FGCU trustees review student‑success strategy as PBF rules tighten

Florida Gulf Coast University trustees heard a detailed Student Success Workshop on Feb. 12, 2026, where university leaders described a multi‑pronged strategy to improve retention, graduation and post‑graduation outcomes ahead of the Board of Governors’ revised Performance‑Based Funding (PBF) model.

President Aysegul Timur told trustees the workshop was designed to explain recent initiatives and how FGCU is preparing for PBF Metric 2.0, which the BOG expects to finalize in fall 2026. "PBF was not a side issue; it was a core operational reality," Timur said, emphasizing that the new model raises expectations across the state university system and will affect resources tied to institutional performance.

The university’s student‑success approach centers on a "culture of care," Vice President and Vice Provost for Student Success Paul Dosal said. The model uses predictive analytics and artificial intelligence to identify students at risk and route interventions through the Wings Up platform and a Tableau dashboard. "We use AI to assess each student’s likelihood of persisting into the next semester," Dosal said, describing the system that aggregates grades, engagement and other indicators to trigger timely outreach.

FGCU staff demonstrated how instructors can submit early alerts and how attendance data via aPlus+ (integrated with Canvas) feeds the care system. Christina Kreiger, Director of Retention & Engagement, said aggregated signals — multiple low grades or repeated absences — prompt proactive outreach from the care team without disclosing which instructor filed the report, a practice Provost Debbie Thorne said preserves faculty integrity while prioritizing student support.

The workshop also highlighted a gateway course coordinator initiative led by Professor Charles Gunnels to standardize foundational courses (for example, entry‑level math and writing) across many sections. The goal is to reduce variance in expectations and increase pass rates without lowering academic rigor. "Coordinators work with faculty to determine appropriate levels of rigor while supporting student success," Gunnels said; he agreed to follow up on whether gains appear on externally validated assessments.

Trustees pressed university leaders on several operational points: how the admissions process intersects with the care model, how the platforms compare with peer institutions, and how raising the incoming SAT target would affect enrollment and revenue. Dosal said FGCU plans to monitor application quality weekly as it tentatively seeks an average SAT of 1,150 for fall 2026 (an increase from the present average of about 1,108) while balancing potential enrollment impacts.

FGCU’s leaders reported a projected overall PBF score of 73 for 2026 — a multi‑point improvement since 2023 — and said the institution is shifting many metrics onto an "excellence" scale. Trustees asked for peer‑comparison data and further details about externally validated outcome measures and implementation timelines. University staff said additional updates will be provided as initiatives mature and the BOG finalizes the new metric model.

The workshop concluded at 11 a.m.; trustees reconvened a limited agenda meeting where several action items were considered.