REAL Tide (Record of Engagement and Learning) is a comprehensive reflection of a student’s transformative engagement and learning experiences at The University of Alabama. It offers a developmental framework that complements the Built by Bama general education experience by supporting student learning beyond the classroom. Real Tide provides a structured yet flexible space for students to engage in personal reflection, leadership, service, and professional growth in co-curricular settings which complement their academically grounded learning. Together, these processes form a cohesive learning ecosystem where academics, experiential learning, and campus involvement are not siloed, but seamlessly interconnected. It helps our students track growth in key areas that resonate with employers and graduate schools who are key stakeholders in the education journey. These stakeholders can expect UA students to be equipped with applicable knowledge and skills gained from their beyond-the-classroom experiences as well as those gained from their academic coursework.
Students can experience learning through engagement wave-tagged opportunities, events, campus-based leadership roles, student organizations, and other out-of-the-classroom projects. These experiences will be documented in the students’ REAL Tide Experiences portal, and they will be awarded a shareable, visual record at the end of each semester.
Engagement Waves
The engagement and learning experiences are focused within five central areas, the engagement waves. REAL Tide tracks growth in five waves:
Global and Intercultural Learning
Enhance your capacity to connect and communicate effectively with individuals from various cultures and backgrounds.
Holistic Development
Learn how to care for your whole-person wellness so you can thrive at UA and beyond.
Community Engagement
Participate in meaningful service in communities – locally and abroad – and gain insight to equip you for a commitment to lifelong positive impact.
Leadership Development
Identify and hone your personal strengths and learn new skills to expand your leadership capacity.
Professional Development
Engage in opportunities to practice the skills and knowledge you’re developing in and out of the classroom.
Grow and Transform
In addition to a focus on these areas of emphasis, our goal is for students to gain transformative knowledge. As students participate in activities, take on leadership roles or have new experiences, Real Tide-tagged experiences provide students with three levels of integration: Discovery, Engagement and Transformation. Staff will look for evidence of growth in their students to determine the integration level.
Select either of the buttons below for more information about REALTide for students or staff members.
The REAL List
Each semester, we celebrate the students who go above and beyond in their commitment to engaged learning through The REAL List—a distinguished recognition of top achievers in the REAL Tide Record for Engagement and Learning. Whether leading campus initiatives, contributing to their communities, or pushing the boundaries of their academic journey, these students exemplify what it means to be Built by Bama, Defined by Impact. Honorees are recognized both overall and by category, showcasing the many experiences that define the REAL Tide.