A
positive attitude has always been an ingredient for success. A positive
attitude gives one the energy and belief needed to overcome the toughest
of obstacles. The real world is full of large and small obstacles, constantly
providing challenges to success. As The University of Alabama faces the
obstacles this world provides, it will continue to overcome them, each and
every time, with a positive attitude. -A major measure of the strength
of a university and the success of its alumni can be found in the level of
its endowment. For instance, Harvard University is widely considered to be
the top university in the United States, therefore, it is no surprise that
its $17.1 billion endowment is the largest in the nation. In a recent issue
(1/24/03) of The Chronicle of Higher Education, The University of Alabama's
endowment ranked 70th nationally among all colleges and universities. Among
SEC member institutions, Vanderbilt University ranked 1st with ($2.0 billion),
followed by The University of Alabama ($625 million), The University of Tennessee
($588 million), The University of Florida ($583 million), The University
of Georgia ($422 million), The University of Kentucky ($398 million), Louisiana
State University ($348 million), The University of Mississippi ($346 million),
The University of South Carolina ($293 million), Auburn University ($233
million), The University of Arkansas ($212 million), and Mississippi State
University ($136 million). Within the state of Alabama, The University of
Alabama ($625 million) ranked 1st, followed by The University of South Alabama
($249 million), Auburn University ($233 million), Samford University ($219
million), and Birmingham-Southern College ($106 million). -The University
of Alabama’s undergraduate accounting program was ranked 19th nationally
in the latest Public Accounting Report rankings. The only other Southeastern
universities included in the list were The University of Florida and The
University of Georgia. -University of Alabama alumnus, Dr. Jodi Newton,
has been named “2003 Superintendent of the Year” for the state of Alabama.
Dr. Newton is currently Superintendent of the Homewood City School System.
She currently a finalist for the “2003 National Superintendent of the Year”
award. -Contracts and grants funding to the University of Alabama reached
a new high for the 2001-2002 fiscal year of $79.2 million. Direct federal
funding also increased to $51.7 million. -The National Academy of
Sciences named University of Alabama professor, Dr. Walter Enders, co-recipient
of its 2003 Award for Behavioral Research Relevant to the Prevention of Nuclear
War. Enders holds the Lee Bidgood Chair of Economics and Finance in UA’s
Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration. -Congratulations
to University of Alabama Alumnus, Cynthia Cooper, for being nationally recognized
as one of Time magazine’s “People of the Year” for the year 2002. The magazine
gave Cooper the title of “whistleblower” when she gained national attention
for exposing fraudulent accounting practices in the WorldCom scandal. -Congratulations
to members of UA’s Million Dollar Band for being awarded the 2003 Sudler
Trophy, ranking it as the top university band program in the nation. As
you can see, The University of Alabama continues to add to its successes
and keep pace itself with the nation’s leaders. A positive plan is in the
works to catapult the UA even higher, ensuring its success for many years
to come. A new campaign will be launched in 2004 to raise UA’s endowment
to over $1 billion, placing it in the elite group of just a few universities
in the nation. There is much to look forward to and much work to be done
and, with the help of alumni and friends of this great university, The University
of Alabama will continue to enjoy lifetimes of success. Until next time,
ROLL TIDE FOREVER!!!!
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