LATEST NEWS
Skip the lines at the 2018 UAB Spring Commencement and place your order online today!
Choose from a variety of flowers, as well as the popular Class of 2018 t-shirt that includes the names of all UAB April graduates! Pre-orders can be picked up at the Commencement Flowers sales tables at the graduation ceremony.
By purchasing graduation gifts through the UAB National Alumni Society, you give back to the University that gave to your student!
The UAB National Alumni Society is proud to partner with our schools and colleges in raising over one million dollars from alumni to provide student scholarships.
UAB is proud to announce the creation of Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) an office designed to serve as the leader for information and resources to the UAB off-campus student population. Off- Campus Student Services will:
- Connect off-campus students to campus events, activities, and organizations
- Assist students with finding off-campus housing options, including overseeing the off-campus housing website
- Host events for off- campus students
- Serve as home for the Off-Campus Student Council
To keep UAB off-campus students more connected to the campus OCSS is creating an Off-Campus Student Council. This council of students will work with University administration to ensure the needs of off-campus students are being met (living options, safety, transportation, involvement, etc). The council of students will also develop programming for off-campus students during their bi-weekly meetings. Students who are interested in applying to be on the Off-Campus Student Council should email their resume to Dori Weldon (dweldon1@uab.edu), the Assistant Director of Off-Campus Student Services, by February 28, 2018. Students will interview and be selected during the first week of March 2018.
Is you student thinking about housing for Fall 2018/Spring 2019? Reapplication for Spring 2018 housing residents is coming soon! A $250 prepayment by credit/debit card is required at the time of application.
During November/December, Student Housing invited first-time freshmen who lived on campus to let Student Housing know if they were considering on campus housing for Fall 2018/Spring 2019. Residents who completed that survey have access to the Fall 2018/Spring 2019 reapplication ahead of other Spring 2018 residents. Their early access to Fall 2018/Spring 2019 reapplication begins Monday, February 12th at noon and ends Friday, February 16th at noon.
To apply, go to http://www.uab.edu/students/housing/myhousing and click on “MyHousing Login”. Student logs in with Blazer ID and password, enters BlazerNet, clicks on “Click here to go to MyHousing”, then clicks on “Survey Participants Apply for Fall 2018 Housing”. If they are not able to access the application, contact us at 205.996.0400 or studenthousing@uab.edu for assistance.
Fall 2018/Spring 2019 housing reapplication opens for ALL Spring 2018 housing residents on Wednesday, February 21st at noon and ends Wednesday, March 7th at 5:00 p.m. Freshmen who apply during the week of February 12th do not need to apply again. To access the application, follow the directions from above, but click on “Current Housing Residents Apply for Fall 2018 Housing”.
Important Notes:
- If student is under the age of 19 on the day the application is submitted, a parent/guardian must review and electronically sign the housing contract. The parent/guardian will get an email with instructions on where to view and sign the contract. This signature must be complete before the student is eligible to be assigned.
- Because of the increasing demand for on-campus housing, Student Housing may not be able to reopen the upperclassmen application after these reapplication windows. If at any point during the summer we anticipate having additional space available, we will reopen the application at that time and accept as many applications as we expect to accommodate before closing it again. However, because there is no guarantee the application will reopen for upperclassmen, we strongly encourage everyone who is considering living on campus next year to apply during priority reapplication.
If housing plans change after submitting an application, the deadline to cancel a Fall 2018/Spring 2019 housing contract and receive a prepayment refund is June 1st. The cancellation must be submitted in writing, and can be sent via email at studenthousing@uab.edu. Housing will still accept cancellations after this date, but the prepayment will be forfeited.
Students who want assistance completing their application are welcome to stop by the housing office during the reapplication period, call us at 205.996.0400, or email studenthousing@uab.edu.
As UAB’s enrollment increases, so does the demand to live on campus. Even though not required, many first-time freshmen within the 7 county area applied for Fall 2017 housing, and UAB Housing received our largest number of applications ever. In an effort to accommodate every freshman, we delayed making assignments for some of the returning housing residents. This was frustrating for these students because they wanted to know for sure they would have housing – and where. Historically, UAB Housing receives a steady number of cancellations all summer; however, this past year, we did not. Most of our upperclassmen cancellations were received after all assignments had been made – and most students who had inquired earlier in the summer had secured other housing.
Knowing that demand will continue to increase, UAB Housing wants to improve the application process by encouraging students who no longer need housing to notify our office sooner so that we can successfully assign those spaces to other students. Students who cancel late in the summer have an impact on the entire process. It affects the assignments of students who could have been assigned to a more desired building or type of room had those spaces been available sooner. Also, students waiting for housing have often already found other housing when late vacancies occur. With this in mind, we are evaluating our application cancellation policy.
If a student cancels their housing application after June 1st, they forfeit their prepayment. After that date passes, there has been no incentive for a student to notify us that they no longer needed their space until after fall housing charges were placed on their student account. To encourage earlier notification, UAB Housing is implementing a tiered cancellation penalty. While we do not wish to charge additional fees, it is necessary to provide a motivation for students to notify us of their change in plans so we are able to more effectively assign other students to these vacancies.
Fall 2018 Upperclassmen Cancellation Policy
Due to the demand for on-campus housing during the fall term, if student cancels after May 15, 2018, they will be assessed a cancellation penalty in addition to forfeiting 250.00 prepayment. Penalty amounts are based on date of cancellation, and outlined below.
|
Cancellation Deadline Dates |
Prepayment Status |
Cancellation Penalty Assessed to Student Account |
|
On or before April 15, 2018 |
Refunded to student |
None |
|
April 16 – May 15, 2018 |
Retained by UAB |
None |
|
May 16 – June 15, 2018 |
Retained by UAB |
500.00 |
|
June 16 – July 15, 2018 |
Retained by UAB |
750.00 |
|
July 15 until August 15, 2018 |
Retained by UAB |
1250.00 |
|
August 16 – Fall Term |
Retained by UAB |
Full semester’s fees |
UAB Housing is also evaluating our current resident reapplication process. In order to better estimate demand, we have emailed all current first-time freshmen residents to find out how many are considering living on campus for Fall 2018. We have asked them to go to the UAB Housing website, log into MyHousing, and complete the Fall 2018 Interest Survey. It takes less than 3 minutes - there is no commitment, and no money is required to complete the survey. Freshmen who submit this survey will have the opportunity to apply for Fall 2018 first in February 2018. The deadline to complete this survey is Wednesday, November 29th at 5pm.
Before implementing the tiered contract cancellation structure noted above, we would like to get feedback from parents about the proposed structure and other aspects of housing operations. While this only applies to less than 3% of our student population, we value feedback from parents. Please click the link below to access the survey.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at studenthousing@uab.edu.
The Office of Parent & Family Services is excited to announce the development of the UAB Family Council, and we hope you will consider applying to be a part of this exciting new initiative. This council will serve as an advocate for you – family members and students – with the goal of keeping you informed and communicating your needs and concerns to the University. The UAB Family Council is free and open to all family members of UAB undergraduate students.
Members of the Family Council will participate in occasional University recruiting events, assist in the development and implementation of programs for family members and students and support the growth of the UAB Family Fund, a fundraising campaign designed to support UAB students and university programs. Members will be expected to attend at least two of the three annual meetings that will take place during the spring (January), summer (May), and fall (October, during Fall Family Weekend) semesters; the council will also participate in at least one University recruitment event or orientation program. Stay tuned, as the dates of these events will be shared during the spring semester meeting.
The Office of Parent & Family Programs is looking to establish the inaugural Family Council with 12-15 families; each family can be represented by one individual or a couple. The first meeting of the Family Council will convene during the weekend of January 6 – 7, 2018, immediately before spring semester 2018 begins.
Interested parties are encouraged to apply by submitting an application here. Applications are due by Wednesday, November 22 at noon. All applicants must be able to attend the inaugural Family Council meeting during the weekend of January 6 -7, 2018. Individuals will be notified no later than Friday, December 1, 2017 regarding the status of their application.
Parent and Family Services hosted their second annual Family Weekend on Oct 13-15. More than 749 family members of UAB students gathered during the three-day weekend and enjoyed a full schedule of fun activities on and off campus.
UAB is proud to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Kaleidoscope. The student run paper is older than the University itself and has been an asset for students receiving local new surrounding the University, as well as worldwide news. Every Tuesday, while your student is in classes, the staff of the Kaleidoscope delivers their beautiful broadsheet to drop off on campus and in surrounding areas. They feature stories from The Return of UAB Football, attending concerts, eating healthy, even a students experience in Charlottesville. The Kaleidoscope’s staff is dedicated to giving students the news, the truth about what is happening on your student’s campus.
The Kaleidoscope, or “The Scope”, is older than the University itself and has provided a key educational tool for aspiring journalists and editors. The newspaper has even been a creative outlet for students who may not have an interest in journalism beyond the collegiate level. The students who do work for the newspaper, however, learn about AP style, how to accurately produce a story, interviewing techniques, and even go behind the scenes of some of Birmingham’s most popular events. It is an experience like no other, and any student of faculty member who picks up their broadsheet knows how passionate the newsroom of Student Media is.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Kaleidoscope, the Student Media office will be celebrating throughout Homecoming Week before heading to Legion Field on Saturday for the game. To celebrate the anniversary of a newspaper that is for the students and by the students is an event that is truly special here at UAB. It is an event that your student will not want to miss out on, either participating in the publication of the Kaleidoscope or picking up a copy on the way to class. For more information be sure to stop by the Student Media Office located across from the elevators in the Hill Student Center.
Student Housing and Residence Life is partnering with the Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center (VMASC) in order to bring tutoring to the residence halls. Beginning on September 17th the class of 2021 will be able to attend free educational assistance sessions in the comforts of their residence hall. This partnership will bring residence life and the tutoring lab together in order to increase academic success in a safe and comfortable space. This partnership is accommodating to all students who are overwhelmed with the schedules of their busy college life.
Beginning on September 17th and continuing throughout the fall semester, students and tutors will be able to meet in the Cahaba Room of the New Freshman Residence Hall. This innovative way of studying will make a great impact on your student who may find it hard to stop by the VSMAC in-between classes. The subjects provided for are common amongst freshman as well as other undergraduate students.
Various subjects and times will be available for your student to receive free academic assistance. Between 6:00pm-9:00pm on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday subjects such as Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and Physics will be available. Students will be required to sign in and out of the front desk of New Freshman Residence Hall and into the tutoring Space. Students who are visiting the residence hall for tutoring will not be permitted to access any other area of the building without the proper sign in.
This experience is for the student who may be a little nervous going to the tutoring lab for the first time. It can be for a student who just has not found the time to ask for help, either way this partnership between Student Housing and Residence Life and the Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center will positively impact the students on campus. It will allow for them to find the educational assistance they need within the privacy and comforts of their residence hall.
UAB Student Outreach Food & Supply Pantry-No UAB Student Should Go Hungry
The Student Outreach Food & Supply Pantry provides all of UAB students experiencing financial need and/or food insecurity with non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, and school supplies. Our mission is to ensure that any UAB student who needs food has access to it. The Student Outreach Food & Supply Pantry has been committed to eliminating food insecurity at UAB since 2013.
We serve as a year-round resource for students to receive nutritional and supply assistance.
The Student Outreach Food & Supply Pantry is maintained by donations made from individuals, and campus and community organizations/partners. Please consider donating items or helping us financially to keep our pantry well stocked. Items can be dropped off in our office in the Hill Student Center, Suite 303, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm. Please be sure items are in good condition and have not expired.
Financial Donations
All of the funds for the Student Outreach Food & Supply Pantry expenses are raised through charitable donations from individuals, organizations, and community members like you! We use the donations to alleviate food insecurity, hunger, and poverty among UAB students.
Checks can be made payable to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, please add Student Outreach Food and Supply Pantry on the memo line. You may mail your check to us at:
UAB Student Outreach
HILL 303, 1720 2nd Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-1150
Amazon Wish List
We also have an Amazon Wish List. Just visit the Amazon website, search the Wish List section for UAB Student Outreach Food and Supply Pantry and you’ll see a list of items that we need. You can buy any quantity you wish and ship directly to our office.
Food Items Needed:
- Multigrain and low sugar cereal
- Fruit canned in its own juices
- Canned tuna, chicken, salmon
- Nuts and nut butters
- Canned low-sodium vegetables
- Applesauce
- Honey, Syrup
- Shelf Milk-(powdered, evaporated, almond, coconut, soy)
- Oatmeal or Grits
- Pasta and pasta sauce
School Supplies Needed:
- College Ruled paper
- Index cards
- Mechanical pencils, pencils, pens
- Highlighters
- Dividers
- Calculators
Personal Hygiene Items Needed:
- Body, Hand Soap
- Deodorant
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Shaving cream and razors
- Feminine hygiene items
- Mouth wash
- Body and Hand Lotion
- Toilet paper
- Tissue
- Laundry detergent
Please contact us at 205.975.9509 or studentoutreach@uab.edu if you have any questions about the Student Outreach Food & Supply Pantry. Together we can end hunger at UAB.
You can highlight this in a textbox or something.
Did You Know?
In August 2017, the Student Outreach Food & Supply Pantry distributed 486.4 lbs of food and supplies to students? That’s 405 meals provided!
| Date | Time | Event |
| Thursday, August 24 | ||
| 9 a.m. - noon | Blazing Start Move-In | |
| 4 - 5 p.m. | Family Send Off* | |
| 5 -6 p.m. | Blazing Start Dinner | |
| 6 - 9 p.m. | Movie Night | |
| Friday, August 25 | ||
| 8 a.m - 5 p.m. | Blazing Start Sessions (Lunch Provided) | |
| 5 - 6 p.m. | Blazing Start Dinner | |
| 6 - 9 p.m. | Trivia Night | |
| Saturday, August 26 | ||
| 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Blazing Start Sessions (Lunch NOT Provided) | |
| Sunday, August 27 | ||
| 3:45 - 5 p.m. | Class of 2021 Photo | |
| Monday, August 29 | ||
| 8 a.m. | Classes Begin | |
| Tuesday, August 30 | ||
| 6:30 p.m. | UAB First Year Convocation |
First Year Student Move-in Freshman move-in day is August 26. There will be many students moving in that day, so in order to make everything pass as smoothly as possible, your student will receive an assigned time during which they are expected to arrive. There will be a move-in team ready to help you and your student through the process as well. Your student needs to make sure to bring their One-Card, as they will need it to check in and receive their key. Also, make sure that your student’s boxes and items are clearly marked with their name, residence hall and room number.
Blazers are friendly and helpful folks. If your student is new to UAB, they will learn that quickly. Even though your student has attended orientation this summer, navigating campus on thier first days of classes can be overwhelming.
UAB is a big campus with many opportunities, activities and resources available for students to explore. The Blazer Welcome is a program meant to help students connect and become more informed about everything UAB has to offer. During a six-week period, there will be a number of social events and fun activities at various locations around the campus that students, especially incoming freshmen, are highly encouraged to participate in.
The summer is coming to an end and your student’s college adventure is about to start. Although college is supposed to be a fun and exciting change, some incoming freshmen may experience stress, homesickness and other hard emotions during the transition.
Read more: What to expect the first year: Do's and don'ts according to UAB sophomores
Knowing what classes to register for can be a stressful and confusing experience for many students. The Graduation Planning System (GPS) is a feature within Blazernet that provides undergraduate students with a simple and clear overlook of their academic plan towards graduation. It displays the classes that need to be passed, the academic standing and the amount of credit hours the student is required to have in order to graduate. It is a tool that helps students navigate and plan their academic journey at UAB.
Read more: GPS (Graduation Planning System) Help your student find their way to success
Join all of UAB’s family—alumni, friends, parents, and students—as we come together to make an impact on the area(s!) that matter the most on May 11-12, UAB’s That One Time at UAB… Giving Day.
Read more: Student Affairs seeks charitable gifts during campus-wide giving day on May 11-12
It seems like just yesterday when we had over 1000 UAB volunteers here to help your student move into the residence halls. Now, it’s time to think about moving out. We are committed to making sure that your student has the best move-out experience possible. The information below will help you know exactly what’s going on.
It is hard to believe; however, another academic year is coming to an end. UAB’s campus is a-buzz with end of the year activities to recognize the successes and advancements among students during the past 8 months. Amidst all of the celebrations, it is important for students to keep their focus on finishing the semester healthy so that they complete all of their courses to the best of their abilities.
The Collat School of Business has invested heavily in the success of its students, and those investments are paying off.
Read more: Collat Tutoring Lab Offers Free Help for Business Classes
The Department of Career and Professional Development leads the effort to provide students with the support needed to prepare for entering the workforce. We spoke with Director Melissa Whatley to find out how students and families can work together to prepare for a smoother transition out of college and into the workforce— an effort that starts with internships.
Located in the heart of Alabama's business center, the Collat School of Business offers a nurturing place for students who value hands-on experiences and mentoring by a dedicated faculty and supportive staff.
Read more: Collat School of Business offers innovative programs, experiential learning opportunities
Located in the heart of Alabama's business center, the Collat School of Business offers a nurturing place for students who value hands-on experiences and mentoring by a dedicated faculty and supportive staff.
Read more: Collat School of Business offers innovative programs, experiential learning opportunities
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences—both current and prospective—will benefit from the addition of several new degrees in the coming year. And by Fall 2019, they will be taking classes in the new Arts and Sciences academic building, which will be located on the corner of 10th Avenue South and 14th Street South.
Read more: College of Arts and Sciences Home to New Degrees, New Building
Thanksgiving break is fast approaching and both you and your student have great plans on how to spend their week home from school. However, it is very possible that your plans and your student’s plan may differ. You may want to spend time with family, work on projects on the house, and catch up with your student; while they may want to spend time with friends, eat all the home-cooked food they can get their hands on, sleep, and then get more sleep.
It is not often that students from the Honors College, Athletics department, STEM program, USGA program, and service leadership council come together for weekend activities. However, on Saturday, November 5, three hundred and forty-five students from all over UAB’s campus gathered to strengthen the ties between Birmingham’s community and UAB through service.
The Office of Parent & Family Services held its inaugural Family Weekend during the weekend of October 7 – 9, 2016. The weekend was a great success with over 900 students and family members coming together to visit and celebrate.
Any Writing. Any Stage. Any Student.
Known as the hub of writing on UAB’s campus, the University Writing Center (UWC) is a free service offered to all students at any stage of the writing process. At the UWC, students meet one-on-one with a trained, experienced writing consultant for a session of either 30 or 60 minutes. The focus of these sessions vary with each student depending on their specific writing needs. The UWC team is trained to engage students in the writing process and assist them with communicating their knowledge rather than simply editing the writing. Online and distance students have access to online consultations, but the UWC’s primary service is the face-to-face session, which takes place on the first floor of Mervyn Sterne Library.
Any life transition, whether it is a positive or negative transition, brings with it the potential for stress. Each person’s capacity to cope with stress is widely variant, and for college students, this capacity can be revealed in the academic, social and emotional domains. Entering college is typically associated with excitement, anticipation and some nerves.
Read more: What To Do When Your College Student Experiences Stress
The Fall Career Fair is a professional career event for all UAB students seeking internships, networking, and professional employment opportunities. Students can view and research the 50+ companies attending by logging on to HireABlazer and going to “My Events”. Free head-shots will be available - students should dress to impress and bring plenty of resumes. uab.edu/cpd
Did you know that UAB offers FREE tutoring to undergraduate students in many of their core classes? The Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center (VMASC) is located in the Education Building (EB 240) and is staffed with a team of professionals dedicated to supporting students in their academic success.
There are two major changes taking place for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process. Students will be able to submit the FAFSA earlier and will report income information from an earlier tax year.
UAB understands your desire to remain knowledgeable about what’s going on with your student’s records. Although the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prevents schools from divulging student information to anyone other than the student, you can still gain access to the information you need through Parent/Guest Access.
At the start of the fall and spring semesters we invite our new and returning Blazers to join us for Blazer Welcome! Blazer Welcome is designed to assist first year students in their transition to UAB by offering programs and opportunities that cover a multitude of topics from getting involved and learning about UAB to staying safe and navigating the campus. This year, Blazer Welcome has gone mobile— find our app in the App Store!
The Office of Parent & Family Services in conjunction with many departments around campus will be hosting a Fall Family Weekend from October 7 – 9, 2016. We hope you can come back to visit campus, engage in a variety of programming, meet faculty and staff members, and most importantly visit with your student.
Move-in weekend can be hectic! Stay organized and de-stressed with these tips on how to make your move-in the best it can be.
Greetings from the UAB Division of Student Affairs! I have just completed my first year as the vice president for the Division, and am honored to be a member of the Blazer family. During these last twelve months, I have been invigorated by the passion and commitment of our team of nearly 100 student affairs professionals who are committed to creating transformational experiences for our students.