Alabama, Auburn, USA see grad school enrollments rise
Mobile Press-Register – Oct. 7
Graduate school enrollments are on the rise at the University of South Alabama, as well as at the state’s two largest universities, a trend credited to aggressive recruiting, expanded programs and a difficult job market…At the University of Alabama, strong recruiting contributed to the 14.3 percent increase in graduate school applications from the fall of 2008 to 2009, said Dave Francko, associate provost and dean of the graduate school. The Crimson Tide’s football national championship also generated interest in this state and others, Francko said. “We are importing talent and that translates into a higher tax base down the road,” he said. He noted, too, the university’s push to attract “students from underrepresented backgrounds.” The African-American enrollment in Alabama’s graduate programs rose by 13 percent from fall 2009 to 2010.
UA doctoral programs rank high in survey
Crimson White – Oct. 7
The University of Alabama doctoral programs ranked high in a National Research Council survey. The ranking was based on the categories of student support and outcomes, research activity of faculty and diversity of the academic environment, according to a UA news release. The University’s doctoral programs in mass communication, chemistry, mechanical engineering, physics and psychology ranked among the top 25 to 40 percent in all three aspects of the survey, the release stated. Eight additional programs ranked in the middle range among national peers. Dave Francko, associate provost and dean of the graduate school, said the results of the survey have many positive implications for recruiting new graduate students. “Prospective graduate students want to enter strong academic programs that are supportive and diverse so that they can graduate as soon as possible and develop the kind of resume that lands them a job,” Francko said…Beverly Thorn, professor and chair of the psychology department, said of the five UA programs that placed in the top half of their peer programs, psychology likely ranks the highest, because it is the closest to the top 25 percent of the 239 doctoral psychology departments in the U.S. Thorn said she hopes the psychology department will benefit from the high rankings…
UA’s speech team looks to advance in competition this weekend
Crimson White – Oct. 7
University of Alabama’s Forensics Council, also known as the speech team, has won 16 national championships. However, the team’s scrawling list of accomplishments often goes without much acknowledgment from the student body. “I want the UA community to know we exist,” Director of Forensics Frank Thompson said. “We have more national championships than the football team,” said Council President David Kumbroch, a senior majoring in telecommunications and film. “We are nationally renowned, not just for our level of competition, but for our class.”…The team has won three of the four tournaments it has competed in this year, with students receiving more than 120 individual awards…With such high expectations for the season, the team will present their work at the Crimson Classic tournament Saturday and Sunday. The team will compete against teams from Florida State, University of Florida, Mississippi State, University of Mississippi, Clemson, LSU, Miami of Ohio and several others…
A cultural lesson with fun and games
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 7
Drums, feathers and beads will decorate Moundville Archaeological Park for the next three days as the 22nd annual Native American Festival began Wednesday…One new aspect of this year’s festivities is the newly renovated museum, which was finished in April…Irwin noted that the University of Alabama raised $5 million for the museum, and the incentive for the project that started 10 years ago. “There had to be $250,000 of individual donations,” Irwin said. “We had about 1,000 to 1,500 people working on the project.”…
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) — Oct. 6
Photography exhibit offers rare look at Cuba
Crimson White – Oct. 7
An upcoming photography exhibit will give UA students and staff a rare look at Cuba, a country not many are familiar with. The exhibit, set to open Oct. 11 in the Grand Gallery of Smith Hall, will feature the work of UA photographer Chip Cooper and Cuban photographer Nestor Marti, a duo who began collaborating in 2008. “This is the first time that an American and Cuban have shot the same subject, had a show in both countries, then produced a book of their collaborative work,” Cooper said. “It’s the most amazing place I’ve ever photographed.”…The show, called ‘Side by Side,’ was originally presented in Cuba in 2009. Since that time, the photographers have added new photographs to the collection. “We had more than 400 people as well as CNN and NBC, Havana TV and radio covered it, but best of all we had a peacock walking around,” Cooper said about the 2009 show. “Dean Olin brought UA musicians down for entertainment. It was absolutely over the top.”…The University’s Alabama-Cuba Initiative is now in its eighth year. It provides students with a rare opportunity to research and study abroad in Cuba. A reception for the exhibit’s opening will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the gallery. The event is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend, Smith Hall is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each week from Monday through Saturday.
Prothro to be 2010 grand marshal at UA parade
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 7
Former University of Alabama football player Tyrone Prothro will be the grand marshal in UA’s 2010 homecoming parade. Prothro played wide receiver at UA from 2003-05 and was named second team All-SEC in the preseason and at end of the season in 2005. His game-changing reception in 2005 game against Southern Mississippi won him an ESPY Award in 2006 for Best Play, as well as winning the Pontiac Game Changing Performer of the Year. Prothro graduated from UA with a bachelor’s degree in 2008 and works for Regions Bank in Tuscaloosa. The homecoming parade is slated for noon Oct. 16, followed by the homecoming game against Ole Miss at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Students learn, grow together in living learning communities
Crimson White – Oct. 7
…Freshman Learning Communities are small educational and social groups — 10 to 20 students — who share a similar interest and are enrolled together in basic freshman courses such as English and history but are also enrolled in a small weekly course where they meet with a faculty member with expertise in the topic of the community and discuss the topic. According to the Director of Learning Communities, College of Arts and Sciences’ Pamela Derrick, there are 26 FLCs this fall including communities for students interested in interior design, dance, international studies and pre-law, among others…
Driving simulation eye-opening for students
Crimson White – Oct. 7
The Student Government Association and UA Transportation Services sponsored a distracted driving simulation in the Ferguson Center Plaza Monday. According to SGA Vice President for Student Affairs Stephen Swinson, more than 100 students participated in the Professionals Encouraging Educational Reform Statewide (P.E.E.R.S.) Texting and Driving Awareness Simulation…Several students were surprised to learn how easy it was to get distracted while texting and cause the death of a pedestrian and sometimes even themselves. “I wanted to see how good I was at texting and driving and learned quickly that I can’t text and drive, especially in the mountains,” said Jason Atchison, a freshman majoring in telecommunications and film. Yvonne Cardona, a worker for the Voter Registration Drive, and said she learned an important lesson from attempting the simulator about their risk factor when it comes to texting while driving. “I think it’s an awesome test and people like me who think it’s easy [to text while driving] can see it really isn’t,” Cardona said…
Author stresses creativity in all fields
Crimson White – Oct. 7
According to author Keith Sawyer, creativity is not limited to the arts and humanities. In his lecture titled “Educating for Innovation,” scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tonight, he will speak to students about the importance of combining creativity and collaboration in all fields and professions, including the sciences, business and engineering…After the short jazz performance, Sawyer will discuss his book and professional experience in what the Creative Campus interns hope will be an interactive lecture, Clark said…Tonight’s lecture will be in the Biology Building auditorium, Room 127. The event is sponsored by Creative Campus, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Culverhouse College of Commerce, the College of Engineering and Auburn University.
Lakeside menu goes upscale on Fridays
Crimson White – Oct. 7
Lakeside Dining Hall now offers Upscale Exhibition, a menu including marinated steaks, baked potatoes, sautéed shrimp and fresh green beans. The new eating option is available Fridays from 10:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. “The idea behind the menu is fairly simple,” said Shirley Miles, senior location manager for Lakeside Dining. “We wanted to get more student requests honored. We are here to make the students happy as much as possible and to accommodate some of their wants. This menu is just like one of our theme event menus; it is just upscale.”…