End of fall semester update

• December 3rd, 2015
• in Messages from the President

Dear UA Students, Faculty and Staff:

As the fall semester comes to a close and we prepare to celebrate the joys and blessings of the holiday season with family and friends, I want to tell you how much I appreciate your hard work and dedication. Your tireless efforts allow our students, and the University, to succeed.

In August, we welcomed a record-setting, academically talented freshman class. Throughout the semester, we have also read about the remarkable accomplishments of our faculty and students, all of which add tremendous value to our University.

Next week, we will celebrate commencement, which marks the culmination of years of hard work for our students and the beginning of the rest of their journey. I hope you’ll welcome our visitors, and join me in offering heartfelt congratulations to our graduates as they go into the world prepared to assume leadership roles and successfully compete in a global economy.

To our students, good luck during exam week. And, I wish all of you a happy and safe holiday break.

We’re looking forward to a great 2016!

Stuart R. Bell

Strategic Planning Council announced

• December 1st, 2015
• in Messages from the President

As announced in October, I have asked Interim Provost Kevin Whitaker to chair UA’s Strategic Planning Council. This council will focus on areas that are important to our continued success as the state’s flagship and a top-tier national institution. Key focus areas include graduate enrollment growth, faculty growth, diversity, research and facilities.

Since this council needs to represent all the University’s main components, I have asked the following individuals to work with Dr. Whitaker in this process:

• Milla Boschung, dean, Human Environmental Sciences
• Jennifer Clark, president, Professional Staff Assembly
• Lynda Gilbert, vice president, Financial Affairs
• Todd Hester, president, Office, Clerical and Technical Staff Assembly
• Peter Hlebowitsh, dean, College of Education
• Burcu Keskin, associate professor, Operations Management
• Michael Kreger, professor, Garry Neil Drummond Endowed Chair of Civil Engineering
• John Lochman, professor, Saxon Chair of Clinical Psychology
• Donna Meester, president, Faculty Senate
• Rosalind Moore, director, Undergraduate and Graduate Student Involvement
• Carl Pinkert, vice president, Research and Economic Development
• Samory Pruitt, vice president, Community Affairs
• Marie Robbins, senior associate athletics director/senior woman administrator
• Elliot Spillers, president, Student Government Association

The council will begin its work on Dec. 9, by developing a timeline and scope of work that will include input from internal and external sources. You will be able to follow the council’s work and provide input through a website that will be launched Dec. 9: http://ua.edu/strategicplan. The council also will hold listening sessions across campus to capture ideas as a part of the process.

The council will conduct a thorough and comprehensive review of these important aspects and finish their work in the Spring. In the meantime, we will implement their recommendations appropriately as the work proceeds, and we will continue to revise and update the plan as we move boldly forward.

Our overarching goal is to make sure our students are prepared to be successful in a globally connected world. Working together, we will serve them well and fulfill our mission of teaching, research and service.

Stuart R. Bell

Middle of fall semester update

• October 9th, 2015
• in Messages from the President

It’s Fall Speed Ahead for UA: An update from President Bell

As we prepare to celebrate a wonderful Homecoming by welcoming our alumni, family and friends back to campus, I wanted to take a few minutes to recognize other good news that’s worth a round of applause.

To begin our new academic year, we announced a record-setting enrollment in mid-September, with a freshman class that includes 174 National Merit and National Achievement Finalists.  More than one-third of our entering freshmen have an ACT of 30 or higher, and more than 2,200 freshmen are enrolled in our Honors College. With a total enrollment of 37,100, UA remains the largest four-year institution in the state, and we continue to enroll the most in-state residents of any Alabama university.

Drawing students to the Capstone from across the nation and globe are our nationally ranked academic programs. Several of our programs have made recent headlines with their success.  In the 2015 Forbes rankings, our MBA at the Manderson Graduate School of Business ranks 25^th among similar programs at all public schools in the nation, and fourth in the SEC.

Also gaining recognition, UA’s Dance program was recently ranked 15^th in the nation, fourth in the South and first in the state by Dance-Colleges.com, who surveyed 322 public and private schools offering dance programs.  UA is home to the only accredited dance program in the state and our students regularly perform nationally and internationally.

Our School of Social Work’s online master’s program was named the top-ranked program of its kind by BestColleges.com, based on factors that include graduation, acceptance, retention and enrollment rates. The same program was also ranked among the top 10 programs nationally by the experts of OnlineU.org.  Students note the program’s flexibility, which allows them to work full-time as they pursue a master’s degree.

Another source of pride for the Capstone is our partnership as a founding member in a national effort to support minority women and girls interested in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.  The National Academic STEM Collaborative is a consortium of 19 institutions of higher education and nonprofit partners committed to improving STEM diversity in the nation’s colleges and universities.

In late September, we were pleased to welcome Bob Pierce as our new vice president for Advancement. Bob, who comes to us from the University of Southern Mississippi, is an experienced leader in university advancement who brings an outstanding record in fundraising as well as energy and enthusiasm to The University of Alabama.

Earlier today, we also announced that Linda Bonnin has been named vice president for strategic communications at the University. Linda brings a strongly creative approach to problem-solving, a talent for team-building and an outstanding record of success in marketing and promotion, and we are excited that she is joining our team.

The annual Beat Auburn Beat Hunger drive was announced this past Monday and will run through Friday, Nov. 20. Started in 1994, Beat Auburn Beat Hunger has collected more than 2 million pounds of food to help fight hunger and poverty in West Alabama.

Looking forward and in the coming weeks, we will launch our strategic planning process for charting our University’s course forward. This is an exciting endeavor for all of our campus and I have asked Dr. Kevin Whitaker to work closely with me and our campus to lead this effort. We will focus on the mission, vision and objectives for our national flagship university and strategies for how we achieve these aspirations. Our plan will capture a rich discussion that will occur across campus over the coming months, guiding us for even greater achievements in the coming years. Since our campus and Dr. Whitaker will be focused on the elements necessary to produce a strong, deliberate and implementable strategic plan, we will look to begin our search for the permanent provost in the summer of 2016.

In closing, I am thrilled to be serving again at The University of Alabama, and I want to thank everyone for the gracious welcome extended to Susan and me. We are off to an excellent start for the fall semester. The positive outlook on campus is palpable, and I’m excited about the marvelous future that is ahead of us. Roll Tide and enjoy Homecoming 2015!

Stuart

Start of fall semester update

• August 19th, 2015
• in Messages from the President

Dear students, faculty and staff:

Welcome to The University of Alabama!  I hope you are as excited as I am about the start of a new year and all the opportunities we can look forward to as individuals and as a community.  The Capstone is a truly special place that is characterized by a deep commitment to excellence in everything we do. You will experience that commitment in every aspect of your college experience – in classrooms and labs, residence halls and recreation centers, clubs and organizations, community service projects and athletic events.

The coming academic year will offer many opportunities for learning and exploration, personally and professionally, and I encourage you to take advantage of all the resources available to help you thrive.  Especially for our students, Get on Board Day will help you find organizations that meet your specific needs and interests, and the Week of Welcome is a great way for our freshmen and transfer students to meet new friends and learn about campus traditions.

One of our highest priorities is to make sure that UA is a welcoming and inclusive campus for our students, faculty, staff, visitors and alumni. I encourage you to become familiar with the Capstone Creed, and to find ways each day to demonstrate your loyalty to our shared values.

During the coming year we will celebrate many milestones and successes together. Even as we adjust to new leadership, new students, new faculty and staff, and new buildings and facilities, our priorities will not change.  As the state’s flagship university, we will continue to serve our students, our communities, our state and the nation through outstanding teaching, research that matters, and service that strengthens our communities. We will continue to make a positive difference in the lives we touch every day, and we will continue to focus on creating and sustaining an environment that encourages all members of the UA family to fulfill their highest potential.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to The University of Alabama. Welcome to the UA family, and Roll Tide!

Stuart R. Bell
President

P.S. I enjoyed meeting some of our RAs, volunteers and new students and their families on Move-In Day at Presidential.