The University of South Florida will officially begin operating under a single accreditation for the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses on Wednesday, July 1. Consolidating from three separately accredited institutions is a requirement of a Florida law passed in 2018 and amended in 2019.  USF’s plan to consolidate received approval earlier this month from the executive council of the regional accrediting agency that oversees higher education in the southern United States, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). USF’s final consolidation plan is the result of significant contributions from students, faculty, staff, community members, legislators and other stakeholder groups, as well as input gathered through town hall forums, public meetings and other opportunities.

Consolidation provides a wide range of new opportunities for students and faculty and ensures that every student has an opportunity to earn their degree from a Preeminent State Research University. USF will now be able to offer additional majors, scholarships, support services and study abroad opportunities to students on any campus, as well as expanded access to student organizations and intramural or club sports teams.  Faculty on each campus will experience new opportunities for interdisciplinary research collaborations and access to more community partnerships.
 
“Consolidation will strengthen USF’s impact, not only for our students, but also for communities and businesses in the Sarasota-Manatee region. We see a very bright future together as one USF,” USF Sarasota-Manatee campus regional chancellor Karen Holbrook said in a release.