Florida Gulf Coast

Florida Gulf Coast University

Seal of Florida Gulf Coast University
Motto	"Truth, Knowledge, Wisdom."
Type	Public Space-grant
Established	1991
Endowment	$77.0 million
President	Wilson G. Bradshaw
Provost	Ronald Toll
Academic staff	512 total: 348 instructional and administrative faculty, 164 adjunct faculty (2006)
Administrative staff	741
Students	14,492
Undergraduates	13,300
Postgraduates	1,192
Address	10501 FGCU Blvd South Ft. Myers, FL 33965-6565, Fort Myers, Florida, United States
Campus	Suburban Area 760 acres (3.08 km²), of which 400 acres (1.6 km2) is dedicated as a nature preserve
Colors	Cobalt Blue and Emerald Green
Athletics	NCAA Division I Atlantic Sun Conference 6 men's varsity teams 9 women's
Nickname	Eagles
Mascot	Azul the Eagle
Affiliations	AACSB, SACS, SUSF
Website	www.fgcu.edu

NCAA Division I
Atlantic Sun Conference

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university located in Fort Myers, Florida, part of unincorporated Lee County, Florida. The university belongs to the 12-campus State University System of Florida. FGCU competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference in NCAA Division I sports and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate's, 51 different types of bachelor's, 29 different master's, and 6 types of doctoral degrees.

The school was established by then-governor Lawton Chiles in 1991, although the site of the university was not chosen until 1993, and construction was delayed until 1995. The school first held classes in August 1997. Roy McTarnaghan was the university's founding president. In August 1998, the university completed its first phase of student housing. On May 1, 1999, McTarnaghan announced his decision to step down from his position as President of FGCU.

In July 1999, William C. Merwin became FGCU's second president. Merwin sought to create a traditional four-year university. On campus classes replaced online only classes. Merwin was an active fundraiser. In an eight-year period, he raised more than $250 million for the university and expanded the school. New buildings included: Lutgert College of Business, Holmes Hall (U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering), Whitaker Hall, a student union, Alico Arena and an expansion of on-campus housing. Student enrollment at FGCU increased from approximately 2,000 students in its first year, to over 15,000 students as of 2015. In 2007, Wilson G. Bradshaw became as the university's third president.