FGCU Board of Trustees

Trustee Michael A. Wynn has served as board chairman and president of Sunshine Ace Hardware in Naples, Florida since 2005.

Sunshine Ace Hardware first opened in 1958 and is one of the largest family-owned home improvement and outdoor recreation retailers in Florida.  Currently there are twelve locations delivering friendly, helpful service and quality brands to Pinellas, Manatee, Charlotte, Lee and Collier Counties as well as Sunshine Ace Handyman Services serving Collier & Lee Counties. He has held various positions with increasing responsibility with Sunshine Ace Hardware since 1992. 

Mr. Wynn is the immediate past Chair of the board of directors of the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.  He is also a member of the board of directors for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce (past-chair), Leadership Collier Foundation (past-chair), Moorings Park Institute, and the NCH Healthcare System (2^nd Vice Chair.)  He is a member of YPO and serves on the advisory board of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) School of Entrepreneurship.

Mr. Wynn received a B.S. in business administration from the University of South Florida in 1997 and an MBA in business administration from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2005.  He was awarded Hardware Industry’s Top Gun Award presented by the National Retail Hardware Association in 2014, Finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2014, Junior Achievement’s Business Hall of Fame Laureate in 2014, 2017 FGCU Alumni of the Year, voted the 2017 Gulfshore Business Best Boss for a Large Company, Business Observer’s 2019 Icons of Business and awarded the 2019 Naples Daily News Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

Mr. Wynn resides in Naples and has two daughters, Sydney and Olivia.

Current Appointment Term: March 25, 2022 - January 6, 2026

Mr. Michael Wynn (Chair)
9148 Bonita Beach Road #200
Bonita Springs, FL  34135

Trustee Richard P. Eide, Jr. was born in Cleveland OH in 1947, educated at Williams College (BA in American History, 1968), and served in the United States Marine Corps.

In 34 years at J.P. Morgan and Co., Inc., New York NY, he managed the Municipal Bond Department, managed trading and underwriting for the U.S. Treasury, Federal Agency, Fixed-income Futures, and Derivatives markets, and worked in Institutional Sales, primarily with hedge funds. He retired from Morgan in 2003. In 2009, he helped the principals to found Pierpont Securities, Stamford CT (today called Amherst Pierpont Securities) where he worked until 2013.

Mr. Eide married Lulie Simmons Pierpont of Worcester MA in 1969. They lived in Short Hills NJ until 2002 when they moved to Naples. Their four children and nine grandchildren are regular visitors to SW Florida. Mrs. Eide was a fifth-grade teacher at Peck School, Morristown NJ and the Board Chair at Kent Place School, Summit NJ and Miss Porter’s School, Farmington CT.

The Eides remain residents of Naples and spend summers in Harbor Springs, MI. 

Current Appointment Term: February 22, 2023 – January 6, 2028

Mr. Richard Eide, Jr. (Vice Chair)
340 Little Harbour Lane
Naples, FL 34102

Trustee Paul V. Applegarth is the Chief Executive Officer of Value Enhancement International, an international investment and consulting firm.  The Honorable Applegarth has over forty years of experience in emerging markets and private equity transactions.  He has held leadership positions in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, and much of his work has been marked by his ability to bring private sector techniques to solve public sector problems.

Hon. Applegarth was the founding CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the United States government agency created to transform development aid. Prior to that, Hon. Applegarth was the Founding Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, a successful and innovative public-private partnership established by the U.K. and three other European governments to invest in new private sector infrastructure.

Hon. Applegarth was Managing Director at Emerging Markets Partnership, an asset management firm that specialized in emerging market private equity investments from 1994 to 2003. Earlier in his career, he held several positions with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.  He has served on numerous private and non-profit sector boards, as chairman and/or director, including: the U.S. State Department’s Africa Policy Advisory Panel, the United States’ Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s Advisory Board for Africa, Save the Children’s Newborn and Child Nutrition Council, and several private sector boards.

Hon. Applegarth’s publications include “Capital Market and Financial Sector Development in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2004; “A Commentary on The Millennium Challenge Account,” CSIS “Africa Notes,” May 2003; “The Ten Golden Rules for Emerging Market Investment,” Philippines, 1994; and “The Case for Regional Compacts,” Center for American Progress, 2014.

Hon. Applegarth is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School and earned an M.B.A. with High Distinction from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker Scholar.  He is a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran.  He and his wife, Dr. Linda Applegarth, have two daughters and three grandchildren.  He continues to be a loyal fan of the Atlanta Braves.

Current Appointment Term: May 8, 2024 – January 6, 2028

Honorable Paul V. Applegarth 
c/o Office of Board Relations
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Trustee Joseph G. Fogg III is the retired Chairman and CEO of Westbury Capital Partners L.L.C., a Long Island based late stage venture capital firm. Trustee Fogg founded Westbury in 1990. Mr. Fogg began his career on Wall Street at Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. following his graduation from Harvard Business School in 1970. He retired as a Senior Managing Director and member of the Management Committee at Morgan Stanley in 1994. While at Morgan Stanley, Mr. Fogg served in various capacities, including founding member and head of the Mergers and Acquisitions Department; the Corporate Finance Department; and ultimately as head of Morgan Stanley’s worldwide investment banking operations. As head of Morgan Stanley’s 1,000-person Investment Banking Division, he oversaw the operations of 16 offices on four continents.

In 1990, Mr. Fogg founded Princes Gate Investors L.P., a $750 million private equity investment partnership managed by Morgan Stanley. He currently serves as an Advisory Director of Morgan Stanley.

In addition to being a member of the FGCU Board of Trustees, Mr. Fogg is also Chair of the FGCU Audit and Compliance Committee.

Mr. Fogg is a past President and Director of The Forum Club of Naples, a past Director of The Yale Club of Southwest Florida and a past member of the Yale Development Board. He is Chairman of the City of Naples Citizens’ Police Review Board. He was a Director of the Yale University Art Gallery and the Trust for the National Mall (DC) for many years. He is a graduate of the Greater Naples Leadership Masters Class XX.

Long active in Republican politics, Mr. Fogg served as National Finance Chairman of Robert Dole for President in 1988, National Vice Chairman of Phil Gramm for President in 1994, and Finance Chairman of the New York State Republican Party and Florida Finance Chairman for Rudy Giuliani for President and Newt Gingrich for President.  He also was actively involved in the Florida campaign of Marco Rubio for President and Ron DeSantis for Governor.

Mr. Fogg earned his B.A. in Economics from Yale College in 1968 where he was a member of the Fence Club and his MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1970, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar. 

He presently resides in Naples, FL and Seal Harbor, ME with his wife Leslie Kirk Solbert Fogg. He has three grown children and five grandchildren.

Current Appointment Term: January 7, 2021 – January 6, 2026

Mr. Joseph Fogg III
c/o Office of Board Relations
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Trustee Kaczynski is a junior studying accounting with a political science minor. In addition to his role as student body president, Ryan also serves as the Vice President of Finance for the Interfraternity Council and treasurer for his fraternity Kappa Alpha Order. 

Current Appointment Term: April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025

Mr. Ryan Kaczynski
President, FGCU Student Government
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Blvd. South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Trustee Leo Montgomery spent more than 39 years as a senior partner with Ernst & Young LLP.  Mr. Montgomery has served in several leadership roles at Ernst & Young, one of those being the Southeast Area Industry Leader for the Technology, Communications and Entertainment Group and serving on the International Telecommunications Advisory Committee. He has significant experience serving publicly held companies with merger and acquisition transactions as well as structuring financing arrangements. Trustee Montgomery has assisted companies with more than 100 Securities and Exchange Commission filings including 20 initial public offering registration statements. At Ernst & Young, he served clients of all sizes from entrepreneurial enterprises to professionally managed companies including: Cingular Wireless, Bellsouth Corporation and AT&T Latin America (formerly FirstCom Corporation). Upon retirement, he was an Advisory Director at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and served as a director on corporate boards. Mr. Montgomery holds a B.A. degree from Harding University and is also currently a member of the Board of Artis Naples.

Current Appointment Term: January 7, 2021 – January 6, 2026

Mr. J. Leo Montgomery
c/o Office of Board Relations
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Trustee Edward Morton, of Naples, has served as a Principal and Managing Director of the investment firm Wasmer & Schroeder & Co. since 2007.  He retired in 2006 after 34 years of service as the CEO of the NCH Healthcare System, a diversified healthcare holding company.

Mr. Morton is a Florida native and was raised in Islamorada.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami, and a Master’s of Health Science degree from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).

He served on the Florida Board of Governors for the State University System of Florida, and is a past Vice Chair of the FGCU Board of Trustees and a past Chair of the FGCU Foundation Board of Directors.  Mr. Morton received the Florida Gulf Coast University 2017 Alumni of Distinction award for outstanding career achievements, commitment to community, and dedication to the University. 

Mr. Morton has served and currently sits on a number of civic-minded boards serving the citizens of Southwest Florida.

Current Appointment Term:  January 6, 2020 – January 6, 2025

Mr. Edward Morton
Wasmer Schroeder
600 5th Ave S., STE 210
Naples, FL 34102

Trustee Lyndsay Rhodes is the president of the Florida Gulf Coast University Faculty Senate. She is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and the Program Coordinator of the Master of Science in Biology Program. She has been an active member of the Faculty Senate since 2017 and has served on numerous university-wide committees and task forces, including the Faculty Affairs Team (Co-Chair) and Grants and Research Team.

Dr. Rhodes received her bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Psychology from Pfeiffer University, and her doctorate in Biomedical Sciences from Tulane University School of Medicine. Her research career in cancer biology has resulted in more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific articles and numerous talks around the country. Dr. Rhodes maintains an active breast cancer research lab and has directly mentored over 60 research students since she joined the faculty at FGCU in 2014. Dr. Rhodes serves on the Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB) Executive Committee and is a member of the editorial boards for Frontiers in Molecular Medicine, eBio, and Guest Editor for Cancers. She has also served as scientific reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs and the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Rhodes lives in Estero, FL with her husband Jeffery Rhodes and 2 daughters, Arabella and Juliette.

Current Appointment Term: August 7, 2024 - August 6, 2025

Dr. Lyndsay Rhodes
c/o Office of Board Relations
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Luis Rivera is a Shareholder at GrayRobinson, P.A., where he helps clients navigate some of the most difficult situations faced by businesses, including complex business litigation, bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and insolvency matters. A trusted advisor, Mr. Rivera is one of only ten attorneys in Florida who is board certified in Business Bankruptcy Law and Consumer Bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification and one of only two court-appointed fiduciaries who administers Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases in Southwest Florida.

Mr. Rivera is known among his peers for his deep industry knowledge and established relationships within Florida courts. He is praised by clients for his thorough understanding of complex financial matters and his ability to simplify complex business cases.

Mr. Rivera also uses his financial and legal experience to benefit the community. In addition to his service to Florida Gulf Coast University, Mr. Rivera serves as a member of the Supreme Court of Florida’s Mediator Qualifications and Discipline Review Board, a director of the Bankruptcy Law Educational Series Foundation, Inc., and chair of the Parish Finance Council at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Fort Myers. Mr. Rivera has also previously served in a number of leadership roles within The Florida Bar and the bar of the United States District Court and has served the Southwest Florida community as a member of the Lee County Charter Review Committee and as chair of the Lee County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board.

Mr. Rivera earned a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (magna cum laude with University Honors) in Political Science from Loyola University New Orleans.

Current Appointment Term: March 25, 2022 - January 6, 2026

Mr. Luis E. Rivera II
1404 Dean St., Suite 300
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Trustee Robbie Roepstorff is a founder and President of Edison National Bank and Bank of the Islands in Fort Myers/Sanibel Island. She is the principal representative and spokesperson of the institution and is a member of the bank’s board of directors and holding company.

Ms. Roepstorff’s extensive list of community involvement includes director and past president of the American Heart Association; director and past president of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools; voting member and past president of Horizon Council and its Foundation; Commissioner appointed member of Lee County Industrial Development Authority and Airports Special Management Committee/Lee County Port Authority.  In service to the State of Florida, she was appointed as Commissioner to the Florida Transportation Commission from 1997 to 1999. Ms. Roepstorff is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Southwest Florida Community Foundation.

Trustee Roepstorff previously served two terms on the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees from January 2010 to January 2020, including holding the offices of Chair, and Vice Chair, as well as chairing various committees.

In addition to her community involvement, Ms. Roepstorff has received numerous awards for her community service, including the 2014 Horizon Council Lifetime Achievement Award; 2012 Lifetime Award by the Uncommon Friends Foundation; 2010 Florida Bankers Association Banker of the Year; 2008 Paulette Burton Lee County Citizen of the Year Award presented by the Board of County Commissioners; 2004 University of North Alabama Alumnus of the Year Award; and the 2002 ATHENA Award.

Ms. Roepstorff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology/Political Science from the University of North Alabama.

Current Appointment Term:  November 6, 2020 - January 6, 2025

Ms. Robbie Roepstorff
c/o Office of Board Relations
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Trustee Jaye Hewitt Semrod received her BA from the University of Illinois and her MA from Fairfield University in Education.  Following graduation she was a public high-school teacher for eight years.  She left the classroom to work in New York City for Jack Morton Productions, a Corporate Communications Company, now Jack Morton Worldwide, a subsidiary of Interpublic.  During her twenty-year career she worked in production management, account supervision, and as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the New York Office.  For over ten years she served on the Board and Executive Committee of Outward Bound USA, an outdoor education organization.  She received Outward Bound’s distinguished Kurt Hahn award, named after its founder for her leadership and service.

In 1998 Ms. Semrod retired to Princeton, NJ where she continued to work as a community volunteer.  She served as Chair of the Board of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, a K-12 all girls’ school.  Under her leadership, she managed a capital campaign, developed scholarship programs, and organized a speakers’ forum to encourage leadership for young women.  She served as Vice Chair of Princeton University’s Art Museum Friends’ Board and was on the Board of Princeton Girl Choir.  She is one of the recipients of the Princeton YWCA’s Tribute to Women Award.

Ms. Semrod now resides in Naples, Florida and is a past President of the Port Royal Club.

Current Appointment Term:  January 6, 2020 – January 6, 2025

Ms. Jaye Semrod
c/o Office of Board Relations
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Trustee Peter Sulick is currently Chairman, Board of Directors, President and CEO of Dynasil Corporation, a Boston based corporation in the research and photonics industries.  He is also President and CEO of AmeriSite LLC, a family owned real estate development and investment company.  Mr. Sulick is an entrepreneur with extensive background in building media and technology companies, executing their business strategy and building operations.  Over the past 35 years, he has founded or been the initial investor in numerous companies, including Independence Broadcasting Corporation, PowerFone Inc., SSPCS Corp., AmeriSite, LLC., MeetUp.com, Prism Microwave, Withoutabox.com to name a few.  Independence Broadcasting owned and operated nine radio stations in five Midwest markets.  Mr Sulick founded IBC in 1985 grew it to approximately $15.0 mil in revenue and 250 employees.  PowerFone, Inc, which Mr. Sulick and two partners founded in 1990, owned and operated specialized mobile radio operations across parts or all of seven states.  Mr. Sulick and one partner founded SSPCS Corp in 1993 for purposes of bidding on and operating digital cellular licenses being auctioned by the FCC.  SSPCS was successful in acquiring 14 licenses across five markets.  AmeriSite was started in 1998 for purposes of real estate investment and development activities in Naples, Florida and elsewhere.  In addition to his own companies, Mr. Sulick has served on numerous corporate boards over the past 4 decades including Intersoft Corporation, Data National Corporation, Medical eNetwork Inc., RocketBoard, Inc., Without - A - Box, Inc., FineMark National Bank and Trust, Inc., Prism Microwave, Inc. and others.  He has also served as chair of the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation Board of Directors, treasurer and director of The Community School of Naples and is currently a board member of The Citadel Foundation Inc.  Mr. Sulick has served on the board of the Port Royal Club and as Commodore of the Naples Yacht Club. 

Mr. Sulick, a CPA, earned his MBA in finance from the University of Massachusetts and a B.S. in Business Administration from The Citadel in 1972.  Mr. Sulick and his wife, Margaret, have a grown daughter, a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a grown son, a graduate of Wake Forest University and The Institute for World Politics in Washington, D.C., and have six grandchildren.  Mrs. Sulick served on the City Council for the City of Naples, Florida from January, 2008 until 2017, including two years as Vice Mayor.  The Sulicks have been residents of Southwest Florida since 1993.

Current Appointment Term: March 25, 2022 - January 6, 2026

Mr. Peter Sulick
c/o Office of Board Relations
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

June 11, 2024

The FGCU Board of Trustees met Tuesday morning in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom. This email is meant to highlight key topics discussed during the meeting that students, faculty and staff may be interested in knowing. Click here to view the full agenda.

• FGCU’s first Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program in Coastal Watershed Science and Policy was approved. This is a robust, research-intensive program that blends the topics of science and policy through The Water School. With the board’s approval, the item now moves on to the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) for final approval this fall.
• Trustees approved FGCU’s 2025 legislative budget request (LBR). This document outlines funding requests for more than $21.8 million in funding to address the five goals of the new strategic plan, Innovating for Student Success: FGCU’s Journey to Excellence.
• FGCU’s Foundation exceeded its annual fundraising goal and the $100 million “Ideas to Impact” campaign, a three-year fundraising initiative. Also, the President’s Circle for Excellence has grown to 41 members, raising $226,000 that will directly support the implementation of FGCU’s new strategic plan.
• An update was provided on the timeline for FGCU’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Decennial Reaffirmation of Accreditation & Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).
• FGCU is wrapping up its compliance report, which includes 74 standards in 14 topics. The report is due June 30. Leading this effort is Dr. Sangki Min, assistant vice president of Planning & Institutional Performance.
• The Quality Enhancement Plan, The Skills Advantage: From Campus to Career, is due January 15. It focuses on providing transferable skills to enhance FGCU’s four-year degree programs. It involves meeting the needs of regional employers and investing in faculty development. Dr. Glenn Whitehouse, professor, is directing this effort.
• The full SACSCOC review team is scheduled to visit campus the week of February 24-27.
• To better meet the needs of Southwest Florida veterans and their families, FGCU is discussing the possibility of creating a privately funded Veterans Center for Student Success on campus. The center will better serve the community and enhance the university’s direct support for enrolled veterans, their benefitted families and FGCU faculty and staff with military connections. The proposed initiative includes:
• Constructing a 65,000-square-foot veterans center near the FGCU Food Forest on the site where the Kleist Health Education Center currently exists.
• Expanding the work of Marieb College of Health & Human Services, including student internships and clinical opportunities in various programs, as well as research and clinical practice opportunities for faculty.
• Creating a U.S. Army ROTC program at FGCU.
• 48 faculty members and one academic advisor earned promotions during the 2023-24 academic cycle. They will be recognized at a Promotion and Grants Reception in September and honored by the BOT later in the fall term. A full list of titles, units and departments for promoted faculty are available in the agenda packet, and their names appear in the attachment.
• Trustees also approved changes to the following student-related documents:
• The Student Code of Conduct was updated with a new, informal process to speed up student hearings. Other updates were made to definitions and processes.
• Titles, Senate seat distribution, funding thresholds and other processes were updated in the Student Government Constitution.
• New definitions, clearer language and updated procedures are reflected in the Student Government Finance Code.

In other news, the university welcomed new Trustee Paul Applegarth, who was appointed May 8 by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trustee Applegarth is the chief executive officer of Value Enhancement International.

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August 1, 2024 

The FGCU Board of Trustees met virtually this morning. This email is meant to highlight key topics discussed during the meeting that students, faculty and staff may be interested in knowing. Click here to view the full agenda.

• Trustees approved FGCU's 2024-2025 Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund Proposal. It outlines the partnership between FGCU's nursing program with Lee Health System and Naples Comprehensive Healthcare System (NCH). With a combined $1.1 million in funding, the funds will be used for scholarships, equipment, training and salary support.
• Trustees approved the 2024-2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The compensation agreement includes updates in appointments, promotions, salaries and leave. It now moves to the FGCU Chapter of The United Faculty of Florida for ratification next week.

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August 29, 2024

The Audit and Compliance Committee (ACC) of the FGCU Board of Trustees met virtually Thursday morning. This email is meant to highlight key topics discussed during the meeting that students, faculty and staff may be interested in knowing. Click here to view the full agenda.  

The ACC approved revisions, such as updates in names, job titles and regulations, to the following documents:  

• Audit and Compliance Committee Charter  

• Compliance Office Charter  

• Compliance and Ethics Program Plan  

• Office of Internal Audit Charter  

The ACC approved the following documents:   

• Office of Internal Audit Annual Report for 2023-24: Demonstrates that FGCU’s internal auditing office is operating as intended.   

• Risk Assessment Plan for 2024-25 Internal Audit Work Plan: Identifies the risks facing FGCU’s ability to achieve its objectives, such as funding limitations to retain and attract quality people, changing rules and requirements (such as from the legislature or Board of Governors), and expanded research activity, which increases the opportunity for non-compliance.  

• Construction: Academic Building 9 Audit: Demonstrates that the procedures involved in the construction activities, such as architect selection and construction management services, of Academic Building 9, home of The Water School, were conducted in accordance with statues, regulations and guidelines.   
• Post-Tenure Faculty Review Audit: In compliance with the requirement to review the performance of faculty with tenure, this document analyzes the post-tenure review process and procedures.   

The full audit reports can be found in the agenda packet. The approved items are recommended for final approval at its next FGCU Board of Trustees meeting, which is September 10.   

In addition to the approved items, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Colin Hargis presented a report on the updated NCAA rule on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) for college athletics. The PowerPoint presentation can be viewed online.  

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September 10, 2024 

The FGCU Board of Trustees met Tuesday in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom. This email is meant to highlight key topics discussed during the meeting that students, faculty and staff may be interested in knowing. Click here to view the full agenda. 

• Trustees approved the first phase of FGCU’s workforce housing project to build 70 units of villa-style homes and townhomes on undeveloped land the university already owns near West Lake Village and the Gulf Coast Town Center. The project would offer transitional, or short-term, housing opportunities for FGCU faculty and staff who would need to relocate to Southwest Florida. The full project would include about 200 units. As part of the vote, the Trustees authorized the following action steps:
• Hiring Soltura Development as development manager for Phase One of the project
• Creating a new Direct Support Organization (DSO) to own, manage and finance the project
• Transferring or lease of the land to the DSO at no cost
• Approved debt financing of the first phase at 100% of the project cost, which is in the range of $22 million to $23 million.

According to estimated timeframes, the apartment construction of Phase One would be complete by November 2026. The item now moves on to the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) for final approval.

• Trustees approved the 2024 FGCU Student Success Plan, which will be presented to the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) during the meeting on September 18. The plan targets four areas with the greatest potential for improvement:  
• Four-year graduation rate for first-time-in-college (FTIC) students
• Three-year graduation rate for associate in arts (AA) transfer students
• Six-year graduation rate for Federal Pell Grant recipients
• Academic progress rate
• Trustees approved changes to the 2024-27 Collective Bargaining Agreement made by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 195. These include updates in paid parental leave, uniform allowance, provisions for take-home vehicles and changes in pay structures for officers.  
• Trustees conducted an annual performance evaluation for President Aysegul Timur. Trustees agreed and approved that President Timur has performed in an outstanding manner for the 2023-24 evaluation period and approved a bonus of 20% of her base pay, or $100,000.
• Trustees completed their annual endorsement of the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) and FGCU’s Statements of Free Expression and committed to the Principles of Civil Discourse.

• Trustees approved the State University System of Florida (SUS) Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability Annual Report. This is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that textbooks and instructional materials are affordable to students.
• FGCU submitted final documents for its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Decennial Reaffirmation of Accreditation. As part of this, the university has announced that its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is focused on giving greater visibility to FGCU’s transferable skills offerings. It is called “The Skills Advantage: From Campus to Career.” The SACSCOC review team is scheduled to visit campus February 2025.

All PowerPoints and handouts from the meeting are available online, and minutes will be posted online to the BOT website by Tuesday, September 24. The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is Thursday, October 24. 

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October 24, 2024

The FGCU Board of Trustees met virtually this morning. This email is meant to highlight key topics discussed during the meeting that students, faculty and staff may be interested in knowing. Click here to view the full agenda. 

• Trustees approved FGCU's Revised 2024-25 Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund Proposal. It outlines the second grant proposal between FGCU's nursing program and Naples Comprehensive Healthcare System (NCH). For a possible total of $300,000 in funding, the funds will help provide students with new and robust clinical experiences in medical surgical nursing. The proposal will be presented to the Board of Governors at their meeting on October 30 for approval.  

Minutes will be posted online to the BOT website by Thursday, November 7. The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is Thursday, December 12.