1. Associate of the Hunter Institute Program
The Hunter Institute of Early Childhood Learning at Florida Gulf Coast University
Associate of the Hunter Institute Program

2. Becoming an Associate of the Hunter Institute:
designates you as an FGCU College of Education (COE) graduate with specialized training in early childhood
helps you to be recognized by local school districts and administrators as an FGCU COE graduate that put extra effort into learning best practices in early childhood education
makes you a more “marketable” candidate when interviewing because of your specialized training
offers you unique opportunities to learn best practices through very current and meaningful field experiences, workshops….even international internships!

3. Becoming an Associate of the Hunter Institute of Early Childhood Learning is easy!
Step 1: Contact the Hunter Institute Director, Jill Sherman at: or
Step 2: *Schedule your field experience visit with one of our community partners to serve as a literacy buddy (earn service learning hours as well!).
Step 3: Contact the Family Resource Center to schedule 10 – 15 hours as a student assistant at 590 – 7855 (earn service learning hours as well!).
Step 4: Attend the annual fall conference and 1-2 workshops sponsored by the Hunter Institute.
*All field experience visits must be scheduled through the Hunter Institute office.
Step 5: Attend any Florida Association for the Education of Young children (FLAEYC) event.

4. Graduate as an Associate of the Hunter Institute of Early Childhood Learning as early as spring 2016!

5. Additional Benefits of Becoming an Associate of the Hunter Institute:
*International Internships sponsored by the Hunter Institute to Hungary/Austria.
*Participation in the Barbara Bush Literacy Program (in conjunction with the COE courses, “Second Language Acquisition….” TSL 4520
*Earn service learning hours through your participation as a literacy assistant with one of our community partners when you attend an outreach session and gain experience working with a diverse group of learners as well!
*Earn service learning hours for serving as a student assistant at the Family Resource Center.

6. Don’t Delay! Start TODAY!
Contact Jill Sherman, M.Ed Director of the Hunter Institute of Early Childhood Learning
239 – 745 – 4341
Check our website for additional information: