Page 12 - USF 2025-2026 Student Planner

\\\ LETTER FROM USF PRESIDENT
I am delighted to welcome you to the University of South Florida for the 2025-26 academic year. Whether you are returning to USF or are a new member of the Bulls community, the journey ahead promises to shape your future in many exciting ways.
Your time at USF is not only about academic achievement but also about personal growth and finding your path in the world. Our campuses offer many opportunities for you to become involved and positively impact our campus culture – in fact, you will find hundreds of registered student organizations from which to choose. I encourage you to pursue your interests, not only academically but also through extracurricular activities. In doing so, you will forge friendships that will add to your college experience and create new memories that will last a lifetime.
This is truly an exhilarating time to be at USF, as our reputation for world-class research and innovation continues to grow. U.S. News & World Report has ranked USF as one of the nation’s top 50 public universities for six consecutive years and, for the second straight year, as the best value university in Florida. In addition, USF is a member of the Association of American Universities, a prestigious group of 71 leading public and private research universities in the United States and Canada. AAU universities make up just 3% of all four-year universities in the U.S. — and membership
is by invitation only, which means our peers recognize that USF is one of the nation’s top-tier universities. As USF Bulls, you can take great pride in knowing that the degree you will earn holds tremendous value and respect throughout our state and nation.
Across our university, we are building excitement for the future. USF’s new Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing begins offering classes this fall. This is the first named college in the United States dedicated exclusively to the convergence of AI and cybersecurity. It offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that integrate AI and
cybersecurity into real-world applications.
You’ll find plenty of excitement in USF Athletics, home to 21 men’s and women’s teams. Those include our women’s lacrosse team, which enjoyed a very successful inaugural season last year, and women’s beach volleyball, which begins play in spring 2026. These exciting additions offer even more opportunities for Bulls to come together as a community and build memories to last a lifetime.
And, in just a couple of years, you’ll have the chance to experience Bulls football and lacrosse game days like never before in our new on-campus stadium. Opening in 2027, the stadium’s west side will be exclusively for students, with space for more than 8,000 attendees. The stadium will host additional sporting events, concerts, festivals and other activities. We know this facility will be a game-changer for our university, as it will greatly enhance the USF experience for students, alumni and members of the community.
Since our founding, USF has provided a welcoming community where all students are encouraged to think boldly about the future. Our university places a strong emphasis on student success and our world-class faculty and staff are here to provide the resources, support and inspiration you need to achieve your academic and personal goals. Please don’t hesitate to ask for their assistance.
I am thrilled that you have chosen USF and to become part of our vibrant community. I wish you a fulfilling – and fun – academic year. Go Bulls!
Sincerely,
Rhea F. Law President
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