Inside FGCU - April 2024

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All faculty, staff and students are invited to the ribbon-cutting celebrations of FGCU's new South Village boardwalk and the reopening of Einstein's Bros. Bagels in its remodeled location in the Cohen Student Union. RSVP and event details will be shared via email, but here are the dates: SoVi

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FGCU's

Spring is a great time of year to step out of the office and find a shady spot on campus to check emails, collaborate with your peers and knock out creative work projects. While out and about, make sure you are connected to FGCU’s main Wi-Fi network: Eduroam.

The eduroam network provides faster network speeds and higher security standards for employees and students. Plus, if you travel to other colleges or universities, you can use your FGCU login information to access other eduroam networks nationwide.

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new South Village boardwalk features a

viewing deck, access to a nature trail and a Y-shaped design that provides pedestrians with a walking space to either the Bower School of Music & the Arts (left) or Academic Building 9 and the intramural fields (right).

FGCU's main Wi-Fi network, eduroam, provides high-speed internet access.

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Join a Lucas Center book club

The book clubs offered through the Lucas Center cover a variety of topics, based on suggestions from faculty and book club participants.

The Lucas Center offers many opportunities for faculty and staff professional development, including book clubs. We spoke with Dr. Bill Reynolds, the director of the Lucas Center, to learn more.

Approximately how many book clubs are offered each semester?

We offer four to six book clubs per semester, pending space and budget. We try to offer at least three teachingand-learning-focused book clubs, which often include recently published books on pedagogy or other issues in higher education. Topics of the other books vary, and they are often suggested by faculty members based on their interests and issues they believe are relevant to their students.

When can employees sign up for the next round of book clubs?

Priority registration will open in latesummer 2024 for faculty, then one week later registration will open to the rest of the FGCU community. Registration stays open until about a week before the first book club session or when the book club fills up, whichever comes first.

How are book club topics decided?

Some of the books are suggested by me (Reynolds), and we reach out to faculty with topic knowledge who we think may be a good fit to facilitate. We are always open to book suggestions from current and past book club participants, and we often query current participants to see if they have book suggestions and would like to facilitate in an upcoming semester.

Can people volunteer to facilitate?

Since facilitator slots are limited, we receive requests from faculty/staff months in advance, hoping to facilitate for upcoming semesters. We encourage you to reach out to us at lucascenter@ fgcu.edu with any books you may be interested in facilitating a book club on!

How did the book club program start and what are some of its goals?

The book clubs pre-date all of the current

Lucas Center staff, so they began in the very early days of the center. They were started as a way of bringing faculty together to discuss issues that were relevant to teaching and learning and other aspects of higher education in an informal, social manner. In this way, the book groups serve as a complement to other Lucas Center programming, like facilitator-led workshops and academies. While the book groups have a “facilitator,” that person is not typically an expert, and their role is not to teach or instruct the participants. Rather, the groups are collegial, and all perspectives are considered and valued. Thus, the main goal is to provide faculty and staff regular opportunities to discuss subjects that are important to them and the work they do with our students.

What are some of the books and topics being covered in book clubs now?

The current book club books are: "Great College Teaching: Where It Happens and How to Foster It Everywhere" by Corbin Campbell; "The Skillful Teacher" by Stephen Brookfield; "Doppleganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World" by Naomi Klein; "The Book of Boundaries" by Melissa Urban; and "Know My Name" by Chanel Miller.

What would you say to someone who is considering joining a book club but isn’t sure if they should?

Monitor your email from the Lucas Center so you know what books will be offered in the coming semester and when registration opens. The commitment tends to be minimal — three to five 1-hour sessions are typical, along with whatever time it takes one to read the book, of course. Because of busy schedules, we often don’t make time for conversation about ideas that are important to our work, and the book groups can be a welcome respite from day-to-day tasks and give folks an opportunity to engage with colleagues with whom they might not otherwise connect.

YEARS OF SERVICE

Celebrate your fellow Eagles who have reached new career milestones in April. Information in this list was provided by Human Resources.

20 Years

• Kerry J. Barnes | Broadcast Tech Supervisor, WGCU Technology & Operations

15 Years

• Margo Farrara | Housing Operations Specialist II, Housing Assignments

5 Years

• Ruxy Apostol | Administrative Assistant, Honors College

• Adam Benjamin Catasus | Coordinator, Vester Education & Research, Vester Field Station

• Kimberly Dunham | Advancement Specialist, WGCU Communications

• Brandy Lynn Fry | Registered Nurse II, Student Health Services

• Harold Miguel Garcia | Systems Engineer II, Network Security

• Rachel Gruver | Student Success Counselor, Exploratory Advising Operations

• Juan Miguel Rosa Santana | Network Engineer III, Infrastructure

• Dr. Aysegul Timur | University President

RETIREMENTS

CARDER

Dorrena Marie Carder, Media Sales Specialist II, WGCU Business Partnerships & Corporate Investments

Kris Jody Thompson, Registered Nurse III, Student Health Services

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Take a break, stretch at work

Do you feel stiffness in your muscles from sitting at your desk for extended periods? Has your energy dropped and does your brain feel foggy? These may be signs that your body needs to get up and move around.

Studies show that incorporating regular stretch breaks in your daily routine can help reduce muscle tension, increase flexibility and blood flow, and boost your mood.

“Stretching breaks are a great way to relieve tight muscles and help you feel more comfortable and relaxed,” said Dr. Patti Bauer, assistant professor in the exercise science program.

Bauer said: “It is important for everyone to work on flexibility and mobility. The nature of sedentary jobs and lifestyles can lead to shortened muscles, increased discomfort and increased cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk. Movement breaks and periodic stretching can help alleviate the discomfort and immobility associated with sedentary jobs.”

According to Bauer, it is important to listen to your body when stretching and not rush, but instead ease into stretching with proper form.

To help break the cycle of prolonged sitting, experts recommend taking a break to move for 1 to 3 minutes every 30 to 45 minutes — or at least once an hour.

“It is easy to forget to stretch and move during the day. Setting a reminder is a terrific way to get into a routine,” Bauer said.

Whatever your routine ends up looking like, Bauer said you will be working toward a healthier feeling body and mind.

"You deserve to make your health and wellness a priority, even at work,” Bauer said. “My motto is move more, stay active, soar higher.”

the exercise science

demonstrates eight at-your-desk stretches to help you find relief in the workday. Relax into these movements, moving through the positions or holding for 10-30 seconds each.

New to stretching? Follow these tips:

• Relax into the stretch and start easy. Hold the stretch for 5-10 seconds to start and up to 30 seconds when possible.

• Concentrate on breathing slowly and fully. Expand your lungs and abdomen.

• Trust your body and what it is telling you. Be sure to listen and stop stretching if you feel more than slight discomfort or pain.

Don’t bounce, but slowly progress in a stretch until the body lets you know you’ve gone far enough.

• If you have had recent surgery, muscle or joint problems, please consult with your healthcare professional before starting a stretching program.

Tips for sticking to your new stretching routine:

• Set reminders.

• Gather support, encourage coworkers to join you or join a group already established. Share a 5-minute stretch during lunch.

• Habit stacking — incorporate stretching into your daily routine by stacking it with another habit, such as filling up your water bottle, a mid-morning coffee break or walking to the printer.

SCENE IT!

The Inside FGCU committee is asking faculty and staff to put their memory to the test by participating in our new regular feature: Scene It!

Each publication will feature an abstract or artistic image of campus that showcases the unique architecture, landscape or footpaths of FGCU. As soon as you recognize the location of the picture, send us an email at newsletter@fgcu.edu to be entered for a chance to win a gift card that can be used on campus.

This month, the first three employees to name the correct location of the photo will receive a $25 gift card to the Bookstore.

Want to play? Tell us where you have Scene It!

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LEFT: Dr. Patti Bauer, assistant professor in

program,

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Whilespring cleaning your homes and offices, why not also spruce up your computers? FGCU's ITS department has five helpful "spring cleaning tips" that ensure your data and devices are safer. Take the time to review, update and clear your digital data to keep your information secure. You'll be glad you did.

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Passwords

• Lock personal and sensitive information behind a strong and complex password

• Consider using a password manager

Enable multi-factor authentication or two-factor authentication when possible

2

Devices

• Secure with password, PIN or fingerprint log-in

Dispose of any personal information when tossing devices

• Review personal information apps have access to

• Update to most current software for security purposes

• Clean off old or deleted files; keep folders and files organized

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Online Accounts

• Verify that bank, credit card, investments and retirement accounts alert you whenever a transaction is made, especially unusual sign-ins, large purchases or money transfers

• Ensure autofill doesn’t contain sensitive information and that passwords are not stored in your web browser

Clear cache and history regularly

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Backups

• Create or review any backups of data that you want to save in case something happens to the main device

• Automatically have devices back up to the cloud

• Follow FGCU's Restricted Data Policy

Photo of the Month

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Ensuring your devices are working properly not only makes your work easier, but it protects the cyber health of FGCU's campus community.

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Subscription Services

• List out subscribed services to track what’s still active/wanted

Remove personal data before closing services no longer wanted

• Review privacy settings and who all can see your posts

• Delete profile when removing yourself from a platform, not just the application

• Unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters and emails

• Empty trash and spam folders regularly

QUESTIONS?

DID YOU KNOW?

Student-athletes have won five conference championships this year, which brings FGCU's D-1 Athletics program to a total of 103 championship wins in its history. With the exception of basketball, employees can attend any FGCU game for free by showing their Eagle ID. Learn more: www. fgcuathletics.com.

Members of FGCU Athletics' marketing team, cheer coaches and student workers celebrate the women's basketball team for winning its seventh consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.

FGCU's Swim Team trains under the pink sunrise at the Lee County/FGCU Aquatic Center. Do you

you would like to

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