Some of the most beneficial aspects of life at UA can be found outside of the classroom. To empower and support students in maximizing their time at the Capstone, we’ve designed 5 Steps to Success for new UA students. Experts with decades of experience in Student Life have seen that students who take these steps in their first semester at UA are more likely to achieve long-term success.
Participate in Script A
Weeks of Welcome is an action-packed series of events that encompasses the first eight weeks of the fall semester and provides more than 100 events to help students connect, find resources and build community.
One of the signature events is Script A, where incoming students are granted exclusive access to Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium for an official welcome and class photo on the field. Prepare to be wowed!
Join a student organization
UA offers a robust variety of student organizations with more than 650 opportunities available. Joining a student organization is a great way to find your community and make our large campus feel small.
The best way to explore student organizations is at Get On Board Day, an involvement fair scheduled for Thursday night, Aug. 27, on the Quad. Along with the opportunity to learn more about different programs around campus, Get On Board Day features several giveaways.
Serve our community
UA has a strong commitment to serving the community. Along with bettering Tuscaloosa’s surrounding areas, community service can benefit participating students.
Our data show that students who serve even just one hour in the community during their time at UA have better GPAs and are more likely to graduate. BamaPulse is our community engagement platform, where hundreds of community service opportunities are available year-round.
Engage with the Career Center
UA’s Career Center offers students many resources to help prepare them for future professional endeavors. Our records indicate that students who engage with the Career Center in their first year have better post-graduate outcomes than those who do not.
The best way to get started with the Career Center is to register for Handshake, a career-related platform available for free to all UA students. It offers 24-hour access to search for jobs and apply for on-campus interviews.
Prioritize your well-being
Success in the classroom is aided by a healthy body and mind. UA offers many opportunities to prioritize your well-being on our campus, from physical wellness to social, spiritual and psychological wellness and everything in between. We recommend all students find at least one way per month to intentionally prioritize and care for their own well-being.
Learn about REAL Tide
The best way to track engagement and learning experiences beyond the classroom is through REAL Tide (Record of Engagement and Learning), which provides a co-curricular record to help students articulate the value of the UA experience.
REAL Tide helps students track their growth in six core areas — community engagement, global and intercultural learning, leadership development, holistic development, professional development, and research and creative activity. These areas help establish meaningful connections with campus personnel while also unlocking new opportunities to enhance your degree outside of the classroom.