Centers and Institutes
Institute for Youth and Justice Studies
Mission Statement
The mission of the Institute for Youth and Justice Studies is to further studies relating to policies and practices of youth development and juvenile justice. The Institute's work will impact the Southwest Florida region, the State of Florida, and the nation. The Institute will be cross disciplinary, incorporating the fields of criminal justice, public administration, and social work. The Institute will apply to the Division of Justice Studies with the Bachelor of Science degrees in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. The Institute will draw from expertise within the Division of Public Affairs with the Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and the Master of Public Administration as well as the Division of Social Work and the Bachelor's and Master's of Social Work degrees. The Institute will provide a research setting conducive to the development and application of policies and practices relating to youth development and juvenile justice.
Website
Website
Southwest Florida Center for Public and Social Policy
Mission Statement
The mission of the Southwest Florida Center for Public and Social Policy at FGCU, hereinafter referred to as the Policy Center, is to further the goals of public agencies and non-profit organizations in the delivery of services to the citizenry of the five-county region which the University serves: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties. Through collaborative efforts that utilize the best minds and practices of all University disciplines and those of the public and private sectors, the Center will provide expertise and assistance in public management, applied research, and analysis through client-focused, contracted research services and grants, as well as provide a forum for constructive dialogue on public policy issues. These efforts will be directed toward developing optimal practices and formulating practical solutions to heighten community development, advance social concerns, and improve constituent well being throughout the region.
Goals and Objectives
The essential goal of the Policy Center is to materially enhance the community development and social well being of the citizenry of the Southwest Florida region through public management assistance, applied research, policy analysis, and public dialogue. In addition, the interdisciplinary collaborative efforts of the Policy Center will maximize the organizational efficiency and optimize the effectiveness of the services provided throughout the region. The Policy Center will actively solicit and target areas of interest from throughout the region in order to meet both currently identified and projected needs. Thus, the Policy Center will be product and solution focused.
The activities of the Center will provide a limited number of practical work experiences for students. Selected students will be afforded opportunities to become directly involved in meaningful applied research, project operations and community service, based on their present and potential skill levels and according to the needs specified in funded projects. Such experiences will further the University's mission and enhance students' learning, providing them with an extended understanding of their communities and the infrastructure services that support them.
The objectives of the Policy Center are as follows:
- Conduct applied, contracted or grant-supported research to assist and guide region-wide community and social development and planning
- Provide applied, contracted public management and research services to further agency goals for service effectiveness
- Develop funded practitioner-based programs to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of programs and services
- Conduct funded policy and legislative analyses and impact studies to enhance public understanding of issues affecting the region.
- Provide periodic grant-supported or otherwise sponsored public policy forums that include speakers of note and applied workshops focusing on areas such as the well-being of the regional citizenry; public management practices; and local state and federal legislation
- Provide training programs in cooperation with the Florida Gulf Coast University's Institute of Government
- Involve faculty and students in meaningful applied research and project operations that will enhance and enrich their respective teaching and learning experiences.
- In short, the Policy Center will actualize the community service and outreach focus of the University, and support the well-being of the regional citizenry, by providing contracted managerial and research efforts to public, non-profit, and service agency sectors.
