FGCU Board approves HLC application and program reclassifications

The Board voted unanimously to approve FGCU’s application to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), complying with statutory direction to seek a new regional accreditor. Provost Debbie Thorne told trustees the SUS determined HLC was an appropriate fit and noted UCF and other institutions had recently engaged HLC processes. "FGCU’s intent was to apply for membership to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which required FGCU BOT approval," Thorne said.

Trustees also approved a CIP code change, moving the geology program from 40.0699 to 40.0601 to align the program with standard geology classifications, and accepted a nomenclature change for the master's degree from Instructional Design & Educational Technology to Learning Design and Technology to better reflect employer expectations and program content. Committee members requested clearer explanatory context in agenda materials to reflect the substantive academic rationale behind such changes.