FGCU's diverse student body is at 8,292 students for 2006-07. Students come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and nearly 80 countries. As of fall 2006, FGCU offers 42 undergraduate degree programs and 20 graduate degree programs.

Florida Gulf Coast University is an extraordinary education at an affordable price. FGCU actively recruits and retains students with the potential to succeed in a challenging academic environment. The University's chief aim is to fulfill the academic, cultural, social and career expectations of its students. Entering high school students have an average grade point average of 3.35 and SAT score of 1026.

With more than 1,100 faculty and staff employed, FGCU features small class sizes and individual attention to every student at an 18:1 ratio. FGCU offers one of the most comprehensive technologically-advanced campuses in the world, providing continuous technology advancement, and rich support and tools for students.

Five colleges offer 42 undergraduate degree programs and 20 graduate degree programs in Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Health Professions and Professional Studies. Business, criminal justice, nursing, elementary education and communication are among the most popular.

Students enjoy a mild climate, lots of sunshine and clean air at FGCU. Located on 760 pristine acres in the heart of Southwest Florida, FGCU carefully preserved its natural location to serve as a living laboratory. FGCU furthered its commitment to environmental education with Watermark Communities Inc. and the WCI Green Building Demonstration and Learning Center. The facility will foster environmentally sustainable and healthy building and landscape practices through demonstration projects and educational outreach programs.

In addition, FGCU is within minutes of downtown Fort Myers and Naples, and the beautiful sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.

The nearly 2,000 students who live on campus enjoy lakefront apartment-style residences that are completely furnished, feature full-size kitchens and living rooms, and provide high-speed Internet access. Amenities include a swimming pool, lake water sports, barbecue areas, beach volleyball, automated laundry facilities, and full-time live-in professional staff.

The campus of FGCU currently includes 59 buildings on 760 acres. In 2006, FGCU opens three additional buildings: Academic Building 5, the Library extension and "Eagle's Landing," the Student Activity Center at student housing. In November, FGCU plans to open its first parking garage, offering an additional 600 parking spaces on campus.

In addition to getting together with friends in the Student Union for studying or a sporting game of pool, FGCU has over 120 active clubs and organizations ranging in scope from ethnic to education and recreation to honorary, offering students opportunities to develop leadership skills in areas related to their personal interests.

Academic Building 5 was completed in April 2006 at a cost of $8.95 million. The 41,811 square-foot building located next to Academic Building 3 is equipped with wireless Internet access and includes a three-story atrium, monumental staircase and 280-seat theater style classroom. The building houses offices for the President, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, vice president for Administrative Services, General Counsel, Controller, Facilities Planning, Government Relations, University Auditor and Institutional Equity and Compliance.

FGCU plans for the Center for Performing Arts to be a regional center, offering arts instruction in addition to public performances that contribute to the region's economic growth, cultural richness and environmental sustainability. At 40,000 square feet, the acoustically superb facility includes a 400-seat concert hall, a 200-seat recital and choral rehearsal hall and a 200-seat laboratory theater, in addition to classrooms for music and theater, specialty studios and individual rehearsal rooms. FGCU seeks donations to name the Center and its halls, to complete funding for the $26 million building. It is scheduled to open in fall 2009.

Holmes Hall is the planned home of the U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering at FGCU. The 70,000 square-foot building is planned to accommodate the bioengineering, civil engineering and environmental engineering degree programs. The Whitaker Foundation donated $5 million and The Ginn Company donated $2.5 million, all of which was matched by the state for a total of $15 million. The building is in the planning phase and is scheduled to open fall 2008.

FGCU has 5,986 alumni receiving one or more FGCU degrees. Degrees granted to date by college are:

• College of Arts & Sciences: 1,177 undergraduate, and 2 graduate
• College of Business: 1,237 undergraduate, and 484 graduate
• College of Education: 849 undergraduate, and 657 graduate
• College of Health Professions: 673 undergraduate, and 270 graduate
• College of Professional Studies: 661 undergraduate, and 144 graduate

The new 62,000 square-foot expansion to FGCU's library more than doubles the 52,000 square feet the library has had since 1997. Opening in August, the state's $18 million expansion satisfies re-accreditation requirements, while improving space utilized for individual study, group study, research, teleconferencing, interlibrary loan and related programming such as poetry readings and small forums. The new facility provides room for archives, curriculum collections, a center for the study of Southwest Florida, computer laboratory stations and a café. For this signature facility, FGCU provides commemorative recognition for an $8 million gift.

Award amount for Research and Sponsored Programs was $13.2 million for 2005-06. Since FGCU's opening in 1997, total award amount has been $76.7 million.

Funds raised for the July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2006 capital campaign were $218 million, including $137 million from the FGCU Foundation, $15 million from WGCU Public Media, and $66 million from Research and Sponsored Programs.

• FGCU Cape Coral Center:
  • 121 students enrolled in seven for-credit courses for Fall 2006.
• FGCU Naples Center:
  • o 80 students enrolled in four for-credit courses for Fall 2006.
  • 6,620 participants in non-credit Renaissance Academy courses for Spring and Summer 2006.
• FGCU Charlotte Center:
  • 141 students in 12 for-credit courses for Fall 2006.

The FGCU Student Union opened April 24, 2003, with a barbecue chicken dinner for 500 students to celebrate the occasion. Overlooking one of the campus' lakes, the 52,000-square foot building is the centerpiece of student activity at FGCU. It houses the food service facility with seating capacity indoors for 210 and outdoors for 150. The three-story Sugden Clock Tower is a chiming, double-sided timepiece erected with funds donated by Herb and Margaret Sugden of Naples, and programmed to play FGCU's Alma Mater and other melodies. Other building amenities include the University Bookstore, wireless Internet access, a ballroom, Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, offices and meeting rooms for student clubs and organizations, a student lounge and a game room.