Fort Towson

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1969 in the University of Alabama System, UAB has grown to be the state's largest employer, with more than 24,200 faculty and staff and over 53,000 jobs at the university. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".[7]

UAB offers 140 programs of study in 12 academic divisions leading to bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees.[8] In the fall of 2020, UAB enrolled 22,563 students from more than 110 countries.[9] The UAB Health System, one of the largest academic medical centers in the United States, is affiliated with UAB.

History

In 1936, in response to the rapid growth of the Birmingham metropolitan area and the need for the population to have access to a university education, the University of Alabama established the Birmingham Extension Center.[10] The center operated in an old house in downtown Birmingham at 2131 6th Avenue North and enrolled 116 students. In 1945, UA's newly established four-year School of Medicine moved from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham and took over management of Jefferson and Hillman hospitals. In 1957 enrollment at the extension center stood at 1,856. By 1959, research grants, training grants, and fellowships exceeded $1 million, and ground was broken for a new Children's Hospital.

By the 1960s, it grew apparent that the extension center was becoming a university in its own right. An engineering building was built close to the medical center in 1962. In September 1966, the Extension Center was renamed the College of General Studies and elevated to a full four-year program. That November, the College of General Studies and the School of Medicine were merged into the University of Alabama in Birmingham, with Dr. Joseph Volker as "Vice President for Birmingham Affairs"–reflecting that it was still treated as an offsite department of the main campus in Tuscaloosa. An Advisory Board for UAB was created in 1967. In 1969, the legislature created the University of Alabama System. UAB became one of three four-year institutions within the new system, which also included UA and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in Huntsville. Volker became UAB's first president.[10]

Campus

UAB campus and downtown Birmingham

UAB is located in the Southside neighborhood of downtown Birmingham, occupying more than 100 city blocks.[11]

Students relaxing on Campus Green

Organization and administration

UAB is governed by the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama and headed by Chancellor of the University of Alabama. The board is self-nominating and composed of 15 elected members and two ex officio members. Board members are confirmed by the Alabama State Senate.[12]

The president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is appointed by the chancellor. The president also chairs the board of the UAB Health System.[13] Richard Marchase was named interim president on August 21, 2012, after the retirement of Carol Garrison.[14][15][16][17] In February 2013, Ray L. Watts became UAB's seventh president.[18]

Colleges

UAB is composed of one college, nine schools and the Graduate School. These divisions offer 56 bachelor's degree programs, 59 master's degree programs, and 40 doctoral programs.[19]

Endowment

UAB's endowment stood at $711.6 million in 2021.[20] UAB received more than $715 million in research grants and extramural awards for FY 2022.[21]

Academics

UAB is a large, four-year research university and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".[22] UAB has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1970, according to the U.S. Department of Education.[23] In the 2016–2017 school year, UAB awarded a total 2,384 bachelor's degrees; 1,795 master's degrees, 33 educational specialist degrees; 125 research doctorates; and 391 professional doctorates.[24]

Student profile

In fall semester of 2018, the UAB student body consisted of 13,836 undergraduates, 6,933 graduate students and 1,154 professional doctoral students from all 67 Alabama counties, all 50 states and more than 110 foreign countries. [25] The undergraduate student body was 56% non-Hispanic white, 26% Black/African-American, 6% Asian, 5% two or more races, 3% Hispanic, and 3% International.[26]

Faculty and staff

UAB has more than 3,000 faculty.[27] Eight faculty members from UAB have been elected to the National Institute of Medicine.[28] The student-faculty ratio at UAB is 18:1.

Library

UAB has eight libraries.[29]

Rankings

In the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings, UAB was tied for the 137th best national university and was ranked tied for the 64th best public university.[37]

Student life

Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity[38] Total
White 55% 55
 
Black 24% 24
 
Asian 7% 7
 
Hispanic 6% 6
 
Other[a] 6% 6
 
Foreign national 2% 2
 
Economic diversity
Low-income[b] 37% 37
 
Affluent[c] 63% 63
 

There are over 300 student organizations on the UAB campus. About six percent of undergraduate men and eight percent of undergraduate women are active in UAB's Greek system.[39] UAB's students also run media outlets, including a weekly newspaper, a radio station, and a semi-annual magazine.[40] The school also has an intramural program.[41]

Athletics

UAB Blazers Men's Basketball vs. Tulsa at Bartow Arena

UAB's athletic teams are known as the Blazers. The school athletic colors are forest green and old gold.[42] The school currently participates in NCAA Division I, as a member of the American Athletic Conference.[43] The men's basketball team, coached by Andy Kennedy, plays in Bartow Arena.

The school started its intercollegiate athletic program in 1978.[44] The program was inaugurated with men's basketball by Gene Bartow. Bartow served as the school's head basketball coach and athletic director for 18 years. Bartow led UAB to the NCAA Tournament seven times. Bartow retired from coaching in 1996. The following year, UAB renamed its basketball venue from UAB Arena to Bartow Arena in his honor.

Professional golfer Graeme McDowell, winner of the 2010 U.S. Open, played for UAB from 1998 to 2002.[45]

In December 2014, the university announced that the programs for football, bowling and rifle were being eliminated at the end of the 2014–2015 academic year, citing soaring operating costs.[46] This decision was later reversed and the programs were reinstated.[47]

Notable alumni and faculty

Notes

  1. ^ Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.
  2. ^ The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
  3. ^ The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

References

  1. ^ "University of Alabama at Birmingham" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "UAB Financial Affairs". UAB Financial Affairs. 2021. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ "UAB Work Force" (PDF). Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "UAB Work Force" (PDF). Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "UAB sets enrollment record for fifth year in a row, all-time high for retention - News | UAB". Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  6. ^ "Brand Basics - Colors".
  7. ^ "Carnegie Classification for UAB". American Council on Education. 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  8. ^ "UAB 2016 Financial Report" (PDF). University of Alabama at Birmingham. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "UAB sets enrollment record for fourth year in a row - News | UAB". Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "UAB Chronology". Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  11. ^ Tyler Greer (June 6, 2018). "UAB ranked No. 1 young university in the U.S." Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  12. ^ "The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama, History and Purpose". Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  13. ^ "UAB Medicine Leadership". Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  14. ^ "Richard Marchase named interim president of UAB". August 21, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  15. ^ "Richard Marchase, veteran administrator, named interim president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham". August 21, 2012. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  16. ^ "UAB's Carol Garrison to step down after decade as president". August 16, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  17. ^ "UAB President Carol Garrison stepping down after 10 years". August 16, 2012. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  18. ^ "Ray Watts name new president of UAB". Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  19. ^ "Degrees Offered at UAB, Student Information" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  20. ^ "University of Alabama-Birmingham | UAB | Best College | US News". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  21. ^ "UAB's research funding tops record $715 million for FY 2022". University of Alabama at Birmingham. 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  22. ^ "Carnegie Classifications – University of Alabama at Birmingham". Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  23. ^ "College Navigator – University of Alabama at Birmingham". National Center for Education Statistics, United States Department of Education Institute for Education Sciences. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  24. ^ "UAB –2017-2018 Facts & Figures" (PDF). Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  25. ^ "Facts & Figures 2018-2019" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  26. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  27. ^ "Facts & Figures 2018-2019" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  28. ^ "Directory – Institute of Medicine". Retrieved November 7, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ "UAB Libraries". Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  30. ^ "Forbes America's Top Colleges List 2023". Forbes. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  31. ^ "2023-2024 Best National Universities". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  32. ^ "2023 National University Rankings". Washington Monthly. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  33. ^ "2024 Best Colleges in the U.S." The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  34. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  35. ^ "World University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  36. ^ "2022-23 Best Global Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  37. ^ "University of Alabama-Birmingham". U.S. News & World Report. 2022. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  38. ^ "College Scorecard: University of Alabama at Birmingham". United States Department of Education. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  39. ^ "University of Alabama--Birmingham | Student Life | US News Best Colleges". Archived from the original on October 24, 2018.
  40. ^ "UAB Student Media". University of Alabama at Birmingham. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  41. ^ Shannon Thomason. "New UAB Intramural Sports Complex set to open Aug. 29". Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  42. ^ "UAB Branding – Logos & Colors". Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  43. ^ "American Athletic Conference Announces the Addition of Six Universities" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. October 21, 2021. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  44. ^ Facts & Figures 2016-2017 (PDF) (Report). University of Alabama at Birmingham. March 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  45. ^ Grant Martin. "UAB – Magazine – From Portrush to Pebble Beach". Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  46. ^ Gray, Jeremy (December 2, 2014). "It's official: UAB kills football program". al.com. Alabama Media Group. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  47. ^ "UAB Blazers Football Program Reinstated". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2015.

External links