John, Marco and Dragana Gough at Juniper-Poplar Hall
By Paul Guzzo, Torie Doll, and Althea Johnson, University Communications and Marketing
Marco Gough is following in his mother’s footsteps, pursuing a degree in computer science.
“I think video games had more of an impact,” his mother, Dragana Gough, said with a laugh. “Though I like to believe I had some influence.”
Marco said he definitely chose the ±«Óătv because it’s where his mother earned her bachelor’s degree in 1998 and her master’s in 2006.
“She had a great experience,” said Marco, a freshman in the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing’s inaugural class. “She talks about it a lot.”
Dragana expects her son to have an even better experience. Unlike Dragana, who commuted as a student, Marco will live on the Tampa campus in Poplar Hall.
“I can take care of myself to the fullest extent,” Marco said. “I’m excited.”
Marco is among the 7,500 students expected to be living on ±«Óătv’s campuses when classes begin on Monday, Aug. 25. Overall, the 48 residence halls across the Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee campuses will be at full capacity.
On the Tampa campus, more than 650 student volunteers signed up to help their peers move in through ±«Óătv’s signature Bull Haul program, which is a record-breaking number for the program.
Including students, families and other volunteers, ±«Óătv estimates 10,000 people were on the Tampa campus for move-in day to help welcome and move approximately 3,000 students into the residence halls.
Over the years, ±«Óătv has strategically focused on increasing housing capacity as part of an overall commitment to student success. Studies have shown that a vibrant on-campus environment can have a direct impact on improving students’ academic performance.
“Living on campus will provide me with the opportunity to connect with more people than if I were living at home,” Marco said. “And without having to commute, I’ll also have more time to attend workshops and get involved in research opportunities on campus.”
To support students through that transition, New Student Connections has revived its campus engagement campaign under a new name: the “First 56.” Named after the year ±«Óătv was founded, 1956, the program spans the first 56 days of the semester, offering events, experiences, services and resources to help students adjust.
±«Óătv also features 16 Residential Community Programs — residential communities designed to provide a cohort experience with peers who share similar academic, career and co-curricular interests.
What’s more, this fall, students will be able to take advantage of various additions on campus:
The Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing — the first of its kind in Florida and one of the pioneers in the nation to bring together the disciplines of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and computing into a dedicated college.
The ±«Óătv Herbarium, home to over 270,000 specimens of plants and algae, has completed its move from the College of Arts and Sciences to the ±«Óătv Libraries building and is now open again to students and researchers. Established in 1958, the Herbarium is one of the largest in the U.S. and the second largest in Florida.
New dining options, including Evolution Kitchen and Bay Features, which highlight Bay Area culinary traditions. The additions also include mobile ordering and real-time menu updates for fast, tech-enabled service.
Four new ±«Óătv-themed murals now decorate the Tampa campus. Located at the Argos Center, the Bookstore CafĂ©, Juniper Hall, and the Student Services Building, each was created by a student artist.