About Us

Students,

Welcome back to our returning students or welcome to our new students! We hope that your Winter break was peaceful, restorative, and healthy and that your first few weeks of classes have gone smoothly.

Now that you have your syllabi and you begin to plan your semester, I want to remind you of a few things to add to your To Do List.

Find Your Community: If you haven’t already, there is still time!

• Go to BullsConnect (or download the USF BullsConnect app) to find virtually all the events and programs happening on our campuses, plus explore hundreds of student organizations to consider joining.
• Attend programming on each campus! You will learn new things, meet new people and, of course, have fun!

Be Safe: On campus and off campus safety should always be top of mind.

• Download the USF Safe app.
• Be careful of your surroundings, especially this weekend if you attend Gasparilla, a really fun and unique Tampa tradition.  Please make sure you enjoy the festival safely--go in a group, use rideshares, and don’t take anything but beads from strangers.

Utilize Your Resources: USF has many resources that are designed to support your success.

• Health and wellness resources are available on all three of our campuses and are important contributors to your success, especially for your mental health.  USF's counseling centers, Student Outreach and Support, and the 24/7 TimelyCare service are ready to support you.
• Using tutoring has proven to help improve students’ grades. Academic support services can be found on every campus.

Set yourself up for success for next year:

• Submit your FAFSA now. This free application allows you to be automatically considered for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
• Apply for Housing.  In addition to our current housing options, we have an exciting opportunity on our Sarasota – Manatee campus described below.

Prepare for your next steps after USF: 

• USF's career services team on each campus can help you to find on-campus student jobs and external internships, as well as prepare you for the job search.
• Considering graduate school? The Office of Graduate Studies can assist you in determining and applying to the right program for you.

A Few Announcements:

• USF cares about the experiences of our students, faculty, staff, and community. To ensure we are promoting a responsive, caring, safe, inclusive, and ethical environment, we need to know about your experiences, but it can sometimes be confusing as to where to report concerns.  We have created this Key Reporting Resources web page to assist you in the reporting of concerning behaviors, student concerns and violations of our policies and procedures, as well as provide access to other resources to help address these concerns.
   
• Student Government Elections are coming up.  It is important that students take part in deciding who represents you to the administration.  We encourage all students to get involved, either by running for positions, or by voting.
   
• Here We Grow! We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for YOU to "Live the Bull's Life" at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus.  The first on-campus residence hall and student center opens on the Sarasota-Manatee campus in August 2024 and all USF students are welcome.  The new building features an array of room types (suites and apartments) with incredible views of Sarasota Bay, innovative dining options, an outdoor terrace, a gaming center, bookstore, ballroom, lounges for studying and gathering, huddle spaces for small and large groups, and more! USF Housing and Residential Education is happy to answer any questions. Watch the construction progress LIVE! To celebrate this campus milestone, we are offering a one-time only USF Sarasota-Manatee housing scholarship (up to $4,000) to students living on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus during the 2024-2025 academic year. To apply for the scholarship, fill out the USF Sarasota-Manatee Housing Scholarship Application. Priority will be given to applications received by February 14, 2024. These scholarships are in high demand, so apply early to secure your spot! For questions contact us at SAR-housingscholarship@usf.edu.  We’re here to help you every step of the way.

As your Dean of Students team, we are very interested in your success. When you see us at events around our campuses, please introduce yourself, let us know how you are doing and if there is anything we can do to improve your college experience. If you need to talk through an issue, need advice, or have questions about the university, we would love to talk with you further. Check out our website for helpful information, including how to contact us.

Respectfully,

The Dean of Students Offices of USF

Danielle McDonald, Ph.D., Dean of Students - Tampa campus

Winston Jones, Jr., Associate Dean of Students - Tampa campus

Jacob Diaz, Ed.D., Dean of Students - St. Petersburg campus

Teeranai Ovathanasin, Ph.D., Dean of Students - Sarasota-Manatee campus

Hi students,

Can you believe November is almost over?  I hope this semester has been a great one.  We are in the home stretch now.  As we all prepare for the end of the semester and the upcoming holidays, I want to share a few thoughts.

• First, I want to give my thanks.  You make USF a special place.  I am thankful that I get to work with such talented, diverse, and caring students and staff. I have loved meeting you and your families and seeing so many of you at events this semester.
• Remember that while many cultures and religions are celebrating holidays this time of year, many of your fellow students cannot go home and be with family.  So if you have an opportunity to share with others, please do.
• The next couple weeks will fly by.  As you prepare for projects and finals, remember to take care of yourself.  Get sleep, exercise, and eat well.  You can only do well, if you are well.

This can also be a challenging and lonely time, especially with the added stress of upcoming final exams.  There are also many things happening around the world and here at home that are significantly impacting many in our community.  USF cares about your wellbeing. We have many resources for you.  If you or others need assistance, remember that USF is here for you.

Here are a few Resources I want to make sure to call your attention to:

• Counceling Center
• Timely Care
• USF counseling 24-hour emotional crisis line: (813) 974-2831 and press option 3
• University Police: 911 or for non-emergencies (813) 974-2628
• Tutoring Lab
• Writing Studio
• Student Outreach and Support
• Academic Advocacy
• Ombuds
• Dean of Students
• Student Health
• Feed-a-bull Food Pantry
• PAL- Peer Coaching
• Center for Well-being
• Campus Recreation and Wellness

Remember “Successful Bulls utilize Success Resources”.

Good luck with those final projects and exams.  I hope after all that hard work, you can spend time with loved ones, rest, and recharge.

Congratulations to all those Bulls who are graduating this semester.  We are proud of your accomplishments and know that you will do great things in the world.  Be sure to come back and visit.

With Bull Pride,

Dean McDonald

The Dean of Students Office

Some of you may not know what the Dean of Students office does.  The mission of the Dean of Students office is to support your learning and development through community building, advocacy, and student engagement.  We are often the place students go when they need assistance and do not know where else to go.  Dean Jones and I are resources for you.  If you need to talk through an issue, need advice on your time at USF, or have questions about the university, we would love to talk with you.  You can contact the office at 813-974-6677 or by visiting us online at usf.edu/deanofstudents or email deanofstudents@usf.edu. 

September 20, 2023

Dear Students,

On behalf of the Dean of Students offices on all three campuses, we are happy to welcome you to the Fall 2023 semester at USF.

These first few weeks have definitely been busy ones! We hope that you attended some of the many Week of Welcome events to learn about college life, engage with your campus, meet people, and identify the many resources offered to ensure your success.  We enjoyed meeting many of you at these events and look forward to seeing you even more around USF’s campuses. As the semester moves along, we want to encourage you in the following ways:

·         Get Involved! Involvement is important to your success and satisfaction with your college experience. Our departments and student organizations offer events, experiences and programs to help you explore your interests, have fun and meet new people.  Be sure to use BullsConnect for the most up-to-date information on all there is to do at USF – download the app today!

·         Cheer on the Bulls! Our football team has had an exciting start to the Fall season. Our other fall athletics are also going strong with women’s volleyball and men’s soccer showing their skills. We hope to see everyone wearing USF Green and Gold on Wednesdays to show their pride and support for our university and Fridays for our football team. If you haven’t figured out how to get to the games, Student Government has you covered in terms of transportation to and from the game, so be sure to come early to secure your spot.

·         Take Care of Yourself! As we move into midterms, take this opportunity to rest. These past few weeks were very hectic and likely overwhelming, so be sure to use the weekends to catch up on sleep, exercise, and eat healthy. As you participate in classes and campus life activities, be vigilant in protecting yourself and others from getting sick. If you think you have any symptoms of the flu, COVID-19 or any other communicable disease, please do not participate in activities, go to classes or use campus facilities without first seeking medical advice from Student Health and Wellness Centers on our campuses. Be sure to notify your professors as quickly as possible that you are sick. And if stress is getting to you, consider downloading the TimelyCare app for 24/7 free mental health care.

·         Be a Great Student! This is a good time to organize your academic timelines and assess what is working for you and where you need to make some changes. If you need some help, our tutoring and support services are readily available.

·         Stay Safe! Safety should always be top of mind. Be sure to remember to lock your cars, rooms, apartments, and bikes. Walk with others around campus and off campus, and download and use the USF Safe app.

·         Make Good Decisions! Your success, safety and well-being are our priority, but the decision-making is up to you. Explore the helpful resources linked below regarding safety precautions and your well-being:

o   Campus Safety

o   Off Campus Safety

o   Important Policies

o   Wellness Resources

As your Dean of Students, we are very interested in your success. When you see us at events around our campuses, please introduce yourself, let us know how you are doing, and if there is anything we can do to improve your college experience. If you need to talk through an issue, need advice, or have questions about the university, we would love to talk with you further. Check out our website at www.usf.edu/student-affairs/dean-of-students for helpful information, including how to contact us.

And as always,
Go Bulls!

Danielle McDonald, Ph.D., Dean of Students - Tampa campus
Winston Jones, Jr., Associate Dean of Students - Tampa campus
Jacob Diaz, Ed.D., Dean of Students - St. Petersburg campus
Teeranai Ovathanasin, Ph.D. - Sarasota-Manatee campus

September 1, 2022

Dear Students,

Welcome or welcome back!

On behalf of the Dean of Students offices on all three campuses, we are happy to welcome you to the Fall 2022 semester at USF.

You made it through the first week of classes! We hope that you attended some of the many Week of Welcome events to learn about college life, engage with your campus, meet people, and identify the many resources offered to ensure your success.  We enjoyed meeting many of you at these events and look forward to seeing you even more around USF’s campuses. As the semester moves along, we want to encourage you in the following ways:

Get Involved! Involvement is important to your success and satisfaction with your college experience. Our departments and student organizations offer events, experiences and programs to help you explore your interests, have fun and meet new people.  Be sure to use BullsConnect for the most up-to-date information on all there is to do at USF – download the app today!
Cheer on the Bulls! Of course, we all are excited for our first football game Saturday against BYU! We hope to see everyone wearing USF Green and Gold on Friday to show their pride and support for our football team. Student Government has you covered in terms of transportation to and from the game, so be sure come early to secure your spot.
Take Care of Yourself! As we move into the long weekend, take this opportunity to rest. This past week was very hectic and likely overwhelming, so be sure to use the weekend to catch up on sleep, exercise, and eating healthy. As you participate in classes and campus life activities, be vigilant in protecting yourself and others from getting sick. If you think you have any symptoms of the flu, COVID-19 or any other communicable disease, please do not participate in activities, go to classes or use campus facilities without first seeking medical advice from Student Health Services/Wellness Center on our campuses. Be sure to notify your professors as quickly as possible that you are sick.
Be a Great Student! Of course, this weekend is also a perfect time to organize your academic timelines based on your class syllabi and get ahead on reading assignments so that you can start next week feeling caught up and prepared to participate in your classes.
Stay Safe! Safety should always be top of mind, not only this weekend, but every day. Be sure to remember to lock your cars, rooms, apartments, and bikes. Walk with others around campus and off campus, and download and use the USF Safe app.
Make Good Decisions! Your success, safety and well-being are our priority, but the decision-making is up to you. Explore the helpful resources linked below regarding safety precautions and your well-being:

Campus Safety
Off Campus Safety
Important Policies
Wellness Resources
 
As your Dean of Students, we are very interested in your success. When you see us at events around our campuses, please introduce yourself, let us know how you are doing, and if there is anything we can do to improve your college experience. If you need to talk through an issue, need advice, or have questions about the university, we would love to talk with you further. Check out this website for helpful information, including how to contact us.

And as always,
Go Bulls!

Danielle McDonald, Ph.D., Dean of Students - Tampa campus
Winston Jones, Jr., Associate Dean of Students - Tampa campus
Jacob Diaz, Ed.D., Dean of Students - St. Petersburg campus
Teeranai Ovathanasin, Ph.D. - Sarasota-Manatee campus

Dear students,

Welcome back to our returning students and welcome to our new students! We hope that your Winter break was peaceful, restorative, and healthy, and we are most excited to begin spring semester 2021!

We are so proud of this community and the resilience and care you demonstrated in the fall.  For those of you who are new to USF, you should know that the university has taken many steps to mitigate the health and safety risks to our community.  We have all worked together to protect our “herd” and we expect the same of you.  For more information about our Coronavirus safety planning and reporting dashboard, you will find this website helpful: www.usf.edu/coronavirus/.

As we begin spring semester in this new reality, we wanted to share some tips and resources dedicated to your success. 

If you are not registered full-time but want to be, it's not too late to add a class. With many courses online, we encourage you to check out what is offered on all campuses. Just change the filters in Schedule Planner for all campuses to explore. Also, it’s Drop/Add Week so revisit that previously full class to see if openings come available – you just might get in! 

While we remain physically distanced this semester, we are still committed to helping you find your community and engage in it.  Here are a few ways:

It’s Week of Welcome! That means there are many opportunities to kick off the semester with some fun and informative programs to connect you with friends, services and programs on all our campuses.  Explore what is offered here. 

• Check out student organizations and their programs and involvement opportunities . 
• Visit the Student Toolkit for links.
• Scan the Note-a-Bull News & Events that hits your email on Sunday evenings. You will find information about events, programs, workshops, and announcements on all campuses. Link to it directly here.
• We have many resources to support your academic and personal well-being.  These can all be found on the Current Student Toolkit.

Returning students, it is never too soon to begin thinking about your next steps after USF.  Career Services can help you find on-campus student jobs and internships, get your resume ready, and guide you for a virtual environment job search. 

Considering graduate school? The Office of Graduate Studies can assist you in determining the right program for you and how to apply. 

While once again the semester is not exactly how we would want it to be, we are thankful that we can still offer all the support and resources you have come to expect from USF.  Remember, successful students are successful because they use their resources.

Thank you for everything you have done or will do to keep our USF community safe, healthy, and productive. If the Dean of Students Office can be of assistance to you, please contact us.  

Respectfully, 

The Dean of Students Offices of USF
Danielle McDonald, Ph.D., Tampa campus
Winston Jones, Sr., Tampa campus
Jacob Diaz, Ed.D., St. Petersburg campus
Teeranai Ovathanasin, Ph.D., Sarasota-Manatee campus

Hi students,

I cannot believe that it is already November.  It feels as if this semester is coming to its conclusion slow and fast at the same time.  The impacts of COVID-19 have challenged us all in many ways, but I continue to be proud of your persistence, resilience, and commitment to the health and safety of our community.

We are in a critical time now.  As we all move in to this next month and prepare for the end of the semester and the upcoming holidays, I want to share a few thoughts.

First, I want to give my thanks.  You make USF a special place.  I am thankful that I get to work with such talented, diverse, and caring students and staff. I have loved seeing so many of you at virtual events this semester.

As you probably know, we have had a collaborative team working to encourage students to be civically engaged.  The Democratic Engagement Coalition has done an outstanding job encouraging students to create a plan to vote, to be educated in their vote, and to encourage discourse with civility. They have also collaborated with many departments to provide post-election programming and resources to promote wellness, safe activism, and continued civic engagement. I hope that all of you have taken the time to vote or plan on voting Tuesday. I am so proud that this student body is civically engaged and has embodied the Principles of Community in that engagement. While the next few days and weeks will present us with a wide range of emotions,  it is my hope that you will continue to be a strong community that participates in discourse while promoting a safe and inclusive living and learning environment.Remember that while many cultures and religions are celebrating holidays this time of year, many of your fellow students cannot go home and be with family.  So if you have an opportunity to share with others safely, please do.
Remember to take care of yourselves and continue to follow social distancing, hand washing, and mask wearing advice.  It is even more important now than ever that we limit the spread and exposure as you plan to travel home and to put your energies towards your finals.

The next couple weeks will fly by.  As you prepare for projects and finals, remember to also get sleep, exercise, and eat well.  You can only do well if you are well.

This can also be a challenging and lonely time, especially with the added stress of COVID-19, elections anxiety, and upcoming final exams. USF cares about your wellbeing. We have many resources for you. If you or others need assistance, remember that USF is here for you.

Here are a few Resources I want to make sure to call your attention to:

• Health and Wellness coaches
• Counseling Center
• Tutoring Lab
• Writing Studio
• Student Outreach and Support
• Academic Advocacy
• Ombuds
• Student Health
• Feed-a-bull Food Pantry
• Career Services
• Bull2Bull Financial Education
• PAL - Peer Coaching
• Center for Student Well-being
• Campus Recreation and Wellness
   

Remember “Successful Bulls utilize Success Resources”.

With Bull Pride,

Dean McDonald