FGCU’s 2017 Legislative Agenda, which includes plans for the newest academic building, the School of Water Resources and Integrated Sciences, was approved by the Board of Trustees during their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

The agenda, which includes three legislative budget requests and one Public Education Capital Outlay request, was reviewed and proposed by President Wilson Bradshaw and his Cabinet prior to the meeting.

Director of Government Relations at the Office of the President Jennifer Goen presented the agenda alongside Charlie Dudley of Florida Partners LLC.

During the 2016 Legislative Session, FGCU received $3,852,065 for the planning and design phase of AB9. The selection process for finding an architect for the building is currently in progress.

According to the legislative agenda document that was included in the BOT meeting’s agenda, “this building is essential to FGCU’s core mission of academic excellence and will address the documented unmet need for research laboratories, teaching laboratories and classroom space to keep pace with current enrollment of students plus the expansion of academic programs.”

The project’s next phase will require funding for the construction of AB9. Because of this, FGCU will request $44,141,730 during the upcoming 2017 Legislative Session for construction and another $4.5 million will be allocated for equipment for the building. The total budget for the building totals $52.4 million.

Also included in the budget is $1,600,000 allocated for the development of an Honors College at the university.

“These funds will allow FGCU to raise our academic profile and further develop the current FGCU honors program into a full Honors College,” the agenda stated.

By expanding the program into a college, FGCU will become more competitive in the recruitment of National Merit Scholar finalists out of high school.