Communications

Residential Education and Departments of Undergraduate Studies Partner to Provide Resources and Support to Students.

January 2024

On January 5, 2024, Achieve-a-Bull: Academic Recharge one-day event offered students a day packed with information to guide and support them as they continue their academic journey. The Office of Undergraduate Studies collaborated with the program host, Housing & Residential Education’s Academic Initiatives, along with the Academic Success Center, Office of Academic Advocacy, and other key campus and community partners.

Over 40 students who had a 2.7 or lower Grade Point Average attended the sessions. Academic advocates offered their expertise on navigating college life, and academic policy guidance on what to do and not to do when making academic decisions, impact of and reinforced their role in assisting them if they encountered any obstacles.

“The Office of Academic Advocacy (OAA) has been supporting Achieve-A-Bull efforts since 2015, consistently hosting a session on navigating academics and preparing for the semester ahead. This provides UGS the opportunity to share services that will support first-year students by translating policies, sharing key information about campus partners, and connecting students to their Academic Advocates. Achieve-A-Bull will continue to work with the student attendees throughout their spring semester to support their academic success and journeys at USF,” said Leslie Tod, OAA director.

The morning continued with a panel of academic advisors who shared tips for success in the Spring semester and answered questions about schedules, majors, balancing campus involvement, and other pertinent topics. The Academic Success Center shared with students how to differentiate between academic, professional, and informal writing, considering your audience in the writing process, noting the difference between argument-based/analytical writing and reflective writing assignments, and learning to craft fitting emails to professors.

The afternoon included an inspirational talk by Dean Allison Crume, followed by a Getting Well! Workshop presented by the Center of Wellness to identify resources for students to manage stress, create a healthy lifestyle, tricks for self-motivation to find balance and overall well-being, and see the connection between wellness and academic success. USF Center for Career & Professional Services provided a career peer panel for students to ask professional development questions, and lastly a session from graduate student, Anayah Walker, assistant director for Diverse Student Support Services, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Tampa, on reflection and restarting the academic journey with the intention and building confidence in academic spaces.

Shane Combs, Ph.D., Exploratory Curriculum program manager said of the program, "Achieve-A-Bull is one of the most important events every semester because it reminds students that they are not alone. In this social media-filtered world, it appears that you are the only one struggling or feeling alone. However, just about every student I have interacted with at USF over the last 10 years expresses these sentiments. Achieve-A-Bull allows a student to see that many others are going through the ups and downs of the transition to college. It also reminds them that countless USF employees are also with them. Nothing is more empowering than knowing you have a whole team of peers and professionals at your back."

A program like Achieve-a-Bull is one of the many intentional efforts the University of South Florida provides students to provide the resources and support that students need at the time that they need it.