By Matthew Cimitile, University Communications and Marketing
The start of the academic year brings fresh features and additions to campus. At USF St. Petersburg, that means new educational, health and recreational opportunities.
Check out all that’s new this year!
Snowbird!
If you follow USF St. Petersbug’s social media, you may have noticed a new four-legged friend who calls the campus home. Snowbird, a golden retriever and labrador retriever mix from Dogs Inc., is the campus’ first-ever “comfort dog,” trained to provide comfort, support and therapeutic benefits to students, faculty and staff. Sworn in as a member of the University Police Department, Snowbird will attend campus events, participate in student training sessions and respond to anyone on campus in need of a few snuggles.
Marine mural adds vitality to parking garage
A lively and colorful mural of Tampa Bay’s marine environment spans all seven floors of the campus parking garage. Painted by Jay Giroux, a visiting faculty member in USF’s Graphic Arts Program, along with several Graphic Arts students, the mural depicts various scenes of the local aquatic ecosystem and numerous marine life. It transitions from the deep sea to the horizon and sky as one moves from the ground floor to the top of the parking garage.
A new home for the USF Federal Credit Union
Construction is almost complete on the relocation of the https://www.usffcu.com/ campus branch to the main floor of the University Student Center. The new, modern space is designed to offer more convenient access for USF St. Petersburg students, staff and faculty to help manage their financial needs. The new location will open on Monday, August 26.
The hours for the new location will be:
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed for lunch: 1:45 pm – 2:30 pm
Refrigerator expands food pantry offerings
Andre Carpenter (left), assistant director of Student Outreach and Support, and Jameka Williams with USF Dining pose with the new food pantry refrigerator.
The Feed-A-Bull pantry now has a refrigerator, which will allow the Outreach and Support Center to provide a greater array of offerings to students, especially perishable items such as milk, yogurt and cheese. The refrigerator was generously donated by USF Dining.
The food pantry is located on the second floor of the Judy Genshaft Student Life Center. It provides food such as pasta, breads and fruits as well as hygiene products, including soap and toothpaste, to students. It began as a student-driven initiative to provide emergency food assistance to students in need as well as address food insecurity issues.
The Emerging Technology Lab is here
A new Emerging Technology Lab utilizes augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) stations, as well as drone technology, providing students from all majors with real-world experiences through visual and interactive content. With AR, students can use their phones and other devices to create simulations in real time, from getting greater detail into works of art to learning about magnetic fields and optics. VR creates a digital environment where students can use headsets with programs that immerse them in their surroundings, taking them inside a museum or research lab.
The Emerging Technology Lab was built in two classrooms next to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Inquiry Lab in Heller Hall. This corridor of the hall, now dubbed Innovation Lane, was used extensively over the summer by young students in various summer camps.
Peddling the bay
Two new pedal boats are now part of Campus Recreation’s watercraft inventory. A pedal boat is a small watercraft that is propelled by pedaling, similar to riding a bicycle, allowing it to move across the water. These pedal boats will offer students a fun and eco-friendly way to relax and enjoy the waterfront, promoting physical activity and outdoor socializing.
ROV Taurus descends the deep
The newest addition to the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) fleet is the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Taurus. The ROV can reach depths of up to 2.5 miles, allowing for exploration of some of the most remote areas of the ocean and the potential discovery of new species. USF, the host institution of FIO, is the only university in the continental United States to own an ROV with such advanced capabilities. Housed aboard Research Vessel Western Flyer, the most technologically advanced vessel in the FIO fleet, ROV Taurus will be used to explore the depths of the ocean during research cruises and educational programs. The ROV Taurus will livestream its dives here.
Permits go virtual
Parking permits are now virtual on the St. Pete campus. This means physical parking permits will no longer be placed on cars and license plates now serve as permits. New virtual parking permits for the 2024-2025 academic year are on sale and can be purchased here: https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/parking.