The University of Alabama is currently experiencing unprecedented growth, which, according to president Dr. Stuart Bell, is fueled by a highly dedicated and excellent student body.
Yellowhammer News recently had the opportunity to conduct a sit-down interview with Bell, who outlined how the university is providing unparalleled opportunity to its students.
It is no secret that UA holds a unique standing among its peers in boasting one of the most prestigious athletics departments in the nation. However, the trails blazed on The Capstone do not end in the realm of sports.
As demonstrated by the number of UA alums that have gone on to become high-profile titans of industry, the university’s academic offerings provide students with the knowledge and skillset to usher transformational economic change throughout the state and country.
UA broke 47 enrollment records last year alone, with the university soon expected to shatter even more records as the campus bolsters its standing as one of the most attractive academic institutions in the nation. Additionally, nearly 1,000 National Merit students are on campus for the 2022 academic year.
According to Bell, UA’s ability to recruit excellent scholars and hold a global reach is due to the university’s commitment to providing an unmatched student experience.
“I think in many ways, you know, ‘If you build it, they will come,'” Bell told Yellowhammer News. “I mean, we’ve had a lot of success at this university — success in the incredible student body that we build at the University of Alabama. And it is all about a team, because you mentioned two really important parts there. I think there is sort of a geographic mix of what you’re building. There’s a lot of other ways that we build, what I think, is the strongest student body of any institution in the United States we have right here at the University of Alabama. I think it is our success rate of what we have.”
The university, under Bell’s leadership, launched the Rising Tide Capital Campaign late last year in an effort to fund the construction of world-class facilities and the issuance of scholarships. The institution recently surpassed $1.1 billion in fundraising, which brings it closer to its ambitious goal of $1.5 billion.
UA has proven that an investment in the university will translate into enormous economic benefits. Bell advised that every dollar invested into the institution yields $15 worth of economic impact. Last year alone, UA accounted for $2.8 billion worth of economic development, including the creation of nearly 13,000 jobs.
This is followed by eight consecutive years of growth in research, which has doubled over the past four years alone.
The university has excelled in successfully partnering with in-state industry to forge new economic opportunities. As the Yellowhammer State increasingly bolsters its industrial prowess, UA is helping Alabama usher transformational change in the realm of research, particularly in the area of electric vehicles, by partnering with Mercedes and the Alabama Power Company to spearhead innovation in the field.
“All that is aimed back at building the partnerships … [We’re] working with many industries to make sure that the electrification of vehicles is supported, and certainly in the state of Alabama,” noted Bell. “We are expanding and having great success in that research front, which also engages companies very much through the economic development activities of our campus.”
Additionally, UA’s research efforts have served to make the state an incredibly attractive destination for prospective industry.
“It’s all about building those consortiums and building those groups that address these critical issues certainly for our state and nation, but also, companies saying, ‘You know, Alabama, that’s a place where we could be. That’s a place where we can expand,'” added the university president. “That creates the jobs that’s going to be the fabric of this institution and the fabric of this state as we move forward.”
Placing on display its prestige in the field of research, UA earlier this year was awarded a $360 million, five-year grant to lead a consortium regarding water use and resource management.
As UA will soon become home to the U.S. Geological Survey’s new Hydrological Instrumentation Facility, the university is set to become the hub of the nation’s water research efforts.
“What are the challenges in the state of Alabama in water? Of course, we know we have those, but also nationally and globally,” said Bell. “Water, if you think about it, could be the new currency if you take a look at what’s occurring across the world today. And it could be pretty strategic … It could become a political issue. I suppose it could become a military issue if not handled correctly. So, the University of Alabama positioning ourselves in that area is critical.”
When asked by Yellowhammer News what a day-in-the-life of UA’s president entails, Bell noted that one experience he enjoys the most throughout the day is immersing himself within the student body.
“The reason I came back to the University environment is because I am passionate, passionate about young people and their experiences on our campus,” he said. “[T]his campus invests so much into the recruiting and the success of our students that that’s a big part of my day.”
As UA has staked its claim on being a leading academic institution which forges partnerships that will hold a long-lasting impact on the state, The Capstone has positioned itself as a world-class generator of economic activity and provider of boundless opportunity for students.
Under Bell’s leadership and vision for the university, UA has its sights set on further bolstering an institution that has become a powerhouse name in higher education.
Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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