Turn your ideas into a reality
FGCU students often develop amazing community impact ideas and we encourage all students to take steps toward making those a reality. If you have an idea about how to address a root cause to a social issue, we are here to help. In fact, our team works individually with students each semester to provide guidance, support, and connection to resources to help students see their ideas come to life. For individualized assistance, please reach out to Justin Fitzgerald, Director of Community Engagement at jfitzgerald@fgcu.edu.
Students may also find assistance through one of the following campus partner programs:
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Millennium Fellowship Initiative
Toggle More InfoThe Millennium Fellowship is an opportunity for undergraduate students who are involved in research and/or sustainability projects on their college campus to participate in a semester-long leadership development program on campus to take their social impact to the next level. Any undergraduate student who is at least 18 years of age and is working on a service-learning project or research project is eligible to apply. Students must have at least one year left before they graduate at the time of application. More information is available here.
Contact:
- Lindsay Rushworth, Coordinator of Mentoring Programs, lrushworth@fgcu.edu; or
- Dr. Starlette Sinclair, Assistant Professor, ssinclair@fgcu.edu
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The Office of Competitive Fellowships
Toggle More InfoThe Office of Competitive Fellowships' mission is to serve the FGCU student body by fostering intellectual and personal growth through the competitive application process. We provide support and guidance including recruitment, advising, campus endorsements, practice interviews, and post-application mentorship. Our goal is to empower students to pursue their dreams and passions. More information is available here.
Contact:
- Dr. Terumi Rafferty-Osaki, Director of Competitive Fellowships, traffertyosaki@fgcu.edu
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Scholarly Innovation and Student Research
Toggle More Info- W.i.S.E.R Eagles (Work-study in Scholarly Experiential Research)
- Students from minoritized populations or who receive financial aid are employed to work with faculty on scholarly and/or professional projects. More information is available here.
- Contact:
- Jackie Chastain, Coordinator for Undergraduate Scholarship, jchastain@fgcu.edu
- Communities in Transition
- Students work with research faculty and community partners on community-engaged research projects that are designed to benefit Southwest Florida and the Caribbean region. More information is available here.
- Contact:
- Billy Gunnels, Director of Undergraduate Scholarship and Associate Professor, cgunnels@fgcu.edu
- Undergraduate Scholarly Award
- Students who are in need of funding for supporting undergraduate research, creative, and scholarly endeavors across all academic programs and modes of scholarship (discovery, integration, application, and teaching). More information is available here.
- Contact:
- Jackie Chastain, Coordinator for Undergraduate Scholarship, jchastain@fgcu.edu
- John Herman Undergraduate Research Scholarship Fund
- Open to any student who pursues work associated with biodiversity and/or wildlife ecology.
- Contact:
- Billy Gunnels, Director of Undergraduate Scholarship and Associate Professor, cgunnels@fgcu.edu
- Student Presentations and Publication Opportunities
- Open to students who are interested in engaging in and reflecting on an area of inquiry. Students will get experience effectively communicating specialized concepts to audiences with varied levels of background knowledge. More information is available here.
- Contact:
- Jackie Chastain, Coordinator for Undergraduate Scholarship, jchastain@fgcu.edu
- W.i.S.E.R Eagles (Work-study in Scholarly Experiential Research)
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Alternative Spring Break
Toggle More InfoOpen to all students as an opportunity to use spring break to learn, develop, and make an impact in the world.
Contact:
- T.O., Assistant Director, Multicultural Development Initiatives, toakes@fgcu.edu
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LeaderShape Institute
Toggle More InfoThis 6-day or 4 day off-site retreat, provides participants the opportunity for self-discovery, self-reflection and feedback in a community of approximately 60 peers. Not a typical leadership retreat, the Institute is grounded in helping individuals identify the values they hold that lead to making a difference in the communities around them. Through self-assessment, intensive small group discussions, team building challenges, and more, participants will develop a vision for something they care about. By leading with passion, integrity, and a healthy disregard for the impossible, participants explore who they are and the impact that they want to have on communities working towards a more caring, just and equitable society. More information is available here.
Contact:
- Meg Battaglino, Assistant Director, Leadership Development Initiatives, mbattaglino@fgcu.edu
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Political Engagement
Toggle More InfoOne of the most important ways for students to influence the issues they care about is through their voice in the political process. No matter their political viewpoint, it's important for students to understand and use their political voice to help make the changes they believe are best. We do this through voter engagement and voter education events and programs, as well as hosting CEEP Fellows in our office. When possible, our office also facilitates FGCU’s participation in initiatives such as the All In Democracy Challenge and Voter Friendly Campus, as well as FGCU’s participation in The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE).
View FGCU's most recent NSLVE report