UA hits record enrollment again
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 16
The University of Alabama has again reached a record number of students on campus, with 31,747 students enrolling for the fall 2011 semester. That total is up 5 percent over a year ago and is made up of 26,234 undergraduates and 5,513 graduate and professional students, according to a UA news release Thursday. The total is 62 percent above the fall 2002 enrollment, the year before current UA President Robert E. Witt arrived. Another record for applications was set as well with 22,136 coming in, a total up 200 percent since Witt arrived. “Once again this fall, we welcomed to campus the largest and most academically talented freshman class in our history,” Witt said in a statement. “We are pleased that excellent students are recognizing the quality and value of a University of Alabama education.” According to the release, the fall 2011 freshman class is composed of a record 5,772 students who “entered the university with outstanding academic credentials.” Of the freshman class, 28 percent graduated high school with a 4.0 grade point average and 182 were National Merit Scholars. The larger student body is serving the university well, as just this week it received a ranking of 31, its highest ranking ever, on the U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking of public universities.
Al.com – Sept. 16
Birmingham News – Sept. 16 (Print version only)
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15
WVUA (Tuscaloosa)—Sept. 15
UA approves new construction plans
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 16
On Thursday, University of Alabama trustees approved resolutions to build the second phase of its newest residence hall, bring down one of its oldest and construct additions to the student center and main library. During the Physical Properties Committee meeting, trustees approved a resolution that detailed Phase 2 of the North Bluff Residential Community as a seven-story, 864-bed dormitory to be built next door to Phase 1 of the complex. Phase 2 is expected to open in fall 2014. North Bluff Phase 1 is still under construction near the bluff overlooking the Black Warrior River between Rose Towers and Old Hackberry Lane. It is expected to open in fall 2012…The university also plans to build a recreation center and dining hall between the two North Bluff dormitories…Trustees also approved a $27.5 million project that will add nearly 60,000 square feet onto the south end of the Ferguson Center, while renovating 99,000 square feet. The University Supply Store is benefiting greatly from the project and will receive nearly 50,000 square feet of the addition and renovated space. Shortly thereafter, they approved a 50,000-square-foot addition to the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library that will double the library’s seating capacity to 2,278…
Birmingham Business Journal – Sept. 16
UA earthquake expert talks about recent earthquakes (Live interview)
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 15
Dr. John van de Lindt is a professor at the University of Alabama and is an earthquake expert.