University of West Alabama
Encyclopedia
The University of West Alabama (abbreviated as UWA) is a public university located in Livingston, Alabama
, United States. It is currently on probation with its regional accrediting body
.
Founded in 1835, the school began as a church-supported school for young women called Livingston Female Academy. The original Board of Trustees of Livingston Female Academy was selected in 1836, and four of the seven board members were Presbyterians.
The university serves students in several academic colleges and divisions on a 600 acres (2.4 km²) campus in west-central Alabama. UWA offers a wide arrangement of degree programs including associate, bachelor's, master's, and educational specialist degrees. The university hosts concerts, lectures, fall and spring theatrical productions, fall and spring commencement exercises, and intercollegiate athletic events.
Its athletics teams — known as the UWA Tigers
— are members of the Gulf South Conference
East Division and compete in the NCAA's Division II in all sports except two. The men's and women's rodeo teams compete in the Ozark Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association
.
and embroidery
. Jones Hall was the first building constructed on the campus in 1837, and was located near what is now Brock Hall. (The building was lost to fire in the 1890s). On January 15, 1840, state lawmakers incorporated Livingston Female Academy, granted it tax-exempt status, and gave the board the authority to establish rules and regulations.
Livingston Female Academy awarded its first diploma in 1843 to Elizabeth Houston, the daughter of M. L. Houston, a prominent local businessman and a school trustee. The first principal of the school was A. A. Kimbrell, followed by Margaret McShan. In 1853, Dr. Robert Dickens Webb arrived in Sumter County and served as a trustee for more than 40 years. He led the school during the American Civil War
and Reconstruction through the 1870s, helping to keep the institution open. The main administration building that sits in the middle of campus today is named in his honor. In 1878, the institution changed its name to Livingston Normal College.
The 1880s brought a time of change to campus. Education reformer Julia Strudwick Tutwiler
joined the faculty in 1881 as co-principal with her uncle, Carlos G. Smith, former president of the University of Alabama
. In 1882-1883, state lawmakers provided $2,500 for tuition and supplies; Alabama was the first southern state to fund the education of women. Tutwiler and state legislator Addison Gillespie Smith helped secure this appropriation. In 1883, the school was renamed the Alabama Normal College for Girls and Livingston Female Academy, to better reflect the new mission of the institution, providing students with choices of either two- or four-year programs. "Normal training" was the term used at that time to describe teacher education that represented high school plus two years of college education. The Normal College presented its first diplomas at the 1886 commencement
exercises.
In 1890, Tutwiler was named president of the college. She is the only woman to have been president. During her tenure, Tutwiler aided in establishing the Alabama Girls' Industrial Institute (now the University of Montevallo
) and in having the first women admitted to the University of Alabama
in 1893.
In the early 20th century new leadership brought a new name to the college as well. George William Brock was hired by the trustees in 1907 to oversee the institution's financial affairs. Following Tutwiler's retirement in 1910, Brock assumed the presidency. Alumni began meeting in honor of Tutwiler in 1910 and formed the first alumni association. Men were admitted to the institution as regular students in 1915. Foust Hall was built in 1922 as a lab school where college professors taught, and students observed and participated in classroom instruction. The building's open-air plan with a central courtyard became a building design familiar to many Alabamians. In 1928, both Bibb Graves Hall and Brock Hall were added to the physical plant under this plan.
In 1929, the Alabama State Board of Education took over supervision and renamed the facility the Livingston State Teachers College. Under George William Brock, in 1929 the school founded a student newspaper called Campus Lights (now called The Muse).
A football team was added in 1931. With striped uniforms, the college took the tiger
as its mascot, and the sports teams continue to be known as the UWA Tigers
; red and white are the school colors. After president Brock retired in 1936, Noble Franklin Greenhill took over and served until 1944. Under Greenhill, campus life flourished as social sororities and intercollegiate sports in baseball, basketball, and football were added. The first homecoming
celebration was held in 1939.
World War II
brought such a decline in enrollment that the college nearly closed. When William Wilson Hill assumed the presidency in 1944 after Greenhill left, he commissioned studies to determine if the institution should continue as a four-year college. Hill began with only 92 students, so he set out to recruit veterans. With more men on campus, the interest in sports was revived, and servicemen were aided financially in going to college by the GI Bill, which increased the educational level of a generation of men. Tiger Stadium
was built in 1952. The first campus fraternities were established during Wilson's presidency.
The college gained a reputation for teacher education in the region and state through the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The mission of the institution was broadened in 1957 when, under the leadership of Delos Culp (1954–1963), the school's name was changed to Livingston State College. Graduate-level classes were added, and the state board of education began awarding master's degree
s in professional education
under a new graduate division. Kelly Hester Land was awarded the first master's degree, and a writing scholarship competition and building are named for her.
Under John E. Deloney (1963–1973), the college had substantial growth, so it expanded its campus, to more than 540 acres (2.2 km²) with a 54 acres (218,530.4 m²) lake surrounded by nature trails, open to the community as well as college population. In 1967, the U.S. Office of Education approved a grant for the institution to receive campus renovations and updates. During the same year, an act of the Legislature created Livingston University with its own Board of Trustees. In 1969, a longtime historic landmark in Sumter County
, the Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge (built 1861), was restored and moved on campus by the Sumter County Historical Society. It spans the northeast corner of Duck Pond behind Reed Hall. The number of faculty was increased during Deloney's presidency as well, and the school's colleges and divisions started taking shape.
In 1973, Asa N. Green (1973–1994) became president; he oversaw the establishment of the Ira D. Pruitt School of Nursing and dual-degree programs with Auburn University
and the University of Alabama at Birmingham
. He worked to establish a consortium of 13 schools to create a marine biology
program and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. More buildings were added and renovated across campus. During the late 1970s, an area was reserved on campus for the construction of Lake LU.
Pre-professional programs were established, and the first Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing class earned associate's degrees in 1976. Overall, 153 degrees were awarded during commencement exercises in May that same year. In 1977, Dr. Ralph M. Lyon, University educator and administrator, retired from his position, and was honored for his tenure. His wife presented the University with a handcrafted ceremonial mace
in his dedication. The mace is used at yearly commencement exercises. Not long after the 1977 commencement, history professor William E. Gilbert was found dead off campus.
In the early 1980s, a new computer system was installed on campus to support the University's computer information processing systems major. During the 1985-1986 academic year, the University observed its 150th anniversary. After Green resigned, Don C. Hines (1994–1998) assumed the post of president and brought additional change. Today, the rodeo
complex on campus is named in his honor. Among students, Hines is most remembered for bringing collegiate rodeo to campus. UWA competes in the Ozark Region and has won regional championships in both the men and women's divisions. In addition, individual competitors have placed nationally in bull-riding and barrel racing
.
Hines brought more computer
s to campus and established new programs in psychology
and forestry
. In 1995, despite a lack of support for a name change, the institution, considering that its regional educational mission was not reflected in its name (some thought that it sounded like a private school), adopted the name The University of West Alabama. Ed Roach (1998–2002) assumed the presidency in 1998 and set about integrating technology into every aspect of UWA life. He established the Technology 2000 campaign and helped establish UWA as one of the first wireless
institutions in the region. Women's sports received a boost under his leadership. During this period, the UWA Softball Complex was completed. In February 2002, he stepped down from his position as president. The Board of Trustees met to choose a replacement on an interim basis from University employees David Taylor, Richard Holland, Roy Underwood, and Clemit Spruiell.
Enrollment continues to grow each year. After hovering around the 2,000 mark for a few years, that number was exceeded in the fall of 2002. In 2005, enrollment reached the 3,000 mark for the first time with a combined 3,090 students on campus and online. That number continued to rise the following year to 3,633 and topped 4,000 in 2007 when 4,186 students were enrolled. When the fall semester rolled around, the University was just shy of the 5,000 mark at 4,888. In 2009, a higher education center was added in neighboring Demopolis
. Dr. Don C. Hines passed away on August 26 from cancer.
UWA offers more than 60 undergraduate programs and 10 graduate programs through its academic colleges and divisions at the bachelor's, master's, and educational specialist levels. They are as follows:
Degrees in each academic college and division are awarded at the Bachelor of Arts
, Bachelor of Science
, Bachelor of Business Administration
, Master's degree
and Educational specialist
levels. Students are awarded an Associate's degree
from the Ira D. Pruitt School of Nursing. Upon graduation from the University of West Alabama, students may choose to earn a Bachelor's degree
in nursing
through a partnership with the University of Alabama
.
on U.S. Highway 11. The campus is on the western border of Alabama
. Larger cities close by include Meridian
(30 minutes), Tuscaloosa
(50 minutes), and Birmingham
. The small population in the city of Livingston and Southern hospitality
give UWA its small-town atmosphere that many students come to appreciate. The 600 acres (2.4 km²) UWA campus includes nature trails, a 54 acres (218,530.4 m²) lake, and sculptures. Recent campus beautification projects have enhanced the natural beauty that can be found on campus.
Other buildings located on campus are listed below:
, while others come from all over the world
. 48% are Caucasian
, 50% are minorities, and the final 2% are international
students. 38% of the students (both campus and online) make up the Julia Tutwiler College of Education. The remaining three colleges are all in close proximity to each other. The Division of Nursing stakes claim to the final 4% of the student population.
In figures from 2008, the University has a faculty of 97. The numbers are about even, as 48.5% of the total faculty are men; the remaining 51.5% are women. 77% of the faculty possess terminal degree
s. Two-thirds hold the rank of associate professor or higher. 37 faculty members were tenured with 40 on tenure track. 16% are members of minority groups. The student-teacher ratio on campus is 18:1.
channel lineup in Livingston and York
.
The University of West Alabama features 12 sports teams (13 beginning in 2011-2012 with the addition of women's soccer). Both the male and female athletic teams are called the West Alabama Tigers. Ten of the twelve teams participate in the NCAA
's Division II as a member of the Gulf South Conference
East Division. Men's and women's rodeo compete in the Ozark Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association
. The NCAA's Division II sports at the University of West Alabama include baseball
, basketball
, cross country, football
, and tennis
for men; basketball
, cross country, soccer in 2011, softball
, tennis
, and volleyball
for women. The University's official mascot is Luie the Tiger.
As an NAIA
member in 1971, the football team won the school's only national championship in any sport.
In 1992, the baseball team made history advancing to their only Division II College World Series
. Their chances for the school's first baseball national championship ended in tough luck as they dropped two of three games. In 1997, the Tiger softball program made its only trip to the national tournament and posted a 1-2 record on the campus of Barry University
. The men's and women's basketball teams have each made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The football team made its first trip to the NCAA Division II Championship since 1975 during the 2009 season. They upset Albany State
in the first round before ultimately falling to Carson-Newman in the second round.
In addition to varsity sports, the University offers a wide variety of intramural sports programs. Recently, an 18-hole disc golf
course was added to the University campus.
of the University of West Alabama. Formed in 1910, the UWA National Alumni Association currently has 16 chapters. It is headquartered at the University of West Alabama's Webb Hall. The association works to assist the University of West Alabama in achieving its goals by serving as a catalyst for building alumni relationships, raising scholarship money for students, assisting with recruitment of potential students, and organizing programs and events such as homecoming.
Livingston, Alabama
Livingston is a city in Sumter County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,297. The city is the county seat of Sumter County.-Geography:Livingston is located at .According to the U.S...
, United States. It is currently on probation with its regional accrediting body
Regional accreditation
Regional accreditation is a term used in the United States to refer to educational accreditation conducted by any of several accreditation bodies established to serve six defined geographic areas of the country for accreditation of schools, colleges, and universities...
.
Founded in 1835, the school began as a church-supported school for young women called Livingston Female Academy. The original Board of Trustees of Livingston Female Academy was selected in 1836, and four of the seven board members were Presbyterians.
The university serves students in several academic colleges and divisions on a 600 acres (2.4 km²) campus in west-central Alabama. UWA offers a wide arrangement of degree programs including associate, bachelor's, master's, and educational specialist degrees. The university hosts concerts, lectures, fall and spring theatrical productions, fall and spring commencement exercises, and intercollegiate athletic events.
Its athletics teams — known as the UWA Tigers
West Alabama Tigers
The University of West Alabama currently features 13 sports teams. Men's soccer will become the 14th sport in the fall of 2012. Both the male and female athletic teams are called the West Alabama Tigers. Eleven of the thirteen teams participate in the NCAA's Division II as a member of the Gulf...
— are members of the Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
East Division and compete in the NCAA's Division II in all sports except two. The men's and women's rodeo teams compete in the Ozark Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association
National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, based in Walla Walla, WA, was established in 1949. NIRA sanctions more than 100 college rodeos every year in the United States, and represents over 3,500 student athletes attending more than 135 member colleges and universities...
.
Founding
The University of West Alabama began as Livingston Female Academy in 1835. As a church-related female academy, it admitted its first students in 1839. The school was established by ethnic Scots-Irish Presbyterians, who controlled the majority of seats on the first board of trustees selected in 1836. The purpose of the school was to educate future teachers, while also offering course work in art, music, languages, and home economics. Tuition at this time was $20 annually with an additional $25 charged for piano lessons and $10 for French languageFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and embroidery
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
. Jones Hall was the first building constructed on the campus in 1837, and was located near what is now Brock Hall. (The building was lost to fire in the 1890s). On January 15, 1840, state lawmakers incorporated Livingston Female Academy, granted it tax-exempt status, and gave the board the authority to establish rules and regulations.
University beginnings
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and Reconstruction through the 1870s, helping to keep the institution open. The main administration building that sits in the middle of campus today is named in his honor. In 1878, the institution changed its name to Livingston Normal College.
The 1880s brought a time of change to campus. Education reformer Julia Strudwick Tutwiler
Julia Tutwiler
Julia Strudwick Tutwiler was an advocate for education and prison reform in Alabama. Graduating in the first class of Vassar College, she served as co-principal of the Livingston Female Academy, and then the first woman president of Livingston Normal College .-Early life and education:Tutwiler...
joined the faculty in 1881 as co-principal with her uncle, Carlos G. Smith, former president of the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. In 1882-1883, state lawmakers provided $2,500 for tuition and supplies; Alabama was the first southern state to fund the education of women. Tutwiler and state legislator Addison Gillespie Smith helped secure this appropriation. In 1883, the school was renamed the Alabama Normal College for Girls and Livingston Female Academy, to better reflect the new mission of the institution, providing students with choices of either two- or four-year programs. "Normal training" was the term used at that time to describe teacher education that represented high school plus two years of college education. The Normal College presented its first diplomas at the 1886 commencement
Commencement
Commencement may refer to:* Graduation, the ceremony at which students receive academic degrees** Commencement speech* "Commencement" * Commencement , by Deadsy* Commencement, a novel by J...
exercises.
In 1890, Tutwiler was named president of the college. She is the only woman to have been president. During her tenure, Tutwiler aided in establishing the Alabama Girls' Industrial Institute (now the University of Montevallo
University of Montevallo
The University of Montevallo is a four-year public university located in Montevallo, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1896, it is Alabama's only public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Programs are offered through the Michael E...
) and in having the first women admitted to the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in 1893.
In the early 20th century new leadership brought a new name to the college as well. George William Brock was hired by the trustees in 1907 to oversee the institution's financial affairs. Following Tutwiler's retirement in 1910, Brock assumed the presidency. Alumni began meeting in honor of Tutwiler in 1910 and formed the first alumni association. Men were admitted to the institution as regular students in 1915. Foust Hall was built in 1922 as a lab school where college professors taught, and students observed and participated in classroom instruction. The building's open-air plan with a central courtyard became a building design familiar to many Alabamians. In 1928, both Bibb Graves Hall and Brock Hall were added to the physical plant under this plan.
State university
A football team was added in 1931. With striped uniforms, the college took the tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
as its mascot, and the sports teams continue to be known as the UWA Tigers
West Alabama Tigers
The University of West Alabama currently features 13 sports teams. Men's soccer will become the 14th sport in the fall of 2012. Both the male and female athletic teams are called the West Alabama Tigers. Eleven of the thirteen teams participate in the NCAA's Division II as a member of the Gulf...
; red and white are the school colors. After president Brock retired in 1936, Noble Franklin Greenhill took over and served until 1944. Under Greenhill, campus life flourished as social sororities and intercollegiate sports in baseball, basketball, and football were added. The first homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
celebration was held in 1939.
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
brought such a decline in enrollment that the college nearly closed. When William Wilson Hill assumed the presidency in 1944 after Greenhill left, he commissioned studies to determine if the institution should continue as a four-year college. Hill began with only 92 students, so he set out to recruit veterans. With more men on campus, the interest in sports was revived, and servicemen were aided financially in going to college by the GI Bill, which increased the educational level of a generation of men. Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium (West Alabama)
Tiger Stadium is a 7,000-capacity stadium located in Livingston, Alabama. It is home to the University of West Alabama Tigers football.The stadium was built in 1952 to fill the need for an on-campus stadium, until 1952 the Tigers played home games at Livingston High School. It is built on a patch...
was built in 1952. The first campus fraternities were established during Wilson's presidency.
The college gained a reputation for teacher education in the region and state through the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The mission of the institution was broadened in 1957 when, under the leadership of Delos Culp (1954–1963), the school's name was changed to Livingston State College. Graduate-level classes were added, and the state board of education began awarding master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s in professional education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
under a new graduate division. Kelly Hester Land was awarded the first master's degree, and a writing scholarship competition and building are named for her.
Under John E. Deloney (1963–1973), the college had substantial growth, so it expanded its campus, to more than 540 acres (2.2 km²) with a 54 acres (218,530.4 m²) lake surrounded by nature trails, open to the community as well as college population. In 1967, the U.S. Office of Education approved a grant for the institution to receive campus renovations and updates. During the same year, an act of the Legislature created Livingston University with its own Board of Trustees. In 1969, a longtime historic landmark in Sumter County
Sumter County, Alabama
Sumter County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.Its name is in honor of General Thomas Sumter of South Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 13,763. Its county seat is Livingston.-History:...
, the Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge (built 1861), was restored and moved on campus by the Sumter County Historical Society. It spans the northeast corner of Duck Pond behind Reed Hall. The number of faculty was increased during Deloney's presidency as well, and the school's colleges and divisions started taking shape.
In 1973, Asa N. Green (1973–1994) became president; he oversaw the establishment of the Ira D. Pruitt School of Nursing and dual-degree programs with Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
and the University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
. He worked to establish a consortium of 13 schools to create a marine biology
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
program and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. More buildings were added and renovated across campus. During the late 1970s, an area was reserved on campus for the construction of Lake LU.
Pre-professional programs were established, and the first Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing class earned associate's degrees in 1976. Overall, 153 degrees were awarded during commencement exercises in May that same year. In 1977, Dr. Ralph M. Lyon, University educator and administrator, retired from his position, and was honored for his tenure. His wife presented the University with a handcrafted ceremonial mace
Ceremonial mace
The ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon...
in his dedication. The mace is used at yearly commencement exercises. Not long after the 1977 commencement, history professor William E. Gilbert was found dead off campus.
In the early 1980s, a new computer system was installed on campus to support the University's computer information processing systems major. During the 1985-1986 academic year, the University observed its 150th anniversary. After Green resigned, Don C. Hines (1994–1998) assumed the post of president and brought additional change. Today, the rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
complex on campus is named in his honor. Among students, Hines is most remembered for bringing collegiate rodeo to campus. UWA competes in the Ozark Region and has won regional championships in both the men and women's divisions. In addition, individual competitors have placed nationally in bull-riding and barrel racing
Barrel racing
Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a clover-leaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Though both boys and girls compete at the youth level and men compete in some amateur venues, in collegiate and professional ranks, it is primarily a rodeo...
.
Hines brought more computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s to campus and established new programs in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
. In 1995, despite a lack of support for a name change, the institution, considering that its regional educational mission was not reflected in its name (some thought that it sounded like a private school), adopted the name The University of West Alabama. Ed Roach (1998–2002) assumed the presidency in 1998 and set about integrating technology into every aspect of UWA life. He established the Technology 2000 campaign and helped establish UWA as one of the first wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
institutions in the region. Women's sports received a boost under his leadership. During this period, the UWA Softball Complex was completed. In February 2002, he stepped down from his position as president. The Board of Trustees met to choose a replacement on an interim basis from University employees David Taylor, Richard Holland, Roy Underwood, and Clemit Spruiell.
Present day
Richard Holland, an alumnus of the institution and former dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, was selected by trustees to take over the position. Six months later, he was named the next University president by a unanimous vote. Holland is the first UWA graduate to serve as president.Enrollment continues to grow each year. After hovering around the 2,000 mark for a few years, that number was exceeded in the fall of 2002. In 2005, enrollment reached the 3,000 mark for the first time with a combined 3,090 students on campus and online. That number continued to rise the following year to 3,633 and topped 4,000 in 2007 when 4,186 students were enrolled. When the fall semester rolled around, the University was just shy of the 5,000 mark at 4,888. In 2009, a higher education center was added in neighboring Demopolis
Demopolis, Alabama
Demopolis is the largest city in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. The population was 7,483 at the time of the 2010 United States Census....
. Dr. Don C. Hines passed away on August 26 from cancer.
Academics
The mission of the University of West Alabama is "to provide opportunities for students to pursue a quality education and assist in developing the important qualities of independent thinking, respect for the ideas of others, personal integrity and character in order to realize their quests for a philosophy of life and self-fulfillment."UWA offers more than 60 undergraduate programs and 10 graduate programs through its academic colleges and divisions at the bachelor's, master's, and educational specialist levels. They are as follows:
|
Degrees in each academic college and division are awarded at the Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
, Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
, Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and Educational specialist
Educational Specialist
The Education Specialist, also referred to as Educational Specialist, Specialist in Education, or Ed.S., is an advanced academic degree in the U.S...
levels. Students are awarded an Associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
from the Ira D. Pruitt School of Nursing. Upon graduation from the University of West Alabama, students may choose to earn a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
through a partnership with the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
.
Campus
The University of West Alabama is a single-campus university located in the heart of downtown LivingstonLivingston, Alabama
Livingston is a city in Sumter County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,297. The city is the county seat of Sumter County.-Geography:Livingston is located at .According to the U.S...
on U.S. Highway 11. The campus is on the western border of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Larger cities close by include Meridian
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
(30 minutes), Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
(50 minutes), and Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The small population in the city of Livingston and Southern hospitality
Southern hospitality
Southern hospitality is a phrase used in American English to describe the stereotype of residents of the Southern United States as particularly warm and welcoming to visitors to their homes, or to the South in general.__FORCETOC__...
give UWA its small-town atmosphere that many students come to appreciate. The 600 acres (2.4 km²) UWA campus includes nature trails, a 54 acres (218,530.4 m²) lake, and sculptures. Recent campus beautification projects have enhanced the natural beauty that can be found on campus.
Facilities
The University of West Alabama campus includes many buildings. Some are used for academic purposes, while others serve different needs. These facilities include the following:- Bibb Graves Hall houses the Julia Tutwiler College of Education, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, School of Graduate Studies, and Division of Online Programs. In addition to the University's main auditorium, classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices are located inside.
- Brock Hall contains the Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing as well as the Housing Office and Upward Bound Program.
- Lucille Foust Hall is made up of offices and classrooms for the art department. Offices for the Athletic Department and Student Success Center also reside in this building.
- Pruitt Hall is the location of the Physical Education and Athletic Training Department. There are a number of classrooms, practice and dressing rooms, and studios. The building is also the primary location for the campus music program.
- The Guy Hunt Technical Education Complex and Hunt Annex is used for the Division of Technology. Both contain instructional spaces and shop facilities as well as classrooms and laboratories. The Early Intervention Center can be found at this building.
- The Julia Tutwiler Library holds the University's books and periodicals in addition to many other resources. Conference rooms and a computer laboratory exist on the first floor. The second floor contains a large collection of books as well as lounge areas and study areas for students.
- Lurleen Burns Wallace Hall provides instruction for a number of subject areas on campus. These range from English and foreign languages, history, and social sciences to speech and theatre. The College of Business and College of Liberal Arts call this building their home.
Other buildings located on campus are listed below:
- The Bell Conference Center can be found in the middle of campus and is host to convocations, luncheons, and special events.
- Kelly Hester Land Hall contains the Division of Educational Research and Department of Continuing Education. The Center for the Study of the Black Belt is located inside this building as well.
- Moon Hall holds a warehouse area for the Physical Plant Department.
- The President's Home is a residence for the University President and his family.
- The George C. Wallace Student Union Building (known as the SUB) provides a number of student activities and recreation. A student weight room is located downstairs next to the campus pool and racketball courts. There is a lounge area, computer lab, conference room, and activity area upstairs. Also located in the building are the University Bookstore and Campus Post Office.
- Webb Hall is the primary home of the central administrative offices on campus.
- Young Hall (affectionately referred to as the CAF) houses the campus dining facility and kitchens. A private dining room is used for campus-sponsored special events.
- Alfa Environmental Hall contains the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Training Center.
- The Armory, a retired part of a local army base, contains the University's Campus Police and UWA Campus School. The school offers classrooms and a play area for three and four-year olds. Recently, a kindergarten program was added for school-age children.
Demographics
The University of West Alabama has a diverse student population. As of the fall semester of 2008, the University has a total enrollment of 4,888 undergraduate and graduate students. 63% of the total enrollment is female, while males make up the remaining 37%. Most students who attend UWA are from AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, while others come from all over the world
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. 48% are Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
, 50% are minorities, and the final 2% are international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
students. 38% of the students (both campus and online) make up the Julia Tutwiler College of Education. The remaining three colleges are all in close proximity to each other. The Division of Nursing stakes claim to the final 4% of the student population.
In figures from 2008, the University has a faculty of 97. The numbers are about even, as 48.5% of the total faculty are men; the remaining 51.5% are women. 77% of the faculty possess terminal degree
Terminal degree
A terminal degree is, in some countries, the highest academic degree in a given field of study. This phrase is in common use in the United States, but is not universal in an international context: the concept is not in general use in the United Kingdom, for example, and the exact definition varies...
s. Two-thirds hold the rank of associate professor or higher. 37 faculty members were tenured with 40 on tenure track. 16% are members of minority groups. The student-teacher ratio on campus is 18:1.
Housing life
Although the University does not require students to live on campus, UWA strongly encourages students to live in a residence hall their freshman and sophomore years. Research has shown that students who live on campus are much more likely to graduate from college than students who live off-campus. Students who receive a Trustee Scholarship from the University or participate in certain activities such as varsity-level athletics may be required to live on campus. Three buildings make up the traditional residence halls on the University campus. These are Spieth Hall, Selden Hall and Sisk Hall. Most students who attend the University reside in these residence halls. Three buildings make up the residential scholar communities on the University campus. These are Reed Hall, Stickney Hall and Hoover Apartments. First-year freshmen on a Trustee Scholarship are given priority to stay in Reed Hall. Sophomore students and above are given preferences in Stickney Hall, Hoover Apartments, and Patterson Apartments.Media and entertainment
The official student newspaper is Muse. It is published weekly by students and advised by members of the UWA faculty. First published in 1940, the newspaper was called Livingston Life until 1995 when it changed to "The Life". This lasted until 2010, when "The Life' was rebranded into "Muse". Students also produce the official University of West Alabama yearbook called The Paragon. Much like the campus newspaper, the yearbook is published by a student staff with a faculty advisor. It is unknown when the first yearbook was published. In addition, The Sucarnochee Review is a creative-writing and art journal published by the University's Department of Languages and Literature. The journal got its start on campus in the 1970s. Students serve as staff members for the journal under a faculty advisor and faculty advisory board. Also on campus, the University's theatre program presents two full-length plays each year. These are performed by members of the student body with an advisor during the fall and spring semesters. Finally, the University of West Alabama provides educational video services to the community through Studio 96. The broadcast airs on the local MediacomMediacom
Mediacom is a cable television and communications provider in the United States. Founded in July 1995, it serves primarily smaller markets in the Midwest and Southern United States. Formerly a publicly traded firm, it went private in a $600.0 million transaction in March 2011 and is, as of 2011,...
channel lineup in Livingston and York
York, Alabama
York is a city in Sumter County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,854.-Geography:York is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
.
Greek life
The University of West Alabama currently has seven fraternities and six sororities on its campus.Fraternities Fraternity A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
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Sororities
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Student organizations
The University of West Alabama has multiple student organizations and honor societies on its campus for students to join. With over 50 of these on campus, students can choose from a variety to become a member of. There are athletic support groups, governing and programming organizations, musical, religious, and special interest organizations just to name a few. UWA also has quite a number of honor societies in addition to these social organizations.Athletics and traditions
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
's Division II as a member of the Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
East Division. Men's and women's rodeo compete in the Ozark Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association
National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, based in Walla Walla, WA, was established in 1949. NIRA sanctions more than 100 college rodeos every year in the United States, and represents over 3,500 student athletes attending more than 135 member colleges and universities...
. The NCAA's Division II sports at the University of West Alabama include baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, cross country, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
for men; basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, cross country, soccer in 2011, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
for women. The University's official mascot is Luie the Tiger.
As an NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
member in 1971, the football team won the school's only national championship in any sport.
In 1992, the baseball team made history advancing to their only Division II College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
. Their chances for the school's first baseball national championship ended in tough luck as they dropped two of three games. In 1997, the Tiger softball program made its only trip to the national tournament and posted a 1-2 record on the campus of Barry University
Barry University
Barry University is a private, Catholic university, which was founded in 1940 in Miami Shores, Florida, a suburb north of Downtown Miami. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami....
. The men's and women's basketball teams have each made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The football team made its first trip to the NCAA Division II Championship since 1975 during the 2009 season. They upset Albany State
Albany State University
Albany State University is a four-year, state-supported, historically black university located in Albany, Georgia, United States. It is one of three HBCU's in the University System of Georgia.-History:-Establishment:...
in the first round before ultimately falling to Carson-Newman in the second round.
In addition to varsity sports, the University offers a wide variety of intramural sports programs. Recently, an 18-hole disc golf
Disc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
course was added to the University campus.
Notable people
- Jeff BransonJeff Branson (baseball player)Jeffery Glenn Branson is an American former Major League Baseball infielder who is minor league baseball coach, currently the hitting coach with the Indianapolis Indians Triple-A team within the Pittsburgh Pirates organization....
, retired Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
infielder - Andrew KillgoreAndrew KillgoreAndrew I. Killgore was a United States Foreign Service Officer and diplomat. He was ambassador of the United States to Qatar when he retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 1980. He was one of the original founders of the American Educational Trust, best known for publishing the magazine The...
, former United States Ambassador to QatarQatarQatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its... - Charles MartinCharles Martin (football player)-External links:*...
, retired National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
defensive tackle - Buddy NixBuddy NixBuddy Nix is currently the General Manager for the Buffalo Bills. He previously was employed by the Buffalo Bills from 1993 to 2000. He joined John Butler and A. J. Smith with the San Diego Chargers from 2001 to 2008, and returned to the Bills in 2009.Nix has three children: Steve and Stan , and...
, General Manager of the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Phil Robinson, referee in the National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
- Stelio SavanteStelio SavanteStelio Savante is a South African actor, producer, and writer living in the United States. He is a native English speaker and fluent in Afrikaans and Greek. In 2007 he became the first male South African born SAG award nominee. For his recurring role on Ugly Betty...
, Hollywood actor - Johnny ShepherdJohnny ShepherdJohnny Shepherd was a star college football running back and the Rookie of the Year in the Canadian Football League.-College career:...
, Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
award winner, NFL and Arena football player - Lois Wilson, silent movie star and Miss AlabamaMiss AlabamaThe Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Alabama in the Miss America pageant.Miss Alabamas have performed strongly at the Miss America pageant, particularly in the early 21st century, when the state produced their third Miss America, a first...
in the 1920s
Alumni
The UWA National Alumni Association is the official alumni associationAlumni association
An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students. In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools , fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organisation...
of the University of West Alabama. Formed in 1910, the UWA National Alumni Association currently has 16 chapters. It is headquartered at the University of West Alabama's Webb Hall. The association works to assist the University of West Alabama in achieving its goals by serving as a catalyst for building alumni relationships, raising scholarship money for students, assisting with recruitment of potential students, and organizing programs and events such as homecoming.