KeyFacts
The University of Alabama had five students named to the USA Today All-USA College Academic Team for 2003—the most awards of any school in the nation. Harvard and Johns Hopkins each had three recipients of the award, and UA had more than Dartmouth and Yale combined. UA's Sarah Adair, a microbiology major from Hartselle, was named to the first team. UA's Kana Ellis, Allison Kellogg, Gabriel Walvatne, and Laura Medders were also among the honorees. USA Today selects the All-USA Academic Team from students throughout the country. They are recognized for grades, awards, leadership roles, and ability to use their academic skills outside the classroom.
The University of Alabama is ranked among the nation's top 50 public universities by U.S. News & World Report.
The University of Alabama's graduates include 15 Rhodes Scholars, 15 Goldwater Scholars, and nine Truman Scholars. Our most recent Rhodes Scholar is Bradley Tuggle, an English major who received the award in 2001.
The University of Alabama's chapter of the prestigious liberal arts honor society Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest of the three chapters in the state.
Approximately 66 percent of UA's undergraduates receive some type of financial aid.
UA ranks as one of the top public universities in enrollment of National Merit, National Achievement, and National Hispanic Scholars. More than 300 of these students are currently enrolled at Alabama.
For over a decade, The University of Alabama has been one of the top public flagship universities in the Southeast in enrollment of African-American students. In fall 2002, African-Americans comprised 10 percent of enrolled freshmen, 14 percent of total undergraduate enrollment, and 13 percent of the student body overall. Enrollment of African-American students in UA's Graduate School has increased by 44 percent since 1996.
Across our beautiful 1,000-acre campus, several buildings dating back to the founding of the university are still in use today—alongside other historic structures and recent construction housing state-of-the-art technology. We offer excellent facilities for study and research, including campus-wide computer labs, multimedia classrooms, and online libraries.
More than 33 percent of the university's entering freshmen and 21 percent of all undergraduates received merit scholarships for the academic year 2002-03.
The University of Alabama debate team holds 14 national championships—two more than our football team!
UA offers 220 degree programs.
Founded in 1831, The University of Alabama was the state's first university.
UA Honors Students Volunteer at Elementary School
Fifty freshmen in The University of Alabama's Honors Program, along with 10 student leaders, came to campus a week early this fall to take part in a community service project at Matthews Elementary School in Northport. The program was the third annual "Alabama Action" project organized and carried out by UA honors students to benefit the community.
Students built an innovative outdoor science/nature classroom at the school. The area, located just outside the school building, is equipped with a rock and mineral collection, a butterfly garden, a weather station and seating for 25 children. The students also painted a mural, reorganized the library and mentored 3rd, 4th and 5th grade pupils.
Sarah Reppucci, this year's student director of Alabama Action, said the students worked from about noon to 6 p.m. every day. "This is a great way to introduce new freshmen to the community and to help them appreciate the rewards of volunteering," she said.
The UA freshmen also began their college academic careers by earning one hour of Honors class credit during the week. The coursework focused on the importance of volunteering and understanding issues related to poverty, and included lectures, readings and writing journals.
Freshmen in this year's program hail from throughout the Southeast with students from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia enrolled.
"Alabama Action" began in 2001 as the brainchild of Honors student Kana Ellis. Ellis, who was later named Honors Student of the Year by the National Collegiate Honors Council and a member of USA Today's 2003 All-USA College Academic Team, led 15 freshmen in refurbishing the Eutaw Boys & Girls Club. Last year, she continued to lead the program with a project at Holt Elementary School involving more than 30 incoming freshmen.
This year's director, Reppucci, is a junior from Huntsville. She is an education major enrolled in the College of Education's Multiple Abilities Program, which combines elementary education and special education.
