Bulls Notebook: Master’s degree info session set Saturday at USFSM

“This is a great opportunity for students to learn how a graduate degree from USF Sarasota-Manatee can be achieved and how it help take someone to the next level in their career,” Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Andrew Telatovich said.

Prospective students will learn about USFSM’s graduate programs, the college application process and financial aid opportunities. In addition, faculty representatives will be on hand to talk about graduate programs and answer questions from prospective students. For a complete listing of USFSM’s graduate programs, visit usfsm.edu/academics/programs-and-majors.aspx.

The session runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at USFSM’s Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

For more information call 941-359-4331 or write to admissions@sar.usf.edu.

USFSM breaking walls to create student success

USF Sarasota-Manatee has launched a renovation of the former campus security offices to create separate suites for the honors program and Learning Support Services (LSS).

“This whole renovation is for our students, so they can be successful,” said USFSM Regional Chancellor Dr. Karen Holbrook, who launched the project last Wednesday with a ceremonial “wall-breaking.”

Equipped with a sledgehammer, goggles, neon vest and hardhat, the regional chancellor smashed holes into a wall to begin the demolition process.

“This project is for our honors students, so they can have a place to do projects together, and it’s also for our students who need tutoring support, so they can have a place where they can interact with colleagues and peer tutors, which is so important for their success,” she said. “That’s what we’re all about, student success.”

The work, which is occurring in room B-128 on the first floor, is expected to be completed by the start of the spring semester in January. It will include spaces for both individualized and collaborative study.

“The new location with its expanded space and proximity to the Student Center, the student-run cafe and the gym will make Learning Support Services more visible and accessible to students,” said Dr. Su Senapati, who oversees LSS. “Students will thereby engage in more peer-to-peer and collaborative learning and find new ways of combining study time with relaxation time, leading to their overall success and well-being.”

Networking fair to bring together 40+ CEOs to meet students

USFSM’s Career Services office is urging students to attend a networking event Tuesday, Oct. 30, at Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.

Called “Mind the Gap,” the event will bring together more than 40 CEOs from across the region to talk about why their companies make great workplaces.

Also included will be break-out sessions, such as “Speed mentorship,” “Non-scary networking,” and a resume workshop. The event is sponsored by the Gulf Coast CEO Forum and promoted by the Cross College Alliance.

“This is a networking event to introduce companies and careers in our region to students from SCF, NCF, Ringling, USFSM and MTC,” Career Services Coordinator Toni Ripo said. “However, students who put their best foot forward are likely to make the connections that lead to employment.”

Ripo said her office will help students prepare for the event. Call 941-359-4703 or write to tripo@sar.usf.edu.

USFSM professors, student attend conference in Vietnam

USF Sarasota-Manatee was well-represented at the recent Global Conference on Business, Hospitality and Tourism Research at Hoa Sen University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Among the more than 250 attendees were USFSM researchers Dr. Cihan Cobanoglu, Dr. Faizan Ali, Dr. Fawn Ngo, graduate student Luana Nanu and Dr. Jay Schrock, dean emeritus of the College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership.

“I actually met a lot of people I’ve cited in my research, so that was kind of interesting,” said Nanu, who’s studying for a master’s degree in hospitality leadership. “I learned a lot. My focus is on technology and hospitality of the future, and how the hospitality industry will change.”

The Oct. 2-5 conference featured nine keynote speakers. It was sponsored by USFSM and the Association of North American Higher Education International (ANAHEI). Dr. Cobanoglu, president of ANAHEI and conference chair, introduced the speakers, including colleagues Dr. Ali and Dr. Ngo.

Dr. Ngo, an associate professor of criminology, talked about how both personal and environmental factors contribute to “tourism victimization.”

“Basically, in my presentation, I argued that in order to fully understand victimization risks among tourists, we need to take both personal and environmental factors into consideration,” said Dr. Ngo. “Prior studies on tourism crime and victimization have tended to focus solely on environmental factors at the neglect of personal factors. There is evidence that as a result of their personal traits and characteristics, some people have higher risks or are more prone to becoming victims of crime, and if we don’t take this fact into account we will have an incomplete understanding of tourism victimization.

“Overall, the conference was very organized,” she added. “The individual sessions were well attended, lots of good questions and comments that came from the audience, and the food was amazing.”

While professionally fulfilling, the conference also struck a personal note with Dr. Ngo, who grew up in Vietnam and left the country at age 9 with her parents.

“This was a special and emotional trip for me. After 40-plus years, I finally had the opportunity to return to the place where I grew up as a child,” she said. “I also brought my daughter with me, and we had a lot of fun exploring Vietnamese culture, tradition, and of course, food!”

Campus Police to participate in the
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Campus Police will participate in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During that time, members of the community are encouraged to drop off potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs at the police department on the New College of Florida campus, 501 College Dr., Sarasota, where officers will safely dispose of the items.

Participation in the program is anonymous.

For more information, visit www.ncf.edu/police/info/community-services.

Discounted Brunch on the Bay faculty, staff tickets available

Discounted tickets are now available for USF Sarasota-Manatee faculty and staff for the 25^th annual Brunch on the Bay celebration, scheduled Sunday, Nov. 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Current USFSM faculty and staff may purchase up to two discounted tickets at the special rate of $100 per ticket at this website.  Proceeds from the event, which is considered one of the premiere social events of the season in the Sarasota-Manatee area, have funded student scholarships since 1994. Brunch on the Bay attendees have given graciously to fund scholarships for students while also savoring brunch fare from the finest local restaurants and caterers.

This year, as Brunch celebrates its Silver Anniversary, many special features are planned and the guest list is quickly growing, so don’t delay in securing your tickets and table sponsorships.

“More than 1,700 scholarships have been awarded from Brunch on the Bay proceeds, most of which were given to local students, and we’re thrilled to continue this significant tradition — with a few twists for 2018,” Vice Chancellor for Advancement Lee Williams said. “We have added a Brunch on the Bay Honorary Committee, in addition to the Organizing Committee, and both groups are working hard to make this the best Brunch ever!”

“Brunch is presented by Mary Kenealy Events of Sarasota, and working with Mary and her talented team has simply been exceptional,” Williams said. “We have a few special guests arranged for the annual gathering; so it’s sure to be memorable. USFSM’s Brunch on the Bay is a fantastic way to spend a Sunday, enjoy wonderful culinary delights and support area students with scholarships.”

Since its start, Brunch has distinguished itself as USF Sarasota-Manatee’s premier fundraising event, adding more than $1.3 million to the university endowment and generating more than $1 million in scholarships, including those to first generation students, the first in their families to attend college.

“It’s one of the very best events in this community and it’s been around longer than most other events,” said Bob Turner, a USFSM alum and former publisher of the Bradenton Herald. “It’s extremely important to support this event to support the students who need a leg up to further their careers and help our businesses with a workforce that’s ready to go.”

Turner and USFSM graduate Lauren Henry are co-chairs of this year’s Brunch on the Bay Organizing Committee.

“I see so much potential in what this university has to offer in terms of partnering with businesses and leaders in our community,” said Henry, a 2016 graduate. “And so Brunch on the Bay is a culmination of that, where the university and community come together and support the cause of higher education.”

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