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FGCU committee approves new degree, regulation and specialized admissions
Summary
The FGCU Academic/Student/Faculty Affairs Committee unanimously approved a consent agenda and four action items April 7, including FGCU Regulation 3.002 on honorary degrees, a fully online M.A. in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration, and reaffirmation of specialized admission processes for Nursing and Clinical Laboratory Science.
At a virtual meeting April 7, the Florida Gulf Coast University Academic/Student/Faculty Affairs Committee approved a set of academic and policy items and received an informational report on engineering degree credit-hour reductions.
Trustee Robbie Roepstorff, chair, called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m. and confirmed quorum. Trustee Joseph Fogg moved approval of the Consent Agenda (minutes of Jan. 6, 2026); Trustee Derek Lura seconded and the voice vote was unanimous.
Provost Debbie Thorne presented FGCU Regulation 3.002 on honorary degrees, saying feedback from the January Board meeting had been incorporated. Trustee Lura moved to approve the regulation; Trustee Fogg seconded. The Committee approved the regulation by a unanimous voice vote.
Thorne also proposed a new Master of Arts in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration, to be offered fully online by the College of Education. "The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration degree would be offered through the College of Education," Thorne said, adding the program emphasizes "student success and services." The proposal projects enrollment of about 60 students by the fifth year. Trustee Lura asked about faculty capacity; Thorne said the proposal reframed existing coursework and that College of Education leaders had confirmed sufficient teaching capacity. Trustee Richard Eide questioned what additional skills the degree would provide; Thorne said "the value of the master’s degree was in the advanced training in student development theory and evidence-based practice," which she said are not typically covered at the undergraduate level.
The Committee also reaffirmed FGCU's specialized admission processes for Nursing and Clinical Laboratory Science, which Thorne said require an additional application and have limited enrollment due to clinical placement availability. Trustee Fogg moved to reaffirm the programs; Trustee Robert Krampen seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
Chair Roepstorff noted the Committee had also received an informational report that FGCU is reducing required credit hours for baccalaureate degrees in Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering; Thorne said the University is taking steps to preserve educational quality and timely degree completion.
The items approved at the committee meeting will be recommended for final approval by the full Board of Trustees at its April 14 meeting.
