Consultant urges FGCU to sharpen admissions, retention focus in student-success plan

Dr. Ralph Wilcox, provost emeritus at the University of South Florida, told the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees on June 10 that FGCU should pursue a sustained, comprehensive effort to accelerate student success and consider “tightening up” admissions standards to attract students more likely to remain and graduate. "If the University communicated its strengths effectively, students would not only apply but also choose to enroll," Wilcox said.

President Aysegul Timur opened the workshop by framing the event as a review of FGCU’s Performance-Based Funding (PBF) metric performance and a step toward a Student Success Plan (SSP) the university must submit after its PBF score triggered review. Chancellor Ray Rodrigues of the State University System joined virtually and endorsed the PBF-driven approach, saying the system’s reforms have been “painful” but necessary.

Wilcox presented findings organized around six priority areas: PBF strategic planning, institutional leadership, organizational structure and infrastructure, readiness for change, strategic enrollment management and institutional research. He recommended focusing immediately on the PBF metrics identified as most critical to FGCU’s trajectory while maintaining performance across the other metrics.

Trustees and academic leaders pushed back and probed details. Trustee Peter Sulick asked why admitted students might choose not to enroll; Wilcox said competitors with stronger perceived value were likely siphoning applicants and that FGCU was sometimes viewed as a “safe school” rather than a destination institution. Trustee Richard Eide supported a move toward higher admissions standards but warned that it would be a strategic gamble requiring Board commitment.

A panel of college deans described college-level interventions. College of Arts & Sciences Dean Clay Motley said DFW (D, F, withdrawal) rates were falling (composition at about 17 percent) and comparable to peer institutions, but space constraints and class scheduling remained an obstacle to expanding successful course offerings. Marieb College of Health & Human Services Dean Shawn Felton highlighted a persistent shortage of clinical placements for health students. Lutgert College of Business Dean Chris Westley said the college now runs two exclusively online master’s programs and emphasized the need for faculty development to support quality online instruction.

Trustees also discussed academic integrity and grading. Trustee Henry Saad asked whether grade inflation or “gaming the system” was a problem; Wilcox said he did not see systemic undergraduate grade manipulation and pointed to accreditation and licensure outcomes as guardrails. Deans described a shift from policing AI toward teaching students how to use artificial intelligence responsibly in coursework.

The provost’s office and Planning and Institutional Performance (PIP) presented a 54-item action plan drawn from faculty, deans and Wilcox’s recommendations; each action lists responsible parties and required resources. Interim Provost Tony Barringer said deans were asked to identify Programs of Strategic Emphasis (PSEs) with student interests in mind rather than solely to increase the PSE count. The Board asked administration to finalize the Student Success Plan and return with measurable milestones and resource requests at future meetings.

The Board did not take formal policy action at the workshop; trustees directed university leaders to complete the SSP required by the State and to continue implementing the prioritized recommendations with a focus on data-driven enrollment, retention, and curricular reforms.