Earlier this month, USF St. Petersburg welcomed more than 120 admitted first-year students and a total of 300 students and guests to the campus for the 5th annual Anchor event. Anchor aims to prepare new students for orientation and their first day of classes. Developed in response to parent feedback, the event serves as a way for students and their families to get answers and experience life on campus before Move-In Weekend.
Students participated in a series of events throughout the day. To get a feel for the types of educational experiences, they sat through one of several classroom lectures on either:
- “Getting a Job” by Economic Instructor Rebecca Lee Harris,
- “Gaming the Patent System in the Drug Industry” by Associate Professor of Chemistry Henry Alegria, or
- “Understanding Disability in Educational Systems” by Assistant Professor of Special Education Karen Ramlackhan.
Students also explored the campus through tours with student Navigator guides and a scavenger hunt with representatives of Student Affairs.
Parents meanwhile heard presentations from COMPASS – the university’s first year experience program – on helping their students navigate the transition to college. Parents and students also learned about the costs associated with attending USFSP, how to build their budget and heard from a panel of administrators and students on what it is like being a member of the USFSP community.
Anchor contributes to the university’s admission goals. More than 90 percent of students that attend the event choose to make USF St. Petersburg their college home.
The event was planned by Enrollment & Marketing Services but was a university effort. Nearly every college and department across campus participated and pitched in to make the event a success. This included all three Colleges – Arts & Sciences, Business, Education – Financial Aid, Student Life, University Police Department, Sodexo, University Student Center, Facilities, Parking, USFSP Bookstore, Wellness Center, COMPASS, the South Florida All-Stars and the Herd Step Team.
Admitted students who missed out on Anchor can attend Setting Sail on April 20 or May 4, which is another opportunity to explore campus, meet other members of the Class of 2022 and learn about making the college transition. Campus tours are also available on a weekly basis.
View images from the event on the USFSP Undergraduate Admissions Facebook Page.