I know what you are thinking.  Didn’t we just go through the angst of high school graduation, waiting for acceptance, moving out of the family home, and letting go even more?  It sure is crazy how fast four (or more) college years go by. And now your student is living in the adult world, about to receive their college diploma.  I’m not trying to scare you, and it sure is a time for celebration, but there is some planning involved if you are going to attend the Commencement ceremonies.

**Due to unusual and unprecedented times, situations and circumstances for 2020 continue to evolve daily. Please start all your planning for any event by first checking for Covid updates directly from USF.

Summer Commencement ceremonies, like the spring 2020 commencement, will be done virtually. All graduates that intended to walk in the spring 2020 and summer 2020 are invited to participate in a future traditional in-person commencement, as soon as those ceremonies can safely resume. Most of the helpful information you’ll read below comes from experiencing both the ongoing traditions and evolving modifications of graduation at USF. But 2020 has inserted a very large “Just a Minute” wedge into all of our well-laid plans.

Usually…USF holds Fall, Spring, and Summer Commencements at the Yeungling Center.  Doors open 90 minutes before each ceremony and seating is first-come, first-serve (no tickets required). They are held at different times/days for the different colleges. Parking information and directions.

The first thing you should do is book your hotel if you are from out of town. By now you probably have your go-to hotel choice in Tampa, so check their policies about canceling rooms.  Here’s why: you will undoubtedly have last-minute requests for the family to join you, so booking multiple rooms is a great idea. It is a lot easier to cancel a room than to find one at the last minute (again, check the hotel’s cancellation policy). Another tip is to put the rooms in different names. Depending on the hotel, if you have to cancel a room, they may cancel the entire reservation under that name, instead of just one room.

Fall and Summer graduations can be a tad less crowded and easier to book but be diligent. You also have students moving out in December so that makes for a lot going on. Check the website for which time and day your student’s commencement will be on as it goes by degree level and their specific college.

Disabled or Special Needs Info

There is no pre-assigned seating for guests with disabilities. Wheelchair seating is available and these spaces are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be aware that the Yuengling Center does not have wheelchairs or other equipment to loan or rent. Disabled parking is located in parking lot 6, on the north side of the Yuengling Center, by Gate C and D. Deaf or hard of hearing guests may sit in Section 113, close to the stage, as interpreters will be provided near this location.

Cap & Gown Isn’t Cheap

Several companies may try to sell caps and gowns. To be certain that you are getting the USF-approved regalia, please order from the USF Bookstore. Advance ordering of regalia for bachelor and master recipients is available online and during Grad Stampede. Regalia will be on sale at the USF Bookstore beginning the week before finals. Prices start at $65 for bachelor’s set (cap/gown/tassel). Students can order honor society sashes and medallions. Students must apply for graduation through OASIS by the deadline to receive their diploma and have their names printed in the program.

HaveUHeard that the color tassel your student wears depends on their major? They are as follows:

• Apricot — Nursing
• Black — Independent Studies
• Blue (dark) — Philosophy, African Studies, Economics, History, International Studies, Medical Sciences (doctorate), Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Women’s Studies
• Blue (light) — Education
• Blue (Peacock) — Public Administration
• Blue (Rhodes) — Audiology
• Brown — Visual and Performing Arts
• Citron — Social Work, Criminology, Rehabilitation, and Mental Health Counseling
• Crimson — Mass Communications
• Olive Drab — Business
• Green — Medicine; Orange — Engineering
• Pink — Music; Salmon — Public Health
• Violet — Architecture
• Silver — Speech Communications
• Teal — Physical Therapy
• White — Arts and Letters and Humanities, including American Studies, Applied Linguistics, Classics, English, Foreign Language, Interdisciplinary Social Science, Liberal Studies, Linguistics, Religious Studies
• Yellow — Anthropology, Biology, Bio-Medical Sciences, Chemistry, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Gerontology, Information Technologies, Medical Sciences (Masters), Medical Technology, Mathematics, Marine Science, Physics, Speech Pathology
• Yellow (lemon) — Library Science
  Yellow (pineapple) — Hotel and Restaurant Management

If you cannot make Commencement, the ceremonies will be live-streamed on USF’s web page, as well as the Commencement site. And, most importantly, make sure your student has met all of the requirements. They will have a checklist of things to do, but it doesn’t hurt to ask about them.  It would be awful to show up to a commencement only to find out your student has not fulfilled ALL requirements.

Other Reservations

Remember to make your restaurant reservations as well.  Due to the crowds, you will definitely want a reservation, so I recommend you calling the restaurant and asking them how far in advance you need to book it. Check out our Restaurant blog for ideas, and keep in mind that May graduation is the largest, and many restaurants may require a non-refundable deposit that will get applied to your bill. I know you are going to want some great photos. You can check out our photography recommendations. Students may still be able to rent a cap and gown to at least get those fabulous photos. Finally, we’ve got some great graduation gift suggestions including diploma and tassel frames. HaveUHeard you can get a replacement or duplicate diploma should you lose, damage or just need a second one? It will cost you $10.00.

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Every time I headed up to USF to see my kids, they asked that I bring our dog. Let’s face it; the pup is everyone’s favorite family member. Personally, I would rather travel with pets than have our daughter adopt one of her own that may eventually become mine too, so I often obliged. The good news is that is becoming rather common for people to travel with their pets.

Dog-friendly Restaurants:

Armature Works

Ciccio Cali

Datz

Michael’s Grill

Sparkman Wharf

Starbucks (outside)

World of Beer

Pet-friendly Apartments:

The Retreat, Halo 46, The Standard, The Union on Fletcher, and many more are pet-friendly and typically charge an upfront or monthly pet fee.

Pet-friendly Hotels:

La Quinta Inn Busch Gardens

La Quinta Inn & Suites USF Busch Gardens

Hyatt Place Busch Gardens

Holiday Inn Express USF- Busch Gardens

Embassy Suites by Hilton USF

Holiday Inn & Suites Busch Gardens

Home2 Suites by Hilton USF

Quality Inn & Conference Center

Extended Stay America

TownePlace Suites by Marriott

Residence Inn by Marriott Tampa North

Wingate by Wyndham at USF

Tampa Inn

Be sure, when making reservations, you tell them you are traveling with a pet. Some have fees.

Perhaps while in the area you just want to let Fido get out and run a bit.

Here are a few dog parks in the area:

Rowlett Dog Park – 8401-8549 N Rowlett Park Dr, Tampa, FL. Bring Fido and enjoy a separate small dog area and large dog area, trees, benches, and agility equipment. Has fenced, off-leash dog runs at this city park.

Temple Terrace Hilltop Dog Park – 9420 Harney Rd, Tampa, FL. It has a side for small dogs and one for big dogs. Nice open space to let Fido run and play. It has water pools for your dogs and waste bags. They also have bowls and buckets in case Fido gets thirsty.

These parks are dog-friendly, but not solely for dogs:

University  Area Community Park  – 14015 N 22nd St, Tampa, FL

USF Riverfront Park – 6550 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL.

Lettuce Lake Park – 6920 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL

Copeland Park Trail – 11001 N 15th St, Tampa, FL

Temple Terrace Riverfront Park – 7801 Capwood Ave, Temple Terrace, FL

The Retreat Apartment complex has its own dog park.

Of course, if you are traveling with a service animal, which is not considered a “pet,” you are allowed to take your service dog virtually anywhere you are allowed to go. There should be no extra fees or deposits for this. However, emotional support animals may not be allowed to accompany their owner in public places, ie. restaurants, stores, hotels, so you may want to check before you head out.

That said, if you should end up with a grand-pet, as I did, because, apparently my speeches about responsibility and cost weren’t loud enough, here are some thoughts. Encourage a fish first. This worked her freshman year, as she was in the dorms, and knew that pets were not allowed (except for small fish in a 10 gallon or less tank).  And frankly, there was no room for a tank anywhere. But alas, her second year she lived in an apartment and she and her roommate heard about some kittens that lost their mom in a hurricane.  See where I am going with this? Yep, they each took one and now we have a cat added to the family. She has it in her apartment; it is small pet-friendly, but the responsibility is a lot.

If your student really needs a puppy fix, the Center for Student Well-Being has a Paws & Relax program where they bring a variety of certified therapy dogs on campus.  It’s usually during exam time to help with the stress. They have even brought a llama before.

As for apartments, make sure they check the rules and also the consequences if an un-allowed pet is discovered. They may have a roommate that gets a pet, which could affect them as well. Some students will try to hide a pet too, which usually doesn’t end well.  Fines can be steep and you don’t want your son/daughter a part of a problem with the leasing office. So, if they absolutely need a pet-friendly apartment, start by looking at the list of apartments available. Check often, and call the offices. Rules change, and apartments do change their policies from time to time.

Whether you need a pet sitter while you are away or at classes or you want to become a pet sitter, check out Rover.

Finally, you may want to add some Bulls gear to the holiday shopping list. Show your spirit with a collar, food bowls, toys, etc. for your newest furry friend. And if you’re lucky, you may end up with some fun pics/videos like the ones I sent in return.

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Tampa is a big tourist destination, but it is also a college city. There are all different things to take into consideration when booking. Some may want a suite type of room, free breakfast, a gym, or a Starbucks in the lobby. Some families look for pet-friendly hotels (because what college kids doesn’t want a visit from their pet?), hotels where they can earn points or even hotels on the beach. That being said, you need to know that Busch Gardens is just 2 miles south of campus, so many hotels that advertise for their close proximity to the park, are also close to the school.

Many of the hotels listed below offer a special USF rate. If you choose one of these hotels, state that you are visiting the University of South Florida. Some offer free shuttle service to the campus.

Pet-friendly

For those traveling with pets, the hotels that are pet-friendly include:

La Quinta Inn Busch Gardens
La Quinta Inn & Suites USF Busch Gardens
Hyatt Place Busch Gardens
Holiday Inn Express USF- Busch Gardens
Embassy Suites by Hilton USF
Holiday Inn & Suites Busch Gardens
Home2 Suites by Hilton USF
Quality Inn & Conference Center
Extended Stay America
TownePlace Suites by Marriott
Residence Inn by Marriott Tampa North
Wingate by Wyndham
Be sure, when making reservations, you tell them you are traveling with a pet. Some have fees.

Hilton

Among the many options of places to stay, the most convenient to campus is probably the Embassy Suites located at 3705 Spectrum Boulevard (813-977-7066). It’s directly on campus and is a Hilton property. As a Hilton Honors member, I love this place. And who doesn’t like Embassy Suites full breakfast, and complimentary appetizers and happy hour drinks? They also offer free transportation to local parks and museums. It may be on the higher price side because of its location, but well worth it. You need to book in advance because this is a popular stay for both USF families, as well as Busch Gardens and Adventure Island visitors.

Not too far from campus are two additional Hilton owned properties both of which you can earn those awesome Hilton Points.

Hampton Inn & Suites – 3333 East Busch Boulevard, Tampa, FL. 813-605-5233

Hilton Garden Inn – 13305 Tampa Oaks Blvd, Temple Terrace, FL. 813-342-5000

Home2 Suites by Hilton USF  11606 North McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 813-750-8844

Marriott

For the Marriott families, when booking online, look for special USF rates. If making reservations by phone, please ask for the USF rate.

Courtyard by Marriott

Residence Inn by Marriott – 13420 N. Telecom Parkway, Tampa, 813-972-4400

Fairfield Inn & Suites   12260 Morris Bridge Road, Temple Terrace, FL, 813-989-0007

TownePlace Suites  6800 Woodstork Dr, Tampa, FL (813) 975-977

Some of these are conveniently right off of I-75 and are a direct route from campus. Like I said before, there are lots of options, being that it is also a tourist area. You can find hotels in all price ranges from The Hyatt Place, Clarion Hotels and Conference Center,

IHG Hotels: Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn Express USF- Busch Gardens

Holiday Inn & Suites Busch Gardens

Choice Hotels: Quality Inn, West Wing & La Quinta

La Quinta Inn & Suites (across from the USF campus). 3701 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL,  813-910-7500

La Quinta Inn Busch Gardens

Quality Inn – Busch Gardens/USF (5-minute drive) 2701 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL., 813-971-4710

West Wing Hotel, an Ascend Hotel – 2501 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, (813) 559-8000

Wyndham: Wingate

Wingate by Wyndham (across from USF campus), 3751 East Fowler Ave., Tampa, FFL 813-867-2878

Best Western

Best Western All Suites Hotel – Busch Gardens/USF (5-minute drive), 3001 University Center Drive, Tampa, FL., 813-971-8930

Other Things to Think About

If you want to be in the heart of downtown Tampa, there are great hotel choices that offer convenience to the picturesque Bayshore Boulevard, Curtis Hixon Park, The Tampa Museum of Art, the Patel Conservatory, and the Riverwalk. If your time permits, I highly recommend going to Amelie Arena for a Lightning hockey game. The Lightning has many partnerships with USF, and you won’t be disappointed.

Let’s not forget the beaches!! The bay area has some of the most beautiful and award-winning beaches in the country. Both Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach is just under an hour’s drive from USF and have great hotels and restaurants.  Some of our favorites are the Hilton Clearwater Resort & Spa. It has a fun atmosphere and great places to eat and shop within walking distance. Frenchies Rockaway Grill has the best grouper sandwich. It is just a couple of blocks from the hotel and very popular.  Another favorite is the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort. It has a South Beach feel and just outside is Badfins Brew & Food. Great fresh food and amazing drinks, along with a mural you will want to take pics in front of. It’s super fun! In St. Petersburg, the Guy Harvey (yes, the t-shirt guy) Outpost, a TradeWinds Island Beach Resort is a beautiful, relaxing hotel.  You’ll have to check out their 33,000-gallon tank that was built by the guys on “Tanked”. The other “jewel” of St. Pete Beach is the Don Cesar hotel. It’s “the pink hotel” with lots of history and old-world charm. You may even see a celebrity hanging out by the pool. I highly recommend you tie-in a beach trip when visiting your Bull!

USF football plays in Raymond James Stadium, which is about 13 miles from campus. I recommend staying either close to campus, downtown, or on the beach. Because it is an NFL stadium, you don’t need to worry about booking rooms early for certain games. There is always plenty of room in the stadium. The only possible issue is the number of tickets allocated for the games. Some games have a limit.

Both Busch Gardens and its water park, Adventure Island are right down the street from the school. Keep this in mind when looking to visit USF. Hotels will book faster during times such as spring break because both the school and visitors to the amusement parks share the same hotels.  You can also check Reservations.com,  Expedia and Hotels.com to take advantage of comparative pricing and specials.

While visiting, make sure you check out our restaurant recommendations for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner.

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Every school has Parents Weekend, and for USF the tradition continues.  This is a great time to see your students in their “natural habitat” on campus.  You will see them in their new independent role and have the chance to meet some of their friends.  There is some debate on whether Parents Weekend is worth the travel and expenses vs. coming on another, less-crowded weekend.  But, I can tell you that we have done both. Parents Weekend is geared towards families and there are some fun things to do.

The weekend is set for October 9 -11, 2020 with registration open on July 6th.  As soon as they do announce it, I advise you to make your hotel reservations immediately, as they book up fast.  Some will offer a slight discount if you reserve far in advance and tell them why you are coming. Our blog on hotels will help with suggestions.

There is a fee for both parents and students to attend Parents Weekend and you must register online.  For adults, it is approximately $30, youth (10 & under) $15, and students $15. The fees cover all events that you may choose from.  You will get a family welcome bag, a Friends & Family Weekend t-shirt, parking on campus, and access to canoeing and kayaking at Riverfront Park.

Football

There is always a football game this weekend, and last year it was a home game that was also during Homecoming Week (see the blog on Homecoming).  Many like to tailgate before the game (at Raymond James Stadium) but know that your student may not be with you. If they are in a sorority or fraternity there will undoubtedly be activities planned with their respective houses.  Sororities may plan a family activity with food to enjoy with your daughter, but fraternities usually lack in the food department. I recommend eating first. If your son is a pledge, it may not be worth the trip because they will be so busy working that weekend.  So, it is a busy time of year.

Going to the game will give you a chance to show off your USF Bulls gear.  Wear it proudly, but remember it will be warm and humid. Check our Football blog for things to bring to the game and what to leave at the hotel.  Buying tickets to the game is easy, but your student’s ticket is free and will be in the student section.

Wondering what to wear? We’ve got suggestions for Bulls attire and clear bags.

In the Spring, USF hosts a Spring Family Day in February.  It is a one-day event held at Riverfront Park with all the amenities available to families.  Check the site for details on the 2019 date and to register.

Where to Eat on the Weekend

Check out our Restaurant blog to see tons of good options.  Remember that USF is down the street from the popular Busch Gardens and Adventure Island.  The closer to school, the more crowded the restaurants tend to be.

What to Do

Perhaps football is not your thing or you want to explore more of Tampa. Click here for some great places to visit while in town. And if you’re looking for an event to attend, click here for some great suggestions.

Even if you aren’t into football, tailgates are always fun. Many frats have great tailgate parties and kids love to show off their fraternities.

Have fun with your BULL!

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Your child has been accepted to USF!  Congrats! The dates of Summer/Fall Orientation may be found here. The first thing you need to do is to sign up for Orientation. Both you and your student will have two days of taking notes, filling out paperwork, and getting yourselves familiar with the campus. Orientation can be an overwhelming event because lots of information is being thrown at you in a short amount of time. So, remember to breathe. Don’t panic, like I did, about remembering every phone number, code, and the piece of advice that the school gives you. It will all be there on their website if you need them. I did make notes and highlighted things that I especially wanted to go over with my child in detail (like health care, tutoring, safety…) It’s also a good idea to take pictures of the many slides you will be shown. To orient yourself best, sit towards the front to see better.

For orientation, your child is required to stay overnight in an on-campus dorm. You, on the other hand, must set up lodging on your own. They will get a list of things to bring including a sleeping bag/bedding and toiletries.  Both of your days will be busy and you won’t see your child much, if at all. There are housing tours offered during orientation, which I found helpful as well.

Their day starts off early to check-in and moves into their housing, and day one ends around 10:30 p.m. They have many informational sessions, ice breakers, meal breaks, and also a night-time bonding event. Your day will start early as well, and end around 7:00 pm. Both you and your student will also have optional sessions you may attend if interested during the two days to orient yourself.

The grand finale (for your student) of orientation is registering for their classes for summer and fall. Try to discuss what classes your student may want to take before orientation by reviewing the Online Course Catalog prior to attending. There isn’t much time to chat with an advisor when they sit down to enroll, so having an idea of a learning path helps. Remind your students not to worry if they don’t get that ideal schedule. There is always a drop or add where they can change their schedule during the first week of the semester. I think it’s good to remember that whatever they end up with does not necessarily have to determine what they study for the next four years.

HaveUHeard that USF allows students to receive up to 45 semester hours of credit towards the baccalaureate degree upon successful completion of certain examinations such as AP, CLEP, IB, CAPE, DLPT, DANTE/DSST, and others? listed below. For more information, see the equivalency here.

Some other suggestions:

Meal Plan – I suggest you read our blog on meal plans to get some ideas of choices. You can register for the plan of your choice at orientation.

Banking – USF’s banking provider is a federal credit union.  A checking account is free for students who also have a debit card. That card can be used all over campus just like any debit card. We personally chose to keep our daughter’s account at our home bank.  It is simply easier for us since our accounts are linked. For out of state students, it is smart to check out opening a Florida account.  If you are unsure, wait until you head home and you can always open one later.

Make your hotel reservations early. Rooms will fill fast. Head over to our hotels and restaurants blogs for suggestions.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.  You will do a lot of walking and Tampa will be hot. But, bring a light jacket as some rooms will be cold. Also carry a small umbrella, because again, Florida!

What to Bring – Your student will want to bring comfortable clothes, pajamas, a pillow, twin sheets or sleeping bag, a blanket, bath towel, cell phone charger, a jacket or sweater and, of course, their toiletries. Many of the girls bring duffles to hold all of their belongings. Our list for other items to bring. I remember getting my daughters a Vera Bradley duffle because that’s what college girls use. They still use it to this day for weekend trips or trips home when they do not need to bring a suitcase.

And of course, to really orient yourself, head over to the campus bookstore or an area store and start stocking up on Bulls apparel. Items are cheaper off-campus, but the bookstore, next to the Marshall Center, has an amazing selection of all things USF.

Click here for more information on USF orientation.

Go Bulls!

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