University of Alabama System

Infobox_UniversitySystem
name = University of Alabama System


caption = Seal of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
motto =
established = 1969 [ [http://www.uasystem.ua.edu/board/Board%20history.htm History of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama] ]
type = Public university system
endowment = $999.8 million (pooled) [cite web | url=http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1201684639244490.xml&coll=2 | title=University of Alabama System under Senate scrutiny as endowment nears $1 billion | publisher=The Birmingham News | accessdate=2008-03-23]
chancellor = Malcom Portera
state = Alabama
country = USA
undergrad = 37,629 cite web | url=http://www.uasystem.ua.edu/IR%20Data/Fast%20Facts-current.pdf | title=University of Alabama System Fast Facts | publisher=University of Alabama Board of Trustees]
postgrad = 11,461 cite web | url=http://www.uasystem.ua.edu/IR%20Data/Fast%20Facts-current.pdf | title=University of Alabama System Fast Facts | publisher=University of Alabama Board of Trustees]
faculty = 3,383 cite web | url=http://www.uasystem.ua.edu/IR%20Data/Fast%20Facts-current.pdf | title=University of Alabama System Fast Facts | publisher=University of Alabama Board of Trustees]
campus =

• Birmingham (UAB)
• Huntsville (UAH)
• Tuscaloosa (UA)

website = http://www.uasystem.ua.edu/

The University of Alabama System consists of three public, universities in Alabama, USA: the University of Alabama (UA), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH or UAHuntsville). The schools have a total undergraduate and graduate enrollment of more than 47,000, with almost 24,000 students on the campus in Tuscaloosa, just over 16,000 at Birmingham and 7,100 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 $999.8 million [cite web | url=http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1201684639244490.xml&coll=2 | title=University of Alabama System under Senate scrutiny as endowment nears $1 billion | publisher=The Birmingham News | accessdate=2008-03-23] .

Campuses

The University of Alabama, founded in 1831 in Tuscaloosa, 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.

University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa

Founded in 1831 and located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UAT, or colloquially as 'Bama) is the flagship school of the University of Alabama System. Within Alabama, it is often called the Capstone. UAT 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).

UAT 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 UAT. Other academic programs unavailable elsewhere in Alabama include doctoral programs in anthropology, library and information studies, metallurgical and material engineering, music, Romance languages, and social work. As of fall 2007, Alabama has an enrollment of 25,580 students and its president is Dr. Robert Witt.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (also known as UAB) is located in Birmingham. The university was established in 1969, and is the newest and largest in terms of faculty, staff, and budget of Alabama's major universities. UAB is the third largest university in Alabama in terms of enrollment, behind the University of Alabama and Auburn University and has an enrollment of approximately 16,200 students. The school's president is Dr. Carol Z. Garrison.

UAB offers programs of study 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 received over $416 million in external grants and contracts in fiscal 2007-2008 [ [http://www.iss.uab.edu/facts&figures.pdf UAB Facts and Figures 2007-2008] ] . This places the school as one of the larger research institutions in the Southeast. In fact, as of 2005, 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 [ [http://grants.nih.gov/grants/award/trends/Rnk_05_All.xls NIH Awards to All Institutions by Rank] ] . UAB Hospital also sponsors residency programs in various medical specialties, including internal medicine, neurology, surgery, radiology, and anesthesiology. UAB Hospital is the only Level I trauma center in Alabama, as rated by the American College of Surgeons Trauma Program [ [http://www.facs.org/trauma/verified.html American College of Surgeons Verified Trauma Centers] ]

University of Alabama in Huntsville

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.

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 Portera. 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, Human Resources, and Information Technology 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 lead by a President who reports directly to the Board of Trustees and the System Chancellor.

Administration

*Chancellor: Dr. Malcom Portera
*Vice Chancellors
**Academic Affairs:Dr. Charles Nash, Ed.D.
**Financial Affairs: Ray Hayes
**Information Technology & Outreach: (vacant)
**System Relations: Kellee Reinhart
*General Counsel: Ralph H. Smith
*Secretary to the Board of Trustees: 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 district that contains the Tuscaloosa campus, and two members from every other congressional district in Alabama. Board members are elected by the Board and are confirmed by the Alabama State Senate. Board members may serve three consecutive six-year terms.

*Members ex officio
**Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama, President of the Board of Trustees
**Dr. Joseph Morton, Superintendent of the Alabama State Board of Education
*Elected Members
**Joseph Espy III, President pro tempore
**Karen Brooks
**Paul Bryant, Jr.
**Angus Cooper II
**Judge John England, Jr.
**Andria Hurst
**Vanessa Leonard
**Peter Lowe
**Sidney McDonald
**John McMahon, Jr.
**Joe Ritch
**Finis St. John IV
**Marietta Murray Urquhart
**James Wilson III

External links

* [http://www.uasystem.ua.edu/ University of Alabama System]

References