Nation’s Prominent Public Universities are Shifting to Out-of-State Students
The Washington Post
Jan. 30, 2016
America’s most prominent public universities were founded to serve the people of their states, but they are enrolling record numbers of students from elsewhere to maximize tuition revenue as state support for higher education withers. The shift has buttressed the finances and reshaped the profile of schools across the country, from the University of California’s famed campuses in Berkeley and Los Angeles to the universities of Arkansas, Oregon, Missouri, South Carolina and numerous other places. Forty-three of the 50 schools known as “state flagships” enrolled a smaller share of freshmen from within their states in 2014 than they had a decade earlier, federal data show. At 10 flagships, state residents formed less than half the freshman class. Nowhere is the trend more pronounced than here at the University of Alabama.
Al.com – Feb. 1
Christian Science Monitor – Jan. 31
Yahoo! – Jan. 31
Is it an advantage, or a disadvantage, to be an out-of-state applicant to a state school?
The Washington Post
Jan. 30, 2016
Everyone wants to know their chances of getting into colleges that turn away thousands, or even tens of thousands, of applicants a year. The question is especially pressing at a time when the in-state share of freshmen is falling at many big-name public schools. But at some of the most prestigious state universities, the gatekeepers are clear: It’s much tougher to get in if you live out of state. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a case in point. … University of Alabama: The in-state rate is 59 percent and the out-of-state rate is 53 percent.
Atom Probe Workshop held at UA
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 29
Today, scientists from all over the world met at Bevill Hall for a workshop at The University of Alabama. A demonstration was held on an atom probe and a focused ion beam. The scientists collaborated and spoke with one another to better understand how these applications can be used. Scientists say getting together to share ideas and information is key in future developments.
Nick’s Kids and Habitat for Humanity break ground on new home
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 29
Habitat for Humanity and Nick’s Kids has already broken ground on the newest house for the 16th National Championship. The new homeowners will be Anthony Taylor and his family. Anthony works all night as a bus driver at The University of Alabama.
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 29
UA to Open Intercultural Diversity Center
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 31
The University of Alabama will open a new Intercultural Diversity Center on campus. The center is on the first floor of the Riverside Community Center. It will be available to students, faculty and staff and it’s open for any discussions people need to have. A diversity center was on the list of demands made by the student group We Are Done.
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 31
CBS 42 (Birmingham – Jan. 31
WSFA-NBC (Montgomery) – Jan. 30
WTVM-ABC (Columbus, Ga.) – Jan. 29
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Jan. 29
WAFF-NBC (Huntsville) – Jan. 29
Buddhist priest and poet Norman Fischer coming to UA for three days of events
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 30
Buddhist priest and poet Norman Fischer returns to visit the University of Alabama Monday through Wednesday, leading meditation sessions and discussions on mindfulness, spirituality and Zen Buddhism. Fischer will also speak about his new book of essays, “Experience: Thinking, Writing, Language and Religion,” published by the UA Press in December.
Big Al inspires students to write stories
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 29
Students from a Capitol School elementary class huddled together on the floor of UA’s Paul W. Bryant Museum Friday morning. In unison, they shouted “Roll Tide” and then listened attentively as classmates went up one by one to read stories they wrote about UA’s mascot, Big Al. Teacher Missy Richey said her class has been learning adjectives and that they modeled their stories after children’s writer Eric Carle’s popular book, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” Instead of a brown bear, the children incorporated Big Al and described what they would see at an Alabama football game, like a “talented band member” and a “serious Coach Saban.” They accompanied their stories with their own illustrations.
Ferguson photographer to speak at UA
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 29
A photographer whose book documents the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Mo., will be at the University of Alabama on Thursday. Adrian O. Walker, author of book, “My Lens, Our Ferguson” will discuss his experiences during the unrest after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by police. Selected photos from Walker’s book will be featured in the Black on Film gallery, an exhibit that marks Black History Month. The monthlong exhibit will also feature archival photos from the Crimson White, the UA campus newspaper, dating back to Gov. George Wallace’s “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” in 1963. The exhibit will be on display at Ferguson Student Center Art Gallery through the end of February.
THE PORT RAIL: Presidents: the good, bad and mediocre
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 30
I promised you more on presidents, given that we are buried in a tide of presidential wannabes this year. We are now having early presidential caucuses. As near as I can tell this is the process of welcoming half a dozen presidential candidates looking for your vote into your kitchen for some coffee and a donut in places like Iowa and New Hampshire. The goal is to ensure they don’t run into each other and then have to pretend that they like each other.
UA student gets engaged to Auburn student
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 29
They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but one newly engaged couple has taken this to a whole new level. Allison Peters and John McNeil are both presidents of their dance marathon programs. Allison is the president of The University of Alabama Dance Marathon, while John is president of the Dance Marathon at Auburn University. The two have used their unique situation to advance both of their schools programs and bring the two teams together.however, Allison does admit that there’s still a little bit of friendly competition between them.
Bryant-Denny is state’s top sports spot
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 31
Bryant-Denny Stadium has been named the top sports destination in Alabama by the Alabama Tourism Department. This designation is the result of 712,747 visitors passing through its gates in 2015. Although that was a drop from the 785,418 people who entered the stadium in 2014, it was still enough to put it above Jordan-Hare Stadium at Auburn University. Auburn’s facility came in as the second most visited sports destination in the state, with 612,157 visitors in 2015.