University of Alabama scholars channel skills to help Black Belt residents with construction, finances
Birmingham News – May 22
Two dozen students from the University of Alabama Honors College are spending nearly three weeks in Alabama’s Black Belt, carrying out public service projects of their own design. Students this week held finance and health workshops, repaired a house in rural Perry County and conducted ACT prep courses for students at Francis Marion High School…Jacqueline Morgan, associate dean of the UA Honors College, said the program, called the University Fellows Experience, is in just its third year, but already is hugely popular. The university gets about 500 applications from high school students for each Fellows class of about 25.
Traditional company pensions are going away fast
USA Today – May 21
…However, huge losses in 401(k) plans – readily apparent to anyone who looks at an account statement – could change employees’ attitudes toward traditional pensions, says Norman Stein, professor at the University of Alabama School of Law and a pension expert. In this environment, he says, “It shouldn’t be a tough sell to get employees to say these are actually pretty valuable plans.”
Alabama‘s Home Affordability Index Breaks Record
WPMI (Mobile) – May 21
WDHN (Dothan) – May 21
…a study by the University of Alabama shows the state’s home affordability index broke a record this year hitting its highest in 16 years. Researchers say it’s because of falling interest rates and a drop in home prices.
Blog: Raising a wing to Hubble
Tuscaloosa News – May 22
Bill Keel, a professor of astronomy at the University of Alabama, had a rooting interest in the repair work to the Hubble telescope…Keel has been awarded time on Hubble to look at an interesting cloud of gas to get a better view, which Hubble, being above the Earth’s atmosphere, can provide. Now that Hubble is repaired, time on it can be booked again. Keel has been awarded a spot, but he likely won’t get a shot till late fall or early winter.