USF 2003-2004 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 9
One of the 20 largest universities in the United States and still growing, the University of South Florida has built a solid reputation as a leader in learning, offering comprehensive state-of-the-art, student-centered programs. With growing prestige and a dedicated faculty, including more than 75 faculty Fulbright Scholars and 46 endowed chairs, USF has become a research powerhouse.
Located in the vibrant Tampa Bay area, one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas of the nation, USF has formed vital partnerships with business leaders and organizations throughout the region, and contributes to the well-being of its immediate urban neighborhoods through vast networks of social research and service projects.
As one of the top 60 public research universities in the country USF’s contracts and grants are more than $207 million annually. USF’s fast growing reputation as a superior academic institution was formally acknowledged in 2000 when the Carnegie Foundation ranked USF in its top tier of national research universities.
Faculty and student scholarship and research are supported by an outstanding library that contains more than 1.7 million volumes and that is the electronic “Virtual Library” for the State University System of Florida. The latter provides links to tens of thousands of computer databases around the world.
Founded in 1956, USF opened its doors in 1960 to 2000 students. Today the University serves approximately 39,000 students — with about 200 programs at the undergraduate, master’s, specialty and doctoral levels, including the M.D. Entering freshmen boast an average SAT score of approximately 1,100 and a grade point average of nearly 3.5.
USF’s commitment to inclusion is reflected in its student body. African American, American Indian, Latin and Asian students comprise nearly 30 percent of USF students. A growing contingent of international students, now representing well over 120 countries, demonstrates the University’s strong geographic influence and dedication to the principles of a global economy.
Collectively, our students are among the best and brightest at Florida universities, with greater-than-ever numbers of National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic Scholars. They are taught by some 2,500 highly-regarded faculty who are products of the world’s most prestigious colleges, universities and research institutes.
More than 175,000 USF alumni contribute to society in numerous professional and civic activities. Those who live in the Tampa Bay area alone would nearly fill Tampa’s professional football stadium (Raymond James Stadium, which is also home field for the Bulls’ NCAA Division I football team and the 2001 Super Bowl).
USF is big in size as well as stature. Its annual operating budget is about $1 billion.
In the past 40-plus years, USF has grown into a network of regional campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Lakeland, serving the West Central Florida region. The campuses cover 1,921 acres, housing more than 359 buildings, which exceed 6 million gross square feet in size.
Please send questions or comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webCat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 2003
http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0304/aboutusf.htm