As the academic year comes to an end, University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell took time to address UA faculty and staff at the annual Spring Campus Assembly. Bell’s review of the past academic year spotlighted numerous achievements, campus growth and the University’s strategic plan.
Bell started his remarks by recognizing several groups and individuals who spent time at Jacksonville State University aiding in the cleanup efforts following last month’s tornado. Members of UA’s facilities and grounds crew helped clear debris while more than 50 students refurbished a nearby elementary school to be used by JSU for classes.
“I spoke with JSU’s president, and he told me that The University of Alabama was the first to show up,” Bell said.
Giving credit to UA students, faculty and staff, Bell highlighted the University was again named as one of the top public universities in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. He also noted the following national recognitions and rankings:
- UA is among the top five nationally for enrolling National Merit Scholars with more than 500, which is more than all other universities in the state of Alabama combined.
- UA is ranked as the fourth-best college for veterans.
- The public relations program is among the top five for eight of the last 10 years.
- The School of Accountancy’s undergraduate and doctoral programs are ranked No. 7, and master’s program is ranked No. 8.
- The Hospitality and Management School is ranked No. 9.
- The Law School is ranked No. 9 among public universities.
- The library information studies program is ranked No. 25 among public universities.
Bell also recognized UA students Elizabeth Rowe and Donna Xia for being named Goldwater Scholars, and Maret Montanari for being named PR Student of the Year by PRWeek.
Growth of the UA community and campus was also addressed. Last fall, UA welcomed 37,665 students, including 7,400 freshman. Thirty percent of the freshman class had a high school GPA of 4.0 or higher and, for the second consecutive year, more than 40 percent of freshman who took the ACT scored a 30 or higher. Those numbers put UA’s freshman class in the top five percent nationally.
Bell mentioned several construction projects that were completed over the course of the academic year, including the Stran-Hardin Arena, Little Hall and Marillyn A. Hewson Data Analytics Lab. He also noted that a new residence hall near Lakeside Dining and parking garage behind Tutwiler Hall are scheduled to open in August.
Plans for campus development were also discussed, including a new women’s residence hall behind Tutwiler Hall and updates to University Boulevard coming into campus. Bell also mentioned the University is past the halfway point in its fundraising campaign for the Performing Arts Academic Center that will be on the Peter Bryce campus. He also noted a new building for the National Alumni Association will come to the Bryce campus.
In closing, Bell reminded faculty and staff that all of the past year’s accolades and initiatives tie into the four pillars of UA’s strategic plan, Advancing the Flagship.
“As we progress with our strategic plan and dreams for our University, I am proud to be working beside each of you,” Bell said. “It’s truly an exciting time to be at The University of Alabama.”