First Year Experience

There are so many new learning opportunities and experiences during your first year of college. USF has the support and tools available to help make this a smooth transition. Below are the Undergraduate Studies departments with programs, courses, and services developed with with your first year in mind.

Orientation

The Office of Orientation assists students in their transition to USF by providing resources and programs that promote academic success, personal integrity, global leadership and foster pride in being a Bull.

Tampa campus, myorientation@usf.edu
St. Petersburg campus, orientation@usfsp.edu
Sarasota-Manatee campus, bstucker@sar.usf.edu

New Student Connections

Start getting involved by connecting with New Student Connections. Review the First Year Experience Checklist, get plugged in with The Network, check out events happening during the Week of Welcome (WOW) and the First Fifty Days of each semester, Bulls Traditions to learn, peer coaches to assist, and more.

Tampa campus, visit the Office of New Student Connections
St. Peterburg campus, visit COMPASS Student Experience Office
Sarasota-Manatee campus, visit the Office of Student Engagement

Academic Foundations SLS 2901 

Learn tips for building a strong academic and personal foundation at USF. This course assist in the adustment to USF, explore careers, study skills, and other tips and experiences to support your first year academic experience. Find out more.

Exploratory Curriculum 

Not sure what you want to major in? USF allows up to 36 credit hours before you declare a major. Talk to your advisor at Orientation to participate in the Exploratory Curriculum.

Office of Academic Advocacy 

Things not going as you expected? Academic Advocates are here to help you discover the next steps to stay on track academically, financially, and personally.

Tampa campus, e-mail AcademicAdvocacy@usf.edu
St. Petersburg campus, visit COMPASS Advocacy
Sarasota-Manatee campus, visit Student Support