Global Engagement Office

The Eagle International Ambassador Program (Eagle I) provides opportunities for international students to experience American culture through friendships with U.S. students — and helps American students expand their education through interaction with students from abroad. These relationships enhance cultural awareness and global learning.

Get involved - more on the GEO Ambassador Program

At FGCU we value the importance of world travel, and as such we are an authorized Passport Acceptance Facility. We serve FGCU students, faculty, staff and the public.

FGCU Passport Acceptance Facility

 The FGCU Peace Corps Prep program creates a frameworks for you to build competencies, integrating coursework with hands-on experience and professional development. Peace Corps Prep is a certificate program for undergraduates that centers on one empowering question: How can you prepare yourself to be the best Peace Corps Volunteer (or any international fieldwork representative) you can be?

Get involved - more on the FGCU peace corps prep program

A Living Learning Community (LLC) is a place where students who share similar majors or interests live together in a designated residential community, enroll in a minimum of one 3-credit course and a 1-credit common hour course each semester. The Global Eagles LLC members will participate in community activities and initiatives related to intercultural competence and international activities. One of the great advantages of joining an LLC is receiving priority class registration.

 FGCU Global Eagles LLC

By immersing yourself in another culture somewhere across the globe, you will broaden your international perspective, gain greater awareness of your own culture and history — and collect amazing travel stories to share for a lifetime. Studies show that international experience leads to greater employment opportunities after you graduate.

FGCU Study Abroad 

Exchange programs allow you to pay FGCU tuition to study at foreign institutions with which we have exchange agreements. Students earn direct FGCU academic credit for courses taken abroad. Exchange programs are often affiliated with and coordinated by a college or degree program.

Audencia Business School in Nantes, France (semester and summer programs) 

University of Barcelona in Spain (semester and summer programs)

University of Wuertzburg in Germany (summer program)

University of Macerata in Italy (semester programs)

• The Global Learning Grant Program aims to help students pay for tuition and fees for undergrad students in programs affiliated with the Global Engagement Office, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
  Global Learning Grant Application
• The Latin American Caribbean (LAC) Scholarship for FGCU Graduate Students is designed to provide assistance to international students from designated Latin American and Caribbean countries.
  Latin American Caribbean Scholarship APPLICATION

The FGCU Peace Corps Prep program creates a frameworks for you to build competencies, integrating coursework with hands-on experience and professional development. Peace Corps Prep is a certificate program for undergraduates that centers on one empowering question: How can you prepare yourself to be the best Peace Corps Volunteer (international fieldwork rep) you can be? 

GET INVOLVED - MORE ON THE FGCU PEACE CORPS PREP PROGRAM

FGCU students traveling abroad are encouraged to submit photos from their experience to the FGCU Study Abroad Photo Contest. Awards will be given and the photos showcased on our website for winning entries in the 4 categories: learning abroad, cultural activities, places and food. Stay tuned for Spring 2021 Study Abroad Photo Contest.  

2019 Winner: Andrew Bidwell, New Zealand

2020 Winner: 

 

2021 Winner: William Braden from Trier Germany

Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. Each year USF faculty and students contribute to and participate in many Fulbright programs. To find out about the opportunities available visit: http://www.cies.org/ 

FGCU Faculty Advisors:

John Griffis (PhD)

Megan McShane (PhD)  

Current Opportunities for U.S. Scholars

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a teaching method that enables professors from different countries to add a global learning experience to each of their courses. If you are faculty or student, learn more about FGCU's COIL initiative: 

FGCU COIL Initiative

*Beginning January 1st, 2021: An innovative new way to internationalize the curriculum at FGCU across 4 areas of study: Humanities, Business, Science and Global Perspectives. Materials are for faculty to use to internationalize and enhance curriculum. Initial countries to be covered are Costa Rica, England, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia and India with more countries to be announced soon.

FGCU Global Virtual Content 

Resources

• Teach Abroad
• WorldTeach
• Peace Corps
• Rotary
• Teach Abroad with Cross-Cultural Solutions
• Teach TESOL Abroad with Oxford Seminars
• Study Abroad, Volunteer, Teach with GoAbroad.com
• Tips for Teaching Abroad

All persons sponsored by Florida Gulf Coast University in the Exchange Visitor Program who are issued a J-1 visa must register with the FGCU Global Engagement Office after arriving at the university. Either the exchange visitor (scholar) or the scholar’s host department may contact our office at (239) 590-7925 to schedule an appointment to register.   

Process to host an international scholar:

 Process to be completed by the host: 

•  Complete Exchange Visitor Request Form to request FGCU Global Engagement Office to issue a DS-2019 form. Please fill out the form, bearing signatures from the host, hosting supervisor, and the FGCU Department Chair (or Dean) must sign in ink, on the last page  bearing signatures from you, the hosting supervisor and the FGCU department head (or Dean) must sign in ink, on the last page. The sponsoring FGCU department must complete all items on this form. This form is to be completed and approved no less than one month before the intended program start date. 
• Complete the Deemed Export Compliance Form
• Provide Letter of invitation for Prospective Scholar: Including/describing activities the research scholar will be engaging during his Exchange Visitor Program. (Optional)

If the host wishes to grant FGCU Courtesy Faculty Appointment to the scholar, please work with the Provost’s office and ISO on further details and instruction.

Process to be completed by the prospective international scholar:

• Complete Exchange Visitor Profile
• Provide Financial Support document/Statement, in U.S. Dollars, to be accompanied by a bank statement (verifying the evidence of funds available, if financial support comes from an outside FGCU source).
• Complete J-1 Insurance Notification Form: All scholars must maintain medical/health insurance coverage for the duration of their program.
• Complete Sickness and Accident Insurance Verification Form. Please contact the FGCU Global Engagement Office at Tgjini@fgcu.edu for further information and guidance on available alternative health/medical insurance plans. 
• Provide CV or Resume Copy
• Provide A Photocopy of his/her Passport Biographic Page. Please indicate if a dependent (spouse or child) will be joining scholar in the program to the United States.

All this paperwork needs to be submitted to our office at least 45-60 days in advance of the scholar’s intended program start date. Upon successfully submitting all the required paperwork, our office will work with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs on the Deemed Export Control Review, Legal Counsel’s office, and other stakeholders to process these documents before the scholar visa documentation could be issued.

IF THE PROSPECTIVE SCHOLAR HAS PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN A J-1 SCHOLAR PROGRAM IN THE U.S. AND HAS A 212(E) TWO YEAR HOME RESIDENCY RULE PLACED ON THE ANNOTATED SECTION OF THE J-1 VISA, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PROSPECTIVE SCHOLAR APPLIES FOR AND RECEIVES A 'No-objection' WAIVER OR RESIDES IN HOME-COUNTRY FOR TWO YEARS, PRIOR TO BEING ABLE TO APPLY TO ANOTHER J-1 EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM.

Annotation: Prospective International Scholar: All scholars must maintain medical/health insurance coverage for the duration of their program. Prospective Scholar must sign and send back to us the J-1 Insurance Notification Form (See the attached document titled: Insurance Notification Form ).  If the Scholar has insurance in his/her home country and wishes to utilize that plan during his/her stay at FGCU, she may ask her insurance company agent to fill out the attached Sickness and Accident Insurance Verification Document and send it to our office of International Studies, before the program start. Should her current health insurance be deemed to meet the criteria in the Compliance Form (Sickness and Accident Insurance Verification Form), then he/she will not be required to purchase the FGCU Health Insurance Plan through Gallagher Insurance Company. If the Scholar does not wish to utilize another alternative health insurance plan, they may enroll in the FGCU International Scholar Health Insurance Plan through Gallagher Insurance Plan at https://www.gallagherstudent.com/students/user-login.php?idField=1187/ For frequently asked questions about the Gallagher Medical Insurance plan; please visit: https://www.gallagherstudent.com/parents/faq/ and https://www.gallagherstudent.com/parents/value-proposition/   If the Scholar doesn’t plan to utilize an alternative medical insurance plan, then he/she will be required to enroll in the FGCU medical insurance plan through Gallagher Insurance company (our FGCU scholar insurance plan). If the Scholar plans to utilize another insurance plan and has further questions on which insurance plan would meet the FGCU requirements, please let us know.

Related Forms: 

• Estimated Expenses for J-1 Exchange Visitor/Scholar
• International Agreement Process

MOU Agreement document

Exchange Partner Universities: 

University of Macerata

University of Barcelona

University of Würzburg

Audencia Business School

Universidad Privada Boliviana

Direct Enroll Partnerships Abroad:

Harlaxton College (UK)

Sant'Anna Institute (Italy)

Lorenzo de Medici Institute (Italy)  

Third Party Study Abroad Organizations:

University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC)

CEA Abroad

SAE Barcelona

Academic Studies Abroad (ASA) 

Study Abroad Association (SAA)

Memorandum of Understanding: 

University of Siena (Italy)

Tel Aviv University (Israel)

University of West Hungary (Hungary) 

Szent Istvan University (Hungary) 

Universidad Cienfuegos (Cuba)

Incheon National University (South Korea)

US Department of State fellowship sponsor organizations:

IREX

World Learning

If you're and FGCU faculty or staff and would like to initiate a partnership with an international institute or organization, or if you represent an organization interested in developing a partnership with FGCU, begin by completing this form

Florida Gulf Coast University is a global institution.  Our community members undertake international travel in pursuit of teaching, study, research, service and co-curricular activities. FGCU faculty and staff members must go through their individual units and departments when traveling for business and follow the procedures subscribed in the International Travel Policy.  When traveling international to international destinations, faculty, staff and students must first register their travel in FGCU's Veoci Travel Registry system, see link below. The Veoci Travel Registry is a one stop accessible tool for reviewing export control concerns (including a possible license to travel), receiving institutional approval, destination specific resources as well as initiate the spend authorization process for Procurement Services. Registering faculty or staff international travel on the Veoci system should begin as soon as the travel is known but not later than 45 days before the planned departure.  To begin, click on the link below and log in with your university email address. 

FGCU International Travel Registry 

Steps: 

1) Create traveler profile in the FGCU International Travel Registry. This is called the VEOCI system (this step only needs to be done once) 

2) Request international travel authorization after you have created your profile.

3) Notifications will be sent to traveler supervisor, FGCU Export Compliance and then the Global Engagement Office for approval.

4) Upon Approval international traveler will be sent expenditure request instructions and can begin making plans.  

International Travel Approval Process-Work Flow Chart

Expand All

• Toggle More Info

• FGCU International Travel Registry FAQs

  Toggle More Info

  What are the benefits of the travel registry?

  • Emergency Communications: Your travel registration enables the FGCU Global Engagement Office to reach you in the event of an emergency abroad. The travel registry is the University’s official means for sharing urgent health, safety and security-related information.
  • Travel Assistance Program: The travel registry provides access to international travel, medical, and security assistance.

  Who is required to register travel?

  • All FGCU faculty, staff and some students traveling abroad for official "Mission Critical" University related business. 

  What is University “mission critical travel” ?

  Travel is considered “mission critical” under any of the following circumstances:

  • Travel by enrolled FGCU students to meet a course or degree requirement. (Students lists should be included in the Faculty and or Staff member approval if traveling as a group leader.
  • Directed, coordinated, recommended, facilitated or supervised (such as an independent study, internship or conference participation) by FGCU employees for any traveler.
  • Financed through FGCU by funding, scholarship, sponsorship or financial aid.
  • In connection with an FGCU sponsored research grant or contract.
  • In the course and scope of FGCU employment and representation.
  • Faculty approved for a sabbatical that requires international travel
  • Travel to off-campus sites for data collection, instrumentation maintenance, meeting course learning objectives, and other activities that must be done in-person, and without which would result in project/course failure, are considered mission critical

   When should I register my travel?

  • Travel should be registered at least 45 days prior to departure.
  • Travelers should update their registrations as additional information becomes available or if changes occur during travel.
  • If your travel plans should change or are canceled for any reason, please update the travel registry. 

  How long will it take for my international travel to be approved after I enter my authorization request?

  • Please allow a minimum of 2 weeks for your approval to be processed once your supervisor has approved your request. This may be longer depending on what information is needed and the destination of travel.

  How will I know when my request has been approved?

  • Look for important updates in your outlook for emails from noreply@veoci.com 
  • Your final 2 approval emails will come on the same day from the Global Engagement Office and also from noreply@veoci.com 
  • Travelers must save the Veoci approval email as a pdf and attach it to any Spend Authorization that is needed.

The following policy was approved by President Martin on November 13, 2020

• FGCU Policy 2.020, International Travel link: 

 https://www.fgcu.edu/generalcounsel/policies/approved/policy2.020.pdf

Process for Acquiring International Travel Approval

All FGCU faculty, staff and students traveling internationally on University Sponsored International Travel are required to be covered by the CISI Travel Abroad Insurance Plan. University Sponsored International Travel is defined as any international academic or business travel taken by faculty, staff, and students, or Volunteers, authorized, funded, coordinated, or administered by the University. Such travel may include, but is not limited to, teaching, research, consulting, co-operative programs, service, administrative work, field studies, volunteer work, performances, athletic contests, and trips abroad in connection with a University-recognized student organization, academic, or administrative unit.

FGCU Faculty and Staff International Travel Insurance Policy: 

Florida Gulf Coast University – Business Travel Policy

Florida Gulf Coast University Business Travel Abroad Enrollment Form – Blanket Plan

FGCU Student International Travel Insurance Policy: 

Florida Gulf Coast University - Study Abroad Travel Plan

Florida Gulf Coast University Study Abroad Insurance Enrollment Form

US Department of State Travel Advisories - Check advisory level and specific risk factors in your destination

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Country-specific notices for travelers' health needs. These are sortable by destination country, condition (if applicable), and type of travel.

World Health Organization (WHO) | Country-specific health notices and vaccination requirements/recommendations.

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) | Register with the local U.S. Embassy and get travel alerts.

At FGCU we value the importance of world travel, and as such we are an authorized Passport Acceptance Facility. We serve FGCU students, faculty, staff and the public.

FGCU Passport Application Acceptance Facility