3,500 visitors expected for annual Family Weekend
Crimson White – Sept. 15
Nearly 3,500 parents, siblings and other family members will flock to UA’s campus on Friday for the Office of Parent Program’s annual Family Weekend. “The weekend is designed for families to spend time with their student and also get to know the University at a more personal level,” said Jesse King, program assistant in the Office of Parent Programs…
From the rubble come Capstone Heroes
Crimson White – Sept. 15
In the aftermath of the April 27 tornado, the University of Alabama set out to find individuals who surpassed expectations and truly made a difference on the road to recovery in Tuscaloosa. In their search, two students’ efforts were determined worthy of the Capstone Heroes Award: Amanda Phillips and Charlie Stimpson. “The University of Alabama has a number of students who deserved the opportunity to be Capstone Heroes,” said Lowell Davis, assistant dean of students. “We have students who play active roles in the Tuscaloosa community, as well as within the University. However, we wanted students who went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to assisting with the tornado.”…In the end, Phillips’ efforts resulted in more than $1,000 being donated to the relief effort and almost $1,000 in gift cards, in addition to a truckload of donated items. She explained that upon her return to Tuscaloosa, she passed out the donated gift cards…Student recipient Stimpson went out almost immediately following the tornado to give the assistance he was trained for in the Army ROTC. After they were given permission to leave the safety of campus, Stimpson and several other members of the ROTC went out into the devastation… “It speaks even higher of Charlie’s character that we wanted to recognize him, but he said he didn’t want the award,” Davis said. “He had said that the award was really the ROTC’s award. He insisted that this award was not his alone. He wanted a group to be recognized and not just him as an individual, and I think that says a lot about what kind of person he is.”…
Marine Corps League funds scholarship
Crimson White – Sept. 15
A new scholarship will soon be available for UA Marines. The scholarship, endowed by Tuscaloosa’s Johnny Micheal Spann Detachment of The Marine Corps League, will be open to Marine veterans who are now full-time students as well as family members of active and retired members. “To further the ideals of the Marine Corps, we have established a scholarship for any people that have a connection to the Marine Corps,” said Loren Horn, commandant of the Tuscaloosa detachment of the League…
Report indicates colleges, parents to be squeezed financially
Chronicle of Higher Education – Sept. 15
Budgets for community colleges and public universities are likely to continue shrinking in the next year and tuition will probably go up, according to a report released Wednesday by the Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama. The report, produced by UA professor Stephen Katsinas and two other researchers, predicts rising enrollment and shrinking budgets at schools, plus flat or declining scholarships and state and federal aid. “All of our nation’s public access institutions — that’s the flagship universities, regional universities and community colleges — are really hurting right now,” Katsinas said. “Until the state revenue picture improves, we’re looking at increased demands juxtaposed with decreased resources.”…
Birmingham News – Sept. 15
UA earthquake expert says it’s not uncommon to have small earthquakes in central Alabama
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 14
…A University of Alabama earthquake expert says it’s not uncommon to have small earthquakes, and the best thing to do is be prepared…
New Culverhouse dean named
Crimson White – Sept. 15
The Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration welcomes a new leader for the first time in over 20 years. After serving for 10 years as a faculty member in statistics, Associate Dean of Research and Senior Associate Dean J. Michael Hardin replaced Barry Mason as the new dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration. “Dr. Hardin gained an intimate working knowledge of both the college and the University in his role as senior associate dean,” Executive Vice President and Provost Judy Bonner said. “This understanding, together with his commitment to both rigor and relevance, will enable him to provide effective leadership immediately.”…
TCF welcomes new professor
Crimson White – Sept. 15
New telecommunications and film professor Mike Bruce…came to the University to teach sports broadcasting classes…Bruce has produced and directed many different types of sporting events, from football to hockey. He says he has covered as many as 50 sporting events per year within the past few years…
Sustainability movement grows in business school
Crimson White – Sept. 15
As sustainability continues to be a buzzword in the business community, the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration is taking notice…Several professors in the business school are incorporating this interest into their curriculum. Matt Holt, C&BA economics professor, teaches a course titled the Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources and discusses with his students what sustainability means from an economic standpoint…Helenka Nolan, C&BA lecturer and director of a new study abroad program in Costa Rica focused on sustainability through clean energy…Jim Cashman, C&BA professor, agreed that sustainability becoming more mainstream helped the movement develop. “We moved from a notion of thinking as sustainability as something for radical tree huggers to thinking of it as a business case,” Cashman said. “It took that change of names. The ‘green movement’ made business guys reluctant.”…
Museum hosts first College Night
Crimson White – Sept. 15
…The Alabama Museum of Natural History, located on the University of Alabama campus in Smith Hall, is hosting its first ever College Night this Monday, Sept. 19 from 6-9 p.m. to give students the opportunity to meet other students and learn about the history of the museum. The event will take place in Smith Hall and is free for all students. There will be music, refreshments and exhibits on display…
Alabama’s Engineering Department receives award
Crimson White – Sept. 15
The Alabama Industrial Assessment Center at the University of Alabama was awarded the Center of Excellence award this year through accomplishments by this program. The Center of Excellence award has been around for about 10 years, and each year an assessment center is chosen for the award. Professors Bob Taylor, Gary Moynihan and Keith Woodbury started the Industrial Assessment Center at the the University…
Honors College book club starts second year
Crimson White – Sept. 15
…to form The Honors College Book Club, founded by the Honors College Assembly. “Amongst the students, there was a real desire to combine learning and academics with informal hangouts and recreation,” said Michael Forst, founder of the club. The club chooses books as a group based on members’ various interests. They then read the assigned book on their own time and gather at a local restaurant to discuss the reading…
Fraternity to sponsor football award
Crimson White – Sept. 15
…As a student at the University, Bryant was initiated into Sigma Nu, and to honor his legacy, his fraternity will enter into a partnership with the American Heart Association to sponsor the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award, a college football coach of the year award bestowed each January in Houston, Texas, that recognizes excellence both on and off the field…Proceeds from the ceremony benefit the American Heart Association…
Celebrate Constitution Day with federal judge
Crimson White – Sept. 15
In honor of Constitution Day, Federal District Court Judge Lynn Hughes will give a lecture on the Constitution and the role it has played on our nation Friday at 3 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Theater…The lecture, “Our Unfinished Revolution” is sponsored by the University’s department of political science. Hughes will answer questions after the lecture…
Student groups provide early involvement for freshmen
Crimson White – Sept. 15
…the UA First Year Council selection committee is accepting applications. The FYC is an opportunity for first-year students to have a clear voice in the Student Government Association…Another opportunity for freshmen who are beginning their first semester at UA is a new program from the Division of Student Affairs called First Year Experience. “The idea behind our office is to offer programs and resources that provide the tools for students to build the foundation of their Capstone experience,” said Litsa Orben, First Year Experience coordinator. “It is my hope that, with the growing number of first-year students we are admitting, our office will provide a sense of comfort and support to first-year students in transition.”…The opportunities to advance the experience inside the classroom include Freshman Learning Communities, Living Learning Communities, Compass Courses and Freshman Seminars…Outside the classroom, freshmen have the chance to get involved with Freshman Forum, Peer Mentors and the Tau Sigma National Honor Society…