FGCU’s DENDRITIC Institute bridges academia and industry in AI revolution | |
Left to right: Chengyi Qu, Ph.D., assistant professor in the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering; Anna Koufakou, Ph.D., professor in U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering; Chrissann Ruehle, D.B.A., management instructor II in the Lutgert College of Business; and Vinod Ahuja, Ph.D, assistant professor of Computer and Data Science in the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering, during their DENDRITIC presentation for the Florida Consortium for International Education (FCIE) Annual Conference 2024, themed "International Educators as Wayfinders," hosted at FGCU. | |
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The Human-Centered AI and Data Science Institute (DENDRITIC) at FGCU emerges as a strategic response to the explosive growth and transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science (DS) in today’s world. The institute, established within the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering, showcases FGCU’s commitment to preparing its community for an AI-driven future.
“The institute promises a transformative journey, aligning with the university’s mission, vision, and strategic plan for the next five years. With a commitment to community engagement and a focus on real-world problems, the institute's benefits for FGCU and its potential impacts are multi-faceted,” said Dr. Leandro Nunes de Castro, AI and Data Science Professor and DENDITRIC Director.
DENDRITIC underscores the rapid evolution of the AI landscape, where the global market is projected to grow from $196.63 billion in 2023 to $1.35 trillion by 2030. Furthermore, with 91% of leading organizations investing in AI, the institute addresses the growing demand for professionals trained in AI/DS principles, applications, and ethics.
Within the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering, DENDRITIC serves as a hub for cutting-edge research and innovation. The institute highlights its focus on diverse areas including generative AI, health analytics, cybersecurity, smart agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, it promotes interdisciplinary studies, bridging engineering with fields like healthcare, finance, and environmental science.
The institute’s impact manifests through two significant initiatives. First, its AI-Powered Health Analytics and Personalized Medicine program focuses on using AI and machine learning to analyze medical data, improve diagnostics, and personalize treatment plans.
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This effort not only enhances healthcare delivery but also prepares students and faculty for one of AI’s fastest-growing applications.
Second, DENDRITIC’s AI for Disaster Management and Community Resilience program showcases practical applications in Southwest Florida. This initiative employs drone swarms and AI models for real-time disaster response, while developing social media analysis tools to monitor disaster-related community needs and provide timely alerts.
The institute provides comprehensive services to the FGCU community through research collaboration, education and training, and stakeholder engagement. It conducts advanced research in areas like generative AI in education and health analytics, while offering specialized learning programs that equip students with practical and theoretical knowledge.
Looking ahead, DENDRITIC’s strategic goals focus on expanding its educational offerings through specialized courses, interdisciplinary programs, and digital badges. The institute aims to strengthen industry and government collaborations while enhancing its research focus on innovative algorithms and methodologies.
Furthermore, it seeks to establish FGCU as a prominent hub for AI and Data Science education and innovation in Southwest Florida and across the state.
“This specialized institute will tackle local challenges and perform cutting-edge (Research, Development, and Innovation) RD&I, providing a platform for addressing real-world problems that resonate with the community and generating up to date knowledge for the academic and scientific communities,” said Dr. Nunes de Castro.
For questions and additional information about DENDRITIC, contact Dr. Leandro de Castro at dendritic@fgcu.edu or (239) 590-1362.
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Next up on the Provost's Seminar Series
Bargaining with the Devil:
When to Negotiate, When to Fight
Guest Speaker: Robert H. Mnookin
Emeritus Chair Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School
Feb. 13, 3-4:30 p.m.
AB9 (The Water School), Room 106
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Faculty Spotlight. Are you a FGCU faculty member who has achieved a recent milestone or an accolade? Email us: academicaffairs@fgcu.edu | |
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Career Advancement Assistance Program
The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the Career Advancement Assistance Program. The purpose of the Career Advancement Assistance Program is to provide time for faculty members to engage meaningfully in activities that yield outputs and impacts enhancing FGCU’s scholarly impact and timely promotion of faculty members.
- Faculty categories included in this initiative are those on the professor and instructor tracks. The Career Advancement Assistance Program partially relieves teaching obligations to provide time for scholarly, research, or career development endeavors. During the Career Advancement Assistance Program, faculty teaching load and/or other assignments will be reduced, and no overload teaching will be permitted.
- The number of awards is contingent on the availability of funding through the Provost’s office.
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The deadline this year for Fall 2025 Career Advancement semester is Monday, February 17, 2025. Please submit your application in its entirety to Julie Leyden (jleyden@fgcu.edu).
Access the application cover page and detailed information about the program here:
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Let's get #ReadyTogether!
Join the Department of Emergency Management as we discuss the steps, resources, and strategies essential to a unified University response.
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🎓📚 Apply for Grant-in-Aid Program! 📚🎓
The application is open now
FGCU is offering awards for the 2025-2026 academic year to support employees in advancing their education! Whether you're a Support Personnel (SP), Administrative/Professional (AP), or Faculty member, this is your chance to take your learning to the next level.
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🔹 Award Options
Full-time leave for one semester or Part-time leave for two semesters.
🔹 Eligibility
Open to Support Personnel (SP), Administrative/Professional (AP), and Faculty. Doctoral-level applicants must show satisfactory progress toward their degree.
🔹 Deadline to Apply:
Monday, March 10, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.
🎯 How to Apply:
Submit your application before the deadline to be considered for this incredible opportunity.
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🔹 Read more about Grant-in-Aid and apply here:
🔗 https://www.fgcu.edu/ombuds/grantinaid#
Don't miss out on this opportunity to invest in your future! 💡 #FGCU #GrantInAid #EducationalLeave #CareerDevelopment #ApplyNow
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The PhotoVOICE Project | Share your FGCU experience!
Deadline to submit photos: February 28, 2025
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Use the QR code or link above to submit photos by February 28. | |
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Oral Dissertation Defense by Wendy Lugo Gallegos
Monday, February 3, 2025 at 10 a.m. | Merwin Hall, Room 203
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The Lucas Center For Faculty Development invites you to:
Partnering with Students For Actionable Feedback
Facilitated by: Conan Griffin
Instructor III, Department of Language and Literature
NEW DATE & TIME: Wednesday, February 5,1 p.m.- 2 p.m., at the Lucas Center (LIB-221) or virtual via Zoom
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Click here for in-person registration or here for virtual registration! | |
Department of Political Science, Public Administration & History
Dr. ERICH LIEBERT WORLD AFFAIRS LECTURE SERIES
Cordially invites you to
Thursday, February 6, 2025 • 6:00 pm
Professor Charles King
Why Political Ideas Matter
Professor Charles King is a historian, social scientist, and author. His books include the New York Times-bestselling Gods of the Upper Air, which received the Francis Parkman Prize and was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times History Prize, and the British Academy’s Al-Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding. His other books include Odessa, winner of a National Jewish Book Award, Midnight at the Pera Palace, and most recently Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel’s Messiah, which was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2024. He is a professor of international affairs and government at Georgetown University.
Click here to register for the "Political Ideas" Lecture
| Click to register or scan the QR above. | |
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Compassionate Caregivers Support Group at FGCU
Every other Wednesday at Merwin Hall, Room 120.
Upcoming: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Please RSVP at rock@fgcu.edu
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WGCU EVENT
February 6, 2025
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WALK DAYS at FGCU
Join us and enjoy the benefits of walking
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Each Tuesday and Wednesday until 2/26, or until spring break. | |
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United Campus Ministries (UCM) Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon
"Faithful and Grateful" with guest speaker Jorge Lopez
RSVP by Feb. 18 to hmathews@fgcu.edu
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FREE Blues Concert for FGCU's faculty, staff, and students
Tuesday, March 18 | 5:30 p.m.
Featuring from Clarksdale, Mississippi
Big A & the All-Stars and Super Chikan
| Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) Announcements | |
ORSP is excited to announce that Effort Certification will be going live in Workday in February 2025!!
ORSP will be holding training sessions in Workday Learning for Effort Certification Training. Whether you currently have an externally sponsored project or intend to apply for one in the future, this training is for you.
This training will show faculty and staff how to certify effort in Workday. Effort Certification is a requirement of Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.430 which contains the federal regulatory requirements for internal controls over certifying time expended on externally funded sponsored projects.
The University's practice is to utilize after-the-fact effort reporting to certify that salaries charged, or cost shared to sponsored awards, are reasonable and consistent with the work performed. It requires that each employee whose salary (or portion of salary) is charged to an externally sponsored project certify that the amount that the sponsor is billed for his/her work is reasonable in relation to the work that the employee actually performed.
All individuals involved with the administration and conduct of externally sponsored award activities, including central and departmental sponsored project administrators, principal investigators, and other research personnel must comply.
While we understand that not all projects are federally funded, Uniform Guidance also requires us to treat all projects with consistency so the effort certification will be on all externally sponsored projects.
Please sign up for one of these sessions using the link below before the session date.
Course Link: https://wd5.myworkday.com/fgcu/learning/course/e1d7e48ed2631001158206f323bb0000
Friday, February 14 -10-11 a.m.
Friday, February 21 -10-11 a.m.
Friday, February 28 -10-11 a.m.
Friday, March 7 -11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Friday, March 14 -10-11 a.m.
Friday, March 21 -11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Friday, March 28 -11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
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ORSP and Hanover Research Present
TRAINING - SciENcv & Biosketches: How-to and Best Practices
Wednesday, February 5, 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Hanover Resources Senior Grants Consultant, Sarah Ott, will present a training on best practices for using SciENcv and for the development of a strong and compliant Biosketch. Sarah will use examples and make space for Q&A as we go along. Feel free to have your Biosketch or draft of one on hand so you can ask specific questions.
Location: Teams or Cohen Student Union, Room 245
Sign up via Eagle Link
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FGCU has received a new federal rate agreement from the Federal Government.
Our F&A costs effective immediately are 43% for on-campus activities and 19% for off-campus activities. The rates will be applied to all applications submitted on and subsequent to January 13, 2025.
ORSP staff will work with faculty to ensure proper rates are applied. If you have existing sponsored program funding the rate at the time of application or budget amendment will be honored.
If rebudgeting occurs on an existing award, new rates will be applied. Reach out to ORSP if you have questions.
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New platforms for IACUC and IRB protocols through Streamlyne
ORSP is excited to announce that there will be new platforms for Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols through Streamlyne. These platforms will allow us to better track protocols and renewals. Please note that training will be required before you can enter an application. Please note that training will be required before you can enter an application.
With regard to IACUC – as of today, Formstack forms are no longer available. Please contact Sherry Alexander sralexander@fgcu.edu for information and training on the new process through Streamlyne.
With regard to IRB – The IRB application process will transition to the Streamlyne platform on March 1st. The current Formstack application will be deactivated and closed to further submissions on Friday, February 28th. All users are required to complete training to be given access to the new management platform. To sign up for training, please register at: https://wd5.myworkday.com/fgcu/learning/course/e1d7e48ed2631001a7c8ad45544c0000
For questions, please reach out to Sherry Alexander sralexander@fgcu.edu.
The compliance team in ORSP looks forward to sharing these platforms with you and will be available to assist you as this moves forward. Keep a lookout for more information later.
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Implementing Effort Certification in Workday
With the assistance of Information Technology Services (ITS), ORSP will be initiating Effort Certification in Workday. Effort Certification is a requirement of Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.430 which contains the federal regulatory requirements for internal controls over certifying time expended on externally funded sponsored projects. The University's practice is to utilize after-the-fact effort reporting to certify that salaries charged, or cost shared to sponsored awards, are reasonable and consistent with the work performed.
It requires that each employee whose salary (or portion of salary) is charged to an externally sponsored project certify that the amount that the Government is billed for his/her work is reasonable in relation to the work that the employee performed. All individuals involved with the administration and conduct of externally sponsored award activities, including central and departmental sponsored project administrators, principal investigators, and other research personnel must comply.
The labor provided by an employee often is called his/her "effort." The method by which an employee certifies his/her effort depends on whether the employee is "non-exempt" (also called "hourly" i.e., that he/she is paid by the hour and fills in bi-weekly time sheets), "exempt," (also called "monthly," i.e., that his/her salary is stated by the month, semester, or year, he/she does not fill in bi-weekly time sheets), faculty, (9-month, 12-month, or out-of-unit) or student (including OPS salary who also fills in bi-weekly time sheets with the hours worked on each project they are assigned.)
Effort Certification will be initiated by ORSP in Workday within 60 days after the end of each semester, fall, spring, and summer. The effort certification will be routed for approval and review at the college level grant/budget manager, then to the employee, then to ORSP. Student/OPS effort will be certified by the principal investigator for the project, not the student/OPS worker. Once you log into Workday, the effort will show under notifications. There you will review the effort and decide whether it is the amount committed and hit approved. If the amount is not what you expect to see, you must hit "send back" with a comment on what the issue is, so the effort can be checked and adjusted, if necessary.
We ask that you not hit the "Change Effort" button. The changing of effort requires ORSP to review the budgeted amount and compare with the effort shown in Workday. Once confirmed, the department will enter any salary adjustments, if needed.
The following is an expected schedule for the Effort Certification to be initiated in Workday:
- Fall – ORSP will send notifications to grant/budget managers review in mid Jan – Feb will run Fall effort - Should have all effort certified by March/April.
- Spring – ORSP will send notifications to grant/budget managers review in late May will run Spring effort in June - Should have all effort certified by July/Aug.
- Summer –ORSP will send notifications to grant/budget managers in September and will run Summer in Oct. Should have all effort certified by Nov/ Dec.
ORSP will be announcing training sessions for grant/budget managers, principal investigators and employees that include handouts with instructions regarding effort certification prior to the release.
One can also sign up for a training on the Workday Open-Lab Sessons when they are announced. It is scheduled for April 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. In the meantime, please reach out to ORSP with questions.
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Opportunities for Your Students | |
1st Annual Azul’s Innovation Challenge this spring! | |
The Daveler and Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship is excited to launch the 1st Annual Azul’s Innovation Challenge this spring! This interdisciplinary idea competition is open to ALL FGCU students and recent alumni (Fall 2023 or later) and offers a total of $35,000 in prize money. | |
Who Can Participate?
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Each team must include at least one current FGCU student or recent alumnus from any college or school across campus.
- Teams can have up to four members, including students, faculty, friends, family, or others (we will discuss this in the training sessions).
How to Enter
- Submitting an entry is simple—just provide a two-page idea summary.
- The deadline to enter is February 21, 2025, by 11:59 PM.
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Get Ready to Win!
We’re hosting several "How to Win Azul’s Challenge" info and training sessions. Even if you don’t have an idea yet, join us—you may find a team to join!
📍 Location: First Floor, Lucas Hall
📅 Session Dates & Times:
- February 3 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM
- February 5 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM
- February 10 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM
- February 12 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM
For more details and to submit your entry, check out the brochure attached or visit our webpage:
🔗 Azul’s Innovation Challenge
Have questions or can’t make the training session times?
Feel free to reach out to Ross Tsakis at stsakas@fgcu.edu.
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GIDDI NIGHTS SPEED FRIENDING
February 11, 2025 | 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Cohen Student Union, Room 201
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Submission requests must be sent to academicaffairs@fgcu.edu by end of business on the Wednesday of the prior week. Submissions received after this deadline will not be shared until the following newsletter.
Please send attachments as either a .PNG or .JPEG file 250kb or less.
.PDFs are NOT accepted.
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Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and content expressed in these programs, events, and materials are those of the author(s)/presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, positions, or endorsements of Florida Gulf Coast University's Academic Affairs Division. | | | | |
