The 2021-2022 school year will be filled with “firsts” for more USF students than
a typical year. Not only will university freshmen experience campus life for the first
time, but so will thousands of returning students. This is the USF Tampa, St. Petersburg
and Sarasota-Manatee campuses’ first semester to be fully operational since August
2019.
This follows the first traditional commencement since the start of the pandemic. USF conferred approximately 3,000 degrees across seven ceremonies at the Yuengling Center over the weekend, which included about 1,200 graduates whose commencement ceremonies were impacted by COVID-19. Spring 2021 commencement occurred at Tropicana Field with limited attendance and the previous three ceremonies were held virtually.
These were the first ceremonies to be presided over by USF Interim President Rhea Law. The USF Board of Trustees confirmed her appointment in early August and is expected to soon hire a search firm to find the university’s next president. Law previously announced that she will not apply for the permanent president position.
The residence halls are at full capacity for the first time in 18 months, including Osprey Suites, which opened on the St. Petersburg campus in August 2020. Just like throughout the pandemic, USF Housing & Residential Education continues to reserve dedicated space for students required to isolate due to the coronavirus.
Many of the health and safety precautions initiated at the start of the pandemic remain in place. Hand sanitizer vending machines continue to be available at several locations across USF’s campuses. These machines will provide two complimentary 4-ounce bottles of spray hand sanitizer every 30 days by swiping a valid USF identification card. Nearly 1,000 manual towel dispensers have been replaced with low-touch dispensers in public restrooms. More than 900 plexiglass partitions (½ mile long) have been installed at reception desks, cashier locations and other points of service. Automatic doors have been installed where feasible, including in buildings located in the USF Research Park.
USF has also implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols that align with CDC guidelines and public health recommendations. These include additional focus on high-touch points/surfaces, utilizing products and/or materials proven effective for COVID-19. Electrostatic sprayers are also being deployed to kill bacteria in the Marshall Student Center, in athletics facilities and on Bull Runner buses. Additionally, Bull Runner drivers will have masks available to offer to riders who need them.
Face masks are expected to be worn inside university facilities and in crowded outdoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. USF Student Health Services is continuing to offer free vaccines and testing for COVID-19 to all students, faculty and staff members.