Check out the lingo you may encounter here at The University of Alabama (UA) and the Division of Student Life.
Common Terms
You will hear your colleagues use these terms quite frequently during your day-to-day activities on campus. Learn these common terms so you don’t get left behind in conversation!
- Bryce
- The Bryce Property is the old hospital on the other side of Campus Drive. The University acquired it and has been moving several offices into it as well as adding new buildings
- E-Time
- Time clock system that we use for payroll management of student staff and bi-weekly employees.
- Gameday Partners
- Paid involvement opportunity in which you observe the student section of the football stadium starting approximately 90 minutes before kickoff through the end of the game. Talk to Darrell Hargreaves, associate director of facility and operations and special events, at dhargreaves@ua.edu for more information.
- myBama
- Online portal with employee and student sections for benefits, grades, pay information, payroll, leave reports, tax info, online HR system, etc.
- Student Life
- The Division of Student Life (otherwise known as Student Life or SL) is comprised of 20+ departments that aim to serve the student population at UA throughout their time on campus.
- Well Bama
- Wellness program for UA employees that has a monetary benefit for participating and fitness levels.
Terminology
These are popular terms at UA to describe important facets of the University.
- ACT (Action) Card
- Required form of identification for students, faculty and staff allowing door access to certain campus buildings and are used for additional things on campus. Their office is located in the Transportation Hub on the corner of Hackberry and Campus Drive.
- Bama Bound
- New freshman/transfer student orientation for students and family to attend the summer before their first fall semester.
- Bama Cash
- Preloaded funds to an online account for all students, faculty, and staff to spend at some local restaurants, gas stations and vendors around town (on and off campus).
- Blackboard
- Online portal for all courses, grades, syllabi, assignments.
- CWID
- The campus wide identification number will be important to remember during your time at UA. You need this number to set up and access your MyBama Account.
- Dining Dollars
- Bama Dining oversees 22 establishments within the UA campus. Requirement for undergraduate students taking nine credit hours a semester- $350/semester to supplement a student’s dining needs.
- Interfraternity Council
- The Interfraternity Council (IFC) serves as the governing body for 34 men’s social fraternities at The University of Alabama, many of which are affiliated with the North 3 American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), which is the trade association representing 58 international and national men’s fraternities.
- Meal Plan
- Various levels of plans of access to oncampus dining halls for meals.
- National Pan-Hellenic Council
- The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is the coordinating council for the nine historically African American Greek-letter organizations, often referred to as the Divine Nine. On May 10, 1930, on the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C., the National Pan-Hellenic Council was formed as a permanent organization.
- Panhellenic Association
- The Alabama Panhellenic Association (APA) is the coordinating body for the 19 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) women’s organizations on The University of Alabama campus. The NPC is the umbrella organization for 26 national and international sororities and women’s fraternities in North America.
- United Greek Council
- United Greek Council (UGC) is the governing body for the eight special interest sororities and fraternities at The University of Alabama. Established on the UA campus in spring 2009, UGC exists to enable member organizations to share ideas and resources, promote mutual respect and equality and provide a support network for students on campus.
Student Life Departments
See the departments that constitute Student Life at The University of Alabama.
- Blackburn Institute
- Career Center
- Center for Service and Leadership (CSL)
- Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services (CRIS)
- Counseling Center
- Dean of Students (DOS)
- Fraternity and Sorority Life
- Health Promotion and Wellness (HPW)
- Housing and Residential Communities (HRC)
- Parent & Family Programs (PFP)
- Student Care and Well-Being (SCWB)
- Student Conduct
- Student Governance and Citizenship (SGA)
- Student Involvement
- Student Media
- The University of Alabama Student Center
- University Programs (UP)
- University Recreation (UREC)
- Veteran and Military Affairs (VMA)
- Women and Gender Resource Center (WGRC)
Office of the Vice President (VPSL)
Campus Partners
Student Life works with other areas on campus to ensure all students at the Capstone can succeed during their time on campus and beyond.
- Adapted Athletics
- Adapted Athletics at UA was founded in 2003 and since grown to offer multiple sports which include Wheelchair Basketball, Tennis, and Track. Adapted Athletics operate two facilities, the Stran-Hardin Arena and the Parker Haun Tennis Facility. Student Life partners with Adapted Athletics on many different events, fundraisers throughout the year for all students.
- Crossing Points
- A program at UA that serves students with significant disabilities and offers a collaborative academic program, a summer program, and a certificate in occupational studies.
- Crossroads
- Crossroads is the university’s Civic Engagement Center whose mission is to develop engaged citizens for the state of Alabama and the world. They focus on four civic pillars: values, knowledge, skills and action. The office is located in the Student Center.
- First Year Experience (FYE)
- First Year Experience provides support for first-year students during their transition to the University of Alabama. They host camps, programs and many other initiatives to make sure that students’ transition to UA goes as smoothly as possible.
- Human Resources Learning and Development
- The Department of Human Resources is dedicated to supporting the mission and vision of the University of Alabama by supporting faculty and staff in their efforts to enhance the quality of life for citizens of Alabama and beyond. Learning and Development specifically hosts trainings and learning opportunities for faculty and staff to maximize their potential.
- Office of Disability Services (ODS)
- The Office of Disability Services is the central contact point for UA students with academic disabilities. ODS works with faculty and other members of the University community to provide individualized academic accommodations while promoting student responsibility and self-advocacy.
- Student Health Center and Pharmacy (SHC)
- The UA Student Health Center and Pharmacy’s focus is student health care. They look forward to providing you with the same high-quality care that you receive at home. Services include medical care for scheduled appointments and urgent care, women’s health, psychiatry, allergy shots and immunizations, an in-house pharmacy, billing and insurance, medical records and health education.
- UA Police Department (UAPD)
- The University of Alabama’s police department provides an array of services that include Police Patrol, Investigations, Community Policing, Police Communications and Security Officers. For police assistance or to report a crime or suspicious incident, please call the University Police at 911 or 205-348-5454.
- UR Rise
- RISE was started in 1974 to enrich the lives of infants and preschoolers with and without special needs. Through early intervention and early childhood preschool services, children at RISE are equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in a school setting without an exclusively special education.
Roads in Town
These are some of the most widely used roads in and around Tuscaloosa that can take you wherever you need to go.
- Highway 69N
- Northport
- Highway 69S
- Tuscaloosa
- Highway 82
- McFarland Blvd
- Downtown
- Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard
- 15th Street
- Veteran’s Memorial Parkway
- Highway 43
- Northport
- Jack Warner Parkway
- Runs on the University side of the river
- Rice Mine Road
- Runs on the Northport side of the river
Locations
The University of Alabama has several notable structures on campus that you and your colleagues may need to utilize in your role. Use this page to familiarize yourself with some of the Capstone’s most popular destinations on campus, as well as some locations central to Student Life.
- Bus Hub
- Transportation Hub Deck.
- Denny Chimes
- Denny Chimes is a 115-foottall campanile tower on the Quad, named after George H. Denny, UA’s president from 1912-1936.
- Gorgas
- Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library.
- Government Plaza
- A 5-acre park located in the heart of downtown Tuscaloosa.
- Greek Assembly Hall
- A new dedicated space for our NPHC and UGC organizations.
- Hotel Capstone
- Tuscaloosa’s only full-service hotel with catering, dining and more. Hotel Capstone is the best choice for campus visits and weekend getaways.
- Multi-Activity Room (MAR)
- The Multi-Activity Room in the main University Recreation Center.
- Midtown Village
- This mall has everything you need for a one-stop shopping experience! From apparel to hardware, entertainment to dinner plans, it’s all there in one convenient location.
- Outdoor Pool Complex (OPC)
- Outdoor Pool Complex at the main University Recreation Center.
- Quad
- Middle of campus green space located between the library and President’s mansion. Main location for tailgating on gamedays.
- Rose
- Rose Administration Building.
- Student Recreation Center (SRC, UREC)
- Student Recreation Center (This is the main Rec Center where the majority of our sports are played).
- The Strip
- Restaurants and stores on the edge of campus right past Bryant-Denny stadium.
- University Medical Center (UMC)
- University Medical Center offers medical care with locations in Tuscaloosa, Northport and more.
- Witt Center (Witt)
- Witt Student Activity Center at Presidential Village (This is a UREC satellite Rec Center in the middle of the Presidential Village Residence Halls).