Further information and updates about The University of Alabama's response to COVID-19 can be found on https://healthinfo.ua.edu/.
UA College of Engineering community,
First and foremost, I hope you, your family, and your loved ones are doing well. I know many of you are facing tremendous challenges during this trying time. Make no mistake, you need to make your health and the health of your loved ones your top priority.
On Monday, March 30, the College of Engineering and The University of Alabama moved to an alternative mode of delivery for courses that previously took place on campus.
We have been working diligently to ensure our students will continue to receive the quality education we routinely deliver at The University of Alabama. I am very, very pleased with how our faculty and staff have responded to this challenge with passion and professionalism. Further, our students are doing a great job of adapting.
Our staff is working remotely to ensure the College can continue serving our students and alumni. The Engineering Career Development Center and all academic advisors are providing services essential to our students’ success by distance.
I have encouraged our students to be diligent, maintain good communication with their professors and to monitor healthinfo.ua.edu.
We are implementing strategies to help ensure students are able to effectively cope with the fact that their educational model has been altered. We are doing our part to ensure all of our current students can return to campus safely when possible.
In addition, we are doubling our efforts to recruit a great freshman class for the fall. It is humbling to know that so many of our alumni have volunteered to send messages of encouragement to current and prospective students.
We are also turning our attention to mechanisms for continuing our research programs in a safe environment for our faculty, staff, and students. As you might expect, this can be a bit of a challenge, but I am confident we will successfully navigate these waters.
I would imagine that we can ALL use a bit of understanding over the course of the next few weeks.
In all my years here, this is the most unusual set of circumstances I have seen at The University of Alabama. Despite the challenges we are currently facing, I know The University of Alabama — and in particular the College of Engineering — will continue with great momentum in fulfilling our mission. I can say this because I have seen the level of passion and commitment our faculty and staff bring to their job.
Please know I fully appreciate you, and I am really looking forward to having everyone back on campus.
Roll Tide!
Chuck Karr
Dean, College of Engineering
April 3, 2020
A message from Dean Karr: I hope you & your loved ones are well. As you adjust to distance courses, remember to remain diligent & maintain good communication with your professors. I am already looking forward to having you back on campus. We miss you! #StillTideTogether pic.twitter.com/kDbnCsuXEK
— Alabama Engineering (@bamaengineering) March 31, 2020
As a part of The University of Alabama’s Plan for a Return to Full Operations this fall, course delivery methods for some courses have changed to align with physical distancing guidelines. See below for an explanation of instructional method types, and for further questions visit https://healthinfo.ua.edu/student-faqs/.
What is a face-to-face course (FA)?
These courses are taught in a classroom, face-to-face with your instructor.
What is a hybrid course (HY)?
A hybrid course may include both face-to-face interactions and online teaching components and learning activities. How a hybrid course is facilitated will depend on many variables, including the course topic, the class size, the current environment, expert guidance, etc.
What is an interactive audio/video course (AV)?
These courses are taught remotely with real-time online class meetings with the instructor. The class will meet at a designated time with two-way exchange capabilities between the instructor and students.
What is an internet course (IN)?
Internet course content is strictly delivered online. Some proctored exams may be required but there are no other requirements that are place bound. Regular interactions between you and your instructor are a part of the teaching and learning process online.
Due to the extreme circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak, The University of Alabama has instituted a Pass/Fail option in every course offered for the Spring 2020 Term.
https://registrar.ua.edu/pass-fail-option-for-spring-2020/
Thus, the College of Engineering will alter its Prerequisite Policy for courses taken during the Spring 2020 Term as follows:
Changes should be made before the beginning of the next term, and they must be made before the deadline for adding courses. Failure to make the changes on time will result in administrative withdrawal from the course. Students who are administratively withdrawn from a course after the deadline to add a course may not add another course in replacement. For academic planning assistance, students should work with their assigned advisor.
The University of Alabama is closely monitoring the global COVID-19 outbreak. We have created a prospective student help page with information on several topics.
To play our part in social distancing and other preventive health strategies, we regret that on-campus events are cancelled at this time.
To stay current on University updates regarding COVID – 19, please visit healthinfo.ua.edu.
If you have any questions, Admissions’ phone line is open at (205) 348-1596.
In light of campus tours not being available, please see UA’s new virtual 360 tour or Engineering’s virtual visit page.
The University of Alabama community has come together to help provide 3D-printed personal protective equipment, or PPE, for health care workers locally and in the region.
Two groups across three colleges on campus are producing face shields for health care professionals at University Medical Center, DCH Health System in Tuscaloosa and UAB Hospital. PPE such as masks, gloves and gowns are in short supply across the country during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Although this is not what John Glidden III envisioned for the home stretch of his senior year, he is using the change in circumstances to help his hometown get through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of being in Tuscaloosa wrapping up his final classes as a student in aerospace engineering and prepping to start a job with Lockheed Martin, Glidden is in Closter, New Jersey, volunteering as both an EMT for Closter Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Corps, a non-profit ambulance service, and at a drive-thru virus testing site.
A team of students at The University of Alabama building a small satellite as part of a NASA program are continuing their outreach efforts to state schools during the COVID-19 pandemic through online lessons.
The students in the group, called UASpace, created lessons using Alabama math and science standards that teach about space, satellites and space exploration. The lessons are available on an open Google Drive, and are an extension of their efforts this school year to bring space-centered lessons into classrooms in rural areas of the state.
Three courses offered this summer to all students at The University of Alabama will allow students to understand issues stemming from the coronavirus pandemic while exploring solutions to a shortage of personal protective equipment.
Two courses focus on understanding and tackling challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, one offered during Interim term on the shortage of PPE and the other during the summer semester on broader societal and organizational challenges. A third, seminar-style course over the summer term will explore the pandemic through guest speakers with diverse expertise.
Six projects designed to deepen understanding of the coronavirus pandemic and future pandemics and positively influence society will receive seed funding from The University of Alabama.
The projects come from across disciplines on campus, and were selected through the University’s Joint Institute Pandemic Pilot Project, sponsored by the UA Office for Research and Economic Development and UA’s research institutes.
