University Beat

The history of the Gulf of Mexico is often times relegated to the footnotes in history textbooks.

It’s a wrong that historian Jack Davis said he hopes to make right in his latest book, “The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea.”

For most college students, Friday nights are a time to wind down and enjoy their youth. But for one group at the University of South Florida, it’s a time to give back to their community.

Project Downtown Tampa is a student organization that prepares and distributes food to the homeless once a week.

Cue "Pomp and Circumstance," as graduation season is once again upon us.

Spring Commencement begins for the University of South Florida Thursday, and by the time Monday night comes around, more than 7,000 students at USF's three campuses will have received their degrees.

That includes the oldest graduate, who's not done learning just yet.

At a recent visit to the University of South Florida ALS Clinic — amid appointments with neurologists, respiratory therapists and more — Leigh Hotle worked with her social worker to nail down a date for her next peer support group meeting.

When she finished high school, Radhika Dang wanted to go to the University of South Florida, but got turned down from the Tampa campus.

The American-born Indian student, who grew up in Queens, was denied because her grades were too low. But she could go to USF St. Petersburg.

Just in time for final exams, a pair of University of South Florida sophomore engineering students have come up with an app that allows people to match with the ideal study partner -- think "Tinder for study groups."

The University of South Florida is asking students, alumni, faculty and staff for their feelings about an on-campus football stadium.

Even though Jane Austen died in 1817, the English author’s works – like “Sense and Sensibility” and “Pride and Prejudice” – have lived on for more than two hundred years.

Laura Runge, the chair of the University of South Florida Department of English, thinks she knows why.

When the hull of a ship believed to be from the 1700's or 1800's washed up on shore on Ponte Vedra Beach Easter weekend, one of the first groups to be called in to help preserve it was the University of South Florida Libraries Digital Heritage and Humanities Collections.

As gubernatorial candidates start ramping up their primary campaigns, Democrat Philip Levine made a stop in St. Petersburg to gauge students' priorities.

Levine sat in a circle with about a dozen students at St. Petersburg College on Thursday, fielding questions about gun control, environmental protection and student debt.  He calls these intimate events "campus conversations."

Levine touted his record as the former mayor of Miami Beach, telling students he has acted on the issues that matter most to young people.

About three years ago, Kristin Steffen was in a car being driven by her husband when he suffered a seizure and drove off the road.

The opioid epidemic has become so severe it’s considered a national public health emergency, and a recent report suggests it could be linked to a higher rate of children in foster homes.

In 2010, Ryan Justice was a University of South Florida student whose short film, "Scoops," was named best movie during USF's version of the Campus Moviefest. 

Fast forward eight years, and Justice's newest creation, a full-length feature film called "Followers," is currently out in theaters worldwide and is also available on all digital platforms. 

Are you a ‘dog person,’ yet you own a cat? Is there a way to increase the emotional connection with your pet? Can overindulging your pet encourage them to misbehave?

A researcher at USF Sarasota-Manatee is looking at how the interactions between humans and their animals contribute to the physical, social and psychological well-being of both sides of such a relationship.