In his new role, Nasser will lead the state university’s business operations and further integrate finance and administrative teams to support planning, budgeting and evaluation.

Nasser said he would most miss “the great people on campus” and commended staff and faculty throughout the USF system. He said his work on the proposed Student Center was a highlight of his tenure at USF St. Petersburg.

“I have to commend our students for their dedicated work on the Student Center. Work becomes really exciting when you have that level of commitment from students,” Nasser said.

Budget Director Max Kerlin has been named Interim Regional Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance and officially assumes those duties on October 17 until a permanent replacement is on board. A search committee meets Thursday, Oct. 6 at 9:30 am in BAY 220 to begin the national search process.

Students Meet Recruiters This Weekend

Recruiters from colleges and universities across the country will converge upon USF St. Petersburg for the Pinellas County College Fair this Sunday, Oct. 9 from 12:30 - 3 pm in the Campus Activities Center.

Sponsored by the Florida School and College Relations Committee and hosted by USF St. Petersburg Office of Enrollment Services, the Open House offers high school students to meet with in state and out of state college representatives for advice on entrance requirements, the application process, and campus life.

Students who visit the USF St. Petersburg table will be able to learn admission requirements, obtain information on scholarships only available to USF St. Petersburg students and other information to help in their planning.

For more information or to assist in the fair, please call Rosemary Trukenbrod at 553-4879.

Suncoast AirFest this Weekend
Parking may be a bit tighter on campus this weekend with Suncoast AirFest 2005 scheduled for Saturday and Sunday from 9 am-4 pm. USF St. Petersburg staff, faculty and students can still park on campus with proper USF identification and hangtag.

To attend the air show, adult tickets are $12; seniors 65 and older are $10 at the gate. Children younger than 12 and active military are free.  

Changes for Employee Benefits Program

Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 3 - Oct. 28, 2005. During this time employees may enroll, change or cancel benefits that are available through the State of Florida. All changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2006.

New health plan options, HMO choices, and additional services are some of the changes that employees can expect.

Read: Benefit Changes (.pdf)

 2005 Superbull IX Homecoming
Celebrate USF’s homecoming with campus traditions such as cardboard boat building, Spirit Day and boat races. Green and gold events mark the entire week of Oct. 17-22 and wrap up with Fall Fest on the waterfront with carnival games, prizes, food and a haunted house.

See Homecoming Events Schedule (.doc)

Join the Literati for Festival of Reading

The countdown to the Festival has begun. In about three weeks USF St. Petersburg will host the 13th Annual St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 am to 5 pm. The free Festival is an annual celebration of literacy, featuring nationally known author talks, book signings, panel discussions, workshops and entertainment.

More than 60 authors including best-sellers Carl Hiassen, Candace Bushnell, Doris Kearns Goodwin, R. L. Stine, Sue Ellen Cooper and Jim and Kate Lehrer, be featured at the event. The complete list of authors, book signings, workshops and entertainers is available on the Festival of Reading Web site.

With more than 12,000 guests expected to attend, faculty, staff and students are invited to volunteer for event activities including set up, registration, stage-management, book talk assistants, roving marshals and breakdown. Volunteers can choose a four-hour shift to work such as 8 am - noon, 11 am - 3 pm and 2 - 6 pm. All volunteers will receive a T-shirt, food and beverage tickets as well as designated parking for the event.

For more information on volunteering, please contact Barry McDowell at 553-4990 or at mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu. For more information on the event, please visit the Festival of Reading Web site at http://www.festivalofreading.com/.

Read: Press Release for Festival (.pdf)  

New Address for Purchase Orders
There is a new 'Bill To' address on all St. Petersburg purchase orders, effective Oct. 4, 2005. Departments will now receive invoices from vendors. After you receive them, write the PO number and RECEIPT number on them and campus mail them to Accounts Payable in Tampa at ADM147. If you have questions please phone Purchasing at 553-4199.

Students Get Inside Look at Campus Life

Individual colleges, departments and programs can put themselves on display as USF St. Petersburg welcomes prospective college student to Fall Open House Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 12:30 - 3:30 pm.

Scheduled during the campus' homecoming celebration, prospective students to learn more about life on our campus. The day will include activities for guests such as cardboard boat races, team competitions, music and more. As a special highlight, attendees to the Open House can enter to win a scholarship to USF St. Petersburg.

"This is a great opportunity for prospective students to get an inside look at a university and meet other college students," said John Vassel, director of prospective student outreach. "This informal setting makes it more comfortable to find out more about a university."

Guests can tour the campus and attend presentations by Enrollment Services and can talk to students and faculty members about campus life. Recruiters will be available to answer questions about admission requirements, fields of study, financial aid and scholarship opportunities that are available only to USF St. Petersburg students.

Your department can showcase the vitality, creativity and diversity of our campus life and share in the day with our guests. For more information on participating in Open House, please contact Solitaire Kelley at 553-4275 or smkelley@stpt.usf.edu.

See: Open House Participation Form (.pdf)

Break-fast at the CAC Honors Unity

October marks the beginning of the sacred months of Ramadan and Tishri in Muslim and Jewish faiths. An interfaith group, Serving the One, will sponsor free community events during the sacred months, including a break-fast banquet held in the USF St. Petersburg Campus Activities Center.

As the month continues, all members of Pinellas County are invited to join in a nationwide fast for reflection, repentance, reconciliation and renewal from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, Oct. 13.

This day is a day of fasting during Ramadan and Yom Kippur during Tishri. To culminate the fast, there will be a community break-fast in the USF St. Petersburg Campus Activities Center at 7 pm. The campus is invited to pray, eat and work together for peace, justice, human rights and the health of our earth. For more information, please contact Serving the One at 449-9537 or ServingtheOne@gmail.com.

Experience Hispanic Culture

USF St. Petersburg continues to learn and experience Hispanic culture during National Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of events for campus members through Oct. 15, 2005.

Thursday, Oct. 6 the College of Marine Science invites campus members to attend "Remote Sensing of Organic Carbon in River Plumes," presented by Carlos del Castillo, PhD, NASA scientist and USF alumnus, at 11 am in the MSL Conference Room.

Celebrate Hispanic culture by attending "Noche de Salsa" Friday Oct. 7 from 5 - 8 pm in the Campus Activities Center. Presented by Harborside Activities Board and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the evening will be a cultural experience of live music, dinner and dancing for those who attend.

For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month and final events, please contact Steve Marshall, interim coordinator of Multicultural Affairs, at 553-4845.

Campaign to Raise Green for Red Cross

Student Government has initiated a fundraiser as a relief effort for the Gulf Coast regions affected by Hurricane Katrina. The "Green & Gold Campaign" aims to raise $7,500 for donation to the American Red Cross.

"We are all blessed to be part of a close-knit campus and Student Government believes it is incumbent upon members of the USFSP community to help rebuild and revitalize those communities affected by this horrible disaster," said Tom Piccolo, president of Student Government. "If every member of the campus community will give a dollar, we will be able to give thousands to those who are in need."

Cash donations of $1 or more will be accepted until Oct. 14 at the Cashier's office located in Bayboro Hall. Other donations such as canned goods, bottled water and clothing will be accepted at the Volunteer Services Office located at TER200. For more information on the campaign, please contact USF Student Government at 553-4147 or libertyin76@aol.com.

Make Tracks to the Alumni Luncheon

The Pinellas County Chapter of the USF Alumni Association will host its annual Community Luncheon Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Hilton in downtown St. Petersburg. Hear updates about USF St. Petersburg and celebrate USF's entry into the Big East Conference. Guest speakers include Regional Chancellor Karen A. White, Director of Athletics Doug Woolard, and Women's Sailing Coach Allison Jolly, who also is an Olympic Gold Medalist.

Tickets are $25 per person or $250 for a table of ten and can be purchased in advance no later than Oct. 19 and registration is available online. For more information on the community luncheon or to join the USF Alumni Association, please contact Katie Giglio at 553-4561 or kgiglio@spadmin.usf.edu.

See: Community Luncheon Flier (.pdf)

For the latest information from HR, visit: USF SP HR Web site

Thanks to the generosity of faculty, staff and students from USF St. Petersburg, more than 200 pounds of goods and supplies were collected to be sent to Mississippi this weekend. Additional donation drives are being planned.

Upcoming volunteer opportunities include a variety of events such as a coastal cleanup at Tierra Verde Oct. 15 from 9 - 11 am. Help out the animals by volunteering for the SPCA Paws on Parade Oct. 29 at 8:30 am or join the literati at the 13th annual St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading Oct. 29 from 10 am - 5 pm.

For more information on upcoming volunteer opportunities, please contact Barry McDowell at 553-4990 or mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu.

October brings union of faiths, celebration

St. Petersburg Times

Wednesday, Sept. 28

This year the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holy month of Tishri will coincide.

Read: Full Article