A new University of South Florida college that took shape in July as part of USF's structural realignment has a name: the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences.

USF administrators made the announcement today, stressing that bringing several departments -– Aging and Mental Health, Child and Family Studies, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Criminology, Mental Health Law and Policy, and Rehabilitation and Mental Health -– under one umbrella will sharpen the university’s focus on the well-being of individuals, populations and communities.

“Bringing together the related disciplines represented in the College of Behavior and Community Sciences has created a larger critical mass of faculty for scholarly collaboration in research, teaching and service,” provost Ralph Wilcox said in a news release. “The college’s structure better positions its faculty, students and staff to work together to achieve the university’s strategic goals of becoming a pre-eminent research university with state, national and global impact.”

The new college enrolls about 2,200 students and includes the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, which focuses on mental health and substance abuse.

Administrators first announced the realignment in June, eliciting criticism from some, including former College of Arts and Sciences dean John Skvoretz, who submitted his resignation as drafts of the changes were being circulated.

Donna Winchester, higher education reporter

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