When the fall semester starts at the University of South Florida next week, more students will live on campus than ever before.
Three new residence halls – Endeavor, Horizon and Pinnacle – will open for the first time, providing housing for a total of 1,100 students. The new facilities will increase USF’s residential population to more than 6,300, supporting the university’s focus on student success and continued effort to enrich the culture of engagement on campus.
The three new residence halls represent the completion of The Village, which first opened in fall 2017 with two residence halls, a dining facility and a wellness & recreation center. A public-private partnership with Capstone-Harrison Street, LLC, The Village houses a total of approximately 2,000 students.
For years, USF has pursued the Carnegie Foundation’s designation as primarily residential, to further position the university for future membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). With The Village fully open, USF now has at least 25 percent of degree-seeking undergraduate students living in university owned, controlled or affiliated housing, meeting the benchmark required to earn the Carnegie designation.
National research indicates that students who live on campus for at least one year are more likely to graduate, and often earlier, than those who live off campus, in part because of the easier access to academic and wellness resources provided by the university, as well as networking, recreational and social opportunities.
A Publix Super Market is currently under construction on campus near The Village and could be open as soon as later this year.
Thursday’s move-in day launches USF’s annual Week of Welcome, packed with dozens of activities for students, including:
- Kickoff event featuring the traditional balloon drop, 6:30 p.m., Aug. 16, Marshall Student Center.
- USF photo & pep rally with students lined up to form the letters U-S-F, approximately 6:30 p.m., Aug. 17, Yuengling Center.
- The Round Up comedy show features Cecily Strong (free and open to the public), 8 p.m., Aug. 24, Yuengling Center.
More information about Week of Welcome is available here.