Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026-April 23, 2026Course Learning Outcomes for Summer and Fall 2026 ClassesHello Fellow Faculty,I know many of you are already working on this in your units, but if you haven鈥檛 yet, please review your Course Learning Outcomes in Simple Syllabus for your summer and fall 2026 classes.If they are missing or need to be updated, and you鈥檝e not already submitted changes to your unit鈥檚 curriculum team, please follow your unit鈥檚 curriculum approval process to make updates needed in our Curriculum Management System (CMS). Then, please send a list of approved CMS forms to Academic & Curriculum Support prior to the end of the day on Friday, May 1.I will then work with the Faculty Senate curriculum teams to review the changes and approve them in the week of May 4. After that review, the updated Course Learning Outcomes will be sent to Tallahassee for review and update into Florida鈥檚 Statewide Course Numbering System. After the state has approved the Course Learning Outcomes, Merri Incitti, director of Assessment & Accreditation, will update the database for Simple Syllabus.The reason we鈥檙e using this process is to ensure that our syllabi match the state database and are compliant with state regulations, while preserving the integrity of our curriculum approval process and the work these teams do. For the summer terms, this entire process needs to be completed prior to the first day of classes. Immediate action is required for summer and fall 2026 courses, which need to be updated by this deadline.If you cannot complete the review of all courses in your unit, please prioritize summer term classes. If needed, Faculty Senate teams may conduct an additional review in the week of June 8 to ensure 蘑菇TV can report fall 2026 Course Learning Outcomes to the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) on time.I know this is a busy time of year and I apologize for putting more pressure on you all. I hope your final week of classes is going well.For questions on Course Learning Outcomes revisions and process, contact Dr. Lucero Carvajal at lcarvajal@fgcu.edu.For questions on Simple Syllabus, review the resources available at or contact Merri Incitti at mincitti@fgcu.edu. Additional resources for are also available.For other questions or concerns, feel free to email me at dlura@fgcu.edu.Thank you all for your service and dedication,Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026-April 21, 2026Faculty: Apply for Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Search Panel by April 28Dear Faculty,
On behalf of the Faculty Senate Appointments Team, I would like to highlight the following service opportunity for faculty involvement across campus.
We are looking for an in-unit faculty member to serve on the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Search Panel.
- Role: Panel members will be responsible for finalizing the search materials, reviewing candidates and making recommendations for hiring of 蘑菇TV鈥檚 next director of intercollegiate athletics. Members should have knowledge of intercollegiate athletics and the role of athletics in university culture and student achievement.
- Time Commitment: Service will begin as soon as possible, and will likely conclude with the hire of the new director, with a goal of completing the process prior to the start of the fall 2026 term. We expect that the opportunity will require a combination of virtual and in-person meetings.
- 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 April 28.In your nomination, please include a short paragraph describing your interest in the role and the qualifications you bring to the panel.
Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026
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April 3, 2026
Faculty: Apply for the 蘑菇TV AI Council by April 10
Dear Colleagues,
The Faculty Senate Appointments Team would like to share the following service opportunity with you.
蘑菇TV is looking for five to seven in-unit faculty to participate in the 蘑菇TV Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council. The council will be chaired by Dr. Huzefa Kagdi, dean of the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering, and co-chaired by John Dove, senior associate vice president of Administrative Services & Finance.
The purpose of the council is to foster an AI-enabled institution, as aligned with 蘑菇TV鈥檚 strategic plan, to strengthen both human and infrastructure capabilities to drive positive change and shape the future of higher education. The council will include champions from across the university to establish a pathway for elevated use of AI in teaching, learning, training, research, service and all operations.
Role:
- Make recommendations to the President鈥檚 Cabinet on how to integrate relevant infrastructure, hardware, software, professional development, partnerships and initiatives into a coherent and dynamic eco-system.
- Serve as a resource to 蘑菇TV university-level policy, governance, ethics, risk management, operational enhancement, possibility of academic programs and resource options that are developed in response to innovations in the global use of AI.
The AI Council should empower individuals, units and teams to advance meaningful AI integration. It should promote existing synergies and identify new opportunities for collaborative impact and continuously improve efforts to become an AI enabled university for its students, faculty, staff, alumni and community at large.
Interested in-unit faculty or those who wish to nominate a colleague for this service opportunity should send nominations to Appointments Team Chair Dan Vo at dvo@fgcu.edu by 5 p.m. April 10. In your nomination email, please include a brief statement that explains your interest and qualification for the role.
Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026March 16, 2026
Application for Faculty Senate Professional Development Fund Grants Closes March 31
Dear Faculty,Applications for the Faculty Senate are now open. The PDFG supports faculty development and institutional excellence by offering grants of up to $2,000 per person per academic year for reimbursable expenses.The final application deadline for the 2025-26 academic year is March 31. Decisions will be announced no later than April 22, 2026.Grant guidelines, scoring rubric, frequently asked questions, the application and committee roster are available on theIf you have questions, email pdfg@fgcu.edu.Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026February 17, 2026
Survey: Faculty Input Needed on Senate Representation and Eligibility
Dear 蘑菇TV Faculty,Faculty Senate is considering revisions to our processes to allow for representation of adjunct faculty within the 蘑菇TV Faculty Senate, and we are also considering changes to the formula for the number of representatives per academic unit. I want to stress that no specific language has been presented for approval by Faculty Senate to date, as we are still in the process of collecting feedback and opinions from all faculty.To assist us with this effort, I encourage you to complete this short, four-question survey: . This information will help inform our discussions moving forward.Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026-February 3, 2026Faculty: Apply for 蘑菇TV鈥檚 30th Anniversary Campus Committee by February 10Dear Faculty,The Faculty Senate Appointments Team would like to highlight the following service opportunity for faculty involvement across campus.The 蘑菇TV 30th Anniversary Campus Committee is looking for up to three faculty representatives. The committee will be guided by a steering committee, headed by Vice President of Advancement Kitty Green.-
Role: Committee members will contribute ideas for the anniversary celebration, ensure that final plans adequately reflect and support their respective divisions/areas and the university, and assist with implementing the plan where practical.
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Time Commitment: Service begins February 2026 and continues through the conclusion of the main celebration event, which is anticipated for spring 2028. Most meetings will be held virtually, with the possibility of having a couple per month.
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 February 10. 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 2025-2026January 30, 2026
No Credit Academic Policy and 2028-29 Calendars Approved by Faculty Senate
Dear Faculty,On January 23, Faculty Senate voted 18-12, with three abstaining, to adopt the No Credit Academic Policy. The Student Affairs Team thoroughly reviewed the policy and included recommendations to support the program's implementation and success. A copy of the policy and the Student Affairs Team鈥檚 recommendations are attached. The policy will now go to the Provost for final review and approval.
Additionally, Faculty Senate voted to approve the Institutional Affairs Team draft calendars for fall 2028 (version 2), spring 2029 (version 1) and summer 2029 (version 1), which are attached to this email. The next step is to present the proposed calendar to the President鈥檚 Cabinet for final approval.Attachments: No Credit Policy, Student Affairs Team Feedback to No Credit Policy, AY 28-29 Calendar Approved by SenateDerek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026 -
2025
Toggle More InfoDecember 4, 2025
Faculty: Apply for 蘑菇TV Employee Housing Implementation Committee by December 12
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 蘑菇TV 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 蘑菇TV鈥檚 procurement process, provide input on an internal marketing plan and initial rental policies, and address other issues as they arise.
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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 2025-2026September 24, 2025
Faculty: Apply for 蘑菇TV Employee Housing Implementation Committee by December 12
Dear Faculty,
On behalf of the Faculty Senate Appointments Team, I would like to highlight the following service opportunities for faculty involvement across campus.
- 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 蘑菇TV 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 蘑菇TV鈥檚 strategic goal to devise strategies and implement actions that enhance community resilience.
- The faculty representative will share ideas on how 蘑菇TV and regional partners can advance scholarship and practices related to sustainability and resilience.
- 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 蘑菇TV鈥檚 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 蘑菇TV鈥檚 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
Now Open: Applications for Faculty Senate Professional Development Fund Grants
Dear Faculty,Applications for the Faculty Senate Professional Development Fund Grants (PDFG) are now open. The PDFG supports faculty development and institutional excellence by offering grants of up to $2,000 per person per academic year for reimbursable expenses.Grant guidelines, scoring rubric, frequently asked questions, the application, and committee roster are available on the PDFG website. As you plan your professional development activities and seek funding, there are three review periods and three decision dates you should be aware of:- September 鈥� October Review Cycle: Closes October 31 with decisions announced no later than November 25
- November 鈥� December Review Cycle: Closes December 31 with decisions announced in January
- February 鈥� March Review Cycle: Closes March 31 with decisions announced in April
If you have questions, email pdfg@fgcu.edu.Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026August 8, 2025
Dear Colleagues,Welcome back! I hope you had a relaxing and restful summer.On behalf of the Faculty Senate Appointments Team, I would like to highlight the following service opportunities for faculty involvement across campus:-
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.
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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 My蘑菇TV app. The committee contributes innovative ideas to enhance current communication efforts and propose new strategies to address gaps and reduce communication silos.
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The committee meets once a month as a group, with subcommittees meeting more frequently. However, it tends to slow down during the summer months.
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University Parking Citations Appeals Board: Two-year term position with one opening available.
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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.
If you are interested or would like to nominate your colleagues for either or both positions, email Appointments Team Chair Dan Vo at dvo@fgcu.edu by August 15.Derek Lura - Faculty Senate President 2025-2026
July 11, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
In coordination with Dr. Tony Barringer, senior associate vice president for Academic Affairs and Faculty Affairs, I am writing to share important updates to the Faculty Promotion Evaluation Document (FPED), approved by Faculty Senate and Academic Affairs for implementation beginning August 7.As outlined in the Faculty Senate Bylaws and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Faculty Affairs Team for Faculty Senate led the drafting of revisions to the FPED. The revised document was subsequently approved by the Faculty Senate and Academic Affairs in alignment with 蘑菇TV鈥檚 commitment to transparency, faculty development and continuous improvement. It reflects thoughtful, collaborative work to ensure the document remains aligned with institutional goals and our 2024-27 CBA.We encourage all faculty to review the updated document in full, but we wish to highlight several substantial changes that respond to new and evolving faculty needs:- 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.
These revisions underscore our joint commitment to consistency, equity and transparency in faculty evaluation, promotion and advancement. We appreciate the many faculty, staff and administrators who contributed to this process and reaffirm our commitment to shared governance.Thank you for your continued dedication to academic excellence at 蘑菇TV.Lyndsay Rhodes - Faculty Senate President 2024-2025March 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 蘑菇TV鈥檚 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.
- Public Forum: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 106, and via Teams.
- Search Committee Meeting 鈥� 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 鈥� 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 鈥� Interview: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Academic Building 9, Room 138
Tuesday, Feb. 18: Lorenzo Smith, Ph.D.
- Search Committee Meeting 鈥� 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
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