FGCU Blogs & News (Omnichannel)

Regional Economic Indicators: June 2023 Report

June 01, 2023 / RERI Research Team

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for June 2023. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

SWFL Real Estate: Second Quarter 2023 Report

May 31, 2023 / RERI Research Team / Tag: Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development & Finance

We are pleased to present the Southwest Florida Real Estate Report. This report is the product of a collaborative effort between the Regional Economic Research Institute and the Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development and Finance. The report consolidates data from local property appraiser's offices and offers a comprehensive analysis of home sales, real median prices, price per square foot, and average age. Additionally, the report includes a section on commercial real estate analysis, encompassing retail properties, office spaces, entertainment properties, and other commercial sales. Stakeholders in Southwest Florida can utilize the information provided in this report to make well-informed decisions concerning talent attraction, affordable housing, and business expansion.

Zoom/Kaltura Integration

May 26, 2023 / Digital Learning / Tags: Canvas, Kaltura, zoom

Record and upload your Zoom lectures with ease using the new Zoom-Kaltura integration! With our new integration, you can now record your Zoom session to the Cloud. Once you have concluded your Zoom session, your cloud recording will be automatically added to your Kaltura My Media. You can quickly add the recording to your Canvas course by embedding the Kaltura video into a page or have students access it in your course Media Gallery.

Address Accessibility Challenges with AURS

May 26, 2023 / Digital Learning / Tags: Accessibility, Quality Matters

FGCU is committed to make education accessible for all learners. The QM Community came together to build the Accessibility & Usability Resource Site (AURS). Free and open to everyone, AURS provides the online community with important information on addressing key accessibility and usability concerns.

Issue Brief: Lee County Small Business Analysis

May 19, 2023 / RERI Research Team

The analysis presented in this study comes from DatabaseUSA, a leading provider for establishment-level records. The dataset consists of 34,014 records for establishments in Lee County, Florida, and includes information on their reported industry, establishment size (number of employees), sales revenue, and latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates. We restrict our analysis to establishments with no more than 20 employees, consistent with the definition used by the Small Business Enterprise Program. Furthermore, we define a qualified establishment as one that meets the specified criteria in each table or figure.

High School Students visit FGCU for STEM Challenge

May 12, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

High School Students visited the FGCU Campus to participate in a STEM Challenge contest.

LinkedIn Learning Canvas Integration!

May 10, 2023 / Digital Learning / Tag: Canvas

LinkedIn Learning Canvas Integration!

Supply Chain Management Scholarship Award Winners - Spring 2023

May 08, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: 2023, Award, Information Systems & Operations Management, Scholarships, Supply Chain Management

2023 Supply Chain Management Scholarship Award Winners share their reactions after hearing they won the award.

U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering Celebration of Excellence Awards

May 04, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

The Celebration of Excellence Awards recognizes the many achievements and accomplishments of the FGCU family.

Student of the Year

May 04, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

Each year students are nominated by faculty, staff, and students for the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering Student of the Year (SOY) Award.

Eagle X Tradition of Celebrating Excellence

May 04, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

FGCU Eagle X is a demonstration of all forms of scholarship. Students and faculty present their research to peers and other members of the FGCU community. This event showcases the broad impact of FGCU across a diverse range of research topics and academic disciplines.

Regional Economic Indicators: May 2023 Report

May 01, 2023 / RERI Research Team

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for May 2023. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

Collier EBCS: Second Quarter 2023 Report

April 30, 2023 / RERI Research Team

Headlines across the nation were dominated by the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in mid-March. SVB surprised investors on March 8, 2023 when it announced that it needed to raise $2.25 billion to shore up its balance sheet. Forty-eight hours later, the California-based bank collapsed, making it the largest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

Lee EBCS: Second Quarter 2023 Report

April 30, 2023 / RERI Research Team

Headlines across the nation were dominated by the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in mid-March. SVB surprised investors on March 8, 2023 when it announced that it needed to raise $2.25 billion to shore up its balance sheet. Forty-eight hours later, the California-based bank collapsed, making it the largest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

End of the Semester Self-Reflection

April 28, 2023 / Digital Learning / Tags: Online Teaching, Reflection, end of the semester

At the end of the Spring semester, most instructors are ready to put their tools down, run for the nearest exit, and try not to think about work for at least a few weeks; but the end of the current academic year is a great time to assess, reflect and maybe make one or more small changes to your course before the next iteration. That’s where reflective teaching can help.

Issue Brief: Housing Cost Burden for Florida Renters

April 28, 2023 / RERI Research Team / Tags: Issue Brief, Regional Economic Indicators, Reports

Rising rental costs have been an ongoing concern for many families across the nation. Population growth has fueled this surge in Florida, with the population in the Sunshine State growing by 1.9 percent between 2021 and 2022. The increased demand for housing has placed upward pressure on rental prices in the state, and has increased the share of total income that households have had to dedicate towards housing costs. This burden comes with significant consequences for renters, including (but not limited to) reduced disposable incomes, higher levels of debt, and greater economic inequality.

Seacrest Country Day School visits Holmes Hall

April 28, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

28 high school freshmen from Seacrest Country Day School visits Holmes Hall.

Chelsea R. Ganey named BGS Chapter Honoree 2023

April 27, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: 2023, BGS, Beta Gamma Sigma, Honoree

Chelsea is responsible for developing, communicating and executing on the strategic plan and growth of Moran Wealth Management. Prior to this role, she spent 8 years at the firm as a Senior Portfolio Manager responsible for the fixed income and several equity strategies. She serves on both the Executive Committee and Investment Committee at Moran Wealth Management. Chelsea earned her BS in Finance from Florida Gulf Coast University. She was awarded the CFA Charter from the CFA Institute in 2014, and is a member of the CFA Society of Naples where she currently serves on the board. In 2021, Chelsea co-founded Southwest Florida Women in Investment Management to support the development and advancement of women in the local finance community. In addition to her responsibilities at Moran Wealth Management, Chelsea sits on the Executive Council for the Department of Economics and Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University and is the President of the House Corporation for the Pi Mu Chapter of Chi Omega. Lastly, she is a member of CHIEF, a private organization for women executive leaders. Chelsea loves to read, travel, and spend quality time with her family. As a Midwest transplant, she lovingly cheers for the Chicago Bulls, Bears and Cubs.

Panel discussion of the Best Practices for Preventing Hurricane Loss

April 19, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

The Stock Development Department of Construction Management partnered with the Suncoast Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) to organize a panel discussion of the Best Practices for Preventing Hurricane Loss Learned from Ian.

Talking Decency with Bill Boulding, Dean of the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University

April 19, 2023 / Social Distance Coffee / Tags: DQ, Decency, EQ, Emotional Intelligence, Guest Speaker

Today’s leading business schools focus on increasing students’ intellectual development (their IQ) and emotional intelligence (their EQ). But is this enough? It may be time to consider our students’ DQ, or Decency Quotient. Bill Boulding, the dean of the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, embraced this concept as a way to differentiate Duke MBA students from graduates at other schools, and he spoke about it at the AACSB Deans Conference in February (where I met him). Dean Boulding presented DQ as a key trait for any effective business leader in a 2019 HBR article. “DQ implies a person has not only empathy for employees and colleagues but also the genuine desire to care for them,” he wrote. “DQ means wanting something positive for everyone in the workplace and ensuring everyone feels respected and valued. DQ is evident in daily interactions with others. DQ implies a focus on doing right by others.” He quoted former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga: “What really matters to me is DQ,” Banga explained. “If you can bring your decency quotient to work every day, you will make the company a lot of fun for people — and people will enjoy being there and doing the right thing.” As Lutgert grows in the next five years, we should be intentional about how our graduates will be different from those of our competitor schools. Decency should be part of the discussion. Please join us for the next Social Distance Coffee on April 19 at 11am to hear Dean Boulding talk about how Fuqua’s focus on DQs have impacted Duke graduates and how it could impact the workforce in general.

Supply Chain Forum of SWFL - Spring 2023

April 19, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: 2023, Center for Supply Chain Excellence, Information Systems & Operations Management, Supply Chain Management

The Supply Chain Forum of SWFL was hosted by Center for Supply Chain Excellence and co-sponsored by Project 44 and Scotlynn. The forum was well attended by over 60 SWFL industry executives, professors and students. We had two guest speakers who spoke on “Innovations in Supply Chains and Integrating Sustainability”. The forum also welcomed a panel discussion where they answered various questions on how they handled “Supply Chains – Post Pandemic”. We look forward to our next Supply Chain Forum of SWFL which will be held in Fall, 2023!

President's Report 4/14/23

April 13, 2023 / Anna Carlin

News, reminders, and updates from the Faculty Senate President

Supply Chain Organization Structures & Eponymous Roles – A Four Decade Retrospective

April 12, 2023 / Wednesday Webinar / Tag: Center for Supply Chain Excellence

Pete Russano is an Operations and Supply Chain Leader. His career spans three decades across medical, industrial and consumer product industries. He has held positions in manufacturing, sourcing, procurement, materials, logistics, 3PLs, transportation and supply chain management with organizations ranging from start-ups to multi-nationals. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the New York State University at Albany and an MBA in Operations and Strategy from the Carlson School of Management, the University of Minnesota. He is Six-Sigma Green-Belt trained and earned a CPIM-certification from ASCM (formerly APICS), the association for supply chain for supply chain management. Pete is a co-founder of the Supply Chain Forum of SWFL and serves on their Leadership Council. Pete currently serves as the Site Sourcing & Procurement Leader for Everaxis-USA in Naples, Florida.

No Tech, No Problem: Using UDL to Engage Students Without Technology

April 06, 2023

Regional Economic Indicators: April 2023 Report

April 03, 2023 / RERI Research Team

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for April 2023. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

Aging and Community-Based Performance

April 03, 2023 / Dan Bacalzo, Ph.D.

FGCU team finishes 3rd in Student Investment Tournament

April 02, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: 2023, Competition, Economics & Finance, Finance, Undergraduate

Congratulations to FGCU student analysts Mitchel Coker, Jessica Garciduenas and Adam Abdelfattah for taking home the $500 third place prize in a ‘Stock Pitch’ competition sponsored by the University of South Florida and Star Mountain Capital. The FGCU team pitched current Eagle Fund holding, BorgWarner Inc, as their investment idea. As part of their research process, the students made extensive use of Bloomberg Terminal, the company’s Annual Report, SEC Filings, Investor Relations Website, Earnings Call Transcript, Supply Chain information, Wall Street Research and various news publications. The students also held a conference call with BorgWarner’s Director of Investor Relations as part of their due diligence process. Here’s a brief snippet from the student’s presentation … “BorgWarner is undergoing a major business model transformation from a supplier of internal combustion engine (ICE) auto parts to a key provider of Electric Vehicle (EV) components. This transition will allow the company to both accelerate sales growth and expand profit margins over the next several years.” ‘We believe the market has not fully appreciated the BorgWarner story....... and that is reflected in low equity market valuations across multiple metrics…… relative to the market, it’s industry competitors and the company’s own historical levels. Our DCF analysis generated a intrinsic value price target of $84, representing an 80% upside opportunity from the current market price. Additional stock price upside is possible, however, if investors begin to place appropriate value on the fast-growing EV components business, in a Sum Of The Parts analysis.” “The company possesses several catalysts including: a recently announced plan to Spin-Off its fast-growing EV unit, continued deployment of Free Cash Flow towards accretive EV related acquisitions, and improving ESG rankings.”

President's Report 3/31/23

March 30, 2023 / Anna Carlin

News and updates from the Faculty Senate President.

FGCU Foundation Scholarships Now Available for FGCU Nursing Students

March 30, 2023 / Tags: FGCU Foundation, FGCU School of Nursing, Foundation Scholarships

The School of Nursing is thrilled to share that the FGCU Foundation Office has announced that there are several scholarships now available across all program levels for FGCU nursing students. Students who complete the single generic application will be considered for eligible scholarships. Many times scholarships can be unawarded due to a lack of applicants. Please consider applying today!! Please go to the link below to access the application.

8th annual Concrete Exposure Day

March 28, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

Our 8th annual Concrete Exposure Day was a great success. This year's event included presentations from high-level officials, including FDOT Interim District One Secretary, Mr. John M. Kubler.

FGCU BSN Program Offers its Inaugural Nursing Career Day

March 27, 2023 / Tags: BSN program, FGCU School of Nursing, Nursing Career Day

The Florida Gulf Coast University School of Nursing BSN Program offered its inaugural Nursing Career Day this February. The School of Nursing was honored to have Dr. Timothy Hudson, Ph.D., RN, FACHE, Nurse Educator and Consultant, as the Keynote Speaker. Dr. Hudson’s thought-provoking address centered on recruitment and retention in nursing and both inspired and energized students as they embark on their nursing career. Students enjoyed break-out sessions with time to dialogue amongst practicing nurses from our local community, followed by a rich opportunity to meet and greet local healthcare organizations to discuss future employment. The School of Nursing would like to thank the FGCU BSN Nursing Student Association, the Tau Zeta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society or Nursing, and Dr. Brenda Hage for their planning efforts and support.

Lucas Center Hosts Writing Workshop for Faculty

March 24, 2023

Industry Diversification Project: First Quarter 2023 Report

March 22, 2023 / RERI Research Team / Tag: Industry Diversification Project

The RERI has published the Industry Diversification Report for the first quarter of 2023. The goal of the IDI is to measure industry diversification and, by extension, that of the workforce, in each of Florida’s 24 workforce regions, the state of Florida, and the remaining 49 states. The index measure is computed quarterly, soon after the release of workforce data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. It spans from 0 to 10, with 0 signifying no diversification (or an economy characterized by a single industry), and 10 signifying perfect diversification (no concentration).

FGCU Civil Engineering students visited Vulcan Materials Company

March 21, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

FGCU students in the Civil Engineering Materials class visited Vulcan Materials Company - Aggregate Quarry. Mr. Beggs, Mr. Gritzer, and Mr. Wright took time out of their busy schedule and invested their resources to make this field trip possible.

President's Report 3/17/23

March 16, 2023 / Anna Carlin

News and updates from the Faculty Senate President.

Engaging Emojis in Canvas

March 16, 2023 / Department of Digital Learning / Tags: Canvas, Canvas Features, Online Teaching, emojis

Canvas just added a new feature, emojis for submissions. Emojis may seem like they are just an added decoration but there are many benefits to utilizing emojis in your Canvas courses. Using emojis can make the online course content more engaging, accessible, and effective in communicating the intended message. However, it is important to use them judiciously and in a way that is appropriate for the context of the course.

Preparing for Student Perception of Instruction - Spring 2023

March 13, 2023

U. of Rhode Island Faculty Senate supports Florida faculty

March 10, 2023 / Anna Carlin

A resolution of support of public institutions of higher education in Florida from the Faculty Senate of the University of Rhode Island was sent to the Florida UFF to share.

Construction Management students visit new construction of the Choice Hotel in Fort Myers

March 10, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

Our Construction Management students had two field trips this week to the new construction of the Choice Hotel in Fort Myers.

Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant

March 07, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

Pumping-Induced Feed Water Quality Variation and its Impacts on the Sustainable Operation of a Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant, City of Hialeah, Florida.

Regional Economic Indicators: March 2023 Report

March 01, 2023 / RERI Research Team

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for March 2023. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

Civil Engineering program presented at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference

February 24, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

Students from our Civil Engineering program presented at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference at St. Thomas University in Maimi Gardens, FL, on their research on civil materials.

Digital UDL: Using Technology to Implement UDL Strategies and Reinvigorate the Classroom

February 23, 2023

U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering Career and Internship Expo

February 23, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

Over 65 employers attended the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering Career and Internship Expo on Wed. Feb 22nd. It was great to see our alumni return to campus to recruit our students.

Digital Learning Online Teaching Certificate

February 21, 2023 / Department of Digital Learning / Tags: Certificate, Online Teaching, Professional Development

The FGCU Online Teaching Certificate prepares FGCU faculty to teach and improve online courses using the FGCU Department of Digital Learning pillars of quality in online education - Technology, Course Design, and Teaching.

President's Report 2/10/23

February 09, 2023 / Anna Carlin

News and updates for the Faculty Senate meeting on 2/10/23

ChatGPT with Rebecca Yost and Jenna Fedewa

February 09, 2023 / Social Distance Coffee / Tags: AI, Academic Integrity, ChatGPT, Digital Learning, Technology

FGCU’s Digital Learning has assembled a ChatGPT Exploration Team, including Rebecca Yost and Jenna Fedewa, who will join us at the next Social Distance Coffee with more detail about ChatGPT, how it is currently being used on campus (by instructors and students), what about it should concern us, and what about it we might welcome. Please join us Thursday, Feb. 9th at 10am to share your experiences and concerns about the latest technology, and whether it actually reflects what Aaron Levie calls “one of those rare moments in technology where you see a glimmer of how everything is going to be different going forward.”

Eagle Fund students present 2022 investment results to the FGCU Foundation

February 09, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: 2023, Eagle Fund, Economics & Finance, Finance, Undergraduate

FGCU's Student Managed Investment Fund ("Eagle Fund") manages $800k in equity and bond portfolios on behalf of the FGCU Foundation. Today, Eagle Fund students presented their 2022 investment results to the Foundation's investment committee. Student analysts / portfolio managers Xhesi Tase, Jessica Garciduenas, Ben Hermiston, and Paul Reisinger reviewed the Eagle Fund's investment philosophy, process, performance, attribution, current portfolio positioning and future outlook. Foundation committee members commended the students for the strong portfolio returns and an excellent presentation. In addition to gaining hands-on experience in securities analysis and portfolio management, Eagle Fund students are provided with several opportunities to hone their presentation skills. Legendary investor, Warren Buffett, said the best advice he can give to recent college graduates is “Invest in yourself. The one easy way to become worth 50 percent more than you are now — at least — is to hone your communication skills — both written and verbal. You can have all the brainpower in the world, but you have to be able to transmit it.” For more information on the Eagle Fund please visit www.fgcu.edu/eaglefund

Ideas for Infusing COIL Projects in Courses

February 06, 2023

Introduction to Active Learning in STEM Courses

February 06, 2023

Regional Economic Indicators: February 2023 Report

February 01, 2023 / RERI Research Team

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for February 2023. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

Chat GPT & Me: Implications for Teaching & Learning with AI

January 31, 2023

Issue Brief: Hurricane Ian Impact on Taxable Sales

January 31, 2023 / RERI Research Team / Tags: Issue Brief, Reports

The January 2023 edition of Regional Economic Indicators reported that seasonally-adjusted taxable sales for the Southwest Florida workforce region (comprising Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties) increased 16 percent in October 2022 compared to October 2021. October 2022 information was of interest because it represents the first full month of data after Hurricane Ian made landfall in late September 2022. Because of the increase, a natural question arises – which types of businesses saw increased economic activity after Hurricane Ian and which saw sharp declines? In this issue brief, we take a deeper dive into how Hurricane Ian impacted taxable sales and which types of businesses contributed to this increase. The taxable sales data used in this issue brief is provided by the Florida Department of Revenue and offers a breakdown of taxable sales by the type of business (labeled as “kind codes”). For this study, two adjustments were made to the taxable sales data:

Lee EBCS: First Quarter 2023 Report

January 31, 2023 / RERI Research Team

The Lee County economy showed signs of improvement for the first quarter of the new year, as the Executive Business Climate Index (EBCI) increased 3.1 points from the previous quarter to 53.0. While this is welcome news for a county that experienced a catastrophic category 4 hurricane just four months ago, a deeper dive into the results suggests that the county still has a way to go to fully recover from Ian. The current economic conditions index, based on a question asking respondents to compare the Lee County economy to 12 months ago, had an index of 42.2 for the first quarter of 2023, up 3.8 points from the previous quarter but still 8.7 points below the third quarter of 2022 (the last data point before Hurricane Ian). Similar conclusions could be drawn from the current industry conditions and current hiring trends indices, which both saw improvements from the last quarter but remained below pre-Ian levels.

Collier EBCS: First Quarter 2023 Report

January 31, 2023 / RERI Research Team

The Collier County economy continued to decline to begin the new year, according to the latest results from the Collier County Executive Business Climate Survey. The Collier County Executive Business Climate Index (EBCI) slipped in the first quarter of 2023, falling 1.3 points from the previous quarter to 51.7. The decline in the EBCI was largely due to perception of economic conditions, as both the Current Economic Conditions and Future Economic Conditions components dipped 1.8 points over the same period. Future Industry Conditions, a measure of expectations for the respondent’s industry over the next year, slipped 0.5 points.

Introduction to Qualtrics Survey Software: A Powerful Tool Supporting Faculty’s Teaching, Research, and Service

January 30, 2023

Dr. Lura and Dr. Tsegaye present at FGCU Scholar Series

January 27, 2023 / U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering

Dr. Lura and Dr. Tsegaye presented during the last FGCU Scholar Series of the semester. Their presentation “Food, Water & Energy: Engineering Precision Systems for a Sustainable Future” went in depth on the research that they are conducting out at the Emergent Technology Institute.

President's Report 1/26/23

January 26, 2023 / Anna Carlin

2023 Symposium: Fresh Ideas in Teaching & Learning

January 26, 2023

Gartner and ITS

January 26, 2023 / Social Distance Coffee / Tags: Gartner, ITS, Resources, Services, Technology

At the next Social Distance Coffee, Gartner’s Megan Kahler will join us to discuss what Gartner is, what it covers, and various resources and services our faculty, staff, and students should know about. Megan will be followed by Mary Banks, FGCU’s Chief Information Officer, who will share new university resources available for faculty and staff. She will also take our questions about technology in and outside of the classroom – and anything else happening at ITS. Hope to see you there.

From Student to Research Assistant: Collaborative Mentorship in Practice

January 23, 2023

Getting to Know UDL: What Is It & Why Use It?

January 13, 2023

Book Bytes: Creating Inclusive Online Communities

January 13, 2023 / Digital Learning / Tags: Book Bytes, Diversity, Online Courses, Vlog

Institutions of higher education are increasingly more diverse--racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically--with present and future students having a range of intersectional needs related to their cultural backgrounds, gendered experiences, and abilities. Sharla Berry offers faculty practical strategies for building asynchronous, synchronous, and blended online courses and programs that are inclusive and engaging for diverse learners.

President's Report 1/13/23

January 12, 2023 / Anna Carlin

Associate Professor Meagan Baskin selected as 2023 Southwest Academy of Management Distinguished Educator of the Year

January 11, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: 2023, Award, Management, Southwest Florida Leadership Institute, sfli

“Dr. Baskin is exceptionally talented in the classroom; she continues to seek faculty development opportunities to innovate to improve the experience for her students. As a result, her “Organizational Behavior by Design” course was unlike any other management course ever taught at the university. Through this course, the administration of the college began to realize that our physical footprint might be changed to provide a better environment to facilitate student learning. With some delay due to Covid and supply chain issues, the college is finally embarking on several design improvements.” Dr. Karen C., Endowed Professor of Accounting, University of Tulsa “Dr. Baskin makes every effort to engage her students. Dr. Baskin makes a conscious effort to incorporate student feedback into her lesson plans. She values students' thoughts and learning style differences. She constantly encourages students to attend her office hours, uses a variety of teaching techniques, and encourages feedback on different assignments in order to set her students up for success.” – Kayla Matthews, BBA-Management University of Tulsa

Getting Ready for Accreditation

January 11, 2023 / Social Distance Coffee / Tags: AACSB, Accreditation

Someone once said a New Year's resolution is something done in one year and out the other. However, Lutgert's reaccreditation is more than a resolution. It's a once-in-five-year event that requires all of us to play our part. The day to circle on your calendars is Monday, Feb. 27, which is the full day the accreditation team will be spending with our leadership, faculty, and staff. Many of you met Dr. Jacob Chacko, our visiting team chair, during his pre-visit last month. On the 27th, he will return with the two other team members, Dean Anthony Bowrin from the Cotsakos College of Business at William Patterson University, and Dean Marcelo Eduardo from Mississippi College. To get our minds focused on reaccreditation, please attend Social Distance Coffee this Wednesday, January 11 at 11am. Mathew, Vivek and I will (i) review the purpose of accreditation and its meaning not only to us but our students and stakeholders too, (ii) debrief you on what we learned from the recent visits from our consultants (the mock visit) and from Dr. Chacko, and (iii) outline how we plan to prepare for the visit between now and the last week of February. I look forward to seeing you and also hearing your feedback and questions. Our Ian-postponed college picnic is being rescheduled to a Saturday following the accreditation visit, where I plan on celebrating our reaccreditation as well as the good work we all do to make Lutgert the best business school in Florida.

Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis: An Introduction

January 10, 2023

Open House: Donuts and Scholars: A Window to FGCU’s Community of Scholars

January 09, 2023

Regional Economic Indicators: January 2023 Report

January 03, 2023 / RERI Research Team / Tags: Regional Economic Indicators, Reports

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for January 2023. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

Industry Diversification Project: Fourth Quarter 2022 Report

December 22, 2022 / RERI Research Team / Tag: Industry Diversification Project

The RERI has published the Industry Diversification Report for the fourth quarter of 2022. The goal of the IDI is to measure industry diversification and, by extension, that of the workforce, in each of Florida’s 24 workforce regions, the state of Florida, and the remaining 49 states. The index measure is computed quarterly, soon after the release of workforce data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. It spans from 0 to 10, with 0 signifying no diversification (or an economy characterized by a single industry), and 10 signifying perfect diversification (no concentration).

Chat GPT Has Arrived. Are You Ready?

December 14, 2022 / Digital Learning / Tags: AI, Creative Writing, Technology

OpenAI has released ChatGPT, it’s prototype artificial intelligence chatbot that has gained immense popularity among the public for its human-like, detailed responses to inquiries (such as drafting a pact between an artist and producer and creating complex code). ChatGPT can revolutionize the way that people use search engines by not only providing links for users to sort through but also by solving complicated problems and answering intricate questions.

Supply Chain Law: Designing Responsible Supply Chains

December 14, 2022 / Wednesday Webinar / Tag: Center for Supply Chain Excellence

Sarah Rathke is a trial lawyer specializing in manufacturing litigation, particularly complex supply chain disputes. She has argued and tried cases on behalf of manufacturers in forums throughout the US.  Her clients include foreign, domestic, and multinational manufacturing entities. Her skills include a deep understanding of the process of bringing highly engineered products to market and conveying that understanding to judges and juries. Sarah has litigated supply chain disputes involving automotive, aerospace, food, medical, construction, and office products. She has also litigated trade secret disputes involving manufactured products and cases involving the purchase and sale of manufacturing entities.

FGCU Nursing and Therapy Students Collaborate in Interprofessional Experience

December 13, 2022 / Tags: FGCU, Marieb College of Health & Human Services, Nursing, Nursing Students, Physical Therapy, Physical Therapy Students

On November 22, 2022, FGCU graduating therapy students joined nursing students in the Safety, Mobility, and Musculoskeletal Foundations Lab. The BSN Foundations Lab students worked in pairs with one graduating therapy student. Additionally, there was one therapy leader student who circulated the room to ensure all expected skills of the lab were covered for the lab session. The therapy students spent 100 minutes with the BSN Nursing Foundations students. The subjects covered were: range of motion exercises, prevention of falls, body mechanics, ergonomic principles, turning and positioning, moving and transferring, gait belt use, canes, walker use, crutches, wheelchair use and mobility, and ambulation. The BSN Nursing students expressed their confidence in these skills following the interprofessional collaboration with the graduating therapy students. Equally, the graduating therapy students also voiced this was an excellent experience to come to the simulation lab to collaborate with the BSN students.

School of Nursing and Oasis Charter School Clinical Partnership Flourishes

December 13, 2022 / Dr. Cindy Farris & Miriane Martinez / Tags: FGCU, FGCU BSN, FGCU School of Nursing

Since 2021, FGCU School of Nursing students using the leadership of Melanie Klages, OASIS Charter Schools System Nurse have learned the special intricacies of the school nurse role. Nursing students believed that school nurses only dealt with a readily available band aid or ice pack, but learned through school nursing clinical rotations that today’s school nurse prepares students to face the challenges involved with disease management and disaster events. Recently, two FGCU Community Nursing students, Abigail Buchholz and Brooke Bzdawka assisted Mrs. Klages in mandatory primary prevention education to ninth grade students on CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED), choking, first-aid, and trauma principles. These trainings are mandated by the state of Florida for all sixth, ninth and eleventh graders. The purpose of this education for the OASIS students is in relationship to previous events surrounding school shootings. “The best part of the experience was taking part in primary prevention. Oftentimes, we only take part in tertiary prevention and feel like there’s only so much we can do.” Abigail Buchholz The multiple visits by the Community Health nursing students at this clinical rotation emphasized the importance of effective teaching to this pediatric population. The OASIS students have learned from the Community Health Nursing students about nursing school, FGCU and the value of the nursing profession. “In the end, I thought this experience was helpful for me in my nursing career. It also made me realize how much knowledge and confidence I have gained in nursing school at FGCU.” Brooke Bzdawka. The impact of the partnership between OASIS Charter Schools and FGCU School of Nursing is far-reaching and lasting. FGCU School of Nursing is grateful for this partnership and especially for Mrs. Klages and her endless devotion to students and the nursing profession.

Inaugural FGCU Economics Poster Presentation Expo

December 09, 2022 / Lutgert News / Tags: Economics, Economics & Finance, Research, Undergraduate

At the inaugural FGCU Economics Poster Presentation Expo, senior economics students presented their empirical economic research papers to faculty and executive council members. Each student defined a research question, conducted a literature review, developed a conceptual model, gathered data, explored the appropriate research methodology, coded in R to answer their research question, and provided a summary and conclusion of their findings.

Counseling Professor wins Professional Leadership Award

December 05, 2022 / First and Last Name

Dr. Sherdene Brown-Simpson receives the 2022 Professional Leadership Award for her contribution to the counseling profession.

President's Report: 12/2/2022

December 01, 2022 / Anna Carlin

Notes and news from the Faculty Senate President

Regional Economic Indicators: December 2022 Report

December 01, 2022 / RERI Research Team / Tags: Regional Economic Indicators, Reports

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for October 2022. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

Lee EBCS: Fourth Quarter 2022 Report

December 01, 2022 / RERI Research Team / Tags: Executive Business Climate Survey, Lee County

In our last report, we noted there was a blurred picture when it came to the national economy. This national scenario remains true for the latest report as well, as businesses and workers continue to navigate a period of economic uncertainty. In an effort to stabilize inflation, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate by 0.75 basis points in November 2022, representing the highest level since January 2008. There is still some debate among economists as to whether this will produce a recession. While the housing market has been cooling down, consumers continue to maintain their expenditure level.

Collier EBCS: Fourth Quarter 2022 Report

December 01, 2022 / RERI Research Team / Tags: Collier County, Executive Business Climate Survey

The national economic scenario continues to present a blurred picture. In an effort to stabilize inflation, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate by 0.75 basis points in November 2022, representing the highest level since January 2008. There is still some debate among economists as to whether this will produce a recession. While the housing market has been cooling down, consumers continue to maintain their expenditure level.

Congratulations to our 2022 Technology Survey Winners!

November 30, 2022 / Department of Digital Learning / Tag: Technology Survey Winners

The Department of Digital Learning successfully completed the 14th Annual Student Technology Survey this Fall. Thank you to all the students who shared their technology preferences and opinions with us. The data will be used to improve student services.

Issue Brief: Working from Home in Southwest Florida

November 30, 2022 / RERI Research Team / Tags: Issue Brief, Reports

When the Covid-19 pandemic first arrived to Southwest Florida in early 2020, workers and employers began to reevaluate the office setting. Workers who were accustomed to commuting to an office every day were suddenly asked to work from home as a means to reduce the spread of the virus. As time passed, vaccines and antiviral medication were developed as methods for preventing and combating the virus, but working from home still remained a popular choice when it comes to the modality of work. In this issue brief, we analyze how the work from home environment has changed in Southwest Florida coastal counties since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Respondus Training Opportunities December and January (2022-2023)

November 29, 2022 / Department of Digital Learning / Tag: respondus training

Greetings, educators! Join us for a 45-minute training on how to protect exam integrity with LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor, quickly create online exams with Respondus 4.0 and the Test Bank Network, and more.

Karen Costa's Trauma Informed Pedagogy Course

November 29, 2022 / Department of Digital Learning / Tags: Hurricane Ian, Online Teaching, Trauma Informed Pedagogy, pandemic

This self-paced course is geared toward faculty, staff, and executive leadership. You will learn to define trauma, describe how it impacts teaching and learning, and develop an action plan for next steps on your trauma-awareness journey. The course is 100% asynchronous and is $49.00 for lifetime access to the content. The course will take about 4-6 hours to complete.

OT Students Present Research at the Florida Occupational Therapy Association Conference

November 28, 2022 / First and Last Name

Occupational Therapy student research groups help to further the mission of the FGCU Community Autism Network.

Attendance Dashboard Resources

November 16, 2022 / Department of Digital Learning / Tags: Canvas, attendance dashboard

We have enabled a timesaving new tool to add to your courses this spring, the Attendance Dashboard. You can select one or more Online Attendance Criteria to define Online Attendance in your course, when a student meets any of the selected criteria on a given day, that student is marked as “attended” for that day. You can filter the Online Attendance dashboard to view data by course, section, or individual student OR filter by day of week and students who did or did not meet the criteria.

Canvas New Features and Updates

November 15, 2022 / The Department of Digital Learning / Tags: Canvas, Canvas Releases, Canvas Updates

Digital Learning and ITS meet monthly to discuss the updates, stay informed of the changes, test new features/updates, plan and schedule enabling of new features, etc. In addition to the monthly Canvas Release Notes that are available by Canvas support, a few times a year we identify updates that stand out from others. This article is a summary of the updates from the past several months.

Optimizing Your Canvas Course Storage

November 10, 2022 / Department of Digital Learning / Tags: Canvas, Cloud, Kaltura, OneDrive, YouTube, optimize

As you add content to your Canvas course, you will need to optimize your Canvas account’s storage space. Your Canvas course storage is limited (1GB). If you upload too many large files, you will run out of space. In this blog, we will review some of the alternate solutions and tools available for you to share large files on Canvas and avoid storage space issues.

Vlog: Engaging Virtual Environments

November 09, 2022 / Digital Learning / Tags: Book Bytes, Online Teaching, Vlog, technology enhanced

Using practical and simple online tools and strategies to promote student interaction, participation, and active learning

FGCU BSN Program Repeats Exceptional NCLEX Pass Rate

November 09, 2022 / M. Martinez, Coordinator Nursing / Tags: FGCU BSN, FGCU NURSING, NCLEX-RN, Pass Rate

Florida Gulf Coast University School of Nursing is proud to announce the BSN Program has again achieved a 98.8% NCLEX pass rate! Over the last three quarters, FGCU has had an impressive 95-100% NCLEX pass rate. This is an awesome achievement! BSN Program Director, Dr. Kelly Goebel would like to congratulate the BSN student body, fantastic faculty, staff and administration for their hard work! Go Eagles!!!

#2 Ranked Nursing Program in Florida

November 02, 2022 / M. Martinez, Coordinator Nursing / Tags: BSN, FGCU NURSING, RN

Nursing advocacy organization, RegisteredNursing.org has just released their annual list of the Best RN Programs in Florida. FGCU School of Nursing is proud to announce that the FGCU RN program has been ranked as one of the best for 2023! The ranking was determined by current and historical NCLEX RN pass rates out of 150 programs in the state. For more information on top nursing school rankings, visit the RegisteredNursing.org link provided below (https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-ranking-methodology/).

Regional Economic Indicators: November 2022 Report

November 01, 2022 / RERI Research Team / Tags: Regional Economic Indicators, Reports

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for November 2022. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

BigBlueButton Updates

October 27, 2022 / Digital Learning / Tags: BigBlueButton, Canvas Updates

This month, BigBlueButton has made several notable updates; Waiting Room, Meeting Settings, and Course Calendar option

Looking Forward with Provost Rieger

October 27, 2022 / Social Distance Coffee

Provost Rieger will share his thoughts on Lutgert’s and FGCU’s strengths and challenges this academic year – especially following Hurricane Ian.

Presidential Search - Questions for Candidates

October 24, 2022 / Anna Carlin

President's Report 10/21/22

October 21, 2022 / Anna Carlin

SFPP Information Panel, Fall 2022

October 19, 2022

Promoting Civil Discourse in the University Community

October 18, 2022

Applying Principles of Transparency to Assignments

October 17, 2022

Checking in and Catching up After Hurricane Ian

October 14, 2022 / Digital Learning / Tags: Checking in, Hurricane Ian, Trauma Informed Pedagogy

We learned many lessons about Trauma-Informed Pedagogy from the COVID-19 Pandemic. We can use those lessons now as we begin to recover and rebuild from Hurricane Ian.