About Us

We Develop, Guide, and Coordinate Community Engagement

With a service-learning graduation requirement for all undergraduate students, service-learning is integrated into classes, student organizations, FGCU offices, and all of campus culture. The Office of Service-Learning & Civic Engagement (SLCE) also facilitates the promotion of service opportunities through Eagle Link, as well as the tracking, verification, and reporting of all service-learning experiences via Eagle Service Network. To provide deep intentionality with each service-learning experience, the SLCE integrates a number of core frameworks into all programming and initiatives.

To support this deep integration of service-learning, the SLCE conducts nearly 40 classroom presentations and campus wide workshops each year. Additionally, the SLCE trains and collaborates with faculty for nearly 275 classes a year that are designated with a service-learning attribute in the course catalog (search SRVC attribute in the course catalog) as well as advisors and student leaders for over 100 student organizations that each integrate service-learning. The SLCE also trains, coordinates, and manages relationships with over 300 community agencies to help them meaningfully connect with campus, including projects with faculty and students, participation in service-learning fairs, annual "day of service" events, an annual showcase of award-winning service-learning projects, and more. Since its inception, FGCU students have engaged in over 3.7 million hours of service-learning and continue to add approximately 275,000 additional hours each year.

What is Service-Learning?
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Service-learning is a method of teaching, learning, and reflecting that combines academic classroom curriculum with meaningful service that meets actual needs in the community.¹ As one form of experiential learning, service-learning enriches the learning experience, teaches civic responsibility, encourages lifelong civic engagement, and strengthens communities. Service-learning is reciprocal as both the server and those being served are teaching and learning during their interaction. According to The National and Community Service Act of 1990, "Service-learning experiences put abstract classroom concepts into concrete form and provide meaningful opportunities to test and refine theories while helping to meet basic community needs." Additionally, according to The Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), the incorporation of service-learning in higher education is a "high-impact practice" that increases content knowledge, higher-order thinking, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, career skills, civic responsibility, and academic success.
Our Frameworks
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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

National Association of Colleges and Employers' Career Readiness Competencies

Active Citizen Continuum

Social Change Model

Four Types of Service
Service-Learning Graduation Requirement
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Service-learning at FGCU is integrated through a graduation requirement. Service-learning must be completed with a registered nonprofit or government agency.

Learn more about the graduation requirement

Learn more about the parameters for completing service-learning hours
Career Readiness
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Service-learning experiences help students develop and refine the same skills that employers are seeking from recent college graduates.² FGCU cares deeply about each student as well as the communities in which they will soon live. The FGCU service-learning requirement sets students up with an advantage through these experiences that can put them above other candidates when applying to jobs and graduate schools. At the same time, FGCU graduates leave with a deeper understanding and level of positive engagement in the world around them.
Our Team
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Office of Service-Learning and Civic Engagement
Florida Gulf Coast University
McTarnaghan Hall 229
10501 FGCU Blvd. S. Fort Myers, FL 33965

Open: 8am-5pm
Email: servicelearning@fgcu.edu
Phone: (239) 590-7023

Having worked for several years on community development programs with nonprofits across the country, it’s safe to say community engagement efforts run deep for Justin. A unique career path of nonprofits, politics, and even a stint as a Co-Op at NASA eventually led him back to college campuses. Once in higher education, Justin began in residential education but was soon drawn back to his love of community engagement and service-learning. He most recently served six years as the Assistant Director of the Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement at the University of South Florida - Tampa. Although he was raised and attended undergrad in Cleveland, Justin also lived in DC and Indiana before moving to Tampa. When not at work, Justin can be found enjoying time outdoors, at a community meeting, attempting some creative project, or jamming to a "Best of the 80s and 90s" playlist with his wife and four-year-old son!

Justin Fitzgerald

Director of Community Engagement

Office: McTarnaghan Hall - Rm 230

Phone: (239) 590-7031

E-mail: jfitzgerald@fgcu.edu

Lisa is a former New Yorker whose love for warmth and sun drew her to Florida's sandy shores. She is a graduate of FGCU, earning her B.A. in English with a Creative Writing minor. She has a passion for music, gardening, bees, writing, Netflix, and being of service to others. If she could, Lisa would have way more than two dogs, because 'Rescue' is her favorite breed. She also adores puns, corny jokes, a good pencil, and the Oxford comma. She is secretly fascinated by dreams of world domination. If you ask what plans she has for the next 10 years Lisa would tell you, "The same plans I had for the last 10, to try and take over the world."

Lisa Paige

Coordinator, Student Progress

Office: McTarnaghan Hall - Rm 228

Phone: (239) 590-7015

E-mail: lpaige@fgcu.edu

Kelly is a native Floridian who graduated from UCF with a bachelor's in Psychology and a master's in Counselor Education. Her plan was to become a mental health counselor but she ended up working as an advisor at a higher education company and loved helping college students so she decided to make a career out of it. Kelly likes music, movies, theater, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Mia.

Kelly Bernardo

Coordinator, Service-Learning

Office: McTarnaghan Hall - Rm 231

Phone: (239) 590-7019

E-mail: kbernardo@fgcu.edu

Vacant

Program Assistant

Office: McTarnaghan Hall - Rm 229B

Peter Wukitsch

Eagle Link Coordinator

Josh Bernardin

Office Assistant

Katana Carotti-Goldberg

Office Assistant

Bianca Masone

Graphic Designer

Will Rolle

Service Trip Leader/Office Assistant

Vanessa Salas

Service Trip Leader

Jamie Wilson

Service-Learning Faculty Assistant