Florida Gulf Coast University
EN-13: Community Stakeholder Engagement

Community and stakeholder engagement are one of the pilars of FGCU. From the university's mission statement: "Florida Gulf Coast University continuously pursues academic excellence, practices and promotes environmental sustainability, embraces diversity, nurtures community partnerships, values public service, encourages civic responsibility, cultivates habits of lifelong learning, and keeps the advancement of knowledge and pursuit of truth as noble ideals at the heart of the university’s purpose." In addition FGCU has an office of Community Outreach who's mission states: "The mission of the Office of Community Outreach is multifaceted. It is to create a cohesive outreach and support system for students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds through the following means: 1. Foster strong University/Community partnerships; 2. Increase visibility and participation of the University in the Southwest Florida community; and 3. Assist with the recruitment and retention efforts of the University. Specific Functions Responsible for facilitating, coordinating, and providing assistance that links diversity perspectives and academic multicultural initiatives to the University’s mission of higher education. Assist and participate in the campus-wide effort to achieve enrollment and student retention goals. Responsible for enhancing the University’s visibility among diverse external community constituencies and engaging them with internal campus units with similar strategic visions, goals, and objectives." The strong service learning and community engagement emphasis at FGCU further involves stakeholders on campus by curating a database of community partners the connect students seeking volunteer opportunities with community stakeholders. Service Learning Mission Statement: Through mission and function, Florida Gulf Coast University takes pride in partnerships forged with the communities it serves. Students are central to these partnerships and are provided opportunities for community involvement through service-learning. Service-learning experiences support the FGCU undergraduate learning goals and outcomes, foster civic responsibility, and develop informed citizens who participate in their communities after graduation in personally and professionally relevant ways. Service-learning facilitates an appreciation for the interconnectedness of individuals, the communities in which they live, and the resources required to sustain both. Eagle Advocacy: Mission Statement Eagle Advocacy is designed to engage the FGCU community to participate in advancing FGCU’s legislative agenda in Tallahassee. The society is designed to connect with people in the community interested in advancing FGCU, communicate with members and keep them up to date on activities of the Florida Legislature, coordinate our community into effective advocacy groups, and activate our members to promote FGCU and our goals to the Legislature and Governor. Why Join? Eagle advocates make a difference by persuasively telling the FGCU story and communicating key issues to the all elected officials. As an eagle advocate, your voice can make a difference to our state legislators and other elected members by providing them with value information at strategic times during the 60-day legislative session and thorough out the year. With your action and support, Eagle Advocacy will carry a strong message of the importance of higher education and the need for reliable state funding.

The FGCU College of Education partners with many groups representing the most vulnerable members of society. FGCU COE in partnership with USF is a member of the The Center for Autism & Related Disabilities. This organization is a community-based project that provides information and consultation to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and related disabilities. CARD-USF offers instruction and coaching to families and professionals through a training and assistance model. FGCU's family resource center The mission and goals of the Family Resource Center are: To promote the social, emotional, moral, cognitive, language and physical development of each child by: — providing support and resources for families — forming and enhancing nurturing relationships between each child and teacher where each child is cherished for his or her own unique qualities — creating a rich developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum To build partnerships with families through mutual respect, open communication, and opportunities for active participation. To facilitate interactions between and among families. To model, convey and promote high quality developmentally and culturally appropriate practices in early care and education to families, professionals, and the community-at-large. To create a nurturing and responsive environment that provides resources and supports the personal and professional growth of the Center staff. FGCU is a member of the Florida Inclusion Network and houses an office on campus. The FIN collaborates with all districts and schools to provide customized services and supports ensuring all students with disabilities have the same educational, social, and future opportunities as their peers. The College of Arts and Sciences houses FGCU's Juvenile Restorative Justice program: As increased levels of student’s enrollment, behavioral issues, and alcohol and drug problems plague school communities, administrators and teachers are faced with resolving conflict in an expeditious and peaceful manner, while addressing the needs of youth. A modern day movement is transforming the way that school communities think about and respond to wrongful occurrences. Early offenders pose special challenges, but restorative justice offers unique benefits. Not only does restorative justice hold youth accountable for their actions, it also affords them the opportunity to repair the harm they have caused. This approach seeks to balance the needs of the victim and the community as well as consequences and accountability for the wrong-doer, and requires that each should be actively involved in the process to the greatest extent possible. Restorative practices, as related to educational discipline, provide schools with an opportunity to address the standards of discipline and facilitate a forum for the peaceful resolution to conflict.

Complete list of community partners and stakeholders can be found through the FGCU service learning database located at http://www.fgcu.edu/Connect/agencylist.asp

FGCU has been home to many outreach and engagement conferences in the last three years including but not limited to: Attain to Retain Conference - For a host of reasons, men and women of color are far less likely than their white and Asian peers to earn college degrees. A recent study by the College Board determined that, as of 2008, only 16 percent of Latino and 28 percent of African-American men ages 25 to 34 had obtained an associate degree or higher. That compares with 44 percent of white men and 70 percent of Asian men. Similarly, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, as of 2010, only 10 percent of Latina, 6 percent Asian and 11 percent of African-American females had obtained an associate degree or higher. That compares with 66 percent of white females. The Attain to Retain Conference aims to help narrow these gaps by assisting college-age under-represented students to understand the challenges they face and the critical need to overcome those challenges if they are to succeed in college and beyond. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and talk with a panel of distinguished experts who will offer them coping strategies and direction geared to helping them be successful in college. The Community Speaks Lecture Series - The mission of the Office of Community Outreach is to foster strong University-community partnerships that increase the visibility, accountability, and participation of the University in the surrounding Southwest Florida community, assist with the recruitment and retention efforts of the University, and create a cohesive support system for students from traditionally underserved or underrepresented backgrounds. In keeping with this mission, we sponsor The Community Speaks lecture series, which features community leaders from Southwest Florida. Cerebral Palsy Symposium An FGCU student group is putting on their second annual event, Cerebral Palsy Symposium 2013. It will take place on November 18 at Florida Gulf Coast University. A complimentary banquet for speakers and individuals with CP and their families will begin at 5:30pm in the Cohen Center Terrace; the main event will be from 7:00 - 9:30 PM in the Cohen Center Ballroom and is free for all to attend. Our target audience is individuals with CP and their families and faculty/students and members of the general public who are interested in learning more about the disorder. We have speakers from research teams/institutes, physicians, organization representatives (United Cerebral Palsy, Special Equestrians), and we will be showing video clips/presentations from several international groups who could not be represented in person. Annual Children's Mental Health Conference - ccording to NIMH, half of all lifetime cases of mental disorders begin by age 14. In any given year, only 20 percent of children with mental disorders are identified and receive health services as reported by the U.S. Public Health Services. This conference aims to raise awareness and sensitivity by providing accurate information while bringing all stakeholders together to form a community alliance. The consequences of untreated mental health disorders in children and adolescents are severe. Preventing suicide, school failure, criminal behavior, and substance abuse are what we, as advocates, aim for as we promote treatment and recovery for our children and youth. Join us for a day of learning, networking, and sharing. We can all become better advocates for our children. Small Business Access to Capital Fair - The First Annual FSBDC @ Florida Gulf Coast University Access to Capital Fair is an opportunity for small business owners and entrepreneurs who are seeking financial funding to meet financial institutions and other alternative sources of financing. After meeting the lenders in a trade show environment, attend breakout sessions consisting of: Crowdfunding/ Crowdlending, How to get s SBA Loan, and Angel investing, Lite breakfast will be offered. The Kleist Health Education Center at FGCU provides free health education programs to local schools: Over the past years, the Kleist Health Education Center has been invited to “partner” with numerous school districts as their comprehensive health curriculum provider. With the increasing demands on teachers’ time and meeting standards and wellness policy requirements, outreach education is much more effective. The KHEC educators will have time to respond to specific school needs, provide enrichment activities for students and deliver critical health and safety lessons, thus promoting positive change, raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. We look forward to working with your class, school, community group or entire district! Also, the Kleist Health Education Center offers on site health education: The Kleist Health Education Center offers dynamic health education programs all year around, spring, summer, winter, and fall. Our programs are developmentally appropriate for all ages 3 to adult. We offer five different cores areas of health education: general health, nutrition and fitness, drug education, human growth and development, and character education.