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Week of September 26, 2023

Among the ways that USF serves as a catalyst for economic development and greater prosperity in the Tampa Bay region is by providing opportunities for more people in our communities to earn their college degrees.

With this in mind, I'm proud to join our partners from the Florida College System and Community Foundation Tampa Bay to renew our university's commitment to the

Fuse guaranteed admission program.

The Fuse program is more than an alternative admissions option — it's a pathway to a better future for many of our students. More than 650 USF graduates matriculated to the university through Fuse since its launch in 2016, and since then, enrollment in the program has more than tripled. I look forward to continuing to work with our partners on this initiative and others that help elevate our region.

Updates

• In case you missed it, last week U.S. News & World Report released its annual Best Colleges rankings, and for the fifth consecutive year, USF ranks inside the top 50 among all public universities. In addition, our overall ranking of No. 89 among all universities, public or private, is the highest in USF history. Accomplishments like this would not be possible without you — our incredible faculty and staff — and your significant contributions to the success of our university and our students.

• As part of USF’s commitment to community engagement, the Office of Youth Experiences is coordinating a university-wide effort to encourage participation in the Great American Teach-In, which takes place Nov. 15 in Pinellas County and Nov. 16 in schools in Hillsborough, Pasco and Sarasota counties. The Teach-In is an opportunity to inspire K-12 students by sharing about your career, our university and why they should pursue higher education. If you are able, I encourage you to volunteer your time in support of this wonderful event. You can learn more and sign-up here to be matched with a local school — the deadline to submit your interest is Friday, Oct. 6.

• It was a pleasure to join the Business Observer on their "From the Corner Office" podcast. During my conversation with Managing Editor Mark Gordon, we discussed my experiences in leadership, my legal career, the latest developments at USF and the advice I frequently share with our students. You can listen to the full episode here.

Additional University News Sources

•  USF Newsroom

•  St. Petersburg campus

•  Sarasota-Manatee campus

•  USF Health

•  USF Athletics

Fortune featured USF’s partnership with ReliaQuest and how it helps students prepare to fill critical workforce needs in cybersecurity.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal published a story about a $17 million federal grant awarded to USF's Center for Urban Transportation Research to help address workforce challenges in the railroad industry.

Fox 13 Tampa Bay published a story about the USF Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation partnering with Temple Terrace Fire Rescue to train their employees in how to better care for patients experiencing difficult airway situations.

As part of USF's Homecoming festivities, the university will be hosting a canned food drive to collect donations for the food pantries on all three USF campuses. The food pantries provide supplemental food, nutrition education and resources to alleviate food hardship and hunger among current USF students. Both non-perishable food items and toiletries are accepted, and you can find more information about each campus's needs and drop-off locations on the USF Homecoming website.

Inside USF: The Newsletter is published every other week.

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