Uab

UAB is one of three autonomous institutions of the University of Alabama System, which includes the University of Alabama (UA) in Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville). The university was established in 1969, and is the newest and largest in terms of faculty, staff, and budget of Alabama's major universities.
UAB offers programs of study leading to bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional degrees in various fields, including social and behavioral sciences, liberal arts, business, education, engineering, health-related fields (such as medicine, dentistry, optometry and nursing) and public health.

The school is highly renowned for its medical research and natural sciences programs. UAB received over $416 million in external grants and contracts in fiscal 2007-2008. This places the school as one of the larger research institutions in the Southeast.

In fact, as of 2005, UAB is 4th in the Southeast for NIH research funding behind only Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Vanderbilt University. UAB Hospital also sponsors residency programs in various medical specialties, including internal medicine, neurology, surgery, radiology, and anesthesiology. UAB Hospital is the only Level I trauma center in Alabama, as rated by the American College of Surgeons Trauma Program.
As of 2009, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the third largest university in Alabama in with an enrollment with approximately 16,300 students.

Garrison.


History
UAB began in 1936 as the Birmingham Extension Center of the University of Alabama. Because of the rapid growth of the Birmingham area, it was decided that an extension program for students in the Birmingham area was needed.

In 1945, the University of Alabama School of Medicine moved from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham, and took over management of Jefferson and Hillman Hospitals in Birmingham. In 1966, the Extension Center and the School of Medicine were merged into the University of Alabama in Birmingham.In 1969, UAB became one of the three autonomous campuses of the new University of Alabama System. The university's name was changed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1984.
Since 1969, UAB has awarded over 105,000 degrees.

Although once known as a "commuter school", UAB reported that 60 percent of 2007 freshmen are living in UAB campus housing, up from 52.8 percent in 2006.


The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Night

UAB is a component of the University of Alabama System and is governed by the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama. The President of UAB is appointed by the Chancellor of the University of Alabama System with approval of the Board of Trustees.

The President reports directly to the Chancellor, and is responsible for hiring and promotion of faculty and staff on the UAB campus.
List of Presidents
Dr. Garrison, 2002-Present
(source: UAB Archives)
Campus
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is located on approximately 83 blocks on the Southside of Birmingham, Alabama.

The medical center which is located on the east and north sides of campus closest to downtown contains buildings mostly dedicated to healthcare, research, and support of those enterprises. Also located in the medical center district are non-UAB hospitals, such as the VA Medical Center Birmingham, Children's Hospital of Alabama, and Cooper Green Mercy Hospital.

The west campus area near Interstate 65 and the Glen Iris and Southside communities is mostly dedicated to the non-health related schools, student housing, and athletic facilities.
Since 1969, UAB has undergone extensive growth and is sometimes jokingly referred to as "The University that Ate Birmingham", and construction projects are common across campus. Current projects that are in planning, recently completed, or under construction include:
Shelby Biomedical Research Building
Southern Bio-Safety Lab Alabama Birmingham
Heritage Hall
Alumni Affairs House
Campus Green Project
Women's and Infants Center
Hazelrig-Salter Radiation Oncology Facility


UAB Campus Green

Campus Green
UAB recently constructed a new park called the Campus Green which was completed in 2007.News since the early 1990s and is currently ranked 7th in the nation.
The Master's in Physical Therapy program is ranked 25th.
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program is ranked among the top 30 nationally and is one of only 2 programs in the nation that has a surgical focus.
The School of Health Professions is #1 in the nation in research funding from the National Institutes of Health and holds the record for 26 consecutive years in either first or second place.
The UAB School of Business was ranked 7th in metropolitan state business schools by US News and World Report in 2004 and is accredited by AACSB International.
UAB graduates first-time pass rates on the CPA exam that are 30% higher than the national average.
During the past six years, a UAB graduate has achieved the highest score in Alabama on the CPA Exam 5 times. The grant established the UAB Civitan International Research Center, the first institution of its kind in the United States to be focused solely on the research of developmental disabilities.

Honors Programs
University Honors Program
The University Honors Program (UHP) is UAB’s core liberal arts honors program.

The program only accepts a maximum of 50 students per year that represent a diverse range of majors and disciplines in order to create a unique and cultivating learning environment.
This program does not have any minimum requirements for admission. Applicants are considered if they demonstrate particular academic or creative talent and after having a personal interview.
Science and Technology Honors Program
The Science and Technology Honors Program, otherwise known as Sci-Tech Honors or S&T Honors, is UAB’s research based honors program.

The first two years of the program focus primarily on teaching the methodologies and techniques used in scientific research, while the last two years are spent on developing the student’s Honors Thesis, consisting of an individual research project and report that will be submitted for publication.
The program also encourages collaboration amongst students and boasts its tight-knit learning community, which is facilitated by numerous program meetings, activities, and summer retreats. Students in this program are commonly study foreign languages, culture, and international studies.

This program provides specialized curriculum and incorporates Study Away/Study Abroad programs into its required courses
The Early Admission to Medical Professional Schools Program
The Early Admission to Medical Professional Schools Program (EMPSAP) is the most competitive honors program available at UAB. EMPSAP serves as a magnet for academically superior high-school seniors, attracting them to UAB’s undergraduate programs by offering guaranteed acceptance into the School of Medicine, Dentistry, or Optometry, after completion of their undergraduate degree at UAB.
EMPSAP is a combination of three separate programs: the Early Medical School Acceptance Program (EMSAP), the Early Dental School Acceptance Program (EDSAP), and the Early Optometry School Acceptance Program (EOSAP).

Should a student’s GPA drop below these minimums, the student is placed on probation and has one year to bring their GPA back up to the minimum, else be expelled from the program. In addition, EMSAP students must make a 28 MCAT before the matriculation into the School of Medicine, while EDSAP and EOSAP students must make at least average scores on the DAT and OAT.
Healthcare


North Pavilion at UAB Hospital

UAB also includes the UAB Health System which is a partnership between UAB and the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation (UAHSF).The UAHSF is a private, not-for-profit medical practice made up of the faculty of the UAB School of Medicine. The UAB Health System is managed by a board that is made up of members from the UAHSF, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees, and members of the UAB administration.

The UAB Health System is managed by a Chief Executive Officer who reports to the UABHS Board and is appointed by the President of UAB. Tulsa at Bartow Arena

The UAB Blazers are the forest green and old gold-swathed athletic teams at UAB.

The school is one of the twelve member institutions of Conference USA and participates in Division I of the NCAA. Bartow retired from coaching in 1996, and in 1997, UAB renamed its basketball venue from UAB Arena to Bartow Arena in his honor.

Started in 1967, the weekly 8,000 circulation paper is a broadsheet published on Tuesdays during Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. The Kaleidoscope online is updated weekly.
Aura Literary Arts Review is a twice-yearly student magazine featuring fiction, creative non-fiction, art, photography, poetry and reviews.

It was awarded the highest honor in student media, the Pacemaker from ACP, in 2006.
Intramurals
The school also has an intramural program that runs year-round.