Academic Enrichment
Office of Summer Initiatives
The Office of Summer Initiatives offers includes the Summer Academic and Cultural Engagement Program (ACE) and Maymester.
Summer ACE
The Summer Academic and Cultural Engagement (ACE) Program is a program for students
that runs on an alternate summer schedule to help facilitate the transition from high
school to college. Students will experience specialized courses, community engaged
learning, and one-on-one mentoring to assist their transition to a university environment.
After orientation and welcome programming, students will embark on their academic journey at USF. Their first semester, the ACE summer, is a 4-week long semester where students will take two, 3-credit courses facilitated at the University of South Florida – Tampa Campus.
Courses will involve service-learning opportunities to allow students to become engaged with the community surrounding the University of South Florida and learn more about their new home – all while earning the required class credit!
ACE students will take 1 three-credit general education course based on their “Herd” or student interest academic track. In addition, all ACE students will enroll in Critical Thinking: Foundations of Interdisciplinary Knowledge and Inquiry (IDS 2378), a course that fulfills the USF Creative Thinking requirement. Learn more about enhanced general education curriculum.
Perks of Summer ACE:
- Fulfill six (6) out of the nine (9) summer semester credit requirements that are required by ALL first-year students.
- Enhanced assistance in the onboarding process
- Our renowned #ACEfam faculty
- Community based learning opportunities built into the courses
Enhanced assistance in the onboarding process - Mentorship throughout the summer and fall
- Summer programming model and enhanced programming in the fall/spring
- Consistent support from our office from now through graduation and beyond