Community Affairs News Archive


High School Seniors Experience College Life During Vision Days

It’s a good experience. I’m learning new things, and I get to learn more information about the campus Samya Jones, senior from Hamilton High School Sponsored by the Division of Community Affairs, Vision Days is a campus-wide effort focusing on the college readiness of high school students from rural and underrepresented areas in Alabama. Led…


Vision Days Hosts Inaugural FAFSA Night

Hosted by Vision Days to support its anchor schools, the event provided high school students, families and staff an opportunity to come and go during a three-hour window that allowed for reliable Internet access and direct help from UA students and staff with completing the FAFSA. The event was created to assist high school seniors…


Roll the Vote Encourages Voter Registration Ahead of Midterm Elections

UA actually has a very high registration rate, but we have below average turnout rates. We think that students are just really busy around election time, and we think that students have other priorities, and that the campus needs to be doing more to create a culture around civic engagement … so it’s really about…


Satcher Delivers Fall 2022 Realizing the Dream Distinguished Lecture

Former United States Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher encouraged audience members to consider the role of science in health equity as the fall 2022 Realizing the Dream Distinguished Lecturer, emphasizing that it is never too early to make a difference. Realizing the Dream partner Stillman College hosted the lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the…


You Make UA Great Celebrates Campus Employees

We are celebrating you because of an impact that you have every day on this campus and whether that’s in a residence hall, whether that’s in a classroom, whether that’s in a cafeteria, or any place on this campus, the way that you invest in our students and invest in our campus is what makes…


Art of Town and Gown Relationships Reception Highlights Neighborhood Partnerships

The reception took place at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in historic downtown Tuscaloosa, where visitors were greeted with live music from the Alabama Blues Project and treats themed around the Crimson Tide. Successful town and gown relationships require many conversations with partners across a community and having the opportunity to learn from other…


UA HomeFirst Coaches’ Retreat Supports Students, Volunteers

Housed in UA’s Center for Community-Based Partnerships, HomeFirst is a financial wellness initiative that serves individuals and families on their path toward first-time homeownership or foreclosure prevention. The retreat trained volunteer coaches to work with HomeFirst participants with presentations on financial literacy and establishing interpersonal skills with potential homeowners. The coaching participants put their skills…


Tuscaloosa’s Habitat for Humanity Dedicates New Home for HomeFirst Family

Cotton’s home was funded by Nick’s Kids Foundation, the official charity of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban and his wife, Terry Saban. Mrs. Saban wanted to keep it a surprise. I think it was in March when Susan Kasteler [Homeowner Services Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Tuscaloosa] told me who was sponsoring me, and…


Retreat Prepares Volunteers in UAB-AmeriCorps VISTA to be HomeFirst Coaches

Housed in The University of Alabama’s (UA) Center for Community-Based Partnerships, HomeFirst is a financial wellness initiative that serves individuals and families on their path toward first-time homeownership or foreclosure prevention. The retreat marks the expansion of HomeFirst into the Birmingham area as UAB looks to replicate the program. By partnering with UA HomeFirst, UAB…