BEST BETS
UA TO LAUNCH EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVE AT GADSDEN IN JANUARY — UA’s College of Education will launch the UA Early Learning Initiative at Gadsden in January 2021 at the University’s Gadsden Center. The program will provide area children and families with high-quality, inclusive learning experiences, act as a professional development site for teacher education students and practicing teachers from around the state and serve as a research site where UA faculty can conduct innovative research related to early childhood education and child development. “Our college is doing everything it can to make a good difference in the educational lives of children and their families,” said Dr. Peter Hlebowitsh, dean of UA’s College of Education. “We are happy to bring our resources and expertise to the work of advancing early childhood education efforts across the state.” For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
UA-LED STUDY OF SOUTHEASTERN GROUNDWATER ASSISTS WATER MANAGEMENT — The University of Alabama is leading a 4-year, $6 million project to conduct groundwater research. The data and modeling tools developed will provide new scientific insights and make useful groundwater predictions for the Southeast. The information can be used to manage and allocate groundwater resources in critical areas such as drought management, drinking water, ecology, climate models and agriculture. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
ALABAMA BUSINESS CONFIDENCE TICKS UPWARD FOR FOUTH QUARTER — Business leaders throughout the state of Alabama are expressing measured sighs of relief heading into the fourth quarter of 2020, according to the Center for Business Economics and Research at The University of Alabama. The Center’s most recent Alabama Business Confidence Index quarterly survey shows business confidence is increasing slightly to 55.2, a 3.4-point increase over the previous quarter, thanks to new innovations and safety measures introduced to lessen the spread of coronavirus. Business leaders are feeling most confident about improved conditions in the statewide economy, with an index of 59.8 in the fourth quarter, a 3.4-point increase from the previous quarter. Expectations are also positive for the national economy, whose index stands at 57.5 after a 0.4-point decrease, indicating moderate confidence in improved conditions for the U.S. economy compared to the third quarter. For more information, contact Zach Thomas, director of marketing and communications, Culverhouse College of Business, at zthomas@culverhouse.ua.edu.
GRADUATE APPLICATION FEES WAIVED DURING FREE APP WEEK — The University of Alabama Graduate School is waiving application fees for all prospective graduate students until Nov. 15. During Free App Week, the Graduate School aims to empower prospective students by removing financial barriers that may keep them from applying. Unlike last year’s Free App Week, which only waived fees for domestic applications, this year’s event is extended to include international students. For more information, contact Landon Waid, director of graduate admission, at landon.waid@ua.edu.
UA’S RURAL MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM ADDS 10 STUDENTS — Ten students studying to become physicians with plans to practice in rural Alabama communities were recently accepted to UA’s Rural Medical Scholars Program for the 2020-21 academic year. The Rural Medical Scholars Program, part of UA’s College of Community Health Sciences, is exclusively for rural Alabama students who want to become physicians and practice in rural communities. It has been cited nationally as a model initiative. To date, it has placed 75 physicians into practice in rural Alabama. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
RIVER BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION RETURNS FOR 2020, VIRTUALLY — The Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute at UA is offering a week of learning, networking and pitching for budding entrepreneurs interested in participating. The headliner of the week will be the River Business Pitch Idea Competition on November 17. The week’s events are part of Global Entrepreneurship Week — an annual event championed by the Global Entrepreneurship Network to celebrate innovation and collaboration among individuals around the world. For more information, contact Zach Thomas, director of marketing and communications, Culverhouse College of Business, at zthomas@culverhouse.ua.edu.
UA TO HOLD FALL COMMENCEMENT DEC. 12 — The University will hold fall commencement exercises Saturday, Dec. 12, at Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus. More than 2,000 graduates are expected to participate in four ceremonies. The December ceremonies will follow the same model UA used to facilitate nine safe and successful commencement exercises in August. For more information, contact Melissa Parker, UA Strategic Communications, at melissa.parker@ua.edu.
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