UA Preview — Sept. 23-29, 2024

📰 BEST BETS 

Exploring Alabama’s Descent Communities 

The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park will cultivate community and education around the cultures of southeastern Native Americans at the 36th annual Moundville Native American Festival Oct. 3-5. 

Why This Matters: Festival attendees will have the chance to meet Native American artisans, see traditional dances, listen to stories and music, and support local and Native American businesses. 

For more information, contact Rebecca Johnson at rljohnson8@ua.edu.  

Supporting Small Business Development 

The Alabama Small Business Development Center at UA will bring its Digital Marketing Bootcamp program to rural communities in Alabama in fall of 2024. 

Why This Matters: The Digital Marketing Bootcamp is a three-hour training program that guides attendees through setting measurable marketing goals for their business and instructs how SEO, social media and technology can help them reach their goals. 

For more information, contact Jessica Nelson at jessica.nelson@ua.edu. 

Enrollment Surpasses 40K for First Time 

A record-breaking number of in-state first-year students highlights UA’s fall 2024 total enrollment of 40,846, surpassing 40,000 for the first time. 

Why This Matters: UA’s unwavering commitment to student success led to the record-breaking enrollment, which includes 3,434 freshmen from Alabama, marking the largest number of in-state freshmen ever. This 7.9% increase in in-state first-year students is UA’s sixth consecutive year with an in-state increase. Second-year retention also reached an all-time high at nearly 90%. 

For more information, contact Alex House at alex.house@ua.edu  

Iron Bowl Meets Citizen Science 

Fans of The University of Alabama and Auburn University can compete in the realm of citizen science through the annual Marble Bowl by submitting observations of wild plants, animals and fungi to one of two projects on the iNaturalist platform.  

Why This Matters: Alabama is blessed with incredible biodiversity — amongst the highest in the nation. Unfortunately, there are also many endangered species and a high extinction rate. With these facts in mind, the increased need for documenting biodiversity around the state is more clear. 

For more information, contact Rebecca Johnson at rljohnson8@ua.edu.  

📅 EVENTS 

Insect Night Walk 

Sept. 26; UA Arboretum  

Fiction Collective Two 50th Anniversary Reading 

Oct. 7; Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center 

NEED A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON TOPICS MAKING NEWS? — See our frequently updated experts directory here.  

VISIT THE UA NEWS CENTER FOR STORY IDEAS. 

The University of Alabama strives to remain neutral on public policy issues. Strategic Communications may facilitate interviews or share opinions expressed by faculty, staff, students, or other individuals regarding policy matters. However, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or its leadership, and do not constitute a statement on behalf of the University unless explicitly designated.