Bellsouth Establishes Endowed Support Fund for UA College of Engineering

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – BellSouth has pledged $200,000 to promote the education of students in The University of Alabama College of Engineering’s department of electrical and computer engineering (ECE).

A portion of BellSouth’s gift will create a state-of-the-art Capstone Design Laboratory for use by all ECE students for multidisciplinary design projects. The remainder will support priority needs of the ECE department by creating the Electrical and Computer Engineering Endowed Support Fund.

“I am excited by this gift and the impact it will have on students,” said Dr. Chuck Karr, dean of the College of Engineering. “Thanks to BellSouth’s generosity, the University can continue its tradition of excellence and leadership in engineering education.”

“The contribution will have a significant effect on students within the electrical and computer engineering program,” said Dr. Jeff Jackson, associate professor and head of electrical and computer engineering. “The laboratory and facilities will aid in providing quality, hands-on educational experiences for our students.”

To express their gratitude for BellSouth’s generous support, UA President Robert E. Witt and Karr recently hosted a luncheon at the President’s Mansion for Tom Hamby, president of BellSouth Alabama, and other BellSouth representatives.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became the first university in the state to offer engineering classes and one of the first five institutions of higher learning in the nation to do so. Today, the College of Engineering has about 1,800 students and more than 95 faculty members. It has been fully accredited since the establishment of accreditation standards in the 1930s.