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UAB sets enrollment record for fourth year in a row

BIRMINGHAM TIMES — The University of Alabama at Birmingham has set an enrollment record for the fourth consecutive year, and reached a new milestone — growing its student body to more than 22,000 students for the first time in its 50-year history. UAB’s Office of Enrollment Management reports that the 2019 census of 22,080 students is the highest mark ever for the institution, which is celebrating its 50th year in 2019. The number of first-time freshmen entering UAB rose 2 percent from 2018, with 2,346 enrolled this fall. In addition, in-state, out-of-state and international enrollment all saw year-over-year increases, as did the graduate and professional student populations.

Published

5 years ago

September 20, 2019

Oakland Post

UAB tops 22,000 students for the first time in its history and features its largest and most academically accomplished freshman class. (UAB News)

By Tyler Greer

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has set an enrollment record for the fourth consecutive year, and reached a new milestone — growing its student body to more than 22,000 students for the first time in its 50-year history.

UAB’s Office of Enrollment Management reports that the 2019 census of 22,080 students is the highest mark ever for the institution, which is celebrating its 50th year in 2019. The number of first-time freshmen entering UAB rose 2 percent from 2018, with 2,346 enrolled this fall. In addition, in-state, out-of-state and international enrollment all saw year-over-year increases, as did the graduate and professional student populations.

“In an increasingly competitive landscape where colleges and universities around the country continue to experience declines in enrollment, the attractiveness of UAB continues to grow — which says a lot about our curriculum, our culture and the opportunities provided to students,” said Bradley Barnes, Ph.D., vice provost for Enrollment Management. “We strive to deliver students a world-class education and engaging research opportunities. We also endeavor to graduate students who will contribute to a 21st century economy and become positive, influential leaders. Potential students and their families see this. They see the growth and impact of our institution, and they want to be a part of it.”

The University of Alabama System instituted a tuition freeze for in-state residents in time for the current school year, and UAB’s freshman class features 81.9 percent Alabamians, or 1,922 students. Alabamians represent 85 percent of UAB’s undergraduate student population. More than 350 freshmen, or 15 percent, are out-of-state students.

The academic quality of the UAB 2019 freshman class is the university’s strongest to date. The average freshman ACT score rose from 25.2 in fall 2018 to 25.6, and the average GPA increased from 3.73 to 3.78.

More freshmen are living on campus than ever also, with 71.4 percent of the 2019 freshman class living on campus. The increases continue to highlight the importance of several projects on campus, including the new Residence Hall 2020, which is slated to open next fall.

UAB continues to be one of the most diverse institutions in the country as well, with 41.9 percent of the student body representing minority populations. And 2,836 UAB undergraduate students have self-identified as first-generation college students — an increase of 2.2 percent from 2018.

“These talented, diverse and deserving students are attracted to our campus in increasing numbers by accessible educational opportunity, unrivaled research experiences and academic programs that equip them for successful 21st century careers,” said Ray L. Watts, president of UAB. “These students are also drawn to a campus that is among the most vibrant, state-of-the-art and sustainable in the nation, with the recent opening of our new University Hall, a shining example of how our campus continues to transform. Our faculty and staff are effectively mentoring and inspiring our students, united behind collaboration, innovation, diversity and all of our shared values. We will continue to forge ahead in all areas of our mission.”

The record-breaking enrollment underscores the historic strides UAB has made in the past year. These include:

The Top Young U.S. University for the second consecutive year, and No. 12 globally, in the recent Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
$527 million in research awards, the highest ever for UAB — with award increases in every school on campus.
One of only eight schools of medicine nationally to increase their NIH funding by more than $100 million over five years.
Exceeding the $1 billion goal of The Campaign for UAB, the largest philanthropic effort in the university’s history — which also included the largest-ever gift of $30 million to name the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.
A growing athletics program, competing at the highest level of Conference-USA across multiple sports.

UAB Senior Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit says the continued growth across the UAB enterprise is a positive reflection on many groups, including recent students and current faculty.

“Our students and graduates are proud of the world-class, interdisciplinary programs they can be a part of here,” Benoit said. “Our faculty delivers a socially conscious education to diverse students to prepare them to be the next generation of citizens and leaders.”

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.