Florida Gulf Coast University
AC-10: Support for Research

CESE SAGE The Center for Environmental & Sustainability Education (CESE) has developed Student Associates for a Greener Environment (SAGE), to involve students in our work in the Florida Gulf Coast University community and beyond. Students who become a member will be nurtured in their leadership capacity and develop their identities as environmentally conscious individuals. Students who become associates are expected to make a serious commitment to SAGE, the mission of the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education, and to environmental and sustainability education at FGCU. SAGE members will work within the Center's traditions of collaboration, civil dialogue and intellectual integrity. For the fall of 2013 and spring of 2014, the Center is pleased to offer small grants up to $1,000 for Student Associates for a Greener Environment (SAGE) members to support projects that fulfill one or more of the five SAGE goals: - Innovative educational research project. -Educational project that promotes ecological literacy. -Civic engagement activities in local environmental issues, with a particular focus on campus initiatives. -Scholarly activity, teaching, or service related to environmental and sustainability education. -Development of environmental youth initiatives (http://www.fgcu.edu/CESE/sage.html) WHITAKER CENTER FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION MINI-GRANTS Applicants must be either faculty or student at FGCU. Due to limited funds, an individual may receive no more than $500 of funding per academic year. Funds will not be awarded for salary stipends. Categories of Funding Research Funding The Whitaker Center supports the development and reporting of a variety of curriculum and teaching innovations at all levels of STEM education. The Center also fosters and supports research and evaluation of teaching innovations and practices. Funding for these activities is provided where the program meets the Center's goals and funds are available. Funding levels are determined annually by the Leadership Team. Funding, while limited, is meant to encourage pilot studies that may lead to larger externally funded projects. Faculty are encouraged to pursue other funding sources, including matching funds and in-kind support. This not only broadens the funding base, enabling larger or more varied projects, but also encourages and strengthens the network of science, mathematics and technology educators at all levels. Whitaker Center Undergraduate Research Program funds are available for students in any major and with science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics as a focus as well as teaching and learning in these areas. Travel Funding Professional travel for faculty and students is supported through the Whitaker Center for activities that support the Whitaker Center goals. Faculty travel should include presentations in STEM education at meetings or conferences. Student travel funds are provided for presenting STEM research or attending STEM education meetings and conferences. Students are encouraged to present individual research posters. PK-12 Initiatives The Whitaker Center supports the development and implementation of PK-12 initiatives. Funding may be sought for projects that target either PK-12 teachers or students. Projects must be STEM-related and interactive in nature. Initiatives geared toward teachers might involve course development, labs and activities, technology training and other similar endeavors. Initiatives geared toward students might involve outreach, workshops or camps. If funded, projects should in some way highlight Whitaker Center Funding. (http://www.fgcu.edu/WhitakerCenter/grantApplocations.html) CAMPUS RESEARCH DAY This venue supports inter campus dialog and gives students experience presenting their research, preparing them for their professional careers. http://www.fgcu.edu/FacultySenate/files/11-15-2013_ResearchDay.pdf

COURSE RELEASE, SABBATICAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAVE Faculty members are eligible Course Release wherein a lighter course load may be approved in exchange for allocating additional time to research. Faculty members are also eligible for Sabbbatical and Professional Development Leave. FACULTY SENATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND GRANT These grants are for attendance at workshops, conferences, seminars, and for other scholarly, pedagogical, and other professionally-related activities. (http://www.fgcu.edu/FacultySenate/pdfguides.html) WHITAKER CENTER FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION MINI-GRANTS Applicants must be either faculty or student at FGCU. Due to limited funds, an individual may receive no more than $500 of funding per academic year. Funds will not be awarded for salary stipends. Categories of Funding Research Funding The Whitaker Center supports the development and reporting of a variety of curriculum and teaching innovations at all levels of STEM education. The Center also fosters and supports research and evaluation of teaching innovations and practices. Funding for these activities is provided where the program meets the Center's goals and funds are available. Funding levels are determined annually by the Leadership Team. Funding, while limited, is meant to encourage pilot studies that may lead to larger externally funded projects. Faculty are encouraged to pursue other funding sources, including matching funds and in-kind support. This not only broadens the funding base, enabling larger or more varied projects, but also encourages and strengthens the network of science, mathematics and technology educators at all levels. Whitaker Center Undergraduate Research Program funds are available for students in any major and with science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics as a focus as well as teaching and learning in these areas. Travel Funding Professional travel for faculty and students is supported through the Whitaker Center for activities that support the Whitaker Center goals. Faculty travel should include presentations in STEM education at meetings or conferences. Student travel funds are provided for presenting STEM research or attending STEM education meetings and conferences. Students are encouraged to present individual research posters. PK-12 Initiatives The Whitaker Center supports the development and implementation of PK-12 initiatives. Funding may be sought for projects that target either PK-12 teachers or students. Projects must be STEM-related and interactive in nature. Initiatives geared toward teachers might involve course development, labs and activities, technology training and other similar endeavors. Initiatives geared toward students might involve outreach, workshops or camps. If funded, projects should in some way highlight Whitaker Center Funding. (http://www.fgcu.edu/WhitakerCenter/grantApplocations.html)

There is no faculty tenure at FGCU. Promotion standards are set within the individual departments. Interdisciplinary research is not only tolerated, but is encouraged in many of the University's departments, and it is provided equal weight in consideration.

The library now has the Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability online! This set of 10 e-books “draws from the natural, physical, and social sciences to bring readers an unprecedented array of 887 articles—from over 900 contributors from 53 countries—on environmental law and ethics, green business practices, regional sustainability issues, and resource and ecosystem management”