Academics
How can I get a copy of my student’s grades?
FERPA, or the Family Education Rights Privacy Act, is federal legislation that gives ownership of records to the student at the college level. The easiest way for parents to receive information about their student’s grades is for the student to provide it. Students can look up their academic transcript online, print it off and email a copy to their parents. Student records are available to students through myBama. Students now have the option of designating access to their academic record to parents and/or guardians via their myBama account. The “Record Release to Parent/Guardian” link resides under the Student Services folder located on the Student Tab of myBama.
How does my student register for classes?
Registration takes place around the middle of the semester prior to the one in which your student plans to take classes. The process sets up their course schedule and reserves a place for your student in each of those classes. Your student will need to meet with their advisor and utilize degree works (accessed through myBama) to make sure they are staying on track. Please know that registration is complete upon receipt of payment and fees. Visit the Office of the Registrar website for more information.
Where can my student purchase textbooks?
Your student can purchase books at the SUPe Store (Located in The UA Student Center or Tutwiler Hall). They can also be reserved online through the SUPe Store website.
Where can my student get help with study skills?
The Center for Academic Success provides resources for students who need assistance with certain classes. They have many different tutors and different tutoring classes that can help in any subject that your student might need help in. There is also a class that is geared toward helping freshmen in particular adjust to college life. To look at a list of the University’s class offerings, go to myBama, and then go to the catalog.
How can I contact a professor?
Your student should be in contact with their professors. When a student is enrolled in the class, the professor gives out a syllabus with his or her office hours and an email address. Due to FERPA (see above information) the professor should only communicate academic related information with your student.
How big are classes at UA?
Our student-to-faculty ratio is 19:1. Some of your classes might have large lecture sections with smaller discussion or lab sections that provide more individualized attention. Many more classes, including freshman composition, will be small and will include lots of student-faculty interaction.
Action Card & Dining (Meal Plans, Dining Dollars, and Bama Cash)
What is an Action card?
The student’s ACT card is the university I.D. They can use it to access university facilities, as a method of payment for dining dollars and Bama Cash transactions, and around campus. The Action Card is also used to get into sporting events and other events around campus.
Where can my student eat using their Dining Dollars or Bama Cash?
The Dining Dollars program is designed to supplement a student’s campus dining needs. Dining Dollars can be used at all Bama Dining locations, Smoothie King at the Rec Center, most on-campus vending machines, all Tuscaloosa area Domino’s locations, and Buffalo Phil’s. Bama Cash is accepted on- and off-campus at both dining and other retail locations. Visit the Bama Dining website for locations/hours. You will also find a map that identifying the locations for dining dollars and Bama Cash. You may also contact Bama Dining at 205-348-6816 for more information.
Where can I find the hours of the dining facilities posted online?
Hours for the dining facilities differ from semester to semester. You can view the dining facility hours for the current semester online. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact the Bama Dining office at 205-348-6816.
What’s the difference between Dining Dollars and Bama Cash?
All undergraduate students with 9 or more hours will join the Dining Dollars program. A balance of $325 per fall and spring semester (and $100 per summer term) is automatically billed to your student’s account. These funds are available for use at all campus Bama Dining locations. Bama Cash accounts are optional. With a pre-deposit of funds, students can use their Action Card to make purchases at participating locations both on and off campus. Parents can deposit money onto the ACT card for their student to be able to use Bama Cash. For more information, please check out the Bama Cash vs Dining Dollars video detailing the differences and similarities between Bama Cash and Dining Dollars.
How do I add Bama Cash?
Contact 205-348-2288 or 800-474-2288 or visit the Action Card website. To add money to your student’s Bama Cash account, you may make a deposit online or you may also call or come by the Action Card Office at 205-348-2288 or 800-474-2288. All you need to know is your student’s campus wide ID and name as it appears on their Action Card. Further information regarding online access services can be obtained from their website.
Do any of the meals for the meal plan carry over if they are not used?
For additional information on your student’s meal plan, please visit the Bama Dining website.
Athletics
How do I attend football games with my student?
To attend a football game with a student, there are two options. The first is to purchase two regular admission tickets, one for you and one for the student. You can do this through the UA Athletics website. If your student already has a ticket to that game they could sell it to a friend or transfer the ticket through the University of Alabama’s Action Card website. Another option is for the student to purchase another student ticket and upgrade it to a student guest ticket. To do this the student must visit the athletic office before the Friday of game week and pay the upgrade fee to transfer the ticket and make it a student-guest ticket. Upgrading it just makes the student ticket the same price as a normal ticket. Prices vary according to the game. Up charge fees for SEC games are normally a little more than non-SEC games.
Can I go to other athletic events with my student?
Of course you can! When attending events like basketball or gymnastics, parents can purchase a ticket for themselves at the event or through the UA Athletics website and then meet with the student once inside the Coleman Coliseum and sit in the student section. Another option would be that your student purchase you a ticket ahead of time and give them to you before you enter the event. If the student section becomes sold-out it may be necessary for the parent to purchase a second ticket for the student to be allowed to sit with them.
How can my student get involved in sport clubs?
Contact names and email addresses for each club, links to their individual pages, and other club related information are available on the UREC sports club FAQ page. You can always contact Sport Club Staff at 205-348-5164 if you have any questions about a specific club.
How can my student get involved in intramural sports?
The intramural sports program at The University of Alabama offers a great opportunity for students to meet people and get involved on campus while maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Intramural sports are open for all students to join and are not as competitive as many other sports on campus. Intramurals are also a great stress reliever because they give your student the chance to unwind and forget about all the worries of the next big test or project for a couple of hours. Encourage your student to visit The University of Alabama’s Intramural Sports page or call the Intramural Sports office Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4:45 p.m at 205-348-5164 for more information.
Safety
Where can I find out more about safety on UA’s campus?
One of our highest priorities at The University of Alabama is the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff. To achieve this goal, we invest significant resources in a variety of activities and initiatives designed to increase security on our campus as well as our students’ ability to make responsible decisions. We foster a positive relationship with local law enforcement agencies to enhance a safe, secure and healthy community that borders the University. For information on the services offered to students, please visit the UA Police Department‘s website.
What is the plan for severe weather?
In general, classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the City of Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate lifesaving actions.
The University is a StormReady institution and takes severe weather preparation very seriously. Visit the Office of Emergency Preparedness for more information.
When bad weather enters the Tuscaloosa area:
- Remain alert to rapidly changing weather conditions—stay tuned to local radio or television stations for weather updates and advisories.
- A tornado watch means tornadoes may develop. A tornado warning means a funnel cloud or tornado has actually been sighted or indicated on weather radar. The university has a weather siren on top of Gorgas Library.
- When severe weather strikes and the warning sirens sound:
- Move into the nearest shelter.
- Go to the lowest floor available, in the center of the building, away from windows.
- Stay tuned to radio or television stations for further weather statements.
- Remain inside until you are notified that the area is clear of severe weather.
In the event of local severe weather, the University places weather information on the UA Homepage.
What notifications are there to let students know of emergency situations on campus?
UA Alerts, a system that sends text messages, emails and phone calls to your student’s cell phone, office and/or home phone.
- The campus PA system, which is located in both indoor and exterior areas.
- Emails sent in the UA Student News and Dialog Extra.
- Media alerts through TV, radio and newspapers.
- The UA Homepage
Digital signage on campus (i.e.: Crimson Ride shuttles)
For more information on safety and emergency situations that could arise on campus, please visit the Emergency Preparedness website.
Computer/Internet
I have questions about my student’s ResNet capabilities.
Visit the Residential Internet Access website or contact the IT Service Desk.
What is myBama, and what does it do?
The purpose for myBama is to provide one location on the Web where students, faculty, and staff can get important information about the University. It is where students can access their Bama mail account, register for classes, or check exam results. Students can also create a guest login in for their parent. myBama also provides helpful information such as the Academic Calendar and information about upcoming events.
How do I create a guest login at myBama? Or what should I do if I lost my parent login for myBama?
To create a guest account on myBama, your student will have to personally log in and set up guest login information for their parents. Contact the Office of Information Technology if you lost your parent login for myBama.
How does my student sign up for wireless internet access?
For information on how your student can sign onto the wireless internet network, please visit OIT’s Internet page.
Housing
Who can I contact about on-campus or off-campus housing?
You can contact Housing & Residential Communities at 205-348-6676 or you can go to the Housing and Residential Communities website.
When should a student begin looking for housing off campus?
As soon as possible! For the coming fall, most renters sign leases beginning in January (and sometimes as early as December). Leases are usually for one year, but there are some 9 month ones available. For more information visit the Off-Campus Housing website.
Where can my student stay while he takes classes this summer?
Visit the Summer Housing page for locations, rate information, and applications. You can also call the housing office at 205-348-6676.
My student needs special accommodations, what do I do?
Information about special accommodations can be found on the Medical Requests page.
For more specific questions, please call HRC at 205-348-6676.
My student needs a ride to the Birmingham airport from their residence hall, what should I do?
We are aware that as enrollment has increased, so has the need for additional outside-campus resources, particularly in the area of transportation and shuttle services to the Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport as well as to other neighboring destinations. At this time, we encourage our students, parents and families to consider the resources and services currently available publicly regarding transportation needs.
Payments & Schedule Confirmation
How does my student make a payment his or her student account?
Please visit the Student Account Services website for accepted payment methods.
Can I make payments on my student’s account and confirm their schedule?
Yes, if your student adds you as an authorized user with access to his/her student account. View instruction for setting up access on our how-to videos page. The authorized user will also receive notices and reminders of billing dates and deadlines. The student is still responsible for ensuring payments are made in the designated time frames.
What does it mean when my student has to pay/confirm his or her schedule?
Student bills must be paid in full, or payment plan arrangements made, by the bill due date for the students schedules to secure for the term. Students can check their confirmation status by visiting myBama, selecting the student tab, and under Student Account Services an icon will display with the confirmation status. If a student’s schedule is unsecure and you have questions, please contact Student Account Services at 205-348-5350.
What happens if my student fails to confirm his or her schedule?
If your student’s account has an outstanding balance and is not confirmed by the deadline, the schedule will be cancelled and it will be necessary for your student to re-enroll in classes that have available seats.