Ney Arias

The committee held a meeting to review and approve the Florida Gulf Coast University Performance-Based Funding Data Integrity Audit. The discussion included details regarding the audit process, metrics evaluated, and the internal checks and balances implemented to ensure data accuracy for state university reporting.

The committee discussed the development of new academic programs, including two master's degrees in education, and reviewed a nomenclature change for an existing degree program. The meeting included a discussion regarding revisions to the university regulation on honorary degrees, specifically focusing on the eligibility of elected officials and the process for awarding honorary bachelor's degrees. Action items approved by the committee included an application for membership with the Higher Learning Commission, a change in a Classification of Instructional Programs code to designate a program as a program of strategic emphasis, and the selection of a new performance-based funding metric focused on student internship participation.

The bargaining session focused on the Terminal Rank Review, reaching tentative agreement on Article 14 for subsequent ratification. The parties also established a shared governance process to conduct a comprehensive salary study, which will encompass market comparisons and internal compression and inversion analysis. Additionally, preliminary discussions were held regarding academic freedom, which are slated for continuation in future sessions.

The committee meeting addressed several key agenda items, including the approval of the FGCU Employee Code of Ethical Conduct, which provides guidance on professional behavior, conflict of interest, and resource usage. Additionally, the committee reviewed and approved the 2025 Annual Compliance Report, detailing accomplishments in the university's compliance and ethics programs. The committee also received a report on the FGCU Athletics National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) data for the year ended June 30, 2025.

The committee discussed various academic and administrative items, including the reduction of credit hours for Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering programs. They also debated proposed amendments to Regulation 3.002 regarding honorary degrees, specifically focusing on eligibility criteria and the approval process for honorary bachelor's degrees. Additionally, the committee acted on the Application for Higher Learning Commission Membership, approved a Classification of Instructional Programs code change, and selected a new Performance-Based Funding metric centered on student participation in internships.