The University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus is excited to welcome you to the start of the 2022-23 school year. Here are 10 things you ought to know about the campus and our community, whether you are a new student or a veteran member of the faculty or staff.
1. WOW, it’s Week of Welcome
Week of Welcome (WOW) is a week-long USF celebration featuring a series of fun and engaging events to kickstart the semester and create lasting connections for new and returning students.
Highlights at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus include:
- Campus Activities Board’s Declassified Survival Game, a chance to learn tips and tricks to thriving on the Sarasota-Manatee campus. There will be free food and prizes. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Aug. 22, in the FCCI Rotunda.
- Trivia Night. Team up to test your knowledge of the 1980s. There will be prizes, free food and laughs. From 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 23, in the Café.
- Student Government Open House. Stop by the office in Student Commons to learn about available employment opportunities and enjoy free eats. From 3:30 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24.
- Career Closet. Stop by the FCCI Rotunda to select some free professional clothing to help you with that job interview. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 25.
- Busch Gardens Adventure Island. Take a bus trip with the Office of Student Engagement to Adventure Island in Tampa. A limited number of tickets are available via BullsConnect. (You will need to ride the bus there and back.) All day, Saturday, Aug. 27.
For more on Week of Welcome, visit the WOW website.
2. Connect with BullsConnect
BullsConnect is USF's student engagement platform where students can learn about groups and events at the Sarasota-Manatee and other USF campuses and easily add them to your calendar. With BullsConnect, you can connect with:
- nearly 700 student organizations
- community service opportunities
- resources and USF offices to support your success
After you set up your profile in BullsConnect, you can explore and join student organizations and upcoming events, and even chat with other Bulls with similar interests.
Any campus office or organization can set up a BullsConnect profile to share important events and opportunities with students.
To download the app and for other information, visit the BullsConnect website.
3. Homecoming and other dates to remember this fall
Homecoming is Oct. 9-15, with numerous activities planned for alumni and students to enjoy throughout USF.
In addition to the many events being planned, on Oct. 10, at the Sarasota-Manatee campus, the USF Alumni Association will host Bulls ‘N’ Biz, a chance for students to network with representatives from several local businesses and connect with other students and alumni.
Visit the Homecoming page for more events on all three campuses.
Some other important dates and resources:
4. Services available to students
Do you need a student ID card or a parking permit?
Do need an academic tutor or just someone to talk to?
There are a myriad of services available to help you succeed, connect and thrive on USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, including free tutoring, veteran services, health and wellness services, library services and much more. Explore additional campus resources online.
5. Did you know? The Sarasota-Manatee campus is expanding...
Plans are underway for exciting initiatives – including construction of a planned Nursing/STEM building – that will create new academic and research opportunities for students and faculty and grow the invaluable partnership between the Sarasota-Manatee campus and the larger community.
The $61.7 million, 75,000-square-foot Nursing/STEM building, currently in the planning and design stages, will double the size of the campus’s nursing program; increase new majors in the health disciplines and other programs; and fill the need on campus for teaching and clinical labs and research facilities.
Also, in the planning stages is new a $41.9 million, 100,000-square-foot student center and student housing complex, totaling 200 beds. Construction of the student center/housing complex could start as early as 2023.
6. Who leads student government on the Sarasota-Manatee campus?
New student government leaders Gov. Evelyn De Oliveira and Lt. Gov. Madison Sosa are not afraid of big ideas.
On their list of initiatives is a plan to revamp the MyUSF Mobile app, plant a garden on the Sarasota-Manatee campus and update the "Bull’s Country” discount program.
Neither De Oliveira nor Sosa are new to student government. During the 2021-2022 academic year, De Oliveira served as deputy chief of staff under Gov. Riffatul Islam and Lt. Gov Jovanna Arce while Sosa served as the assistant director of marketing and promotions.
“I worked directly with Riffat and Jojo, so I saw a lot of what they did,” De Oliveira said. “I learned to always keep an open mind.”
Their main goal? “To get students involved, to see everyone happy and healthy and to let everyone know that we have resources ready for them,” Sosa said. “If they need help with academics – with wellness – we’re here to connect them with the available resources and to advocate on their behalf.”
Want to get involved? Student Government is hiring for the 2022-2023 academic year. Visit www.joinhandshake.com to apply.
7. Study abroad is back
With many COVID-related restrictions lifted, USF World – which has a new director on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, Brandon McLeod -- again is offering a full range of Education Abroad opportunities.
To learn more, click here.
8. How to protect yourself from hurricanes
The fall semester is starting right at the historical peak of hurricane season in Florida.
Our best advice? Be prepared.
Start by downloading the USF Safe app, which features emergency contacts, crisis alerts, in-app tip reporting and other features designed to help you stay safe while on campus.
You can also sign up for AlertUSF notifications to stay informed and safe during emergency situations.
As for getting ready for hurricanes or tropical storms that might be headed our way, the app advises you to visit Ready.gov, make an evacuation plan, put together a well-stocked disaster kit (food, water, medicine, etc.) and check the app, as well as the USF website, for any important updates about the weather, campus closures, etc.
9. Where to eat on and near campus
The best place for students, faculty and staff to dine while on campus is The Café, a culinary lab for students in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The menu features breakfast items, salads, soups and sandwiches, as well as daily and weekly specials.
Starting Aug. 22, The Café' is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, the cafe will be closed to be used as a classroom for the School of Hospitality.
There are also vending machines located on all three floors of the Crosley Academic Center.
Nearby off-campus dining spots (and their distance from campus) include:
- Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside, 6906 14th St., Bradenton. (2.3 miles)
- Antojito’s Cuban Cuisine, 3232 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (2.1 miles)
- Burger King, 3235 University Parkway, Sarasota. (4.5 miles)
- Captain Brian’s Seafood Market & Restaurant, 8421 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (0.2 miles)
- Chick-fil-A, 4573 14th St. W., Bradenton. (5 miles)
- Crager's Restaurant, 7218 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (1.7 miles)
- Culver’s, 2605 University Parkway, Sarasota. (3.6 miles)
- Duffy’s Sports Grill, 3005 University Parkway, Sarasota. (4.2 miles)
- Dunkin’, 7942 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (0.7 miles)
- Fork & Hen SRQ, 2801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (2.4 miles)
- Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 2515 University Parkway, Suite 101, Sarasota. (3.6 miles)
- Jack’s Donuts of Florida, 3105 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (2.7 miles)
- Jo-To Japanese Steakhouse, 7971 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (0.6 miles)
- Kasa Sushi Japanese Restaurant, 4195 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (2.9 miles)
- McDonald’s, 8164 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (0.4 miles)
- Mama G’s Coffee Bakery, 8431 N. Tamiami Trail, Suite 2015, Sarasota. (0.2 miles)
- Mi Pueblo Restaurante Mexicano, 8405 Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. (5.7 miles)
- Michelangelo Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant, 2957 University Parkway, Sarasota. (5.9 miles)
- Mirna’s Cuban Cuisine, 7980 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (0.5 miles)
- Panera Bread, 2821 University Parkway (University Walk Shopping Center), Sarasota. (5.8 miles)
- Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 6023 14th St. W., Bradenton (3.2 miles)
- Primo! Ristorante, 8076 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (0.5 miles)
- Publix Supermarket, 6030 14th St. W. (Bayshore Gardens Shopping Center), Bradenton. (3.6 miles)
- Publix Supermarket, 1044 N. Tamiami Trail (Broadway Promenade Shopping Center), Sarasota. (3.7 miles)
- Publix Supermarket, 2875 University Parkway (University Walk Shopping Center), Sarasota. (5.9 miles)
- Scarpino’s Family Restaurant, 6152 14th St. W. (Bayshore Gardens Shopping Center), Bradenton. (3.1 miles)
- Sonic Drive-In, 6008 14th St. W., Bradenton. (3.3 miles)
- Sonic Drive-In, 3704 84th Ave, Circle E. (off University Parkway), Sarasota. (3.7 miles)
- Starbucks, 2444 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (2.6. miles)
- Starbucks, 3604 84th Ave. Circle E, (off University Parkway), Sarasota. (5.5 miles)
- Subway, 8421 N. Tamiami Trail, Suite 3, Sarasota. (0.2 miles)
- Subway, 1777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (3.4 miles)
- Taco Bell, 6004 14th St. W. (Bayshore Gardens Shopping Center), Bradenton. (3.3 miles)
- Tarpon Bay Grill & Tiki Bar, 7150 N. Tamiami Trai, Sarasota (1.8 miles)
- The Ringling Grillroom, 5401 Bay Shore Road (McKay Visitors Pavilion), Sarasota. (1.2 miles)
- Wendy's, 5411 14th St. W., Bradenton (4 miles)
- Zaxby's Chicken Fingers & Buffalo Wings, 5020 14th St. W., Bradenton (4.5 miles)
10. Headlines you might have missed over the summer
- USF professors study the civil rights movement during REACH Montgomery Museum Studies program in Alabama
- USF Sarasota-Manatee campus publishes new Research Magazine highlighting faculty’s exceptional work
- USF faculty awarded grant for tourism research exchange in Florida and Serbia
- Forbes ranks the University of South Florida as one of America’s Best Employers for Women
- University of South Florida breaks fundraising record with over $151 million in gifts
- Strong outcomes in employment and workforce metrics help USF stand out as a leader among state universities
- Donation will help Ukrainian hospitality students at USF Sarasota-Manatee campus
- ‘Stars align’ at USF Muma College of Business
- New USF World campus director ready to build on success in international education
- University of South Florida unveils monument honoring military-connected students