Florida Gulf Coast University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Key initiative & Investments (within the next 3 years) from the State University Board of Governors Accountability Plan:
"...actions around strategic driver four include leveraging world class scholars (WCS) funding to build strength in addressing water quality challenges that threaten the prosperity of the region and the state as a whole. Completion of our Academic Building 9 to house the School for Integrated Watershed and Coastal Studies and crucial cluster hires will leverage a strong regional presence
involving applied research in marine and environmental science."

"Applied research to address issues critical to Southwest Florida
Stimulating increased research and scholarship relevant to the unique character, challenges and opportunities in Southwest Florida. A primary initiative will focus on issues related to water quality, allocation, availability, and management with concomitant “downstream” effects on public health and economic development in our region." https://www.fgcu.edu/about/leadership/fgcuboardoftrustees/files/FGCU_2019_Accountability_Plan_Sept2019.pdf

An example of a brand new (in Academic Year '18/'19) student engagement program that contained sustainability, diversity, inclusion, etc. is FGCU's First-Year Experience program called #EAGLESin22. This is a full-year program designed for first-year students to engage in 22 university events, activities, or programs identified as high-impact student success practices by the end of their first year at FGCU: 92% (2,729) of the Fall 2018 freshman class enrolled.

Purpose:
To acquaint first-year students with campus resources that will help them
be successful, while fostering active engagement with campus
departments and organizations that exist to support their academic and
personal development

Primary Program Outcome:
To increase the level of engagement with and connection to FGCU
• Students who feel a sense of belonging to the university community are more likely to persist and complete their degrees (Tinto, 2016)

Program Registration
• Students learned about #EAGLESin22 during Orientation
• Primary registration kick-off during Weeks of Welcome
• Students continued to register throughout the Fall semester
• Registered 2,729 FTIC students
• Goal 94% of the entering class / Result was 92% of class

The Pillars
E.A.G.L.E.S represents:
• Engagement – developing a personal connection to FGCU
• Academic Success – strengthening academic skills to thrive in college
• Global Perspectives – broadening the understanding of diversity & inclusion
• Lifestyle – learning how to make choices that enhance wellness
• Exploration – understanding academic strengths and how these tie to the
selection of a major
• Sustainability – active participation in events that promote greater
sustainability

The Expectations
Students were expected to do the following activities in each pillar:
• Engagement – attend at least one Weeks of Welcome (WoW) event
• Academic Success – attend a workshop, coaching session, tutoring, or
supplemental instruction (SI) offered by the Center for Academic Achievement;
visit with at least one instructor during office hours
• Global Perspectives – participate in a program approved to meet the
Diversity and Inclusion Certificate
• Lifestyle – complete MyStudentBody.com and Hazing Prevention modules
• Exploration – complete two required academic advising meetings
• Sustainability – visit the FGCU Food Forest

More information may be found in the presentation for our University's Board of Trustees (with goals and metrics):
https://www2.fgcu.edu/Trustees/AgendaFile/2019/01-08-2019/January%208,%202019%20Meeting%20Handouts.pdf

https://www.fgcu.edu/planning/institutionalresearch/files/resources/2020-fgcu-accountability-plan_approved5520-ada.pdf

and in https://www.fgcu.edu/eaglesin22/#Sustainability

EaglesIn23 & Eaglesin24 also carries on the Sustainability Engagement goal and metrics: https://www.fgcu.edu/eaglesin23/#ServiceinSustainability
https://www.fgcu.edu/eaglesin24/#ServiceinSustainability

FGCU does endeavor to include sustainability in its operations:

Florida Gulf Coast University has committed to achieving a Silver Certification or higher on all newly constructed buildings. https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/facilities/buildings-sitelocations

Business operations, physical plant, and housing operations include measurable sustainability requirements in contracts with campus service providers. https://www2.fgcu.edu/Provost/files/VENDOR-CODE-OF-CONDUCT.pdf

Florida Gulf Coast University became the first school in Florida to sign the Real Food Campus Commitment which set the goal of 20% real food at FGCU by 2020.

FGCU was certified as an official Tree Campus USA university on January 9, 2010, and has met annual re-certification standards since that time. https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/physicalplant/environmental-initiatives/tree-campus-usa.aspx

FGCU has made the following plans:

Institute an FGCU Minority Faculty Development Program to encourage, incentivize, and assist FGCU minority faculty and staff to pursue doctorate degrees and commit to return to FGCU upon completion of the degree. https://mangrovereview.fgcu.edu/facultystaff/files/diversity-statement-073120-ada.pdf

Create a Center for Critical Race and Ethnic Studieshttps://mangrovereview.fgcu.edu/facultystaff/files/diversity-statement-073120-ada.pdf

Goal to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) within the next five years.
https://www.fgcu.edu/equity/documentsandreports/files/2019EquityReport.pdf

FGCU Director of Athletics, Ken Kavanagh, is one of 30 Division I Athletics Directors to sign Athletic Director's new initiative, the Collegiate Coaching Diversity Pledge (CCDP). The CCDP is an opt-in pledge by Division I athletics directors to include a diverse group of candidates in the finalist pool for head coach vacancies in men's basketball, women's basketball, and football. At the heart of the project is a commitment to ensure equal opportunity in the hiring of head coaches, and to address the barriers that have prevented full participation of underrepresented minority groups. https://fgcuathletics.com/news/2020/9/20/general-ken-kavanagh-one-of-original-signatories-of-collegiate-coaching-diversity-pledge.aspx

FGCU's mission statement includes the following sentence:

"FGCU emphasizes innovative, student-centered teaching and learning, promotes and practices environmental sustainability, embraces diversity, nurtures community partnerships, values public service, encourages civic responsibility, and cultivates habits of lifelong learning and the discovery of new knowledge."

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY
DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The Florida Gulf Coast University definition of environmental sustainability flows from the University Mission to “practice and promote environmental sustainability.”[1] Building on the classic definition of sustainable development, this means operating in a way that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”[2]

A broad understanding of environmental sustainability is considered in FGCU’s teaching, in learning, in curriculum, in scholarship, in research, in service, and in operations. The University is an Affiliate of Earth Charter International and draws inspiration from the Earth Charter vision. The Florida Gulf Coast University Guiding Principles illustrate the aim to instill “in students an environmental consciousness that balances their economic and social aspirations with the imperative for ecological sustainability.”[3] The issues related to “economic, social and ecological sustainability” [4] are embedded in Florida Gulf Coast University’s history and mission This understanding of environmental sustainability is a broad, multifaceted concept that cultivates, in the words of the Earth Charter, “respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace.”[5]

The Florida Gulf Coast University definition of environmental sustainability establishes goals of climate neutrality, renewable resource use, and preservation of habitat while recognizing the limitations imposed on the University by procurement practices and fiduciary responsibilities. Achieving this definition of environmental sustainability is a participatory process requiring collective engagement of the University community members.

Commitments may be found at:

Earth Charter Affiliate: https://www2.fgcu.edu/CESE/earthcharter.html

Second Nature's Carbon Commitment: https://www.fgcu.edu/ehs/sustainability/