The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university in Tampa, Florida. It is a member institution of the State University System of Florida and one of four universities in the state with a comprehensive medical school. The USF system includes three separate campuses: USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee. The main campus is located on approximately 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) in north Tampa near Temple Terrace and Fowler Avenue. It has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1963 and its current president is Judy Genshaft.
In 2019, US News & World Report ranked USF 52nd among public universities and 140th nationally overall in its “Best Colleges” rankings. For 2020, they moved the university up to 50th among publics schools and 129th overall nationally In addition to its comprehensive medical program, popular programs at the undergraduate level include business administration, psychology, nursing, biology, biomedical sciences/pre-medicine as well as physical therapy while at the graduate level students can pursue studies in education, engineering or information technology among many other areas.. Businessweek has also ranked part-time MBA programs at the Muma College of Business 11th in the nation 3 times: 2010 (#10), 2012 (#9), and 2014 (#11).
The university was established by legislation signed into law by Governor Claude Ricketts on February 14, 1956 as “Florida’s first integrated statewide university.” Classes began that September with 105 students enrolled for what was then known as “University College”, which was part of an experimental approach that offered instruction from all six of Florida’s existing state universities on one central campus utilizing television courses broadcasted across the state via closed circuit television systems. On June 30 1957 Thomas Borkenstein became interim President after serving as chairman of what was then known as Board Of Control for Higher Education Of The State Of Florida from 1955 until 1957 when he took over for John Allen Blanton who resigned due to illness.. By 1959 enrollment had increased to 543 undergraduates and 243 graduate students attending classes on what had become known as “Campus IV”. In 1960 James L Wetherington became President followed by John S Allen in 1964 . Under their leadership Campus IV rapidly grew adding new buildings including Cooper Hall which housed classrooms ,laboratories ,the library ,and offices; Andreef Hall which held additional classroom space along with housing for male faculty members; And finally phasing out residence halls Dixie Hollins Hall , Fletcher hall ,and Magnolia Court . Additional growth occurred under presidents Harrell Fitts (1968–1970) , Cecil Mackey(1970–1974), Marshall Goodman(1975–1981) during which time enrollment reached over 20 000 students