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FGCU trustees approve new M.A., honorary-degree regulation and 2026 Accountability Plan
Summary
Trustees approved a new online 30-credit M.A. in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration, updated FGCU Regulation 3.002 on honorary degrees, reaffirmed specialized-admission status for nursing and clinical laboratory science, and adopted the 2026 Accountability Plan with an amendment requested by trustees.
At its April 14 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved several academic and policy items recommended by the Academic/Student/Faculty Affairs Committee.
Provost Debbie Thorne presented an updated FGCU Regulation 3.002 on honorary degrees that incorporated trustee feedback; trustees voted unanimously to adopt the regulation. The Board also approved a new 30-credit Master of Arts in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration (to be offered fully online) that the Board of Governors has categorized as a program of strategic emphasis.
Thorne explained that two programs—nursing and clinical laboratory science—were due for reaffirmation of specialized-admission status because limited clinical-placement opportunities constrain annual enrollment; trustees unanimously reaffirmed those programs’ statuses.
On the institution’s accountability targets, Thorne said the 2026 Accountability Plan aligned FGCU goals with the State University System’s Performance-Based Funding Model 2.0 and highlighted FGCU’s areas of expertise (health span, resort/golf/hospitality, and The Water School). Trustees discussed metric-setting rationale and accepted an amendment from Trustee Derek Lura to remove two instances of the word "agent" from the plan’s enrollment narrative; the Board then unanimously approved the Accountability Plan.
Trustees emphasized the need for strategic investments and infrastructure to support steady improvements in graduation and student-success metrics under the new PBF model.
