First Year
St. Petersburg Campus
WELCOME
Welcome to Orientation at USF鈥檚 St. Petersburg! Orientation is a vital way for first-year students to feel confident and connected before starting their college journey. During this interactive experience, you鈥檒l engage in educational sessions designed to help you transition into the USF community. You鈥檒l also complete campus business, including picking up your ID card, clearing holds, getting a tour of the university and more. Plus, you鈥檒l have the opportunity to connect with new incoming students and build connections prior to the start of your first semester.
RESERVE AN ORIENTATION DATE
Connect with fellow students, explore campus, and gain the knowledge and resources you need to start to your academic journey.
Summer/Fall Start
Orientation reservations for students starting in Summer & Fall 2025 are now open!
Spring Start
Orientation reservations for students starting in Spring 2026 will open in October.
Already reserved your seat?
Hear from our Orientation leaders about what to expect:
Learn More About Orientation:
ORIENTATION DATES
Summer & Fall 2025 Start
Spring Start
We will post Orientation dates for students starting in Spring 2026 once reservations open in October 2025.
Fees
New undergraduate students are required to pay a $35 fee to attend Orientation upon making a reservation. Additional charges apply for families and guests who choose to attend. Orientation is required for all new undergraduate students.
First-Year Orientation Session Fees
| Attendee Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| First-Year Student | $35 |
| Parent, Family or Guest | $50 |
- Please note: Fees represent a per-person rate.
All students are required to pay for Orientation at the time of reservation. Your seat will not be reserved until payment has been submitted. If you鈥檙e experiencing financial difficulties, please contact us at OrientationStPete@usf.edu.
Refunds are available in limited situations. Review our Refund Policy to see if your situation qualifies.
ORIENTATION SCHEDULE
Summer/Fall Start
Student Schedule at a GlancE
*Note: Students are required to be in attendance for the entire session and attendance is taken throughout.
| Time | Session | |
|---|---|---|
|
8:00 - 8:30 AM |
Check-In at the University Student Center (USC), The Reef | |
| 8:30 - 8:50 AM |
Embarking on the USF Journey |
|
| 8:50 - 9:20 AM |
Navigating Academics |
|
| 9:30 - 10:05 AM | Bulls Breakout #1 | |
| 10:10 - 10:40 AM | Understanding Your Financial Aid & Paying Tuition | |
| 10:50 - 11:25 AM | Academic College Overviews | |
| 11:30 - 12:00 PM | New Student Connections | |
| 12:05 - 12:45 PM | Rotation #1: Lunch or Resource Fair - based on your assigned group | |
| 12:45 - 1:25 PM | Rotation #2: Lunch or Resource Fair - based on your assigned group | |
| 1:35 - 2:00 PM | Concurrent Sessions: Healthy Bull, Student Life & Engagement or Resident/Commuter Session | |
| 2:10 - 2:45 PM | Launching Your Career | |
| 2:45 - 3:30 PM | Being Responsi-BULL | |
| 3:35 - 4:15 PM | Bulls Breakout #2 | |
| 4:20 - 4:30 PM | Orientation Closing | |
| 4:30 - 5:00 PM | Optional Sessions: Office of Veteran Success Open House, Campus Tour, Housing Showroom, Student Success Center Open House, Explore the Bookstore (Open until 6:00 PM) | |
Last updated version: April 2025. Schedule is Subject to Change.
Guest Schedule at a Glance
| Time | Session | |
|---|---|---|
|
8:00 - 8:30 AM |
Check-In at the University Student Center (USC), The Reef | |
| 8:50 - 9:20 AM |
Navigating Academics |
|
| 9:30 - 10:05 AM | Campus Safety | |
| 10:10 - 10:40 AM | Understanding Your Financial Aid & Paying Tuition | |
| 10:50 - 11:25 AM | Academic College Overviews | |
| 11:30 - 12:00 PM | New Student Connections | |
| 12:05 - 12:45 PM |
Rotation #1: Lunch or Resource Fair - based on your assigned group |
|
| 12:45 - 1:25 PM | Rotation #2: Lunch or Resource Fair - based on your assigned group | |
| 1:35 - 2:00 PM | Concurrent Sessions: Healthy Bull, Student Life & Engagement or Resident/Commuter Session | |
| 2:10 - 2:45 PM | Student Panel | |
| 2:45 - 3:10 PM | Parent & Family Engagement | |
| 3:15 - 3:35 PM | Center for Careers and Professional Development | |
| 3:35 - 4:15 PM | Supporting Your Bull - Navigating the Transition | |
| 4:20 - 4:30 PM | Orientation Closing | |
| 4:30 - 5:00 PM | Optional Sessions: Office of Veteran Success Open House, Campus Tour, Housing Showroom, Student Success Center Open House, Explore the Bookstore (Open until 6:00 PM) | |
Last updated version: April 2025. Schedule is Subject to Change.
Spring Start
We will post Orientation schedules for students starting in Spring 2026 once reservations open in October 2025.
faqs
Please review this section to find answers to our most commonly asked questions. If you do not find the question you are looking for, please email us at OrientationStPete@usf.edu.