By Torie Doll, University Communications and Marketing
The start of the 2022-2023 academic year at the University of South Florida brings Bulls new dining and educational opportunities to explore and major changes to all three campuses. Check out the list below to find out what’s new this year!
USF DINING
BLENZ BOWLS
A new smoothie and acai bowl franchise opens in the Marshall Student Center on the
Tampa campus, replacing Jamba Juice. USF is now home to the only two Blenz Bowls in
Florida. The first location opened last year on the St. Petersburg campus. The menu
includes smoothies, coffee and build-your-own bowls with acai berry or dragon fruit
bases and up to five toppings, such as granola and Nutella.
KAHWA COFFEE
A wholesale and retail coffee company based in St. Petersburg opens at the Coral Café
inside the University Student Center on the St. Petersburg campus. Deemed the Best
of the Bay by Creative Loafing in 2021 and 2020, Kahwa is serving up coffee, espresso,
nitro cold brew, teas and pastries. Kahwa has replaced the Coral Café’s Starbucks.
But don’t fret if that’s your coffee brand of choice – the bookstore still has you
covered.
LOCAL RESTAURANT ROW
An Aramark-developed program that brings local cuisine from minority- and women-owned
small businesses to campus debuts at 727 Eats in the University Student Center on
the St. Petersburg campus. USF Dining works with the Office of Supplier Diversity
to help foster an inclusive supply chain, identifying on-trend businesses with the
ability to integrate into a variety of different environments. The participating vendors
will rotate throughout the year and Bulls can use their Dining Dollars from their
meal plans to enjoy the flavors from the neighborhood. Local Restaurant Row opened last year on the Tampa campus at 813 Eats in the Marshall Student Center and
quickly became a campus favorite.
INDOOR PERFORMANCE FACILITY
The 88,000-square-foot indoor performance facility will open on the Tampa campus this fall. The facility encapsulates an entire football field and is climate controlled – perfect for practice, performance training and other university events to protect against Florida’s unpredictable weather. This will complete phase one of USF Athletics’ facility improvements plan. More details to come on phase two’s football operations center and phase three’s stadium, which is expected to be ready by the 2026-2027 season.
NELSON POYNTER MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Renovations to the first floor of the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library aim to modernize the space and meet the needs of the growing community on the St. Petersburg campus. Planning started in 2018, and a $1 million gift from Josephine Hall, a regular attendee to university events, and a $250,000 gift from Lynn Pippenger, made it possible. Bulls can expect to find new flooring and furniture, LED lighting, glass study rooms, a plant wall, an expanded Student Technology Center and improved event capacity in the recreational gallery space. The renovations will be completed late this fall.
BULL RUNNER
Riders of the USF Bull Runner transit system will notice new touch board displays at the sheltered bus stops at the Marshall Student Center, Leroy Collins Boulevard and The Village residential community. Live bus tracking and arrival predictions will be displayed for Bulls waiting at the busiest bus shelter stops on the Tampa campus. The Bull Tracker, available via web browser or mobile application, transitioned to a new system and user interface in the spring and made the implementation of these touch board displays possible.
VIRTUAL STUDY ABROAD
USF World’s Education Abroad office officially launches innovative resources for faculty to incorporate virtual exchanges into their courses. Virtual Global Exchange takes virtual reality technologies and implements them in a manner that helps foster intercultural dialogue in a unique way. For example, faculty can give their students the opportunity to collaborate on a project with students from another country. While not a substitute for the experience of studying abroad, many students never get the opportunity to due to a lack of financial resources, time, mobility or travel restrictions. Used in tandem or as an individual experience, 360º Global Learning can instantly insert an individual into a digital international destination where they can have an interactive educational experience exploring and making live connections with local university students, professional guides and experts in the field. Even during a worldwide pandemic, the educational technology is effective and efficient in internationalizing curriculum and providing accessibility to all.
RESEARCHMATCH
USF is now a member of ResearchMatch, a National Institutes of Health program designed to help USF researchers connect with potential study participants, other researchers and community collaborators. ResearchMatch also makes it easy for volunteers to find the right clinical trial or research study. Researchers can contact the USF Department of Research Integrity and Compliance or the USF Health Office of Clinical Research for more information.
ACADEMICS
GRADUATE CERTIFICATES
- Artificial Intelligence
- Big Data and Learning Analytics
- Child Advocacy Studies
- Creativity and Innovation
- Data Analytics
- Game Design for Learning
- Online Teaching and Learning
- Pathway to Computing
- Semiconductor Technology and Manufacturing
MAJORS
- Data Intelligence
- Cybersecurity
- Information Assurance and Cybersecurity Management
- Rehabilitation Counseling and Disability Sciences
- Urban Educational Leadership
Visit the Office of Graduate Studies Academics Division for more information about new majors and graduate certificates.
PUBLIC HEALTH UNDERGRADUATE-TO-GRADUATE PATHWAY PROGRAM
The USF Health College of Public Health introduces a new undergraduate-to-graduate pathway program, Maternal and Child Health Scholar for Social Justice. Originally known as the Maternal and Child Health Pipeline Training Program or MCH Train-A-Bull, the newly redesigned program aims to ensure a competent and diverse workforce passionate about improving health and reducing health disparities. The program provides students with a foundation in anti-racism and social justice through an exploration of systemic racism as a precursor to the social determinants of health disparities and outcomes.
USF SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT
The Muma College of Business is in the process of adapting its School of Hospitality and Tourism Management to create a talent pipeline and keep pace with pandemic-era trends that have changed the industry. The major was originally only offered in-person or hybrid from the Sarasota-Manatee campus, but it expands this fall to offer in-person classes at the Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses. Hospitality students can expect new or modified courses in the future after a strategic review of the school’s curriculum took place over the summer to ensure that they reflect industry demands.