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Good News about UA Academics, Part 11

Posted by ROBERTUS on September 16, 2001

This begins the third year of a continuing series of Good News FACTS about academic successes occurring at The University of Alabama. UA continues to build on its solid academic reputation of providing the best college education in the state of Alabama and promises to reach even higher into the future. The following are but a few of UA's recent achievements.

-The 2002 edition of U.S. News and World Report has ranked The University of Alabama as one of the top 50 Public Universities in the Nation. UA ranks #48, finishing 1st in the state in the academic reputation score (3.04), academic quality of entering freshmen (percent of freshmen finishing in the top 10%, 25%, and 50% of their high school class), freshmen retention rate, class size (highest percent of classes under 20 students and lowest percent of classes over 50 students), and alumni giving rate. Again, UA ranks in the second tier of National Universities (Public and Private). One SEC school made the first tier (1-52), Vanderbilt University. Seven SEC schools made the second tier (53-130), The University of Alabama, The University of Georgia, The University of Florida, The University of South Carolina, The University of Tennessee, Auburn University, and The University of Kentucky. The undergraduate business school at UA remains in the top 50, ranking #49 in America. Also, the undergraduate engineering school is ranked #96 in this year’s edition.

-For the second year in a row, a University of Alabama student has been named the top Industrial Engineering student in the Nation by the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE). Nathan Reamey was awarded 1st Place in the Student Award for Excellence for 2001. Another University of Alabama student, Brian Grillo, was awarded 3rd place in the Nation for the 2001 award. This comes one year after UA student, Matheus Medeiros, also won 1st Place in the Student Award for Excellence for 2000 and another UA student, Chi-Liang Wee, won 3rd place. Congratulations to these outstanding students for their accomplishments and for showing why Engineering at The University of Alabama is one of the top programs in the nation.

-Again, the 2002 edition of The Princeton Review's "Best 331 Colleges in America" ranks The University of Alabama as the top university in the state in all four categories (academics, admissions, campus life, and financials).

-The 2001 edition of The Top American Research Universities, published annually by The Center, ranks top research universities based on how many times a university is ranked in the "top 25" nationally over 10 categories (total research expenditures, federal research expenditures, endowment assets, annual giving, National Academy members, faculty awards, doctorates awarded, post-doc appointees, median SAT scores, and National Merit and Achievement scholars). Again, The University of Alabama and UAB were the only universities from the state to be ranked in the "top 25" in any of the 10 categories.

-Frances Hartwell, a University of Alabama graduate from Huntsville, was recently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Japan during the 2001-2002 school year. The Fulbright Grant is a national program named for Sen. J. William Fulbright, who introduced the program to congress in 1945. Fulbright proposed the program after World War II to foster international relationships through educational and cultural exchanges. Hartwell is the first UA student to win the award.

-The National Council for Geographic Education recently chose Dr. Gerald Webster, a professor of geography at The University of Alabama, to receive its annual Distinguished Teaching Award for 2001. The Distinguished Teaching Awards recognize outstanding contributions to geographic education.

-Nine 2001 University of Alabama gymnastics team members were recognized as Academic All-Americans. Congratulations to Tiffany Byrd, Stephanie Kite, Kristen Sterner, Robin Hawkins, Katie Hornecker, Alex Martinez, Natalie Barrington, Krista Gole, and Jeana Rice for your accomplishments. You have made your University proud.

As you can see, The University of Alabama continues to excel. With the continued support of its alumni and friends, this University will proceed to build on its strong foundation. More Good News is on the way and, as always, ROLL TIDE FOREVER!!!!