University of Alabama at Birmingham

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The University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham seal.png
Former name
Medical College of Alabama (1859–1966)
Birmingham Extension Center (1936–1966)
College of General Studies (1966)
The University of Alabama in Birmingham (1966–1969)
Type Public research university
EstablishedJune 16, 1969;54 years ago (June 16, 1969)
Parent institution
 University of Alabama System
Accreditation SACS
Academic affiliation
Endowment $1 billion [1]
Budget$4.34 billion (2021) [2]
President Ray L. Watts
Provost Pam Benoit
Academic staff
3,096 [3]
Total staff
24,259 [4]
Students22,563 [5]
Undergraduates 13,836
Postgraduates 8,087
Location
Birmingham
,
Alabama
,
United States

33°30′07″N86°48′28″W / 33.5020°N 86.8079°W / 33.5020; -86.8079
CampusMidsize city, 437 acres (1.77 km2)
NewspaperThe Kaleidoscope
Colors Green and white [6]
  
Nickname Blazers
Sporting affiliations
MascotBlaze the Dragon
Website www.uab.edu
UABirmingham logo.png

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1969 and part of the University of Alabama System, UAB has grown to be the state's largest employer, with more than 24,200 faculty and staff and over 53,000 jobs at the university. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". [7]

Contents

UAB offers 140 programs of study in 12 academic divisions leading to bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees. [8] In the fall of 2020, UAB enrolled 22,563 students from more than 110 countries. [9] The UAB Health System, one of the largest academic medical centers in the United States, is affiliated with UAB.

The UAB athletic teams known as the Blazers compete in 18 varsity-level sports in the NCAA Division 1 American Athletic Conference. [10] Its official varsity colors are green and gold. [11]

History

In 1936, in response to the rapid growth of the Birmingham metropolitan area and the need for the population to have access to a university education, the University of Alabama established the Birmingham Extension Center. [12] The center operated in an old house in downtown Birmingham at 2131 6th Avenue North and enrolled 116 students. In 1945, UA's newly established four-year School of Medicine moved from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham and took over management of Jefferson and Hillman hospitals. In 1957 enrollment at the extension center stood at 1,856. By 1959, research grants, training grants, and fellowships exceeded $1 million, and ground was broken for a new Children's Hospital.

By the 1960s, it grew apparent that the extension center was becoming a university in its own right. An engineering building was built close to the medical center in 1962. In September 1966, the Extension Center was renamed the College of General Studies and elevated to a full four-year program. That November, the College of General Studies and the School of Medicine were merged into the University of Alabama in Birmingham, with Dr. Joseph Volker as "Vice President for Birmingham Affairs"–reflecting that it was still treated as an offsite department of the main campus in Tuscaloosa. An Advisory Board for UAB was created in 1967. In 1969, the legislature created the University of Alabama System. UAB became one of three four-year institutions within the new system, which also included UA and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in Huntsville. Volker became UAB's first president. [12]

Campus

UAB campus and downtown Birmingham University of Alabama at Birmingham Campus from Vulcan.jpg
UAB campus and downtown Birmingham

UAB is located in the Southside neighborhood of downtown Birmingham, occupying more than 100 city blocks. [13]

Students relaxing on Campus Green CAMPUS GREEN.jpg
Students relaxing on Campus Green

Organization and administration

UAB is governed by the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama and headed by Chancellor of the University of Alabama. The board is self-nominating and composed of 15 elected members and two ex officio members. Board members are confirmed by the Alabama State Senate. [14]

The president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is appointed by the chancellor. The president also chairs the board of the UAB Health System. [15] Richard Marchase was named interim president on August 21, 2012, after the retirement of Carol Garrison. [16] [17] [18] [19] In February 2013, Ray L. Watts became UAB's seventh president. [20]

Colleges

UAB is composed of one college, nine schools and the Graduate School. These divisions offer 56 bachelor's degree programs, 59 master's degree programs, and 40 doctoral programs. [21]

Endowment

UAB's endowment stood at $711.6 million in 2021. [22] UAB received more than $715 million in research grants and extramural awards for FY 2022. [23]

Academics

UAB is a large, four-year research university and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". [24] UAB has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1970, according to the U.S. Department of Education. [25] In the 2016–2017 school year, UAB awarded a total 2,384 bachelor's degrees; 1,795 master's degrees, 33 educational specialist degrees; 125 research doctorates; and 391 professional doctorates. [26]

College/school founding [27]
College/schoolYear founded
College of Arts and Sciences 2010
Collat School of Business 1971
School of Dentistry 1969
School of Education and Human Sciences 1971
School of Engineering 1971
Graduate School 1969
School of Health Professions 1969
Heersink School of Medicine 1969
Honors College 2011
School of Nursing 1969
School of Optometry 1969
School of Public Health 1981

Student profile

In fall semester of 2018, the UAB student body consisted of 13,836 undergraduates, 6,933 graduate students and 1,154 professional doctoral students from all 67 Alabama counties, all 50 states and more than 110 foreign countries. [28] The undergraduate student body was 56% non-Hispanic white, 26% Black/African-American, 6% Asian, 5% two or more races, 3% Hispanic, and 3% International. [29]

Faculty and staff

UAB has more than 3,000 faculty. [30] Eight faculty members from UAB have been elected to the National Institute of Medicine. [31] The student-faculty ratio at UAB is 18:1.

Library

UAB has eight libraries. [32]

Academic rankings
National
Forbes [33] 307
U.S. News & World Report [34] 137
Washington Monthly [35] 196
WSJ / College Pulse [36] 256
Global
ARWU [37] 301-400
THE [38] 169
U.S. News & World Report [39] 147

Rankings

In the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings, UAB was tied for the 137th best national university and was ranked tied for the 64th best public university. [40]

Student life

Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity [41] Total
White 55%55
 
Black 24%24
 
Asian 7%7
 
Hispanic 6%6
 
Other [lower-alpha 1] 6%6
 
Foreign national 2%2
 
Economic diversity
Low-income [lower-alpha 2] 37%37
 
Affluent [lower-alpha 3] 63%63
 

There are over 300 student organizations on the UAB campus. About six percent of undergraduate men and eight percent of undergraduate women are active in UAB's Greek system. [42] UAB's students also run media outlets, including a weekly newspaper, a radio station, and a semi-annual magazine. [43] The school also has an intramural program. [44]

Athletics

UAB Blazers Men's Basketball vs. Tulsa at Bartow Arena UAB v Tulsa.jpg
UAB Blazers Men's Basketball vs. Tulsa at Bartow Arena

UAB's athletic teams are known as the Blazers . The school athletic colors are forest green and old gold. [45] The school currently participates in NCAA Division I, as a member of the American Athletic Conference. [46] The men's basketball team, coached by Andy Kennedy, plays in Bartow Arena.

The school started its intercollegiate athletic program in 1978. [47] The program was inaugurated with men's basketball by Gene Bartow. Bartow served as the school's head basketball coach and athletic director for 18 years. Bartow led UAB to the NCAA Tournament seven times. Bartow retired from coaching in 1996. The following year, UAB renamed its basketball venue from UAB Arena to Bartow Arena in his honor.

Professional golfer Graeme McDowell, winner of the 2010 U.S. Open, played for UAB from 1998 to 2002. [48]

In December 2014, the university announced that the programs for football, bowling and rifle were being eliminated at the end of the 2014–2015 academic year, citing soaring operating costs. [49] This decision was later reversed and the programs were reinstated. [50]

Notable alumni and faculty

Notes

  1. ↑ Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.
  2. ↑ The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
  3. ↑ The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Alabama</span> Public university in Alabama, U.S.

The University of Alabama is a public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the public universities in Alabama as well as the University of Alabama System. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Alabama System</span> Public university system in Alabama

The University of Alabama System is a public university system in Alabama that coordinates and oversees three research universities: University of Alabama (UA), University of Alabama at Birmingham, and University of Alabama in Huntsville. These universities enroll more than 70,000 students. The system employs more than 45,000 employees at its three campuses and health system making it one of the largest employers in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama State University</span> Public university in Montgomery, Alabama, US

Alabama State University is a public historically black university in Montgomery, Alabama. Founded in 1867, during the Reconstruction era, it was one of about 180 "normal schools" established by state governments in the 19th century to train teachers for the rapidly growing public common schools. It was one of 23 established to train African Americans to teach in segregated schools. Some of the 180 closed but most steadily expanded their role and became state colleges in the early 20th century and state universities in the late 20th century. ASU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bartow Arena</span> Arena in Birmingham, Alabama

Bartow Arena is an 8,508-seat multi-purpose arena in Birmingham, in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is home to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's volleyball team. The arena is named after Gene Bartow, the coach who built the school's men's basketball program from scratch over the last quarter of the 20th century. UAB initially played their games at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, now known as Legacy Arena, but moved its games to the on-campus facility beginning with the 1988–89 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Bartow</span> American basketball coach

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">UAB Blazers football</span> Football team representing the University of Alabama Birmingham in the sport of collegiate football

The UAB Blazers football team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the sport of American football. The Blazers compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and American Athletic Conference. The team is led by head coach Trent Dilfer, who was named the program’s 7th head coach on November 30, 2022. Home games were previously held at Legion Field in Birmingham from the 1991 season to the 2020 season. A new stadium, Protective Stadium, has been the home of the Blazers starting from the 2021 season. The new stadium's capacity is over 47,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UAB Blazers</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of University of Alabama at Birmingham

The UAB Blazers are the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs that represent the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The school is one of the fourteen member institutions of the American Athletic Conference and participates in Division I of the NCAA. The school's men's basketball team plays in 8,508-seat Bartow Arena. The Blazers' colors are forest green and old gold. The men's basketball program has a long history of success spanning several decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Kennedy</span> American college basketball coach

Andy Kennedy is an American college basketball coach who is the head coach of the UAB Blazers men's basketball team. He was head men's basketball coach at the University of Mississippi from 2006 to 2018. Kennedy was a player in high school at both Winston Academy and Louisville High School. He was a 1986 Parade All-American and he went on to play for North Carolina State and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). On March 20, 2020, he was announced as the seventh head coach of UAB.

The UAB Blazers men's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in NCAA Division I men's college basketball, with the 2023–24 season being the Blazers' first as members of the American Athletic Conference. The Blazers play home games at Bartow Arena and are coached by Andy Kennedy. UAB has appeared 17 times in the NCAA men's basketball tournament and most recently appeared in 2024.

The Battle for the Bones is a sports rivalry between the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers and the University of Memphis Tigers. The two NCAA Division I schools compete in various sports, with men's basketball and college football in particular being prominent.

The 2009–10 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Mike Davis's fourth season at UAB. The Blazers competed in Conference USA and played their home games at Bartow Arena. They finished the season 25–9, 11–5 in CUSA play and lost in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Conference USA men's basketball tournament. They were invited to the 2010 National Invitation Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to North Carolina.

The 2011–12 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Blazers' head coach, Mike Davis, was in his sixth season at UAB. The Blazers, who compete in Conference USA, played their home games at Bartow Arena.

The UAB Blazers men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As of the upcoming 2022 season, the college soccer program competes in the NCAA Division I American Athletic Conference.

The UAB Blazers women's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham in women's basketball. The school competes in the American Athletic Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Blazers play home basketball games at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Clark (American football)</span> American football coach

Bill Bradford Clark is a retired American football coach. He was the head football coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He held the position from 2014 season until June 24, 2022, when he retired because of health issues related to his back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auburn–UAB men's basketball rivalry</span> American college basketball rivalry

The Auburn–UAB men's basketball rivalry is a men's college basketball rivalry between the Auburn Tigers and the UAB Blazers. Despite its relative youth and a 15-year hiatus from 2000–2014, the rivalry remains one of the fiercest and most competitive in the state of Alabama.

The 2018–19 UAB Blazers women's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Blazers, led by sixth year head coach Randy Norton, play their home games at the Bartow Arena and are members of Conference USA. They finished the season 26–7, 12–4 in C-USA play to finish in second place. They advanced to the semifinals of the C-USA women's tournament where they lost to Middle Tennessee. They received an automatic bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Troy in the first round before losing to Arkansas in the second round.

The 2022–23 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team is led by third-year head coach Andy Kennedy, and plays their home games at the Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama as a member of Conference USA.

References

  1. ↑ "Thanks a billion: The Campaign for UAB surpasses $1 billion" . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  2. ↑ "UAB Financial Affairs". UAB Financial Affairs. 2021. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ "UAB Work Force" (PDF). Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ "UAB Work Force" (PDF). Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ↑ "UAB sets enrollment record for fifth year in a row, all-time high for retention - News | UAB". Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Brand Basics - Colors".
  7. ↑ "Carnegie Classification for UAB". American Council on Education. 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  8. ↑ "UAB 2016 Financial Report" (PDF). University of Alabama at Birmingham. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  9. ↑ "UAB sets enrollment record for fourth year in a row - News | UAB". Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  10. ↑ "The Official Website of the UAB Blazers" . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  11. ↑ "UAB Blazers Brand Color Codes" . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "UAB Chronology". Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  13. ↑ Tyler Greer (June 6, 2018). "UAB ranked No. 1 young university in the U.S." Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  14. ↑ "The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama, History and Purpose". Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  15. ↑ "UAB Medicine Leadership". Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Richard Marchase named interim president of UAB". August 21, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Richard Marchase, veteran administrator, named interim president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham". August 21, 2012. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  18. ↑ "UAB's Carol Garrison to step down after decade as president". August 16, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  19. ↑ "UAB President Carol Garrison stepping down after 10 years". August 16, 2012. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Ray Watts name new president of UAB". Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Degrees Offered at UAB, Student Information" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  22. ↑ "University of Alabama-Birmingham | UAB | Best College | US News". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  23. ↑ "UAB's research funding tops record $715 million for FY 2022". University of Alabama at Birmingham. 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Carnegie Classifications – University of Alabama at Birmingham". Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  25. ↑ "College Navigator – University of Alabama at Birmingham". National Center for Education Statistics, United States Department of Education Institute for Education Sciences. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  26. ↑ "UAB –2017-2018 Facts & Figures" (PDF). Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  27. ↑ "UAB Facts & Figures" (PDF). The University of Alabama at Birmingham. June 1, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Facts & Figures 2018-2019" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  30. ↑ "Facts & Figures 2018-2019" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Directory – Institute of Medicine" . Retrieved November 7, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  32. ↑ "UAB Libraries". Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Forbes America's Top Colleges List 2023". Forbes . Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  34. ↑ "2023-2024 Best National Universities". U.S. News & World Report . Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  35. ↑ "2023 National University Rankings". Washington Monthly . Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  36. ↑ "2024 Best Colleges in the U.S." The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  37. ↑ "ShanghaiRanking's 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  38. ↑ "World University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education . Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  39. ↑ "2022-23 Best Global Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report . Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  40. ↑ "University of Alabama-Birmingham". U.S. News & World Report. 2022. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  41. ↑ "College Scorecard: University of Alabama at Birmingham". United States Department of Education . Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  42. ↑ "University of Alabama--Birmingham | Student Life | US News Best Colleges". Archived from the original on October 24, 2018.
  43. ↑ "UAB Student Media". University of Alabama at Birmingham. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  44. ↑ Shannon Thomason. "New UAB Intramural Sports Complex set to open Aug. 29". Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  45. ↑ "UAB Branding – Logos & Colors". Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  46. ↑ "American Athletic Conference Announces the Addition of Six Universities" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. October 21, 2021. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  47. ↑ Facts & Figures 2016-2017 (PDF) (Report). University of Alabama at Birmingham. March 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  48. ↑ Grant Martin. "UAB – Magazine – From Portrush to Pebble Beach". Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  49. ↑ Gray, Jeremy (December 2, 2014). "It's official: UAB kills football program". al.com. Alabama Media Group. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  50. ↑ "UAB Blazers Football Program Reinstated". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
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