USF Sarasota-Manatee sees enrollment gains

Recent enrollment counts show USFSM’s total student population grew to 2,127 students for the fall semester compared to 2,071 students last fall, a 3-percent increase.

Most of that growth occurred among the number of undergraduate students, which rose 4.5 percent from last year.

The campus saw steady increases in both first-time-in-college (freshman) and transfer students from institutions such as State College of Florida.

The number of freshman students grew to 110, a 26 percent jump from last fall, while the total number of transfer students – undergraduate and graduate – jumped by 13 percent to 401.

These increases follow a trend since the campus admitted freshman students in 2013.

Additionally, the campus last year added a College of Science & Mathematics, which has helped attract interest, and Admissions representatives have stepped up their talks with prospective students at events at local high schools and on campus.

The Bulls Bistro returns

USF Sarasota-Manatee’s Bulls Bistro is back.

The popular dining experience where teams of students and faculty from the College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership present an eclectic menu of tapas-style dishes will holds its first event Thursday, Sept. 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at USFSM’s Culinary Innovation Lab, 8130 Main St., Lakewood Ranch.

Subsequent bistros will run each Thursday this fall.

The evening includes three hors d’oeuvres, one sweet tapas and two glasses of wine or craft-brewed beer. The cost is $25 per guest.

Last year’s bistros were a stunning success, with tickets selling out at nearly every event. Come out for an enjoyable evening. For tickets, visit usfsm.edu/event/bulls-bistro-16/.

Cuba seminar to explore future relations with U.S.

The slowing of U.S.-Cuba relations in recent months is prompting questions about business with the island and travel options.

To help figure out the next steps, USF Sarasota-Manatee will host a seminar, “What Now, Cuba?” on Sept. 11, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at USFSM’s Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

The half-day session explores the implications of America’s revised Cuba policies and features talks by former U.S. diplomat Vicki Huddleston and Don Rissmiller, chief economist at New York-based Strategas Research Partners.

Huddleston, U.S. ambassador to Mali, 2002-05, and Madagascar, 1995-97, served as chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana from 1999 to 2002. Her talk, “Myths, Contradictions, and Lies: Bush, Obama, Trump,” will examine how the normalizing of relations between Cuba and the United States slowed in recent months, pushing Cuba toward closer military and economic ties with Russia and China. All this, she says, to curry favor with Cuban-American legislators.

In addition to Huddleston and Rissmiller, Jorge Duany, director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University, will address audience members, along with a panel of noted financial and Cuba experts.

Those panelists include David Seleski, president of Stonegate Bank; Collin Laverty, president of Cuba Educational Travel; Harry Vanden, professor emeritus of government and international affairs at USF; and Stephen Kay, director of the Americas Center at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The Americas Center seeks to understand, cooperate with and respond to changes in Latin American, Caribbean and Spanish financial institutions and markets.

David Kotok, chief investment officer at Cumberland Advisors, and Dr. Karen Holbrook, senior advisor to USF System President Dr. Judy Genshaft and executive vice president of USFSM, will provide opening remarks.

The seminar costs $50 and comes with lunch. For more information or to register, visit http://usfsm.edu/event/what-now-cuba/.

Sponsoring the event are: Cumberland Advisors, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Global Interdependence Center, ResearchOne, USF World and USF Sarasota-Manatee.

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