New student group seeks to improve literacy in West Alabama
Posted by Cedrick (November 20, 2008)
LITE (Literacy Is The Edge) is a new student organization at The University of Alabama with the goal of improving literacy rates in West Alabama. LITE is recruiting student volunteers to tutor children and adults, write stories, develop a web site, and speak to groups about the importance of literacy.
LITE is just one of the many opportunities at UA for students to get involved in serving the community.
Read more about LITE (Literacy Is The Edge)
University Days gives prospective students an up-close look at UA
Posted by Deirdra (November 14, 2008)
Each semester, University Days offers students several chances to take a day-long visit of the University and everything it has to offer. As I entered the Ferguson Center on November 11, I ran into a crowd of eager prospective students ready to take part in the second University Days session of the Fall semester.
During University Days, prospective students can tour the campus and talk to faculty, staff, and current students. Students can also discuss their interests and goals with academic advisors and faculty, or find out how to get involved in some of the more than 200 student organizations on campus.
As I watched the students file into order for registration, Avanti members greeted them and handed out nametags, new Alabama T-shirts, and brochures to browse through later. After registration, students had the opportunity to look around an Information Fair.
Later, the students were welcomed and divided into groups for their College or School Information Sessions. Following an Avanti member to the desired location, students got a chance to see where they might be located in less than one year.
Students weren't the only ones having fun and learning about the University though. I spotted parents all across campus as well.
University Days covers a broad range of topics including admissions, undergraduate schools and colleges, majors and minors, cost and financial aid, scholarships, on-campus living and dining, student organizations, and career opportunities and services.
One session students were able to attend was about Alabama's Freshman Learning Communities. Freshman Learning Communities offer a pre-planned schedule of courses that pairs you up with other students with similar interests and sets your education on the right track.
At the end of the day, students and parents left campus excitedly discussing all the possibilities of a future at Alabama. From chit-chat of how to get involved in their college or what to put in their new dorm room, the students gained personal knowledge of what the University is and what it offers to them.
Learn more about University Days at universitydays.ua.edu.
Paul Jones Donates $4.8M Art Collection to UA
Posted by Cedrick (October 30, 2008)
One of the top 100 art collectors in the United States, Paul R. Jones has donated a 1,700-piece art collection valued at $4.8 million to The University of Alabama.
The collection includes a variety of art from more than 600 artists, including Romare Bearden, Prentice Herman (P.H.) Polk, Carrie Mae Weems and Benny Andrews.
"The Jones Collection is remarkable not only for the breadth and quality of African-American artists represented in it, but also because it brings together a body of artists who worked at a time in recent American history when African-American artists were not widely collected," said Dr. Amalia Amaki, professor of art in the UA department of art and art history.
Read more about this gift and view images from the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art.
Engineering Day a Success
Posted by Deirdra (October 23, 2008)
The College of Engineering hosted a successful E-Day on October 2. Prospective students and their families were welcomed to the College of Engineering, took tours, and viewed exhibits in H.M. Comer Hall.
Lynsey Dill, Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Engineering, said this year's turnout for E-Day was even better than expected. If you didn't make it to E-Day, you can learn more about the College of Engineering at eng.ua.edu, or contact Lynsey Dill for more information.
UA Recycling Numbers on the Rise
Posted by Deirdra (October 16, 2008)
The University's dedication to becoming a more environmentally friendly campus is evident in a massive increase in recycled goods. From October 2007 to September 2008, UA recycled 468 tons of material, a 151 percent increase over the 186 tons collected the previous year.
With programs that make recycling convenient for students, I find myself thinking twice before absent-mindedly throwing away a finished soda bottle.
Learn more about UA's recycling statistics.
UA Senior Helps Students Eat Healthy Meals
Posted by Cedrick (October 13, 2008)
Dana Lewis, a senior at UA, has single-handedly made an impact on campus by changing the way we eat. She has integrated a nutritional labeling system for on-campus dining halls. The initiative began because Lewis wanted to be more aware of what she was eating due to living with diabetes.
Read more about Dana and how she's making an impact at UA.
UA Green Fair Kickoff Event
Posted by Deirdra (September 30, 2008)
As part of the University's dedication to making the campus better for the environment, UA is "Going Green" and hosting its first Green Fair on Thursday, October 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Green Fair is a way to make students and faculty more aware of how they affect the environment. In addition to giving professors the opportunity to showcase environmental research, the Green Fair will feature bands, a "green" car, and a bake sale featuring organic food.
In preparation for the Green Fair, the Community Service Center sponsored a kickoff event that called for student volunteers to help clean up the campus. Volunteers were broken up into teams and sent out across campus to pick up trash and collect recyclable goods.
UA students were very dedicated to the cause and determined to do their part. Looking through the crowd of 58 volunteers, I even saw several green people. Yes, in fact, they were painted green for the event.
Clubs such as the Environmental Council, Freshman Forum, Xchange, and Sigma Chi fraternity were represented at the event, and awards were given out to the team that collected the most trash. All volunteers also received T-shirts for their service to the campus.
UA College of Engineering to host Engineering Day Open House
Posted by Deirdra (September 23, 2008)
The College of Engineering will host an open house for high school students and their families on Thursday, October 2, beginning at 8 a.m.
Engineering Day, or E-Day, is an opportunity for prospective students to take a closer look at the College of Engineering and a chance to get a realistic view of how engineering skills are used in everyday life.
Go for the Gold!
Posted by Cedrick (September 16, 2008)
Propelled by three UA players, the United States Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team brought home the gold medal this year in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. Alana Nichols, Mary Allison Milford and Stephanie Wheeler brought the winning attitude of the Crimson Tide to the United States national team.
Tuscaloosa Area Attractions
Posted by Deirdra (September 3, 2008)
The University's student newspaper, The Crimson White recently did a listing of 10 popular cultural attractions in the Tuscaloosa community. If you are heading this way for a visit or to be a student, you might want to check out some of these spots.