(from left) Jacki Farley, Torie Doll and Aaron Nichols display their collections.
Compress to de-stress
The April edition of Inside USF inspired many responses. Thank you to everyone who contributed to Melissa Armstrong’s pin collection and submitted their office finds, all of which happen to share a squishy characteristic. Branded, shaped and stamped, stress balls may be the employee collectible of the century. And if this were a race, Jacki Farley in the MSC would be winning. You can contribute to her collection by emailingjnfarley@usf.edu. Do you have a piece of USF's history?Tell us about it!
Bold Bulls
(second from right) Lauren Roberts in South Korea with 2025 Gilman Scholarship recipients.
Lauren Roberts
For many USF students, stepping onto a plane to study abroad is a life-changing milestone. Lauren Roberts and her colleagues in the Office of National Scholars (ONS) spend much of their time making milestones like these possible.
While most USF employees might not interact with ONS daily, the university community feels the impact of their mission deeply. In her role as assistant director, Roberts and the ONS team mentor students pursuing prestigious, nationally competitive honors such as the Marshall, Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships. In fact, the ONS team has helped to more than triple the number of USF students earning major national awards over the past decade.
As an example, since 2018, USF has been the No. 1 producer of Gilman Scholars in Florida. And the university was recently ranked No. 13 among large U.S. institutions for producing Gilman Scholarship recipients over the past 25 years. For her vital role, Roberts recently received USF World’s Excellence in Global Advocacy Award at the 2026 USF Faculty Honors and Awards Ceremony. Though she humbly credits cross-campus collaboration for this success, her personal impact is undeniable.
In many ways, the University of South Florida brings the world to its students. Roberts is a Bold Bull who brings USF students to the world, one deserving Bull at a time.
Special event today: The Future of College Athletics
The Chronicle of Higher Education hosts a virtual forum today on “The Future of College Athletics” at 2 p.m. ET. USF CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins and other experts will discuss the changing business model of college sports and its effects on institutional finances, governance, enrollment and marketing.
Friday, June 12 | 7-9 p.m. USF Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), Lee & Victor Leavengood Gallery
Free, open to all
Celebrate the Uncelebrity exhibition, see the gifts the USF Collection received from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and participate in 15 minutes later…, a collaborative photography activity that takes as its starting point Andy Warhol’s famous quip, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes."
For more information call 813-974-4133, or email caminfo@usf.edu. For reasonable accommodations, email Amy at amyallison@usf.edu or call 813-974-4164 (FL Relay 711).
The exhibition runs from June 8 to July 25. Learn more.
Hurricane season runs June 1-Nov. 30. Now is the time to brush up on this critical information, review your plan, talk to your supervisor about how your department will respond and prepare yourself for hurricane season. Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed. Learn more in the USF Hurricane Guide.
Helpful intent, hidden risk
Fraud involves intentional deception, but many control breakdowns do not start that way. Most begin as well‑meaning workarounds when people are trying to help. Even the best of intentions can lead to disastrous consequences. Read this month’s Fraud Flash report, brought to you by the Office of Internal Audit.
USF Stormwater Management Program
Did you know that campus road inlets and parking lot grates drain into Lake Behnke and nearby waterbodies to the Hillsborough River and eventually our drinking water? Any discharge other than rainwater is prohibited. Remember: Only rain down the drain!
Learn more about how the university community can help prevent stormwater pollution here.
Stay Informed
Training opportunities: Annual Review Process
June marks the start of the Annual Review Process. Whether this is your first annual review cycle or you need a refresher, these sessions will help you navigate the process with confidence. Learn the technical steps for using Oracle Performance Management, along with best practices for writing effective self-assessments, delivering meaningful feedback and understanding the calibration process.
For employees:Owning Your Performance in Oracle HR: Goals, Evaluations, and Best Practices June 5 | Noon–1 p.m.
June 16 | 2–3 p.m.
For supervisors: Leading Performance Conversations in Oracle HR: A Supervisor’s Guide June 30 | 2–3 p.m.
July 17 | Noon–1 p.m.
Visit the Performance Management webpage for additional resources, process information, and the full annual review stages and timeline.
Need quick care this summer?
The Working Bulls Sick Clinic at the Student Health and Wellness Center provides acute sick care for faculty, staff and campus partners. Our medical providers offer convenient, on-campus care to help you feel better faster. We treat common concerns such as summer colds, flu, sinus infections, insect bites, sprains, strains and minor injuries not sustained in the workplace.
Summer hours (until Aug. 14)
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m.–noon and 1–2 p.m.
Wednesday: 1–4 p.m.
Drop in at SWC 310 (Entrance B) or call 813-974-2331, option 2, to schedule an appointment. Learn more.
Get Engaged
Calling all USF departments!
We are seeking fun and engaging programs as we welcome our new Bulls to campus. If you are planning an event and would like to include it on the Week of Welcome (WOW) Signature Event Calendar for Summer WOW!, Fall WOW! or Fall First 56, please click here to submit it. The Summer WOW! submission deadline is Friday, June 5.
Exclusive webinar: Microsoft Excel and Copilot
Friday, June 12 | 10-11:30 a.m.
Join us for an upcoming webinar co‑hosted with Microsoft and USF Analytics exploring how Excel and Copilot work together—combining practical tool guidance with real USF data and use cases. Click here to register.
Be cautious of phishing scams
Phishing scams are more prevalent than ever and are growing more complex and harder to spot. Scammers often exploit urgency or curiosity, skillfully impersonating trusted organizations with polished language, real logos and email addresses that differ only slightly from legitimate ones.
USF IT offers a short, practical guide to recognizing phishing messages, avoiding them and reporting anything suspicious. Visit the IT Hub and look for the phishing safety guide.
Outstanding Staff Awards
It's time to nominate staff and administrative individuals and teams for the Outstanding Staff Awards! Eligibility information and nomination forms are available on the website. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, July 24.
But Wait, There's More!
Get the Down Low’d
USF employees have access to a massive software library. Search the library and see if there is a software solution that meets your needs.
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For reasonable disability accommodations requests pertaining to this announcement, pleasecontact one of our offices.
