What started as a vision in 1956 is today the University of South Florida. It is a leading public research university. USF’s story is one of remarkable growth and impact.
Let’s delve into the history of the University of South Florida. USF was the first state university built in Florida in the 20th century. Samuel Gibbons played a crucial role in its creation. Many consider him the “Father of USF.” Although founded in 1956, USF did not get its name until 1957. Classes began in 1960.
The University of South Florida was built on the former site of Henderson Air Field. It was a World War II airstrip. Before that, the area was part of a 5,000-acre temple orange grove. It was the largest citrus grove then. The nearby city of Temple Terrace got its name from this grove.
In 1957, the Florida Cabinet approved the name “University of South Florida.” Back then, USF was the southernmost university in the state system. The first five buildings included the library, the science building, and the administration building.
USF was initially a school for whites only. It integrated and admitted its first African-American student, Ernest Boger, in 1961. He graduated in 1964 with a B.A. in psychology. In 1962, students chose the “Golden Brahman” as the mascot. This mascot honored Florida’s cattle industry. In the early 1980s, the mascot evolved into the “Bulls.”
The first graduation ceremony at the University of South Florida took place in 1963. The University of South Florida conferred 325 degrees. John S. Allen was the first president. He served from 1956 to 1971. During his tenure, USF expanded quickly. Master’s degree programs began in 1964. Allen initially opposed college sports. He favored an “Accent on Learning.” Later, he changed his mind. USF’s first varsity teams started in 1965. Allen considered USF the first new institution of its kind to be conceived, planned and built in the United States in the 20th century.
USF’s St. Petersburg campus opened in 1965. It was a satellite campus. The site was known as the “Bay Campus.” It was on the former site of the U.S. Navy Maritime Training Center.
An F4 tornado damaged the University of South Florida campus in 1966. The cooling towers at the power plant partially collapsed. The roof of a dormitory was ripped off. M. Cecil Mackey became the university’s second president in 1970. He opened the medical school, School of Nursing, and the first Ph.D. program. Mackey also strengthened the St. Petersburg campus. He opened new satellite campuses. Mackey coined the term “metropolitan university” for USF.
In the 1980s, USF emerged as a major research institution. This happened under President John Lott Brown. The USF Graduate School was established in 1980. In 1986, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center opened.
Betty Castor became USF’s fifth president in 1994. She was the first female president. During her time, USF grew to be one of the largest universities in the nation. The Florida Board of Regents named USF a “Research 1” University in 1998.
Under President Judy Genshaft, USF achieved “preeminence.” USF became a top research university. USF opened the first Confucius Institute in Florida in 2008.
Today, the University of South Florida has three campuses. They are in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. USF offers over 240 degree programs. The university has a large and diverse student body. USF is known for its research and innovation. It holds many U.S. patents. USF’s sports teams, the Bulls, compete in NCAA Division I. The University of South Florida continues to grow. It is committed to truth and wisdom.