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FGCU ASFA Committee unanimously recommends free-expression statement, textbook affordability and market‑tuition reports
Summary
The FGCU Academic/Student/Faculty Affairs Committee unanimously approved and forwarded to the full Board: the SUS Free Expression Statement endorsement, the Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability Annual Report (including the new First Day Ready program), and the Self‑supporting/Market Tuition Programs report (noting low DPT enrollment); trustees requested clarifications to the Institutes & Centers report.
The Florida Gulf Coast University Academic/Student/Faculty Affairs Committee voted unanimously on Sept. 2, 2025, to recommend four items to the full Board for final approval on Sept. 9.
Provost Debbie Thorne presented the Statements of Free Expression and Principles of Civil Discourse, informing trustees that the State University System’s Free Expression Statement was adopted in 2019 and that FGCU posts its related statement via a footer link on its webpages. Trustee Joseph Fogg moved approval; Trustee Derek Lura seconded; the committee recorded a unanimous voice vote.
On textbook affordability, Thorne reviewed the SUS-mandated annual report covering fall 2024 and spring 2025. She reported that fall 2024 included 994 course sections (36%) with no-cost materials and spring 2025 reported 35% no-cost. Low-cost sections (defined as $20 or less per credit hour) were 15% in fall 2024 and 16% in spring 2025. The 45-day advance-notice requirement was not met in 2.7% of fall 2024 sections and 3% of spring 2025 sections; FGCU exceeded the BOG benchmark with 97% compliance. Thorne described First Day Ready, a new program that charges course-material costs to student accounts at $20 per credit hour ($60 for a typical 3-credit course). The committee approved the affordability report by unanimous voice vote.
The committee also approved the Self-supporting and Market Tuition Rate College-Credit Programs report. Thorne said FGCU’s transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy program was the only market-rate degree and that enrollment has dropped from six students in the prior report to one; trustees discussed potentially sunsetting the program. The motion passed unanimously.
Trustees requested corrections to the Institutes & Centers annual report (clarifying acronyms such as E&G for Education & General and C&G for Contracts & Grants, explaining the SBDC’s role relative to the statewide network, and making expense reporting consistent). Chair Roepstorff asked that corrected pages be reposted before the Sept. 9 Board meeting; Tiffany Reynolds said a revised page could be distributed and a motion made from the floor.
All voice votes were recorded in the committee’s roll and will be presented to the full Board on Sept. 9.
