With the 2012 school year just weeks away, the University of South Florida is gearing up for the 2012 Week of Welcome, a week-long series of free events for students aimed at easing the transition into the new school year.

The series will begin with a Week of Welcome KickOff Celebration on Wenesday, August 22 at 4 p.m.. Head to the Marshall Student Center to enjoy free food, meet with current USF students and staff, win prizes, and more.  Afterward, watch as the balloon drops to commemorate the official start of the 2012 school year.

Stick around on campus on Wednesday, August 22 for the Welcome Jam at 9 p.m..  Also taking place at the Marshall Student Center, the Welcome Jam will be a fun-filled evening featuring food and performances from a handful of diverse organizations at USF.

End your Wednesday with a Movie Night at the Marshall Student Center at 10 p.m.  They'll be showing the 2012 musical comedy Rock of Ages starring Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and more.

Of course, Week of Welcome events at USF aren't just limited to Wednesday.  On Thursday, there will be a World Welcome BBQ on the Cooper Hall lawn at 5 p.m. sponsored by USF World and Education Abroad & International Services.

On Thursday night, USF will host Breakfast at Midnight at the USF Crosswinds Building.  The event kicks off at 11 p.m. and will feature free breakfast, games, a live DJ, a photo booth, and tons of giveaways.

And finally, USF will host its longtanding Round Up event on Thursday, August 30 at 7 p.m..  Head out to the newly-renovated Sun Dome for the first USF pep rally of the year and a hilarious performance from comedian Mike Epps.

For the full list of Week of Welcome events, head over to the official USF Week of Welcome website.

USF hosts a variety of great events throughout the school year as well.  Head out the Bull Market every week to browse goods from local vendors and learn about a handful of USF and community organizations.

If you're looking for employment, there are a variety of USF job fairs throughout the year linking businesses with prospective student employees and interns.

And, if you want to cheer on the USF Bulls football team, a trip to a Raymond James Stadium for a game will definitely be a great time.  Check out the 2012 USF Bulls football schedule for a full list of USF Bulls home games.