UA Student News for May 3, 2011

ACADEMIC SCHEDULE

Interim session, summer sessions, orientation and the fall semester will begin as scheduled. All academic and support services are fully operational.
 

INFORMATION ON GIVING/VOLUNTEERING

The UA Acts of Kindness Fund has been established to support an emergency-assistance program for UA employees and students. Anyone who is interested in contributing to the UA Acts of Kindness Fund may donate online here: http://bit.ly/uaactsofkindness. More information on UA’s tornado relief efforts may be found at http://www.ua.edu/tornadorelief/.
 
In the coming days, volunteers will be required to have credentials in order to access the affected areas. This will allow volunteer resources to be adequately and efficiently dispersed based on need. To register to volunteer as an individual or for a church or agency, call (205) 248-5045.
 

CAMPUS SERVICES

Bama Dining hours for this week are as follows:  Lakeside Dining is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. as usual. Starbucks in Ferguson Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Subway in Ferguson Center is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as of Tuesday, May 3.
 
All University Supply Store locations have resumed normal operations. Ferguson and Tutwiler SUPeStore locations are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday this week and are closed Saturday. The Law School SUPeStore location is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday–Friday this week and Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Bryant Museum SUPeStore location is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Sunday.  Students can print a buyback quote and mail their books back to the SUPeStore. Textbook buybacks will need to be received by May 16. Rental textbooks will need to be received by June 3. More information is posted on the SUPeStore website at http://www.universitysupplystore.com/.
 
Students, faculty and staff who were injured in the April 27 storms or who are helping with the cleanup efforts are encouraged to update their tetanus immunizations. For more information, please call 348-6262 for the Student Health Center or 348-4696 for the Faculty-Staff Clinic.
 

GENERAL INFORMATION

A moment of silence will be observed Wednesday, May 4, from 5:13-5:14 p.m. in remembrance of the lives lost in last week’s tornado.
 
UA employees may receive requests from local, state and federal agencies and contractors for relief assistance. Please tell these agencies and contractors to call (205) 348-1500.
 
To avoid high traffic volume, people coming into Tuscaloosa should take I-20/59 to I-359 to University Boulevard to reach the UA campus.

WHERE TO FIND ASSISTANCE

Housing — Students, faculty and staff who have housing needs may find information on properties with vacant apartments or houses at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Housing-for-Tornado-Victims/222338101113122?sk=wall.
 
Counseling — Whether you were directly or indirectly impacted, the stress associated with the April 27 storm can be overwhelming. If you or a member of your family needs help coping with the situation and want to speak with someone, the University’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to you. EAP can also meet collectively with employee groups. The EAP counseling services are confidential and are provided at no charge by licensed professional staff trained to work with individuals and families. The services are provided through the DCH Employee Assistance Program. Should you or a member of your family need assistance, please contact:
 
DCH Employee Assistance Program
201 Towncenter Blvd.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Phone: 205-759-7890
Toll-free: 866-840-0750
Fax: 205-759-7893
www.dchsystem.com/eap
 
Temporary Emergency Counseling Services, a coordinated effort of UA mental health professionals, is available to provide crisis counseling and mental health services to those affected by the recent tornado.  These services are provided by volunteers at no charge for the following time period: May 3–6 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and May 9–13 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Volunteers will answer and refer calls to the appropriate location. For more information, please call 348-7960 or visit http://psychology.ua.edu/.

Members of the UA community need to be aware of the signs of traumatic stress in people who witnessed the tornado and its aftermath, as well as those who were concerned for people who were directly involved, and as a result were frightened for their safety. For more information on signs of traumatic stress, go to http://www.counseling.ua.edu/traumahelp.cfm.  

Beginning May 4 at 7 p.m. and every Wednesday until further notice, the UA Counseling Center will offer a free tornado support group for students. For more information, contact the Counseling Center at (205) 348-3863.

 
The Counseling Lab at Graves Hall will be offering free disaster/crisis counseling and will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday–Friday. For more information, please call (205) 348-1193 or send an email to kcarmich@bamaed.ua.edu.