One of USF’s biggest traditions is the Week of Welcome (WOW), a campus-wide, fun-filled week that kicks off the fall semester. Dozens of events keep students busy and informed about campus life.
To help chronicle WOW, the USF Communications team is out and about gathering news, photos and videos and posting many of the week’s events here. Freshmen stories of first days in college, staff sharing details about what is new this year for students, highlights from fun events – it’ll all be here, so check back regularly for updates.
August 31, 2017, 10:00 a.m.
Students, faculty and staff gathered outside of the Marshall Student Center on Thursday to purchase crafts and fresh produce at the Green & Gold Fresh Market. The market is held at the MSC lawn every Thursday from 10am to 2pm through November 2. To learn more, click here!
August 24, 2017, 1:30 p.m.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted the LGBTQ and Ally Ice Cream Social in the main ballroom of the Marshall Student Center. The event was an opportunity for students to learn about the LGBTQ community and the resources available to them on campus and in the Tampa area.
August 20, 2017, 4:40 p.m.
More than 300 students and faculty gathered on the lawn near the Marshall Student Center and looked to the skies to witness the extremely rare total eclipse of the sun! The USF Astronomy Club set up various telescopes and made devices available for everyone to safely see the phenomenon
August 19, 2017, 9:30 a.m.
Students gather at the Marshall Student Center for the annual Charge: Morning of Service, an event which allows students to connect with fellow bulls and serve the community for the day in various locations in Tampa Bay.
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August 18, 2017, 7:15 p.m.
What an exciting moment! The Class of 2021 turned out in big numbers at the USF Baseball Stadium to participate in the annual USF Class Capture photo. Go Bulls!
August 18, 2017, 1:50 p.m.
After the drop, the party didn't stop. Students moved upstairs to the ballroom and other areas of the Marshall Student Center to choose their adventure. From playing games to enjoying live entertainment, students had ample opportunity to get to know one another and immerse themselves in the USF culture.
USF Bull Bhangra
Untouchable Dance Troupe
August 17, 2017, 5:20 p.m.
An exuberant crowd kicked off USF WOW with a dramatic balloon drop.
Hundreds of students, leaders, faculty and staff filled the Marshall Student Center to celebrate the beginning of a new school year.
USF System President Judy Genshaft, along with Rocky the Bull, helped students count down to the balloon drop, an annual tradition which officially kicks off the new year.
“This is our New Year’s party,” President Genshaft told the crowd as they chanted, Go Bulls. “Welcome to a new academic year at the best university in the world. Good luck, and I hope you have the best time.”
View the special moment:
August 17, 2017, 3:20 p.m,
“3 years ago I moved into Lambda Hall and it was nice to have a lot of help from the Bull Haul volunteers. Now it’s great to give back to a community that gave so much to me.” – Helena Polansky, Bull Hall Captain
August 17, 2017, 2:50 p.m.
Top news this year is the opening of USF’s newest living community, the Village. About 850 students will live in two new residence halls in the Village – Beacon and Summit Halls. In addition to the two residence halls, Village’s new dining facility, named The Hub, opened today, while its new wellness center, The Fit, will open in early October.
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The Hub is a Green-Certified building and features nearly 500 indoor and outdoor seats, a coffee shop and registered dietitian onsite to provide free nutritional counseling for meal plan holders. There are Smart Tables available with USB capability, free wi-fi, digital menu signage with nutrition information, private collaborative spaces for eating and studying with friends, and a reservable dining room that seats 30. Many stations provide a variety of dining choices, one of which is a dedicated space that is free of seven of the most common eight food allergies, including shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, wheat and soy.
The Fit is a state-of-the-art, 19,000 square foot facility offering cardio and weight training equipment, an outdoor swimming pool and numerous other amenities.
The next phase of the Village will offer three more halls in fall 2018 – Horizon, Endeavor, and Pinnacle Halls – that will add more than 1,100 beds, bringing the total number of students living in The Village to nearly 2,000 and increasing the student housing capacity at USF to approximately 6,500 beds.
The Village is a public-private partnership with Capstone-Harrison Street, LLC and the largest student housing complex ever approved by the Florida Board of Governors.
August 17, 2017, 11:20 a.m.
Launching this year’s WOW is Move-in Day, when more than 3,000 students move into USF’s 36 residence halls. The day is a defining moment for freshmen students who receive keys and information on their residence rooms. Here are a few scenes.
