Groundbreaking Exemplifies Downtown Partnership

More than 100 campus and community members joined for the groundbreaking of Parking Center One, a facility that will strengthen the link between the campus and downtown St. Petersburg.

The first phase of the seven-story, 371,000 square foot facility will offer more than 1,100 parking spaces and will feature a two-story 15,000 square foot Barnes & Noble College Booksellers. The prominent location directly off I-175 lends its importance as a downtown beacon.

Regional Chancellor Karen A. White, President Judy Genshaft and Mayor Rick Baker shared their excitement for the expanding campus. All referenced that the addition of this facility will welcome the community to campus for coffee and literature daily.

Located on the corner of Fifth Avenue South and Third Street, construction begins in July on the $14 million facility and completion is set for Summer 2006. The project is headed by Orlando-based Finfrock Construction, Inc.

When completed, the facility will hold more than seven times the number of cars currently able to park in that lot. Parking Center One will also include USF St. Petersburg’s Police Department and Parking Services.

>> See: St. Petersburg Times Article

>> The Parking Center groundbreaking was also featured on WTVT, Fox 13 and WFLA, NBC Ch. 8.

Notice: Parking Lot Closures

As construction begins for the Residence Hall and Parking Center, three campus parking lots will temporarily close effective Monday, May 9, according to Facilities Planning and Construction.

Lot 16, which is the site of the Parking Center on the corner of Fifth Avenue South and Third Street, will re-open Fall 2006 with Parking Center One, complete with more than 1,100 spaces.

Two other campus parking lots will serve as preparation sites for the new buildings. Jim Grant from Facilities Planning said that Lot 12, located behind the Campus Activities Center, is scheduled to reopen October 2005. He also said that although Lot 15, located across the street from the Piano Man Building, will close, they anticipate opening a portion of the lot January 2006.

Although parking will be limited, Grant suggests arriving a few minutes early to campus and utilizing the outer lots, such as those at USGS and Children's Research Institute. "With the outer lots, we have enough campus spaces to accommodate everyone, even during peak hours."

If you have any questions, please contact Facilities Planning at 553-4820.

Campus Board Meeting Notes Legislative Priorities

At Tuesday's Campus Board Meeting, Regional Chancellor Karen A. White expressed optimism about two new potential campus additions: the Science and Technology Building and a Student Center.

First year planning money for the Science and Technology Center is in the Board of Governors Request and the Student Center Bill, proposed by Student Government President, Tom Piccolo, has been approved in the Senate and will come to the House later this week. The Student Center would be funded with a student fees.

White also said that the Southern Association on Colleges and Schools notified the campus that our application for separate accreditation has been accepted and a site visit will be scheduled for Spring 2006.

In additional news, President Judy Genshaft conferred the title of Professor Emeritus to three campus professors: Jay Black, PhD, professor of mass communications; Herb Karl, PhD, professor of English education; and Sonia Helton, PhD, professor of math and art education.

For more information about USF St. Petersburg, including recent faculty, staff and student achievements, read: Remarks by Regional Chancellor Karen A. White (.pdf).

>> See: Article in Tampa Tribune for SACS Update

Usage Fee Approved for Campus Recreation Activities

The Campus Board voted to approve a usage fee starting Fall 2005 for faculty, staff, affiliates and alumni to use campus recreation facilities, including the fitness center, pool and Campus Activities Center.

Presented by Charles Brown and requested by the Division of Student Affairs, the fee would be $80 a semester or $200 for the year. This fee is partly in response to the $160,000 Student Government Association paid this semester to renovate the fitness center with student activity and service fee dollars.

Currently, student fees are the only source of funding for the facility, which, as USF St. Petersburg moves toward a 24/7 campus with the addition of residential housing, will have increased costs that need to be offset by additional funding sources.

Brown said that the average price for local gym memberships is $600 to $800 a year, significantly higher than the approved usage fee. About 60 faculty and staff currently use the facility, a few of whom voiced their concerns about the fee before the vote of approval.

Fitness center renovations include replacing equipment as well as new floors and window treatments. Revenue from the usage fee will help with increased operating expenses, equipment repair and replacement costs.

Find Out More About the Staff and Faculty Campaign

A message from your co-chairs, David Walker, PhD, and Mary Ann Harrell:

The USF System-wide Faculty and Staff Campaign is in full gear and we need your support. Join campaign representatives Thursday morning, May 5, in the Bayboro breezeway for coffee and donuts Cinco de Mayo Style. Have your donation questions answered and make a gift. 

USF St. Petersburg has already raised more than $15,000 toward the goal of $20,000, but more participation is needed. Every gift, small or large, is important so we hope each member of our campus community can contribute.

>> See: Faculty and Staff Campaign Pledge Form (.pdf)

>> See: Faculty and Staff Campaign Web site

Special Collections Presented Annual Award

The Special Collections Department was recently presented Town & Gown’s Annual Award for the upcoming Nelson Poynter Memorial Library exhibit about the history of USF St. Petersburg and its surroundings.

Presented at the organization's Annual Meeting in honor of Dean Kathy Arsenault and Librarian and Archivist Jim Schnur, this year’s $2,500 award will support the exhibit's creation for the campus’ 40th anniversary this fall.

“Over the past years, we were privileged to learn much about the treasures and resources of the Poynter Library,” President Judy Altenhoff said. “Town & Gown is delighted to be a partner in creating this exhibit – and to offer the first donation in support of the 40th Anniversary celebration.”

Town & Gown was established in 1999 to promote understanding and friendship between the university and the community.

Faculty Award Applications Available

Faculty Award Guidelines and Applications are now available. 

This year, Academic Affairs has added the Excellence in Service Award and the Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship Award in addition to the Excellence in Teaching Award currently in place. 

The deadline for these awards is Friday, May 13. For guidelines and applications visit: www.stpt.usf.edu/academics/facaward.htm.

For more information about the awards, please contact Jennifer Baker at 553-4469.

Volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House

Volunteers are needed to help prepare and serve dinner for families at the Ronald McDonald House on May 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Volunteer Services is also seeking donations of food and money to fund this dinner. Please contact Barry McDowell at 553-4990 or mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu.

Campus Beach Cleanup

Help clean the Tierra Verde bridge area with the campus’ Volunteer Services at the Beach Cleanup on May 21 from 9 to 11 am. Please contact Barry McDowell at 553-4990 or mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu.

For the latest information from HR, visit: USFSP HR Web site

USPS and A&P Staff: Reclassification Design Project

Message from Carl Carlucci, executive vice president:

As the Executive Sponsor for the Classification Redesign Project, it is my pleasure to officially launch this exciting initiative which will institute a new approach to how we define jobs and manage careers at USF. This project will analyze more than 3,400 positions and over 300 existing job titles currently in use at USF in the University Support Personnel System (USPS) and Administrative and Professional (A&P) job classifications. Faculty positions and OPS (temporary) positions are not a part of this initiative.

>> Read: Carlucci's Complete letter

>> See: Classification Web site:www.usf.edu/HR/classificationproject.htm

USF garage to house bookstore

St. Petersburg Times

May 3, 2005

Launching the second major university building project in a month, officials broke ground Tuesday for a parking garage that will contain a two-story Barnes & Noble bookstore.

On the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue S and Third Street, the complex will serve the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. It will also include the campus police and parking services headquarters.

But the 15,000-square-foot bookstore intends to draw customers from beyond the college community.

>> See: Article

>> The Parking Center groundbreaking was also featured on WTVT, Fox 13 and WFLA, NBC Ch. 8.

A learning experiment

St. Petersburg Times

May 3, 2005

Earth science students at Meadowlawn Middle School got a boost this year from a University of South Florida professor and a $1.5-million grant.

While sixth-graders at other schools read textbooks to learn about plants and soil, rocks and minerals, volcanoes and earthquakes, the Meadowlawn children conducted hands-on experiments to get a taste of what it would be like to solve real-world problems.

Their windfall originated a year ago when USF St. Petersburg professor Chin-Tang Liu submitted a grant proposal to the University of California at Berkeley. Liu, who did postgraduate work on improving student education in science and math, had learned about an inquiry-based curriculum approach called "Issues in Earth Science." He thought the program, which is supported in part by the National Science Foundation, would be a boon for sixth-grade earth science teachers.

>> See: Article

Accreditation Panel To Visit USF St. Pete

Tampa Tribune

May 3, 2005

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg's effort to become accredited separately from the rest of USF has gotten a boost.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools told USF officials in April that a SACS evaluation committee will visit the St. Petersburg campus in Spring 2006, Karen White, USF St. Petersburg's regional chancellor, told campus board members Tuesday.

A successful visit is required before the St. Petersburg campus could achieve separate SACS accreditation

>> See: Article