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Florida Gulf
Coast University
Florida
Gulf Coast
University is a
dynamic and diverse institution with a reputation for attracting entrepreneurs
and trail blazers.
As it commences its 13th year of operation,
the University has a diverse student body of more than 11,000. Those students come from 46 states and
the District of Columbia
as well as 88 other countries. As of
fall 2009, they may choose from 52 undergraduate programs and 32 graduate
programs, including a doctorate in physical therapy.
FGCU offers an exceptional education at an affordable
price. The University recruits and
retains students with the potential to succeed in a challenging academic
environment and aims to fulfill the academic, social and career
expectations of those students.
Entering high school students have an average SAT score of 1,036 and
a grade point average of 3.3.
 With
more than 1,100 faculty and staff, FGCU features small classes and
personalized attention for students.
The University ranks among the world’s most technologically advanced
campuses, providing state-of-the-art buildings and equipment to support
educational programs.
Five colleges offer 84 degree programs in Arts and
Sciences,  Business,
Education, Health Professions and Professional Studies. The most popular majors include
accounting, biology, business, communication, criminal forensics, criminal
justice, elementary education, environmental science, resort and
hospitality management, marketing and psychology. Other in-demand degree programs include
biotechnology, computer information systems and engineering. On the masters
level, the most popular programs  include
business administration, educational leadership, public administration and
social work. To date, FGCU has awarded one or more degrees to more than
10,000 graduates.
A well-rounded University experience does not consist
solely of academics.
Service learning plays a vital role in an FGCU
education, with students providing more than 112,600 hours of service to
hundreds of community organizations and projects between July 2007 and June
2008.
FGCU is situated on 760 lush acres in the heart of
coastal Southwest Florida, where the
climate is mild, the air is clean and the sunshine is abundant. The University has carefully preserved
its natural setting, providing a living laboratory and a campus rich in
wooded trails and tranquil lakes. It’s
also convenient to shopping, restaurants, movie theatres and sporting
events, all of which can be found within a couple of miles of the
campus. Downtown Fort
Myers and Naples as well as the
shimmering beaches of the Gulf of Mexico
are within a 30-minute drive.
On-campus activities abound as well, with 14 NCAA
Division I athletic teams, more than 125 student clubs, organizations,
fraternities and sororities.
The 2,800 students who live on campus enjoy a variety of
housing choices, including lakefront apartment-style residences that are
furnished and come complete with full-sized kitchens, living rooms and
high-speed Internet access.
Amenities include a swimming pool, lake water sports, barbecue
areas, beach volleyball and laundry facilities that are programmed to alert
students when cycles are complete.
This fall, freshmen will have two brand new halls, with a mix of
single rooms and suits. Residents of both of these halls take part in the
First Year Residence Experience, a program that helps students transition to
University life.
The campus includes 71 building with three more under
construction along with a 2 megawatt solar
energy field that, when completed this fall, should supply about 15
percent of the University’s energy needs. Construction is scheduled to
start on a performing arts center this summer and there are plans to expand
the Student Union and build additional academic facilities.
Research and sponsored programs have grown steadily,
with awards totaling $14.7 million in 2007-20008. Faculty conducts a broad array of
research, affording students many opportunities to take part. To date, that
research has resulted in applications for seven patents.
The FGCU Foundation has raised more than $200 million,
with funds going toward buildings, programs and scholarships.
Roughly 10,000 people participate in the University’s Renaissance Academy lifelong-learning courses
conducted at 19 sites in the five-county service area. FGCU also offers a variety of for-credit
and continuing education courses at centers in Cape
Coral, Naples and Charlotte County.
FGCU students graduate well prepared to succeed not only
in their chosen careers but also as valuable members of society.
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