MONDAY, FEB. 23 – SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2015
BEST BETS
EVENTS PLANNED FOR NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK – UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute will celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week Feb. 23-27. Culverhouse and AEI will celebrate with events during the week beginning with a kick-off on the Quad Monday, Feb. 23. The “What’s Your Big Idea?” event on Monday will begin a week’s worth of open events, speakers and time in the classroom to help students develop and perfect their own startup business ideas. Other events throughout the week include:
- 24, 2-4 p.m.: “How To Do A Budget” sponsored by the Culverhouse School of Accounting hosted at Oakdale Elementary
- 25, 5-6:30 p.m.: Entrepreneurs Speaker Forum at Ferguson Theater, sponsored by Culverhouse and the College of Human Environmental Sciences
- 26, 6:30-7 p.m.: “Entrepreneurship Careers” at Bidgood Hall
- 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: “Developing Your Pitch” at the EDGE in downtown Tuscaloosa, 800 22nd Ave.
For more information, contact Tommie Syx of the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute at tsyx@culverhouse.ua.edu or Edith Parten, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8318 or eparten@culverhouse.ua.edu.
CURRENT COMMENT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES, FUNDING CONTINUE TO DECLINE – Degree completion rates at community colleges in most states have declined or remained flat since 2012, and three of four community colleges do not have state operating budget plans to increase degree and certificate completion, according to a new University of Alabama Education Policy Center survey of community college leaders in more than 42 states. “State cuts are increasing, too,” said Dr. Stephen Katsinas, director of the Education Policy Center. “In 2013-14, 14 predicted state appropriations wouldn’t cover inflation; for 2014-15, the number is 31, making it difficult to raise completions. A new way forward is needed to jump-start degree completion, to make America #1 again in adult degree and certificate completion.” For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS ADDED DIMENSION TO MAKE MORE OF AN IMPACT IN COMBATTING DEEP WEB – The conviction of Silk Road founder and developer Ross Ulbricht last week was a symbolic triumph for federal authorities, but it’s unlikely to deter people from selling and buying illegal and bootleg goods on “The Dark Web,” said Dr. Diana Dolliver, UA assistant professor of criminal justice. Dolliver said law enforcement agencies are using reactive measures, picking off site by site, mostly at the retail level. “They need to switch into a more proactive role (for instance, creating criminal profiles, looking at macro-level trends and being more strategic about it),” Dolliver said. “The prevention point is more for consumers related to stolen data – with the Anthem hack, that stolen data is already being requested by Evolution users and sold online to the highest bidders. My point being that law enforcement will never be able to seize enough sites to stop these kinds of illegal activities, so as much as we can prevent the credit card/ID theft on our end, the more that will be able to make an impact.” For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu. Dolliver can also be reached directly at 205/348-2062 or dldolliver@ua.edu.
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: SMART STEPS FOR GETTING OUT OF DEBT – Part of smartly managing debt includes reducing your debt level and maybe even getting out of debt completely. It is important to use debt wisely and manage it appropriately within your current financial situation. The University of Alabama’s Dr. Melissa Wilmarth, assistant professor of consumer sciences in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, offers some steps that will help you reduce your debt level in this week’s UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu
UA MATTERS: PAYING FOR YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION — Providing funds to pay for a child’s college education is one of the largest expenses that parents face. The University of Alabama’s Dr. Robert McLeod, professor of finance in the Culverhouse College of Commerce, offers suggestions to reduce the burden of student debt in this week’s UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu
EVENTS
DAY OF SERVICE – The University of Alabama Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism and the Office of Student Leadership are partnering to host Hands on Tuscaloosa, a day-long student community service and leadership development event Saturday, Feb. 28. Hands on Tuscaloosa will begin with the UA LEADS: Leadership, Education, Action and Diversity Summit at 8 a.m. in the Ferguson Center Ballroom. The summit will bring together UA students, faculty and staff to participate in educational sessions and hear keynote speakers. From 1 to 6 p.m. summit participants are invited to take part in painting, landscaping and beautification projects at Central and Maxwell elementary schools. The center plans to send some 400 students into the community to help them initiate long-term service relationships with community partners. Contact: Richard LeComte, UA Media Relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.
57 MILES PLANS PROJECTS IN MARION – About 40 students and 10 student leaders from The University of Alabama Honors College will perform service projects in Marion, Alabama from 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. The projects sites include the courthouse square and the old armory along the highway. The projects include painting and general cleaning. The UA organization 57 Miles is joining with UA’s Honors Year One and Honors Living-Learning Community. These partners have pledged volunteers for the Afternoon of Service. Contact: Richard LeComte,UA Mdia Relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.
STAR WARS AT SUPE STORE – Darth Vader and other characters from “Star Wars” will bring the Force to The University of Alabama for a sales event from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at UA’s Supe Store in the Ferguson Center. The event is open to the public. Plans call for volunteers from local “Star Wars” clubs to portray Darth Vader, storm troopers, a pilot and a Jedi knight. The characters will sign autographs, and a professional photographer will be available to take photos of characters with customers. The SupeStore staff will post the photos on the store’s Facebook page later in the day. Contact: Richard LeComte, UA Media Relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.
UA’S MOUNDVILLE PARK RESUMES SATURDAY IN THE PARK PROGRAMS — The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park resumes its Saturday in the Park program on Feb. 28. This week’s program features “Past Time Pastimes” with Betsy Irwin. Visitors will learn various ways earlier people entertained their youngsters. Children can try their hand at stickball, rabbit sticks and Indian football. They can even make their own set of game pieces to take home with them. The program will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu
LOOKING AHEAD
ANCIENT TECHNOLOGIES FEATURED AT UA’S MOUNDVILLE PARK – The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park invites the West Alabama community to explore what it means to live a simple life during the 15th annual Knap-In and Ancient Arts Meet March 13-14. Stone tools makers, bow makers, basket makers, shell carvers, gourd artists, earth skill experts and potters will gather at Moundville Archaeological Park and demonstrate some of the arts and technologies that were once used by ancient people everywhere. Most also display and sell their pieces. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu