Alabama, Auburn online Business Master’s programs tie, rank 12th in nation
Al.com – Jan. 14
U.S. News and World Report may not have taken into account the Iron Bowl rivalry when ranking the University of Alabama’s and Auburn University’s online Business Master’s program last week, naming them both 12th in the nation. According to the U.S. News, they began ranking online academic programs three years ago as the average student is now “more likely to be part-time, older and working,” using online classes to fit a flexible schedule … Alabama’s highest score was in student engagement, pulling in a 93 to Auburn’s 77. Auburn received its highest score in admissions selectivity, landing a 92 to Alabama’s 73. Both schools recorded significantly lower scores in student services and technology, with Auburn pulling in a 30 and Alabama a 39. Alabama scored an 87 in faculty credentials and training, with Auburn close behind with an 82. U.S. News significantly retooled the grading scale for its 2014 list, according to its website, allowing ties for the first time. UA’s ranking marks a steep increase from its 2013 ranking of 75th and shortly follows news that Manderson’s MBA program is “underrated,” according to business school website Poets and Quants.
Delegation from Chinese college visits University of Alabama
Crimson White – Jan. 14
A delegation of administrators and faculty from Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College in Shanghai, China, visited The University of Alabama on Monday, Jan. 13, as part of negotiations between Tianhua College and the UA College of Education to create an exchange program between the two institutions. The College of Education already has international programs in Latin America, but a deal with Tianhua would be the college’s first foray into Asia. Peter Hlebowitsh, dean of the College of Education, said the first goal for the partnership is to establish a three-one program between Tianhua and The University of Alabama. “We were contacted by one of the representatives at Tianhua College to have a discussion about the possibility of having what they’re calling a three-one cooperative program,” Hlebowitsh said. “Three-one meaning that they’d like to send students to our campus for their senior-year experience with the previous three-year experiences on their campus, with some of the coursework being taught by our faculty on their campus.”
Scottsboro Boys photos on display downtown
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 13
An exhibit of historic photographs documenting the 1933 retrial of one of the Scottsboro Boys defendants will be on display at the University of Alabama’s Paul R. Jones Gallery of Art in downtown Tuscaloosa until Feb. 21. The exhibit “Scottsboro Boys: The Fred Hiroshige Photographs” opened Friday and features images from the Morgan County Archives. The photos record the second trial of Haywood Patterson, one of the nine black teenagers pulled from a train in Paint Rock in 1931 and falsely accused of raping two white women. There will be two free talks in conjunction with the exhibit. Robin D.G. Kelley, the Gary Nash professor of American history at the University of California-Los Angeles, will speak at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 in Room 205 of the Gorgas Library, and Dan T. Carter, Education Foundation professor emeritus at the University of South Carolina and author of “Scottsboro: A Tragedy of the American South,” will speak at a reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Jones Gallery.
Jurassic Dark: Even X-ray can’t shed much light on inside of Jefferson County man’s dinosaur egg
Al.com – Jan. 14
Walter Anderton has had what he believes to be a 110-million-year-old dinosaur egg for a decade, but only last month did he try to look inside. So he took it to his doctor. Anderton, 82, walked through the door of Dr. Michael Vaughn’s office at MedHelp on Lakeshore Drive the first week of December so an X-ray technician could take a look at it. “He about croaked when I said I wanted him to X-ray my dinosaur egg,” Anderton said. But Vaughn agreed, and they tried to peer inside. “We X-rayed it. There weren’t any broken bones,” Vaughn joked. There weren’t any bones to see, in fact … While the X-ray was inconclusive, there could be other ways to determine for certain that it’s a dinosaur egg. Alberto Perez-Huerta, a professor in the department of geological sciences at the University of Alabama, said images of the outside showed it looked like a dinosaur egg but that it would probably require more tests, such as a CT scan, to know for sure.
Economic forecast predicts growth
Crimson White – Jan. 13
The economy in the state of Alabama is expected to improve in 2014, according to the annual forecast by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business. “In 2013, the Alabama economy grew by around 2 percent and I think we’re a little more optimistic for the next year; it may grow by around 2.5 percent this year,” said Ahmad Ijaz, Director of Economic Forecasting at CBER. “We expect employment to also pick up a little bit. It’s getting better, but it’s getting better really slowly.” Ijaz warned Alabama residents to expect merchandise prices to increase now that the economy is picking up. However, the increase will be offset by a drop in gas prices. According to Ijaz, the decrease in unemployment is somewhat misleading, because it takes into account not only people who have been hired, but also people who are still unemployed but have given up looking for a job. Additionally, most of the jobs that were added in the last year were temporary, part-time or unskilled labor. said. “I think overall Alabama is doing relatively well and one reason for that is the automotive sector.”
5 ways to set effective goals and beat burnout
YDR.com – Jan. 13
The first month back at school always seems to be the busiest of the year for the University of Alabama’s Rec Center. Determined to keep whatever New Year’s resolution they’ve set for themselves, folks flock to the gym in droves, and for about 12 straight hours every day, the facility is more crowded than it’s been since … well, January last year. As much as I hate crowds, I find it difficult to be too frustrated at the massive influx of people slowing down my workouts. After all, the gym is supposedly the answer to America’s weight problem, so the more people hitting the gym the better. Plus, most of these people will be gone in two weeks, anyway. (Steven Holbrook is a senior majoring in journalism at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. In addition to finishing up his degree, he is currently working on attaining his personal trainer certification.)
Centre native A.J. Starr has big plans to help cerebral palsy community
Cherokee County Herald – Jan. 13
University of Alabama senior student and Crimson Tide football team equipment manager AJ Starr spent his Christmas break in Centre. He was glad to be back home for the holidays, but part of him yearned to be on the sideline with the team he loves, wishing he could help the Tide earn another national championship. Alabama fell short of that goal after its 34-28 loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Thanksgiving weekend, but Starr still had a special Christmas nonetheless. His unique relationship with Tide quarterback AJ McCarron – first detailed in a November Sports Illustrated feature on McCarron – has been the subject of numerous stories in the national media ever since. Prior to the Tide’s Sugar Bowl game against Oklahoma on Jan. 2, ESPN featured a segment on Starr’s battle with cerebral palsy and his heartwarming story of how he and McCarron met. That interview was seen by former Tide walk-on and website designer Brent Thomas, who was inspired by the story to create the “We Love ‘The Real AJ’” Facebook page. The page had over 17,500 likes in just a few days since its creation. Now, Starr’s story is escalating into a possible foundation being created with cerebral palsy centers across the state.
Classes provide insight on managing personal finances
Crimson White – Jan. 14
There are only 550 Certified Financial Planners in the the state of Alabama. While certification requires years of education, experience and a signed devotion to ethics, The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences, under Dean Milla Boschung, has made it possible for students to pursue such a demanding career in four years. Boschung started CFP certification tracks 27 years ago, aiming to give students the ability to get certified as soon as possible. “I have been on faculty since ’77, and I saw a demand immediately,” Boschung said. “Consumers need help in decision making. Let’s say your great aunt Sally leaves you $50,000. What are you going to do with that? How do you make good financial decisions? CFPs help with that.” The college still offers basic financial planning classes to any major, and the foundation course, CSM 204, gives students a basis for understanding and evaluating basic financial planning principles and how they apply to life situations and change over the course of a consumer’s life, professor and CFP Caroline Fulmer said. “Students start with the 204 foundations class, then take special classes in insurance, investing, retirement, estates and taxes,” Boschung said. “Financial planning as a career is ranked as a top career for the future. They’re analytical but love helping people.”
Chimes kept timeless by student, faculty
Crimson White – Jan. 14
For most, the small white-tiled room behind the metal door is a mystery. But for Nawar Yossef, unlocking the door to Denny Chimes is part of his job. Yossef, a second-year graduate student receiving his master’s degree in organ performance, plays in Denny Chimes as part of his assistantship. For the third semester, Yossef will be playing the organ that’s nestled against the white walls of the room in the base of the tower. As his fingers stroke keys, signals are sent to a black box mounted to a wall behind him. This system, an electronic carillon, then sends the signals to 25 bronze bells that are hidden behind a trap door looming above his head. “Every time I go there, go up the stairs, pull out the key and open the door, I can tell people in cars and people walking by are staring,” Yossef said. “It’s unusual to see a person going into the Chimes when most people don’t know how to get in or how the chimes work or where the sound is coming from.” Denny Chimes was built in 1929 to honor George Denny, president of The University of Alabama at the time. Denny was considering leaving the University, so the students held a fundraiser to erect the bell tower, placed directly across from the President’s Mansion, as a reminder to Denny of his impact.
UA’s Coleman Coliseum to Be Lit In Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Jan. 13
The DCH Foundation in Tuscaloosa is keeping its breast cancer fundraiser going, selling luminaries. It’s the fifth-year … Coleman Coliseum on the University of Alabama campus will light up for the “Power of Pink” gymnastics meet. The luminaries are only $10, and they’ll include the breast cancer ribbon and a message you want to write honoring anyone who’s had cancer. The DCH Foundation uses the money to help uninsured women pay for mammograms and biopsies. The gymnastic meet is scheduled for January 24.