Orientation
New Graduate Student Orientation
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies for all new students, Orientation brings together faculty, staff, and current students who will share information and advice to ease your transition and enrich your graduate experience at USF. Please make every effort to attend. A flexible schedule is designed to share important information across several topics.
1 - Orientation Canvas Course
All newly admitted graduate students are automatically enrolled into the Graduate Student Orientation Canvas Course provided by the Office of Graduate Studies. The course was developed to provide new students foundational knowledge and tools needed to navigate university life and graduate academics with confidence at USF.
Discover helpful welcome videos, guides, and links from key campus services, including Financial Aid, Health and Wellness Services, Account Services, and more. The course will remain available throughout the student's first semester. Note: You may not see the course in Canvas yet. It will populate before in-person orientation date.
Click Here: Orientation Canvas Course
2 - Campus Orientation: Spring 2026
Tampa campus: The upcoming in-person orientation is designed to be both interactive and engaging, you can choose from a variety of 20-minute sessions tailored to your interests. Each session is offered multiple times throughout the event, giving you the flexibility to attend the topics that matter most to you. Choose 3. Read Session Descriptions.
The evening concludes with a Resource Fair in the MSC Ballroom, with a variety of departments and organizations in attendance. Throughout the program, students will also have opportunities to connect informally with their peers.
Note: Please review the 'Welcome Videos' available in the Graduate Student Orientation Canvas Course, before the in-person orientation date.
Directions to Marshall Student Center (MSC)
✅ Registration / Check-In
Opens at 2:00 PM
Marshall Student Center (MSC) – 1st Floor Atrium Lobby
Session I
2:30 - 2:50 PM
Choose 1:
🎓 Strategies for Success in Graduate School
MSC Room: 2708
Presented by: Dr. Ruth Bahr, Dean of Graduate Studies
👔 Tailoring Your Graduate Education to Your Career Path
MSC Room: 3709
Presented by: Dr. Tracy Costello, Assistant Dean, Postdoctoral Affairs & Graduate
Student Development
🤘 Graduate Connect: Engagement & Support
MSC Room: 3711
Presented by: Dr. Gary Oliver, Assistant Director, Graduate Student Services
💻 Leveraging AI at USF
MSC Room: 2709
Presented by: Mr. Evan Fruehauf, Assistant Librarian, USF Libraries
⛓️💥 Breaking the Mask: Conquering Imposter Syndrome
MSC Room: 2707
Presented by: Dr. Tangela Serls, Associate Professor of Instruction of Women's, Gender,
and Sexuality Studies, and Special Advisor to the College of Arts and Sciences Dean
🗣️ Graduate Student Panel Q&A
MSC Room: 3705
Presented by: Current USF Graduate Students
Session II
3:00 - 3:20 PM
Choose 1:
🎓 Strategies for Success in Graduate School
MSC Room: 2708
Presented by: Dr. Ruth Bahr, Dean of Graduate Studies
👔 Tailoring Your Graduate Education to Your Career Path
MSC Room: 3709
Presented by: Dr. Tracy Costello, Assistant Dean, Postdoctoral Affairs & Graduate
Student Development
🤘 Graduate Connect: Engagement & Support
MSC Room: 3711
Presented by: Dr. Gary Oliver, Assistant Director, Graduate Student Services
💻 Leveraging AI at USF
MSC Room: 2709
Presented by: Mr. Evan Fruehauf, Assistant Librarian, USF Libraries
⛓️💥 Breaking the Mask: Conquering Imposter Syndrome
MSC Room: 2707
Presented by: Dr. Tangela Serls, Associate Professor of Instruction of Women's, Gender,
and Sexuality Studies, and Special Advisor to the College of Arts and Sciences Dean
🗣️ Graduate Student Panel Q&A
MSC Room: 3705
Presented by: Current USF Graduate Students
Session III
3:30 - 3:50 PM
Choose 1:
🎓 Strategies for Success in Graduate School
MSC Room: 2708
Presented by: Dr. Ruth Bahr, Dean of Graduate Studies
👔 Tailoring Your Graduate Education to Your Career Path
MSC Room: 3709
Presented by: Dr. Tracy Costello, Assistant Dean, Postdoctoral Affairs & Graduate
Student Development
🤘 Graduate Connect: Engagement & Support
MSC Room: 3711
Presented by: Dr. Gary Oliver, Assistant Director, Graduate Student Services
💻 Leveraging AI at USF
MSC Room: 2709
Presented by: Mr. Evan Fruehauf, Assistant Librarian, USF Libraries
⛓️💥 Breaking the Mask: Conquering Imposter Syndrome
MSC Room: 2707
Presented by: Dr. Tangela Serls, Associate Professor of Instruction of Women's, Gender,
and Sexuality Studies, and Special Advisor to the College of Arts and Sciences Dean
🗣️ Graduate Student Panel Q&A
MSC Room: 3705
Presented by: Current USF Graduate Students
💬 Graduate Student Resource Fair
3:30 - 5:00 PM
Marshall Student Center (MSC) – 2nd Floor Ballroom
Featuring 20+ Departments / Organizations
(View partial list of participants below)
- USF Departments
- Alumni Association
- Recreation and Wellness
- USF Dining
- Graduate Assistants United
- Ombuds Office
- Center for Student Involvement
- International Student Support
- Office of Veteran Success
- Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (CLCE)
- Student Government
- Center for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention
- and more!
- External Partners
- Tampa Tarpons
- Cultivate the Writer
- Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
- Visit Tampa Bay
- Tampa Museum of Art
- and more!
View past virtual Orientation Videos
Campus Tours
Interested in seeing more of campus? The Office of Admissions offers in-person, self-guided, and virtual tours of all three campuses! Click here for details.
For immediate 360 virtual tours, click here.
Session Descriptions
🎓 Strategies for Success in Graduate School
Coming soon...
👔 Tailoring Your Graduate Education to Your Career Path
Coming soon...
🤘 Graduate Connect: Engagement & Support
Coming soon...
💻 Leveraging AI at USF
This session introduces graduate students to campus-supported AI tools and demonstrates how they can enhance research, writing, data analysis, and project management within the boundaries of USF academic policy.
The focus is on helping students understand what tools are available, how to use them responsibly, and how to align AI use with disciplinary standards, faculty expectations, and USF’s policies on academic integrity and data protection.
⛓️💥 Breaking the Mask: Conquering Imposter Syndrome
Coming soon...
🗣️ Graduate Student Panel Q&A
Coming soon...