NOTE: Classes will not be in session the week of Dec. 16. UA will suspend normal business operations Dec. 23-Jan. 1, 2025, for the winter break. Some faculty and staff members may be slow to respond to an inquiry.
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More than 2,000 degrees were awarded during The University of Alabama’s fall 2024 commencement at Coleman Coliseum on Dec. 14.
Why This Matters: UA is educating and graduating more students than any college in the state. The fall 2024 class includes 319 first-generation students, 26 military veterans and 13 active-duty military. Members of the class represent 48 U.S. states and 59 Alabama counties.
Campus Operations over Winter Break
UA’s winter break is Dec. 23-Jan. 1, 2025. Most offices and services follow the UA holiday schedule. Check individual websites and the UA events calendar for the latest information.
Graduate School Honors Centennial Scholars
As part of its centennial celebration, the UA Graduate School has recognized 100 master’s and doctoral alumni who continue to bring distinction to the Capstone and their academic programs through their many professional accomplishments.
Why This Matters: “On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Graduate School, we wanted to ensure that the impact of our master’s and doctoral alumni was being appropriately recognized,” said Dr. Susan Carvalho, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School. “We realized that there was no single location where these outstanding graduates could be viewed collectively, so we decided to create an alumni gallery for the purpose of showcasing these advanced degree holders.”
Study Finds Many Alabamians with Poor Sleep Health
A recent study conducted by UA’s Dr. Adam Knowlden found that many Alabamians are falling short of the recommended amount of sleep, with more than half of study participants meeting the clinical threshold for obstructive sleep apnea.
Why This Matters: “Alabama’s high rate of short sleep is consistent with other states in the southeast and Appalachian region, areas that also experience high levels of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, which are often linked to poor sleep health,” said Knowlden.
For more information, contact Knowlden at aknowlden@ches.ua.edu.
The history of the chili pepper is in some ways the history of humanity in the Americas, says Dr. Katherine Chiou, an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology.
Why This Matters: As a paleoethnobotanist, Chiou studies the long-term relationship between people and plants through archeological remains. Chiou has outlined evidence that the domestication of Capsicum annum var. annum, the species responsible for most commercially available chilies, occurred in a different region of Mexico than has been previously believed.
For more information, contact Jessica Nelson at jessica.nelson@ua.edu.
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