This brief is centered on Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). A 2025 winner of the Delphi Award, it is a public, regional comprehensive institution located in Southwest Florida, serving approximately 16,000 students across diverse undergraduate and graduate programs. As a relatively young university, FGCU has cultivated an academic culture that prioritizes innovation in teaching, community engagement, and environmentally-responsive learning. The institution’s mission emphasizes student success, educational excellence, and inclusive support structures. Within this context, the university relies heavily on part-time VITAL (visiting, instructors, temporary, adjuncts and lecturers) faculty, who teach nearly one-fifth of all undergraduate courses and contribute substantially to the academic experience.