Apply for Grant-in-Aid leave funding to support pathway to degree

February 19, 2026

FGCU’s Grant-in-Aid program offers paid educational leave to eligible employees completing their associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees, supporting their professional development and career advancement.

This program is one of the many ways FGCU continues its commitment to the development and retention of high-performing, qualified faculty and staff.

Support personnel (SP), administrative & professional (A&P) and faculty are eligible to apply. Applicants must have at least two years of satisfactory performance in a permanent or continuing full-time position prior to the beginning of the academic year in which the grant will be awarded. Recipients have the option to take either full-time leave for one semester or part-time leave for two semesters.

A group of four people stand in front of a Florida Gulf Coast University step‑and‑repeat banner displaying the FGCU logo and name. Each person is holding an award or certificate. The individuals are positioned side by side, and a large potted plant is visible on the right side of the image.

Grant-in-Aid recipient Julie Gleason, Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award recipient Dr. Nicola Khalaf, Doctoral Student of the Year Award recipient Yanqiong Liu, and Grant-in-Aid recipient Zachry Gelow celebrate their awards at the 2025 Celebration of Excellence ceremony.

If you are interested in the program, submit an application by 5 p.m. March 10. For more information on eligibility, requirements and selection criteria, visit fgcu.edu/ombuds/grantinaid or contact the University Ombuds at ombuds@fgcu.edu.

Grant-in-aid recipients will be announced at the Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony April 22.