University of Alabama System
Encyclopedia
The University of Alabama System consists of three public universities
in Alabama
, USA
: The University of Alabama
in Tuscaloosa
(UA), The University of Alabama at Birmingham
(UAB), and The University of Alabama in Huntsville
(UAH). The schools have a total undergraduate and graduate enrollment of more than 55,000, with over 30,000 students in Tuscaloosa, just under 18,000 at Birmingham
and 7,600 in Huntsville
. The system operates on state appropriations, student tuition and fees, public and private grants and contracts, and revenue from the UAB Health System. The three universities' endowments are managed by the UAS office and have a total pooled value of $984.9 million.
and is the system's flagship campus. An extension center created in Birmingham
in 1936 along with the University of Alabama School of Medicine
eventually grew into UAB, while UAH began as an extension center established in Huntsville
in 1950. The Birmingham and Huntsville campuses became autonomous institutions with the creation of the UA System in 1969.
, Alabama
, The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA, or colloquially as 'Bama) is the flagship school of the University of Alabama System and the largest university in the state in terms of enrollment. Within Alabama, it is often called the Capstone. UA is the senior and the largest in terms of enrollment of the state's major research universities. Outside the state, it is well-known for the fact that its athletic teams are nicknamed the "Crimson Tide" (crimson being one of the school colors).
UA offers programs of study in 12 academic divisions leading to bachelor's
, master's
, Education Specialist, and doctoral
degrees. The only publicly-supported law school
in Alabama is at UA. Other academic programs unavailable elsewhere in Alabama include doctoral programs in anthropology
, library and information studies, metallurgical and material engineering, Romance languages
, and social work
. As of fall 2010, Alabama had an enrollment of 30,232 students and its president is Dr. Robert Witt
.
research university
covering 83 blocks in the heart of Alabama's largest city Birmingham
, Alabama
, USA
. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
classifies UAB as an institution of RU/VH or "Very High Research Activity," the only university in the state of Alabama to meet that definition. UAB is one of only 96 universities in the nation with the designation. UAB is a vital economic engine of the state of Alabama with an estimated $3 Billion annual impact. UAB is currently the states largest employer with more than 18,000 faculty and staff and over 53,000 jobs at the university and in the health system. Almost 10% of the jobs in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area
are related to UAB.
UAB offers over 140 nationally and regionally accredited programs of study through 12 academic divisions leading to bachelor's
, master's
, doctoral
and professional degrees in various fields, including social
and behavioral sciences, liberal arts
, business
, education
, engineering
, health-related fields such as medicine, dentistry, optometry and nursing and public health. The school is highly renowned for its medical research and natural sciences programs. UAB ranks 26th nationally in federal research and development funding and 1st in the state of Alabama, receiving more funding than all other Alabama universities combined. UAB received over $416 million in external grants and contracts in fiscal 2007-2008. As of 2009, UAB is 4th in the Southeast for NIH
research funding behind only Duke University
, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, and Vanderbilt University
. UAB Hospital
also sponsors residency programs in various medical specialties, including internal medicine
, neurology, surgery, radiology
, and anesthesiology. UAB Hospital is the only ACS verified Level I trauma center in Alabama, as rated by the American College of Surgeons
Trauma Program. The other two Level I trauma centers in Alabama (Children's Hospital of Alabama and Huntsville Hospital) are not ACS verified.
In the Fall of 2009, the University of Alabama at Birmingham enrolled a record 18,047 students from over 110 countries including 1,517 freshmen. The school's president is Dr. Carol Z. Garrison
.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (also known as UAH or UAHuntsville), located in Huntsville
, Alabama
, was founded in 1969. UAH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
to award baccalaureate
, master's
and doctoral
degrees. The university is organized in five colleges: business, engineering, liberal arts, nursing and science.
UAH is renowned for its engineering and science programs, such as astrophysics and atmospheric science. UAH is a Space Grant
university, and has a history of cooperation with both NASA
at the nearby Marshall Space Flight Center
, and the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal
. The National Space Science and Technology Center
is on the UAH campus.
The university enrollment is approximately 7,100, and has a distributed ratio of 49:51, women to men. Incoming freshmen have an average score of 25 on the ACT
, which is one of the best among Alabama's public universities. The President of UAH is Dr. David Williams.
. The Chancellor is the chief executive officer of the System, and, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, appoints deputies holding the title Vice Chancellor in such areas as Academic Affairs, Financial Affairs, System Relations, and International Programs and Outreach. Additionally, the Chancellor appoints a General Counsel, who is the primary representation for the Board of Trustees in all legal matters involving any or all of the three campuses. Each institution in the System is led by a President who reports directly to the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor.
that contains the Tuscaloosa campus, and two members from every other congressional district in Alabama. The Governor of Alabama and the Superintendent of the Alabama State Board of Education
are both members of the board by virtue of their offices. Elected Board members are nominated by the Board and are confirmed by the Alabama State Senate
. Board members may serve three consecutive six-year terms.
{| class="wikitable" width = "75%"
|+ Members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
! width = "16%" | Name
! width = "9%" | City
! width = "5%" | District
! width = "15%" | Alma mater (year)
! width = "65%" | Committees
|---
| Dr. Robert Bentley
President, ex-officio
| Montgomery
| none
| UA, UASOM
(1968)
| None
|---
| Larry E. Craven, J.D.
ex-officio
| Montgomery
| none
| Samford
(1977)
| None
|---
| Paul W. Bryant, Jr.
President pro tempore
| Tuscaloosa
| AL-6
| UA
| Executive; Finance; Physical Properties (chair); Athletics; Nominating; Investment (vice-chair); Compensation
|---
| Finis St. John IV
| Cullman
| AL-4
| UA (1978), Virginia
(1982)
| Executive; UAB Health System
|---
| Karen P. Brooks
| Tuscaloosa
| AL-7
| UA (1972)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Physical Properties (vice-chair); Athletics; Nominating; Compensation (chair)
|---
| Angus R. Cooper II
| Mobile
| AL-1
| UA
| Finance (vice-chair); Physical Properties; Athletics (vice-chair); Investment
|---
| John H. England, Jr.
| Tuscaloosa
| AL-7
| UA (1974)
| Executive; Finance (chair); UAB Health System (vice-chair); Athletics; Nominating; Public Review Committee (chair)
|---
| Joseph C. Espy III
| Montgomery
| AL-2
| UA (1969, 1972)
| Executive; Finance; Athletics; Nominating (chair); Legal (co-chair)
|---
| Ronald W. Gray
| Huntsville
| AL-5
| UA (1981)
| Finance; Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Physical Properties; Investment; Compensation
|---
| Andria Scott Hurst
| Birmingham
| AL-7
| UAB (1994)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Audit; Compensation; Honorary Degrees and Recognition (co-chair)
|---
| Vanessa Leonard
| Rockford
| AL-3
| UA (1983), Mississippi
(1992), UA (1995)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning (co-chair); Physical Properties; Investment; Audit (chair)
|---
| Wallace Malone III
| Dothan
| AL-2
| UA (1983), Samford
(1986)
| Finance; Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Audit; Compensation
|---
| John J. McMahon, Jr.
| Birmingham
| AL-6
| Birmingham-Southern
(1965), UA (1968)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; UAB Health System; Athletics (chair); Nominating (vice-chair); Investment (chair); Public Review Committee
|---
| (vacant)
|
| AL-5
|
|
|---
| William Sexton
| Decatur
| AL-4
| UA (1985)
| Finance; Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Athletics; Audit
|---
| Marietta M. Urquhart
| Mobile
| AL-1
| UAB (1976)
| Executive; Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning (chair); Physical Properties; Audit; Compensation; Honorary Degrees and Recognition (co-chair)
|---
| James W. Wilson III
| Montgomery
| AL-3
| UA (1985)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Physical Properties; UAB Health System (chair); Athletics; Investment; Audit; Compensation (vice-chair)
|---
|}Ex officio members do not represent a congressional districtThe members of the UAB Health System Liaison Committee also represent the Board of Trustees on the Board of the UAB Health System
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
: The University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
(UA), The University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
(UAB), and The University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five...
(UAH). The schools have a total undergraduate and graduate enrollment of more than 55,000, with over 30,000 students in Tuscaloosa, just under 18,000 at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
and 7,600 in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. The system operates on state appropriations, student tuition and fees, public and private grants and contracts, and revenue from the UAB Health System. The three universities' endowments are managed by the UAS office and have a total pooled value of $984.9 million.
Campuses
The University of Alabama was founded in 1831 at TuscaloosaTuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
and is the system's flagship campus. An extension center created in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
in 1936 along with the University of Alabama School of Medicine
University of Alabama School of Medicine
The University of Alabama School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public medical school located in Birmingham, Alabama. The UAB School of Medicine has branch campuses in Huntsville and at the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences in Tuscaloosa...
eventually grew into UAB, while UAH began as an extension center established in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
in 1950. The Birmingham and Huntsville campuses became autonomous institutions with the creation of the UA System in 1969.
| Campus | Founded | Enrollment | Budget | Endowment | Athletics | NCAA Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa University of Alabama The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... (UA) |
1831 | 31,747 | $683 million | $631.9 million | Crimson Tide | Div I SEC Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama... |
| Birmingham University of Alabama at Birmingham The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System... (UAB) |
1936 | 17,575 | $2.3 billion | $335 million | Blazers UAB Blazers The UAB Blazers are the forest green and old gold-swathed athletic teams at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The school is one of the twelve member institutions of Conference USA and participates in Division I of the NCAA... |
Div I C*USA Conference USA Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports... |
| Huntsville University of Alabama in Huntsville The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five... (UAH) |
1950 | 7,629 | $175.6 million | $18 million | Chargers | Div II GSC Gulf South Conference The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:... |
University of Alabama
Founded in 1831 and located in TuscaloosaTuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA, or colloquially as 'Bama) is the flagship school of the University of Alabama System and the largest university in the state in terms of enrollment. Within Alabama, it is often called the Capstone. UA is the senior and the largest in terms of enrollment of the state's major research universities. Outside the state, it is well-known for the fact that its athletic teams are nicknamed the "Crimson Tide" (crimson being one of the school colors).
UA offers programs of study in 12 academic divisions leading to bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, Education Specialist, and doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degrees. The only publicly-supported law school
University of Alabama School of Law
The University of Alabama School of Law located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a nationally ranked top-tier law school and the only public law school in the state. In total, it is one of five law schools in the state, and one of three that are ABA accredited.The diverse student body, of approximately...
in Alabama is at UA. Other academic programs unavailable elsewhere in Alabama include doctoral programs in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, library and information studies, metallurgical and material engineering, Romance languages
Romance languages
The Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, more precisely of the Italic languages subfamily, comprising all the languages that descend from Vulgar Latin, the language of ancient Rome...
, and social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
. As of fall 2010, Alabama had an enrollment of 30,232 students and its president is Dr. Robert Witt
Robert Witt (American academic)
Robert E. Witt is president of the University of Alabama, as of March 1, 2003. His experience includes 35 years in the University of Texas system, including 10 years as dean of the University of Texas at Austin business school and eight years as president of the University of Texas at Arlington...
.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (also nationally known as UAB) is a doctoral, publicPublic
In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individuals, and the public is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the Öffentlichkeit or public sphere. The concept of a public has also been defined in political science,...
research university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
covering 83 blocks in the heart of Alabama's largest city Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a framework for classifying, or grouping, colleges and universities in the United States. The primary purpose of the framework is for educational research and analysis, where it is often important to identify groups of roughly...
classifies UAB as an institution of RU/VH or "Very High Research Activity," the only university in the state of Alabama to meet that definition. UAB is one of only 96 universities in the nation with the designation. UAB is a vital economic engine of the state of Alabama with an estimated $3 Billion annual impact. UAB is currently the states largest employer with more than 18,000 faculty and staff and over 53,000 jobs at the university and in the health system. Almost 10% of the jobs in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area
Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area
The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as Greater Birmingham, is a metropolitan area composed of seven counties in central Alabama centered around its primary city of Birmingham. The population of this metropolitan area as of the 2009 census estimate was about 1,131,070....
are related to UAB.
UAB offers over 140 nationally and regionally accredited programs of study through 12 academic divisions leading to bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
and professional degrees in various fields, including social
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
and behavioral sciences, liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
, business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, health-related fields such as medicine, dentistry, optometry and nursing and public health. The school is highly renowned for its medical research and natural sciences programs. UAB ranks 26th nationally in federal research and development funding and 1st in the state of Alabama, receiving more funding than all other Alabama universities combined. UAB received over $416 million in external grants and contracts in fiscal 2007-2008. As of 2009, UAB is 4th in the Southeast for NIH
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
research funding behind only Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, and Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. UAB Hospital
UAB Hospital
The University of Alabama Hospital , is a Level I trauma center hospital located in Birmingham, Alabama....
also sponsors residency programs in various medical specialties, including internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
, neurology, surgery, radiology
Radiology
Radiology is a medical specialty that employs the use of imaging to both diagnose and treat disease visualized within the human body. Radiologists use an array of imaging technologies to diagnose or treat diseases...
, and anesthesiology. UAB Hospital is the only ACS verified Level I trauma center in Alabama, as rated by the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
Trauma Program. The other two Level I trauma centers in Alabama (Children's Hospital of Alabama and Huntsville Hospital) are not ACS verified.
In the Fall of 2009, the University of Alabama at Birmingham enrolled a record 18,047 students from over 110 countries including 1,517 freshmen. The school's president is Dr. Carol Z. Garrison
Carol Garrison
Dr. Carol Z. Garrison is the 6th and current President of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System unanimously voted to appoint her to the office on July 23, 2002.-Prior Employment:...
.
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, was founded in 1969. UAH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
to award baccalaureate
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degrees. The university is organized in five colleges: business, engineering, liberal arts, nursing and science.
UAH is renowned for its engineering and science programs, such as astrophysics and atmospheric science. UAH is a Space Grant
Space grant colleges
The space-grant colleges compose a network of 52 consortia, based at universities across the United States, for outer space-related research. Each consortium is based in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico and consists of multiple independent institutions, with one of the...
university, and has a history of cooperation with both NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
at the nearby Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
, and the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
. The National Space Science and Technology Center
National Space Science and Technology Center
The National Space Science and Technology Center is a joint research venture between NASA and the seven research universities of the state of Alabama, represented by the Space Science and Technology Alliance. The aim of the NSSTC is to foster collaboration in research between government,...
is on the UAH campus.
The university enrollment is approximately 7,100, and has a distributed ratio of 49:51, women to men. Incoming freshmen have an average score of 25 on the ACT
ACT (examination)
The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
, which is one of the best among Alabama's public universities. The President of UAH is Dr. David Williams.
Governance
The University of Alabama System is governed by the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama. The Board of Trustees appoints a Chancellor for the System, currently Malcolm PorteraMalcolm Portera
Malcolm Portera was the President of Mississippi State University from 1998-2001. He also served as the interim president of the University of Alabama in Huntsville between Dr. David B. Williams and Robert Altenkirch...
. The Chancellor is the chief executive officer of the System, and, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, appoints deputies holding the title Vice Chancellor in such areas as Academic Affairs, Financial Affairs, System Relations, and International Programs and Outreach. Additionally, the Chancellor appoints a General Counsel, who is the primary representation for the Board of Trustees in all legal matters involving any or all of the three campuses. Each institution in the System is led by a President who reports directly to the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor.
Administration
- Chancellor: Dr. Malcom Portera
- Vice Chancellors
- Academic and Student Affairs:Dr. Charles Nash, Ed.D.
- Financial Affairs: C. Ray Hayes
- International Programs and Outreach: Arthur N. Dunning
- System Relations: Kellee Reinhart
- General Counsel: Ralph H. Smith
- General Auditor: Sabrina B. Hearn
- Director of Government Relations: William R. Jones
- Secretary to the Board/Executive Assistant to the Chancellor: Michael A. Bownes
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama is a self-nominating board composed of 15 elected members and two ex officio members. The makeup of the Board is dictated by the Constitution of the State of Alabama, and requires that the board be made up of three members from the congressional districtCongressional district
A congressional district is “a geographical division of a state from which one member of the House of Representatives is elected.”Congressional Districts are made up of three main components, a representative, constituents, and the specific land area that both the representative and the...
that contains the Tuscaloosa campus, and two members from every other congressional district in Alabama. The Governor of Alabama and the Superintendent of the Alabama State Board of Education
Alabama State Board of Education
The Alabama State Board of Education is a nine-member body which authorizes the education policy for the state of Alabama. The governor is the ex officio president of the board. The remaining eight members are elected from single-member districts for four-year terms with no limit on the number of...
are both members of the board by virtue of their offices. Elected Board members are nominated by the Board and are confirmed by the Alabama State Senate
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
. Board members may serve three consecutive six-year terms.
{| class="wikitable" width = "75%"
|+ Members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
! width = "16%" | Name
! width = "9%" | City
! width = "5%" | District
! width = "15%" | Alma mater (year)
! width = "65%" | Committees
|---
| Dr. Robert Bentley
President, ex-officio
| Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
| none
| UA, UASOM
University of Alabama School of Medicine
The University of Alabama School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public medical school located in Birmingham, Alabama. The UAB School of Medicine has branch campuses in Huntsville and at the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences in Tuscaloosa...
(1968)
| None
|---
| Larry E. Craven, J.D.
ex-officio
| Montgomery
| none
| Samford
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
(1977)
| None
|---
| Paul W. Bryant, Jr.
President pro tempore
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
| Tuscaloosa
| AL-6
Alabama's 6th congressional district
Alabama's 6th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses the counties of Chilton, Bibb and Shelby. It also includes parts of St. Clair County, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, and Coosa counties...
| UA
| Executive; Finance; Physical Properties (chair); Athletics; Nominating; Investment (vice-chair); Compensation
|---
| Finis St. John IV
| Cullman
Cullman, Alabama
Cullman is a city in Cullman County, State of Alabama. Cullman is located along Interstate 65, about north of Birmingham, and about south of Huntsville. According to the U.S...
| AL-4
Alabama's 4th congressional district
Alabama's 4th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses the counties of Franklin, Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Walker, Winston, Cullman, Blount, Marshall, Etowah, and DeKalb...
| UA (1978), Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
(1982)
| Executive; UAB Health System
|---
| Karen P. Brooks
| Tuscaloosa
| AL-7
Alabama's 7th congressional district
Alabama's 7th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. The district encompasses the counties of Greene, Choctaw, Sumter, Marengo, Dallas, Wilcox, Perry and Hale...
| UA (1972)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Physical Properties (vice-chair); Athletics; Nominating; Compensation (chair)
|---
| Angus R. Cooper II
| Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
| AL-1
Alabama's 1st congressional district
Alabama's 1st congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It includes the counties of Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties...
| UA
| Finance (vice-chair); Physical Properties; Athletics (vice-chair); Investment
|---
| John H. England, Jr.
| Tuscaloosa
| AL-7
Alabama's 7th congressional district
Alabama's 7th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. The district encompasses the counties of Greene, Choctaw, Sumter, Marengo, Dallas, Wilcox, Perry and Hale...
| UA (1974)
| Executive; Finance (chair); UAB Health System (vice-chair); Athletics; Nominating; Public Review Committee (chair)
|---
| Joseph C. Espy III
| Montgomery
| AL-2
Alabama's 2nd congressional district
Alabama's 2nd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives...
| UA (1969, 1972)
| Executive; Finance; Athletics; Nominating (chair); Legal (co-chair)
|---
| Ronald W. Gray
| Huntsville
| AL-5
Alabama's 5th congressional district
Alabama's 5th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses the counties of Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison and Jackson. It also includes parts of Morgan County.It is...
| UA (1981)
| Finance; Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Physical Properties; Investment; Compensation
|---
| Andria Scott Hurst
| Birmingham
| AL-7
Alabama's 7th congressional district
Alabama's 7th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. The district encompasses the counties of Greene, Choctaw, Sumter, Marengo, Dallas, Wilcox, Perry and Hale...
| UAB (1994)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Audit; Compensation; Honorary Degrees and Recognition (co-chair)
|---
| Vanessa Leonard
| Rockford
Rockford, Alabama
Rockford is a town in Coosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 477. The town is the county seat of Coosa County and is part of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
| AL-3
Alabama's 3rd congressional district
Alabama's 3rd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Lee, Macon, Randolph, Russell, Talladega, and Tallapoosa counties...
| UA (1983), Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
(1992), UA (1995)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning (co-chair); Physical Properties; Investment; Audit (chair)
|---
| Wallace Malone III
| Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
| AL-2
Alabama's 2nd congressional district
Alabama's 2nd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives...
| UA (1983), Samford
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
(1986)
| Finance; Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Audit; Compensation
|---
| John J. McMahon, Jr.
| Birmingham
| AL-6
Alabama's 6th congressional district
Alabama's 6th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses the counties of Chilton, Bibb and Shelby. It also includes parts of St. Clair County, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, and Coosa counties...
| Birmingham-Southern
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
(1965), UA (1968)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; UAB Health System; Athletics (chair); Nominating (vice-chair); Investment (chair); Public Review Committee
|---
| (vacant)
|
| AL-5
Alabama's 5th congressional district
Alabama's 5th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses the counties of Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison and Jackson. It also includes parts of Morgan County.It is...
|
|
|---
| William Sexton
| Decatur
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
| AL-4
Alabama's 4th congressional district
Alabama's 4th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses the counties of Franklin, Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Walker, Winston, Cullman, Blount, Marshall, Etowah, and DeKalb...
| UA (1985)
| Finance; Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Athletics; Audit
|---
| Marietta M. Urquhart
| Mobile
| AL-1
Alabama's 1st congressional district
Alabama's 1st congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It includes the counties of Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties...
| UAB (1976)
| Executive; Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning (chair); Physical Properties; Audit; Compensation; Honorary Degrees and Recognition (co-chair)
|---
| James W. Wilson III
| Montgomery
| AL-3
Alabama's 3rd congressional district
Alabama's 3rd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Lee, Macon, Randolph, Russell, Talladega, and Tallapoosa counties...
| UA (1985)
| Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning; Physical Properties; UAB Health System (chair); Athletics; Investment; Audit; Compensation (vice-chair)
|---
|}Ex officio members do not represent a congressional districtThe members of the UAB Health System Liaison Committee also represent the Board of Trustees on the Board of the UAB Health System