Student life of the University of South Florida
Student Demographics (as of December 9, 2022)
Race and Ethnicity:
- White: 50.4%
- Hispanic: 22.9%
- Black: 9.1%
- Asian: 8.6%
- Other[a]: 8.7%
- Foreign National: 11.8%
Economic Diversity:
- Low-income: 31%
- Affluent: 69%
Student Life and Campus Facilities
The University of South Florida (USF) Tampa campus offers a variety of services and resources to support students academically and personally. Under the Division of Student Affairs, students can access extracurricular opportunities, on-campus housing, dining facilities, recreational spaces, health and wellness services, and more.
Marshall Student Center
In 2008, USF opened the Marshall Student Center (MSC), named in honor of Phyllis P. Marshall, the longtime director of the previous student union. This four-story facility includes:
- A 1,200-seat ballroom and an 800-seat auditorium
- A computer lab with 100 workstations
- Study areas, meeting rooms, student lounges, and outdoor courtyards
- Several retail spaces, including a credit union, commuter lounge, and identification card center
- Ten dining options, including Panera, Chick-fil-A, and Subway
The MSC also houses key student organizations, including Student Government, the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, the Center for Student Involvement, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, making it the hub of student life at USF.
Centre Gallery
Located within the Marshall Student Center, Centre Gallery is a student-run exhibition space showcasing contemporary and innovative art. Established in 1984, it is Florida’s only fully student-run, nonprofit gallery. The exhibitions, which run for two weeks in fall and spring and three weeks in summer, attract over 4,000 visitors each semester.
Former Student Union
The original USF student union, known as the University Center, was one of the first five buildings on campus when USF opened in 1960. It initially housed a cafeteria, bookstore, post office, game room, and the university’s first on-campus women’s residence hall.
Over the years, the facility was repurposed, eventually being named the Phyllis P. Marshall Center in 1993. After extensive renovations in the late 1980s, it was ultimately demolished in 2008 to make way for the new 230,000-square-foot Marshall Student Center.
Bull Statues
Across its three campuses, USF features nine life-size bronze bull statues:
- One each on the St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses
- Seven on the Tampa campus, including:
- Three in front of the Marshall Student Center
- Three in The Village housing complex
- One at the Yuengling Center’s student entrance
- A 15-foot-tall topiary bull at the Marshall Student Center’s north entrance
These statues hold special meaning in USF traditions, symbolizing student growth. The “Running of the Bulls” statues, along with the topiary bull, represent each year of a student’s college journey, with the topiary bull signifying senior year as students prepare to embark on their careers.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza
One of the most frequented gathering areas on campus, Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza lies between the John and Grace Allen Building and the Marshall Student Center. The plaza features:
- A bust of Dr. King, with five granite lines pointing toward Atlanta, Boston, Memphis, Montgomery, and Washington, D.C.—all cities significant to his legacy.
- A reflecting pool with fountains marking the geographical center of campus.
- Stone tablets engraved with Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
USF Botanical Gardens
Established in 1969 for the Biology Department, the 15-acre USF Botanical Gardens features over 3,000 plant species, including:
- Fruit trees, bonsai, orchids, bromeliads, palms, bamboo, cycads, and carnivorous plants
- A medicinal herb garden, used for research by the USF College of Pharmacy
- Various wetland, temperate forest, and Florida upland habitats
The gardens are open to the public six days a week, with free admission for students.
Castor Beach
Located near Betty Castor Hall, one of USF Tampa’s largest dormitories, Castor Beach is an artificial beach featuring:
- White sand from Clearwater Beach (regularly ranked among the best beaches in the U.S.)
- A beach volleyball net, hammocks, and shaded seating areas
While a popular spot for relaxation, swimming in the lake is prohibited due to the presence of alligators.