By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing
The 最新天美传媒 is continuing its decade-long commitment to providing Florida College System students a clear pathway to a USF education. USF has renewed its agreement to participate in the Fuse Transfer Program, which is facilitated by the State University System of Florida.
Launched in 2016, Fuse allows students who earn their associate degree in specific majors at a participating state college to transfer to USF and complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree in two years.
鈥淪trong partnerships with exceptional Florida College System institutions are essential to creating seamless pathways for students to continue their education and achieve their goals."
USF President Moez Limayem
USF President Moez Limayem
Participating institutions:
- College of Central Florida
- Florida SouthWestern State College
- Hillsborough College
- Pasco-Hernando State College
- Polk State College
- St. Petersburg College
- Santa Fe College
- South Florida State College
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
The Fuse model aligns curriculums and one-on-one academic advising, helping students stay on track while creating opportunities to engage with the USF community before they transfer.
鈥淚 attended events at USF before enrolling here, which helped me meet people and become familiar with the campus. By the time I transferred, I already had connections and felt part of the community,鈥 said Egor Kharitonov, a USF computer science major who graduated from Hillsborough College last year. 鈥淚 had little to no uncertainty about whether my credits would transfer. I didn鈥檛 lose a semester, and I was able to start taking core computer science classes during my first semester at USF.鈥
USF student Egor Kharitonov
鈥淔use goes beyond transfer-ready or reducing transfer-shock to major-ready. Fuse students arrive at USF prepared not only to transfer successfully, but to thrive in their chosen academic programs,鈥 said Allison Crume, associate vice president and dean of Undergraduate Studies. 鈥淔rom day one, students follow a clearly defined pathway that positions them for success. It鈥檚 a proven model for student success 鈥 Fuse provides continuity and connection.鈥
Students enrolled in Fuse consistently achieve retention rates exceeding 90%. More than 1,100 Fuse students have graduated with bachelor鈥檚 degrees, with graduation rates averaging 8 percentage points higher than their non-Fuse transfer peers.
鈥淧artnerships like this create clear, meaningful pathways that help students move confidently from one exemplary institution to the next,鈥 Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas said. 鈥淏y working closely with USF, we are making it easier for our graduates to pursue their bachelor鈥檚 degrees at one of the nation鈥檚 leading public universities while building on the strong foundation they received at Polk State.鈥
Polk State College President Anastasios Kamoutsas
Since its inception, the program has grown from 14 graduation pathways to 50 majors. The most popular include psychology, biomedical sciences, health sciences, biology and finance. These pathways help students enter USF with the coursework and academic support they need to complete their degrees and prepare for their careers.
鈥淭ogether, we have developed programs and partnerships that prepare graduates to succeed in the industries that fuel our economy and meet our region鈥檚 workforce demands,鈥 said Prasant Mohapatra, USF's provost and executive vice president. 鈥淭his connection between USF and Florida College System partners is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of investing in student success and workforce development.鈥