University of South Florida Alumni Association Home

The USF Pinellas County Alumni Chapter is committed to fulfilling the mission of the Alumni Association; to connect alumni, support students and to strengthen the University.  The chapter in fulfilling this mission seeks to identify, inform, and involve alumni in networking opportunities, social events, and keeps alumni abreast of all activities happening at their alma mater.

News:

Further Documentation Required of
USF St. Petersburg

Last week the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, USF’s regional accrediting organization, decided to continue the accreditation of USF St. Petersburg for good cause. However, out of 89 standards required for accreditation, USF St. Petersburg has been asked to continue to provide evidence about two – the assessment and documentation of college-level competencies and student achievement.  The institution has a one-year probation period to document its assessment results and demonstrate compliance with the standards.

Regional Chancellor Karen A. White said, “This decision is not a criticism of the quality of our education, the status of our programs, the validity of your degree, or the credentials of our professors.  While disappointed in their decision, I am proud of the performance of our students and alumni of USF St. Petersburg and the efforts of the faculty and staff to measure and document the high quality of instruction and student learning.”

The institution will hear from SACS in July about the specific reason for its decision and will work with them to focus institutional efforts to continue to document its assessment results, and to demonstrate compliance with the standards. 

White said, “USF St. Petersburg remains accredited by the SACS Commission on Colleges and we will demonstrate conclusively to SACS that we have mechanisms in place to provide continuous quality improvement for our institution.”

USF St. Petersburg’s initial accreditation was granted in June 2006 and marked the first time in Florida that a regional campus was separately accredited from a member institution. This achievement recognizes the maturity of the institution and the quality of its faculty and programs and makes USF the first university system in Florida with two separately accredited institutions. This accreditation recognizes the autonomous nature of USF St. Petersburg as a degree granting institution. 

A site visit is anticipated in Spring 2009 to review documentation pertaining to the two standards. White said USF St. Petersburg faculty and staff would “present a compelling case” that it engages in a program of continuous improvement for the two assessment standards and that it institutes quality assurance through self-evaluation and peer review. 

Pinellas County Alumni Chapter:

The Pinellas County Alumni Chapter serves nearly 28,000 Bulls in the County and is always looking for new members to join in the fun!  We hold chapter/board meetings every month. Check the listing of events for details.

Upcoming Events:

Pre-Season Tailgate Party Set for July 20th
The date is set so grab your calendars and mark it down! The 3rd Annual PCAC Pre-Season Tailgate Party will be held at Capogna's Dugout in Clearwater on Sunday, July 20, 2008 from 2-6 p.m. Coach Jim Leavitt will visit at 3 p.m. to greet the USF football fans and sign autographs. There will be kid activities, vendors with Bulls merchandise and food and drink specials. Throw on your Green and Gold and bring your pompoms!! We are starting the 2008 football season with a Bang!! We'll see you all there!! Click here to rgister for this FREE event!

USF Night with the Rays
The Rays have designated the Saturday, Aug. 2 Tampa Bay Rays game as USF Night. Please make plans to attend this fun event. LL Cool Jay is the post-game entertainment. The PCAC has reserved a block of group tickets which include a Rays baseball cap with the USF logo on the back. For more information visit www.raysbaseball.com/USF.

Bulls License Plate:

Make the switch to a USF Bulls Specialty License
Plate and we’ll cover the initial $25 specialty license
plate fee. If you already have your plate -- thank you!

If not, don’t miss the chance to have your
own USF Bulls license plate for less. And,
now there are three easy ways to switch
-- including the NEW online option.

Showing your Bull pride and supporting
student scholarships has never been easier! 

Click Here to get started!

Minutes:

Click here to view minutes from past chapter and board meetings.

Contact:

Katie Giglio
Alumni Association Program Director
Phone: 727-USF-4561

email:Katie Giglio

Visit the chapter site at: www.USFalumni.net/Pinellas