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FGCU president: Rapid growth at university is a positive
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FGCU’s State of the University address
Now that the 08-09 school year has started, Florida Gulf Coast University President Wilson Bradshaw gave his State of the University address Thursday morning. He introduced his new provost, talked about all the new construction at the university and unveiled his vision to make FGCU a more environmentally friendly universit
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ESTERO — After growing from nothing to a bustling Southwest Florida university in 10 years, Florida Gulf Coast University enters its second decade of existence on Monday with more than 10,000 students for the first time ever.
FGCU President Wilson Bradshaw welcomed back staff and faculty with his State of the University address on Thursday as the university’s newest students moved into their new homes.
“We must continually find ways to invest in each other’s success,” Bradshaw said in his address. “As we seek to make FGCU the university of choice in our region and beyond, we must remain mindful of the importance of supporting our students.”
As FGCU enters its 11th year, it is once again showing new growth on campus, which was the message of Bradshaw’s speech on Thursday.
At the front entrance of the university’s campus in San Carlos Park, the four-story Lutgert Hall will become the new home of the Lutgert College of Business. With a contemporary style, the 63,000-square foot building is meant to be a gateway to FGCU and can handle the demand of the business college as it is expected to grow by 4,000 students over the next 10 years.
The other highlight of FGCU’s new construction is the 400-student Everglades Hall, which is the beginning of a new 3,000-student complex at the southern end of campus.
Everglades Hall is different from the other on-campus student housing because it is meant for first-year students and designed to encourage interaction and independence among students.
First-year students and their families were breaking in Everglades Hall on Thursday, as they and several student helpers braved the wind and rain to move into the new digs.
“Some people that come through seem sort of scared, and others are really excited,” said Jenna Blair, an FGCU senior who was checking in first-year students on Thursday.
The next building in the South Village residential community, Biscayne Hall, will open in time to welcome the incoming class of 2009.
In addition to Everglades and Lutgert halls, FGCU is opening up a new green student dining facility on campus meant to cut down on waste and encourage healthy eating.
“New construction is always going on at FGCU,” Bradshaw said.
The parking issue on campus — where students were forced to leave their cars on the grass around FGCU’s main street — might be resolved with the opening of a second 1,000-space parking garage, giving the university 2,500 parking spaces for students.
This new year for FGCU is also the first year for Provost Ron Toll, who came to Southwest Florida from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania. When Bradshaw began his term as FGCU president in November, he asked then-Provost Bonnie Yegidis, to resign and he eventually hired Toll to fill that permanent position.
“This university is an amazing place. I consider myself so privileged,” Toll said. “The second decade of FGCU’s existence will be even better than the first.”
Even after hitting the 10,000 mark in students this year, Bradshaw wants the university to grow by reaching 15,000 students in the next five years even as smaller budgets have forced cuts in growth.
FGCU offers 51 undergraduate and 31 graduate programs and wants to add more over the next few years.
In its first 10 years, FGCU grew drastically in size, scope and structure, which its officials hope will continue over the next 10.
“It has gotten so huge,” said Blair, who is entering her fourth year at the university. “It is growing so fast, but I like it.”
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Well if growth is that rapid, I guess you better build more than 16 acres in your overpriced solar energy pipedream. You wouldn't want big oil or big coal supplying air conditioning would you?
#1 Posted by swampbuggy on August 21, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I disagree.
Our wonderful Florida kids are about 48th in the nation in achievement, still ahead of Arkansas!
We don't want to discourage them too much, so they drop out entirely.
For this reason, I believe we must continue to emphasize these easy, vocational-type degrees you find at our wonderful FGCU and forget about winning any Nobel Prizes.
Congrats!!!
#2 Posted by R_Popoff on August 22, 2008 at 3:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lavendaLou:
History, foreign language, and art are your idea of "rigorous academics'? It sounds to me like you never took an advanced accounting, economics, calculus, or statistics course. And to call majors such as business, criminal justice, education, and social work dubious is beyond idiotic. These majors prepare individuals for real careers and provide the local populace with much needed services. What's a kid with an art or history degree going to do with it when he/she graduates? Don't forget all college grads go through two years of undergrad, liberal arts education, such as Physics, Chemistry, Art, Music, etc.
I imagine you and R_Popoff have probably never even stepped foot on FGCU's campus. Have you? Ever attended a class? Ever graduted? But hey, that's the wonder of the Internet, two clueless souls get to have a voice.
#3 Posted by GATORBAIT on August 22, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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