The University of South Florida

The University of South Florida System is a young and agile system that includes three institutions, each separately accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools: USF; USF St. Petersburg; and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Serving more than 48,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion and is ranked 43rd in the nation for research expenditures among all universities, public or private.

USF, the main doctoral research institution in Tampa is home toUSF Health, which includes the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and Pharmacy; and to the College of Marine Science that is physically located in St. Petersburg. The university is one of only four public universities in Florida classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the top tier of research universities, a distinction attained by only 2.3 percent of all universities. With more than 180 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialty and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine, USF offers a dynamic learning environment that inspires innovation and creativity and is focused on student success. USF is a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholarship recipients, boasts the highest research and patent productivity among all Florida public universities, and is one of only 15 universities in the nations selected as a Tillman Partnership University of the Pat Tillman Foundation.

USF St. Petersburg prides itself on offering an intimate, waterfront campus environment with all the resources and reputation shared as part of the USF System. With smaller classes and an emphasis on community engagement, it offers nearly 40 degree programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, including a celebrated journalism and media studies program, one of the nation’s most outstanding emerging entrepreneurship programs, and a booming biology program. St. Petersburg’s strong and growing community partnerships provide rich opportunities for civic engagement.

USF Sarasota-Manatee similarly offers a smaller, personalized learning setting with highly qualified faculty and a diverse student body from all ages and walks of life. Its scenic campus is an important piece of Sarasota’s Cultural Corridor; Its close proximity and relationships with nearby arts and educational institutions – including the Ringling Museum, Ringling College of Art and Design, historic Crosley Mansion, New College of Florida, and State College of Florida – open opportunities and partnerships for students and faculty researchers. USFSM is particularly known for its hospitality program, which prepares students for leadership positions in hotel, restaurant and tourism industries.

The USF System was formed to bring its three institutions together, so that collectively and collaboratively they could serve the region and beyond in optimal ways, resulting in a stronger presence and a distinctiveness that provides an unstoppable competitive differentiation. In addition to being a strong and unified voice for higher education, the USF System seeks to find and capitalize on synergies and economies of scale among its institutions that are of benefit to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and communities.

The USF System operates within the USF Board of Trustees governance structure. The USF BOT appoints the USF System President and Chief Executive Officer, who in turn appoints the Regional Chancellors of the member institutions. The President and other System Officers are advised by three USF System Advisory Councils and the USF System Faculty Council, the principal representative faculty governance body for the System.