UA enrollment tops 30,000
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 16
“The outstanding academic credentials of our freshman class clearly demonstrate that the University of Alabama is improving in quality as it grows in size,” Witt said in a statement. “We are pleased to reach the 30,000 milestone, but even more pleased with the talent and ability of our students.”
Birmingham Business Journal – Sept. 16
Birmingham News – Sept. 16
WTVM (Columbus, Ga.) – Sept. 16
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 15
WPMI (Mobile) – Sept. 15
WSFA (Montgomery) – Sept. 15
Impact Alabama performs 100,000th vision check
Birmingham News – Sept. 16
When the nonprofit group Impact Alabama started screening children’s eyes six years ago, its organizers were just looking for a way to make a difference. On Wednesday, the day the group expected to perform its 100,000th vision check, University of Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy was on hand to help screen children at a Head Start day care in Tuscaloosa. “It’s a celebration of a completely nationally unique initiative,” said Impact Alabama president Stephen Black, who is also director of UA’s Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility…
Crimson White – Sept. 16
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 15
WDBJ (Roanoke, Va.) – Sept. 15
Opinion: Debate in Tuscaloosa an important one
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 16
As we enter the home stretch of this election year — the Nov. 2 general election is only 46 days away — the University of Alabama and Auburn University student government associations and the Alabama League of Women Voters are doing the voters of Alabama a big favor in sponsoring two televised debates between gubernatorial candidates Robert Bentley and Ron Sparks. The first will be 7-8 tonight in the Concert Hall of Moody Music Building on the UA campus …
Crimson White – Sept. 16
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15 and Sept. 16
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15
CBS42 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 15
WSFA (Montgomery) – Sept. 15
WTVM (Columbus, Ga.) – Sept. 15
WXTX (Columbus, Ga.) – Sept. 15
Big 5th grader to small middle-schooler
Seattle (Wash.) Times – Sept. 16
Transitioning to middle school is hard. Kids go from being big shot fifth-graders in a school where they knew everyone, to being pipsqueak sixth-graders in a school where they don’t know anyone. They have six teachers instead of one, locker combinations they can’t figure out, and nobody to sit with at lunchtime.
“It’s such a traumatic time, even for a well-adjusted elementary school student,” said Joyce Stallworth, senior associate dean at The University of Alabama’s College of Education. “They are coping with everything from changing classes to physical changes and hormones to increased academic expectations.” … Stallworth agreed: “Try not to solve those problems. Instead, listen to them and encourage and empower them to get through it.” …
The Nashville (Tenn.) Tennessean – Sept. 16
San Fernando Valley (Calif.) Sun – Sept. 16
What Teachers Wish Parents Knew
ParentDish.com – Sept. 16
The most effective way parents can help their children do their best in school is to offer continual support and encouragement of learning. But how can you specifically put this into action? Dr. Diane Sekeres, assistant professor of education at The University of Alabama, offers six ways parents can do just that: 1. Pay attention every day to the information that comes home in your child’s backpack. If anything needs to be returned or forms need to be completed, be sure to do that promptly …
Jobless rate, hiring prospects offer hope to Birmingham business leaders
Birmingham News – Sept. 16
…The University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research has detected rising confidence levels among Birmingham business leaders in recent surveys. The center’s third-quarter Business Leader Confidence Index showed that area business executives feel slightly optimistic about the Alabama economy and their firms’ prospects. Fourth-quarter results will be released Friday. “Business confidence provides a timely indication of the direction of the local economy before other data are available,” said Carolyn Trent, a socioeconomic analyst for the center. “The switch to slight optimism among Birmingham-Hoover business executives on the third quarter (survey) marks an important milestone in the area’s recovery from the ‘Great Recession’ as business confidence can significantly impact the decisions and actions of area firms.” …
UA professors do anemone research
Crimson White – Sept. 16
Matthew Jenny, assistant professor of biological science at the University, and his partner, Ann Tarrant, from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, will begin research on the effects of the oil spill on the starlet sea anemone within the coming weeks, according to a UA news release. Jenny said the research will take place along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico starting in Louisiana—where the oil spill was the worst—and make its way back to the Mobile Bay area…the research crew said they hope to demonstrate how invertebrates deal with cellular stress in situations such as an oil spill … Jenny and Tarrant received a $110,000 grant from the National Science Foundation; the grant money is available to scientists for research during natural or unseen disasters …
HERO, students team up to help citizens of Hale County
Crimson White – Sept. 16
In an attempt to raise awareness and gain valuable hands-on experience, UA professors Javonda Williams and Cassandra Simon created a partnership between their SW 440 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families classes and the Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization for a semester-long community engagement project. HERO, which was chartered in 1994, works to create economic development to end rural poverty by empowering families to recognize the opportunities that exist in their communities. The organization works in the communities of Hale, Perry, Merango, Sumter and Greene counties …
Program looks back at Hurricane Katrina
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 16
The Crossroads Community Center will host a program, “Remembering Hurricane Katrina: 5 Years Later,” as part of its monthly community conversation at 5 p.m. today at the Crossroads Lounge, 232 Ferguson Center at the University of Alabama. Among the speakers will be Crossroads director Brice Miller, New Orleans evacuee and Tuscaloosa resident Neecha Turner, crisis counselor Sheldon L. “Shelly” Rosenzweig and others …
New teleforum a success
Crimson White – Sept. 16
The University now boasts a teleforum, a newly tested tool used to communicate with the student body. The teleforum, a kind of call-in radio show tailored to students, is focused on specific events. The University tested the concept with its Get In The Game gameday information awareness program on Sept. 9. Jeanine Brooks, director of the ACTion Card office, said the teleforum was considered a success and will be used by the University in the future. “[Auxiliary Services] are looking at using it to reach out to parents of incoming freshmen for last-minute questions just prior to fall move-in,” Brooks said. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Molly Lawrence said the University is looking for other uses for the program. She listed graduation and freshmen fall registration as quality options …
New cell phone security system works to keep students safe
Crimson White – Sept. 16
The University of Alabama Police Department and the Student Government Association have entered the digital age this semester with the start of a new cell phone security program. Rave Guardian, which is free and accessible to all students, provides emergency responders with more critical information than the average 911 call. “UAPD and the administration purchased the program and asked for SGA’s assistance in promoting the program,” said Jesse Blount, the SGA chief implementation officer. “Safety is a top concern for the SGA, and we are willing to help the administration with this critical program.”…With the average 911 call, the only information provided at the time of the emergency is the phone number and whatever information the caller can provide. In the event of a crisis, callers can often be disoriented, hysterical or even unable to respond at all. The Rave Guardian program notifies UAPD of the student’s location and provides the student’s profile as soon as the call is placed …