MONDAY, OCT. 9 – SUNDAY, OCT. 15
BEST BETS
UA HOMECOMING — The theme for the 2017 Homecoming week is “Sweet Home Capstone.” Activities include the election of Homecoming Queen Tuesday, Oct. 10, and the annual Pep Rally and Bonfire at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at the Quad. The Homecoming Parade will be Saturday, Oct. 14 beginning at 1 p.m. For a detailed list of homecoming events, visit http://homecoming.sa.ua.edu/. For additional details, contact Richard LeComte, UA communications, richard.lecomte@ua.edu, 205-348-3782.
TAKING BOLD STEPS TO EXPAND, IMPROVE GRADUATE EDUCATION – Within the last year, UA has added seven new master’s programs, two new doctoral programs, eight graduate concentrations and four new graduate certificates. UA’s growing graduate degree programs fulfill a mandate in the University’s Strategic Plan to create opportunities for a premier education and bolster productivity in research and scholarship, said Dr. Susan Carvalho, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School. For more information or assistance in lining up interviews with Carvalho, contact richard.lecomte@ua.edu, UA communications, 205-348-3782 or richard.lecomte@ua.edu.
BEAT AUBURN, BEAT HUNGER – The annual food drive to benefit the West Alabama Food Bank is underway. For more details, contact Richard LeComte, communications, richard.lecomte@ua.edu or 205-348-3782 or go to the Facebook page here.
EVENTS
FROM PET THERAPY TO DANCING AND DRUMS – Capstone Village, a residential community on UA’s campus that caters to active living for those 55 and older, hosts multiple events this month of potential interest. On Mondays throughout October, at 2 p.m., UA dance students lead a dance exercise class for residents in the Activity Room. Each Thursday at 2 p.m., throughout October, two trained, four-legged therapists visit residents at Traditions Way and Hallmark Manor in Capstone Village Healthcare. Pet therapy shows particular promise for residents, organizers say, and at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, a drum group from Holy Spirit High School will engage residents in the facility’s backyard. For more information on covering any of these events, contact Troy Cannaday, executive director of Capstone Village, at 205-347-0084 or tcannaday@capstonevillage.ua.edu or Jamon Smith, UA communications, 205-348-4956 or jamon.smith@ua.edu.
REDUCING FALLS IN AGED — Dr. Anne Halli-Tierney, UA assistant professor of family medicine and geriatrics in the College of Community Health Sciences, will present “Falls in Older Adults” at noon Thursday, Oct. 12, as part of a lecture series for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UA. Balance problems can become more prevalent due to aging related changes, and with these balance issues, the risk of falls increases. The talk will discuss some of the reasons why balance is affected by aging, examine some of the changes in gait seen in older adults, and describe some methods to improve balance and reduce the risk of falls. The presentation is in the Bryant Conference Center. For more information, contact Amelia Neumeister, at 205-348-2041 or abneumeister@ua.edu or UA communications, 205-348-5320.
RURAL COMMUNITIES FACE HEALTH-CARE CHALLENGES — A discussion of The Challenges of Rural Health Care will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Health Services Library within UA’s School of Medicine Building. The discussion is part of the College of Community Health Sciences’ board of visitors meeting. While rural communities often have populations that are older, sicker and poorer than suburban areas, they also struggle to attract and retain physicians and other health-care professions and to support hospitals. The informal panel discussion is designed for brainstorming ideas and innovative solutions and for building alliances and collaborations. The board is a group of volunteers who assist in the development, planning and advancement of the College. For more information, contact Leslie Zganjar, 205-348-3079, lzganjar@ua.edu or Chris Bryant in communications, chris.bryant@ua.edu.