USF Tampa’s website now touts its ‘Tampa Bay’ ties

The University of South Florida changed its homepage online Monday to include Tampa Bay, not just Tampa.

The update came after the school announced it was discontinuing use of a controversial logo that included a lime green bull on a darker green background. The school reverted back to the “Bull U” logo its athletics department has used for years.

The homepage header now says under its name, “Tampa Bay” instead of just Tampa.

The addition of just one word says a lot.

The school is in the process of consolidating its three campuses into one accreditation. The St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses currently operate under their own accreditation.

The Florida Legislature also approved a higher education package this weekend protecting the smaller campuses as “regional campuses” rather than branches.

Including Tampa Bay on its homepage reflects that regionalism.

However, the school says the change “is not a direct result of consolidating.”

“Though not part of the University of South Florida’s official name, ‘Tampa’ and ‘Tampa Bay’ have been incorporated into USF marketing materials at various times over the years, especially for out-of-state audiences that may think the university is located in South Florida,” said USF spokesperson Adam Freeman. “As an institution with a growing global reach, it is important for the university to be closely associated with the Tampa Bay region.”

Freeman said how often Tampa Bay is integrated into future marketing purposes “is still under consideration.”

The school also updated logos on its social media accounts to the traditional “Bull U.” Those platforms do not include a location.

Websites for USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee still reflect the locations where they are based, not Tampa Bay. USF St. Petersburg’s logo is not the “Bull U” but Sarasota’s site still includes the controversial canceled logo.

The schools must consolidate by next summer.