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GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATORS – The Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute, an outreach organization located in The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business, will host several events as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 8-14, to foster entrepreneurship in UA students, faculty, staff and area residents. The main event, the River Pitch Business Idea Competition, will be held Tuesday, Nov. 9, and offers any entrepreneur with a solid business concept an opportunity to pitch their idea in front of a panel of judges for a chance to win a $1,000 prize. For more information, contact Zach Thomas, director of marketing and communications for the Culverhouse College of Business, at zthomas@culverhouse.ua.edu. 

RUN ‘ROUND THE MOUNDS AT MOUNDVILLE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK – UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park will host the fourth annual Moundville 5K Footrace Nov. 6 as part of its celebration of Native American Heritage Month. After hosting the race virtually last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Moundville 5K Footrace returns to the park for runners and walkers of all ages. Proceeds will go to the Moundville Education fund to continue its mission of celebrating Southeastern Native American culture. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu 

UA INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN REAL ESTATE – A new effort by the Alabama Center for Real Estate aims to make the real estate industry more accessible to students and young professionals in underrepresented groups. The Career Opportunities in Real Estate initiative, or CORE, offers an online credentialing program consisting of eight modules featuring live and self-paced real estate career content, as well as professional development resources, soft skills training and access to life coaching. Applications for the program are being accepted. For more information, contact Zach Thomas, director of marketing and communications for the Culverhouse College of Business, at zthomas@culverhouse.ua.edu. 

BREAKING BARRIERS EXHIBIT OPENS AT BRYANT MUSEUM – UA’s Paul W. Bryant Museum recently opened a new exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the integration of the Crimson Tide football team. The new permanent exhibit titled “Breaking Barriers” tells the story of Coach Bryant’s journey to integrate football throughout his career. The exhibit showcases Wendell Hudson, the first Black student-athlete at UA, then moves to Wilbur Jackson, the first African-American scholarship football student-athlete, and John Mitchell, the first Black football student-athlete to take the field. The exhibit also highlights other trailblazing players throughout Coach Bryant’s career. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu. 

THE BLACK TIE BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA SCHOLARSHIP BALL ANNOUNCED – The University of Alabama Black Faculty and Staff Association will host the first annual Wakanda Scholarship Ball Feb. 5, 2022 from 6 to 10 p.m. The fundraising event follows the second annual Dr. Trudier Harris Intercollegiate Black History Scholars Bowl that morning at 9 a.m. Both events will be at the Bryant Conference Center. The ball serves as a fun and creative way to raise money for the BFSA Quasi-Endowed Scholarship Fund and BFSA Annual Support Fund while highlighting African history, intersectionality, creativity and Afrofuturism. Tickets cost $60 a person and $110 for a duo with open seating on sale until Feb. 1, 2022. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA Strategic Communications, at jamon.smith@ua.edu. 

UA BLACK ALUMNI TO BE CELEBRATED WITH AWARDS CEREMONY – The University of Alabama Black Alumni Association in partnership with the Culverhouse College of Business Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is seeking nominations for the first annual Vivian Malone Alumni Awards. “The Vivian Malone Alumni Awards: Celebrating Alumni Excellence & Supporting Student Success” ceremony, which will highlight the achievements of the Capstone’s Black alumni throughout time, will be held at Hewson Hall in April 2022. For more information, watch for a press release or contact Jamon Smith, UA Strategic Communications, at jamon.smith@ua.edu. 

UA ESTABLISHES APPRENTICESHIP FOR OPIOID ADDICTION SUPPORT SPECIALISTS – UA is launching an apprenticeship program to train individuals in behavioral health and substance abuse recovery. Dr. Mercy Mumba, associate professor at the Capstone College of Nursing, and her team have successfully established UA as a sponsor for a Behavioral Health Paraprofessional Registered Apprenticeship Program through the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship. UA is the first nationally registered Certified Recovery Support Specialist apprenticeship program in the state. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu 

UA RESEARCH PROJECTS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS – Several research projects on campus are seeking participants, particularly children and parents, with some offering small payments and leading-edge therapy. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, adam.jones@ua.edu. 

CURRENT COMMENT 

PROPOSED RULE ON HEARING AIDS WILL BENEFIT MANY – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a rule to establish a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids, allowing hearing aids within this category to be sold directly to consumers in stores or online without a medical exam or a fitting by an audiologist. It is currently in a 90-day public comment period. Dr. Marcia Hay-McCutcheon, professor of communicative disorders whose research focuses on improving access and affordability of hearing health care in underserved Alabama communities, said the proposed rule is great news. “The new ruling proposed by the FDA to allow adults living with hearing loss in the U.S. to purchase over-the-counter hearing aids is a welcomed and much anticipated proposal,” she said. “It is now the responsibility of hearing professionals in Alabama to get the word out to all those living with mild-to-moderate hearing loss in rural parts of our state that new low-cost interventions will soon be available.” Hay-McCutcheon is currently leading a $2 million grant to improve the lives of people with hearing loss living in rural areas of the state. To schedule an interview with Hay-McCutcheon, contact her at marcia.hay-mccutcheon@ua.edu.

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