Frequently Asked Questions

A diploma is a symbol of the commencement ceremony itself; therefore, the date on the diploma corresponds with the date of the commencement exercises. A student’s transcripts are the official record of their completion of degree requirements. Typically, it is the transcripts that employers ask to see when seeking proof of the degrees held by an employee. Transcripts will also record the term in which a student completed all degree requirements. Note: Certificate candidates are completing a certificate and therefore do not receive a diploma upon program completion.

Questions concerning the commencement ceremony should be directed to commencement@uwa.edu.

A student with questions about their degree requirements should contact the academic dean about their degree requirements. The commencement committee chairperson does not have this information and cannot answer a student’s academic questions.

No. For students completing coursework or other degree requirements in the term they graduate (campus Spring semester, online Spring 2, online Fall 2, or campus Fall semester), all coursework has to be completed before final approval. This also means that comprehensive exam scores and Praxis test scores must be on file.

Instructions for Commencement will be sent to your UWA email in October for the Fall Commencement Ceremony, and March for the Spring Commencement Ceremony. If online students do not respond to the correspondence, it will be assumed that the student does not wish to participate and he/she will be graduated in absentia.

Commencement exercises will be held Thursday, December 7, 2023 and Friday, December 8, 2023. Students should consult the academic calendars for application deadlines for all commencement ceremonies. Applications for degrees are due the term before one plans to graduate, so students should check their academic calendars carefully.

Commencement is a ceremony that honors students who will soon graduate, which means the students have or will soon complete all requirements of their degree program. Participating in Commencement does not mean that a student has graduated. In order to graduate, a student must complete all requirements of his or her degree program and fill out an official graduation application online.

When students apply to graduate, the Deans and the Registrar will check to certify that all program requirements have been satisfied. Once approved, the degree will appear on the student’s transcript. Degrees are conferred 4-6 weeks after final grades are posted; at that point, diplomas are printed and mailed.

Participating in Commencement is a separate process from graduating. When a student confirms participation in Commencement, UWA will reserve a seat at the ceremony and provide tickets for guests. Participation in commencement does not guarantee that the diploma and a final official transcript will be issued.

Students may be allowed to participate in Commencement if they meet the following requirements:

• They have completed and submitted the application for the degree prior to the deadline
• They are enrolled in the final course(s) for completing degree requirements and have attempted any applicable completion exams, internships, defenses, etc.
• They have written approval from their College Dean
• They have a plan on file in their dean’s office to complete degree requirements the following term/session; and they have no outstanding financial obligations to the university (e.g., unpaid bills)

Questions concerning the commencement ceremony should be directed to commencement@uwa.edu, or you can call (205) 652-3828.

If a student does not graduate, they must complete a new application for a degree and resubmit the fee. The fee does not roll over since the cost of processing the files, printing costs, etc.

The fee covers the cost of processing student files, diploma print costs, commencement printing and mailing and/or degree shipping.

The fee for the application for a degree is $75.00 for undergraduate students, graduate students, and doctoral students. There is an additional fee for a cap and gown, purchased from Barnes and Noble.

Students applying late for graduation are assessed an additional fee of $75.00. In addition, these students often miss important correspondence from the commencement committee and run the risk of not being able to participate in the ceremony because caps and gowns cannot be ordered, changes to the ceremony program cannot be made and diplomas cannot be printed.

Completing the application for a degree and paying the graduation fee alerts a student’s academic dean’s office to a pending graduation. The student’s file can then be reviewed to assure that everything is in order to allow that student to graduate as planned. If a student applied within the same term, there would be no time to address a missing class, test score, GPA requirements, etc.

Application for Degree

The application for a degree should be submitted one to two terms prior to degree completion. See UWA’s academic calendar for online programs for specific deadlines. Deadlines are also located here.

Students should always consult the academic calendar for the “application for degree” deadline. Deadlines are also located here.

• Don’t post student grades by name, student number, Social Security Number or in any other personally identifiable manner.
• Don’t leave papers with student names or numbers in publicly accessible places.
• Don’t leave confidential information displayed on an unattended computer.
• Don’t circulate class lists, electronically or in print, with the student name and Social Security Number or student number.
• Don’t provide anyone with student schedules.
• Don’t provide anyone with lists of students enrolled in your classes.
• Don’t provide anyone with lists or files of students enrolled in your class for any commercial purpose.
• Don’t discuss the progress of a student with anyone other than the student (including parents) without the consent of the student.
• Don’t provide anyone with student schedules or assist anyone, other than University employees, in finding a student on campus.
• Don’t share information from student educational records (i.e. grades, GPA, number of credits) in a letter of recommendation without written consent of the student.
• Don’t throw records containing Social Security Number, student number or name, and/or grades in the garbage. These items should always be shredded.

FERPA requires that faculty and staff members protect the confidentiality of student educational records. Any requests for student academic information should be referred to the Registrar’s Office.

Schools may disclose, without consent, “Directory Information” such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. A student who wishes to restrict the disclosure of Directory Information may do so by completing the Request to Restrict Disclosure of Directory Information form and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar. Directory Information includes the following:

• Name, mailing address, email address, telephone listing
• Date and place of birth
• Major and minor fields of study
• Participation in officially recognized athletics and other activities, including weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Enrollment status
• Anticipated degrees
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees and awards received
• The most recent previous educational institution attended.

The law allows disclosure without consent to:

• School employees who have a legitimate educational interest
• Other schools to which a student is transferring
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to the student
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school
• Accrediting organizations
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies
• State and local authorities pursuant to specific State law.

Under FERPA definition, all rights transfer to an “eligible student” once the student reaches 18 years of age or is attending any school beyond high school. Personally identifiable information and educational records of an eligible student may only be disclosed to parents, guardians, spouses, etc. with written consent by the student. The Consent Form for Release of Educational Records must be signed by the student and must identify specific individuals to whom the information may be disclosed. This form will be placed in the student’s record housed in the Office of the Registrar. The form can be located in the eForms section of the UWA website.

• Financial information submitted by parents
• Confidential letters and recommendations placed in student’s file before January 1, 1975
• Confidential letters, etc., associated with admissions, employment, job placement or honors to which a student has waived rights of inspection and review
• Educational records containing information about other students such as grades, test scores, etc.

Students have the following rights under FERPA:

• The right to inspect and review their educational records
• The right to have their records amended if they are inaccurate or misleading
• The right to restrict the disclosure of Directory Information
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they feel that any of their rights have been violated.

An educational record is any record that is directly related to a student that is maintained by the University of West Alabama in any media form (handwriting, print, type, electronic, etc).

Educational records do not include:

• Records/notes in sole possession of maker not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute
• Employment records when employment is not contingent on being a student, provided the record is used only in relation to the individual’s employment
• Records created and maintained by a law enforcement unit for law enforcement purposes
• Information on a person that was obtained when no longer a student (i.e. alumni records) that does not relate to the person as a student
• Medical records: Records on a student that are made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional acting in his professional capacity or assisting in a paraprofessional capacity; made, maintained, or used only in connection with treatment; and disclosed only to individuals providing the treatment
• Grades on peer-graded papers before they are collected and recorded by a teacher.

All students and former students of the University are covered by FERPA. This does not apply to any information submitted prior to January 1, 1975, or to applicants who applied, but did not attend.

This is an estimate of how much money may be required to attend school for one semester and/or academic year at that college, including all practical expenses. For more information on the Cost of Attendance calculation, click here.

Students can view information or set up payment plans by clicking here or by contacting our Student Accounts Office at (205) 652-3542.

To withdraw from UWA, students must complete the Withdrawal Form provided by the Registrar’s Office. The date of the withdrawal will normally be the date the form is completed.

The Higher Education Act, section 484B, 34 CFR 668.22 specifies the formula that requires federal aid recipients to *earn* the aid they received while enrolled. Up through the 60% point in each payment period, a prorated schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. After the 60% point in the payment period, a student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds they received.

A student begins earning Title IV funds on the first day of attendance. Therefore, even if a student withdraws before UWA’s last day to register (prior to fund disbursement), the school must perform a return calculation using the number of days the student was determined to have attended class(es).

If it is determined by UWA that a student has ceased to attend class(es) or stopped completing academic-related activity, an unofficial withdrawal will be calculated using the last determined date of attendance or midpoint (based on the date that most benefits the student).

UWA must always return any unearned Title IV funds within 45 days of the date the school determined the student withdrew. UWA must also offer any post-withdrawal disbursement within 30 days of the date the school determined the student withdrew. A post-withdrawal disbursement must meet the current required conditions as outlined in the Return to Title IV Handbook. A post-withdrawal disbursement must be made within 120 days from the date the institution determines that the student withdrew.

UWA must notify a student in writing prior to making any post-withdrawal disbursement of any Title IV loan funds. A student/parent must provide written notification to UWA to request a post-withdrawal disbursement of any Title IV loan funds. The information provided in this notification must include the information necessary for the student to make an informed decision as to whether or not to accept any disbursement of loan funds to pay institutional charges.

Any student who withdraws and was eligible for Federal Pell, UWA will disburse funds to the student account. UWA is not required to notify and/or receive information from the student to disburse Pell funds. Pell disbursed will be calculated as a part of the Return to Title IV calculation.

A school must return Title IV funds to the programs from which the student received aid in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loan
2. Subsidized Federal Stafford loan
3. Federal Plus loan
4. Federal Pell Grant
5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
6. A student does not have to repay a grant overpayment of $50.00 or less

Please see the Federal Return to Title IV Policy’ concerning how this affects your financial aid.

If you receive Federal Title IV aid (Pell Grants, Federal Direct Student Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants, etc.) and withdraw or stop attending classes, UWA will calculate the amount of aid you did not earn. If it is determined that you received aid you did not earn, the funds will be returned to the appropriate Title IV program(s).

You have only earned the percentage of aid that reflects the percentage of the term you attended. For example, if you complete 25% of the semester, you only earned 25% of the Title IV aid you were eligible for during the term of attendance. If you attend more than 60% of the term, funds will not be returned.

If you receive excess aid for the term attended, UWA must return the unearned portion. You may then be held accountable for paying this amount to UWA.

If UWA is not required to return the entire amount, you must repay the remaining amount to the appropriate Title IV program(s).

The Federal Direct Student Loans/PLUS Loans you may have borrowed will be repaid according to the terms of the original promissory note.

You will only be responsible for overpayment of unearned funds as determined by the US Department of Education Return to Title IV Funds Calculation. A student who owes an overpayment will not be eligible for additional Title IV aid until the overpayment has been resolved.

NOTE: Withdrawing and not completing coursework with a passing final grade will directly affect your Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. Failure to meet this policy will result in suspension of future financial aid. This policy may be viewed by clicking here.

Students who have failed to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress can file an appeal for financial aid reinstatement by clicking here or by contacting the Financial Aid Office and requesting the Appeal for Reinstatement form.

If you would like to review a historical list of private loan lenders to UWA students, click here. Students can also find private loan lenders by searching for them online, although it is important to do thorough research before selecting a lender.

Our office cannot propose or recommend a private loan lender. The lender that you choose must send your certification via ELM (Education Loan Management, Inc.).

Under the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA), lenders are required to supply you with a finalized disclosure statement (stating the terms and conditions of your loan), a self-certification form and a three-day right to cancel.

You must complete and sign the Self-Certification Form and send it to your lender. Always check to see if you can e-sign this form on your lender’s website.

Certain private loan lenders may require a student to be enrolled in at least half-time status and/or meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress to be eligible. Lenders will verify your information with UWA via ELM or other electronic communication.

NOTE: Students cannot receive more financial aid funds (including loans) than their Cost of Attendance, regardless of the source of those funds.

• You must be a Graduate/Professional student to submit an application for the Graduate PLUS loan.
• Go to https://studentaid.gov/.
• Login with your FSA Username and password.
• Select “Graduate/Professionals” and “Apply for PLUS Loan.”
• You must have an approved Graduate PLUS loan in order for UWA to process and award it.
• You must complete a separate MPN for the Graduate PLUS loan.

• Go to https://studentaid.gov/.
• Login with your FSA Username and password.
• Choose which type of student you are (Undergraduate/Graduate/Professional) or if you are a parent completing a PLUS loan, you will selected Parent Borrowers.
• Complete the MPN and Entrance Counseling, making sure to list UWA’s school code (001024).

• Log in to Self Service (accessible through TigerHub).
• Click the “Financial Aid” tab.
• Click the blue “Financial Aid” link at the top of the page.
• Click “My Awards” in the dropdown menu.
• Make sure to view the correct Academic Year.
• Accept/Decline/Adjust your financial aid offer.

NOTE: Students are offered the maximum amount of aid they are eligible for at the time the FAFSA is processed and reviewed. While students do have the option to reduce or decline aid, they will need to contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if they may qualify for an increase of amounts.

• Login to Self Service (accessible through TigerHub) with your UWA email and password.
• Click the “Financial Aid” tab.
• There will be three links on the top of the next page: Financial Information, Financial Aid, and Financial Aid Home.
• Click the “Financial Aid” link.
• There will be a dropdown menu with financial aid information options including required documents, financial aid awards, outside awards, a college financing plan, and correspondence options.

When your file is complete and eligibility has been determined, you will be offered the maximum amount of federal financial aid (including federal Pell grants and loans) for which you are eligible at the time of the award.

You will receive a notification of your award offer through your UWA email address with instructions on accessing your award offer through Self Service.

• Create an FSA ID (user name and password) for the student and the parent at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using UWA’s School code (001024) at https://fafsa.ed.gov/spa/fafsa/#/LOGIN?locale=en_US for the correct academic year. For additional helpful hints on completing the FAFSA, click on the FSA Youtube Channel.
• After you complete the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that will provide a summary of the information you submitted in your FAFSA, your estimated family contribution, an estimate of your financial aid eligibility, and your unique Data Release Number (DRN). UWA will be sent an ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record) that is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid and to create your financial aid package.

The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requires that we have written permission from the student to disclose any part of your student’s educational records which, by law, are confidential. Your student can permit us to share his/her information with you by completing the FERPA form found on the FERPA page.

Funds that are remaining after your student balance is paid will be sent to you as a refund check by mail to the address listed in UWA’s database or by direct deposit. Students can view/update their current mailing address in Self Service (accessible through TigerHub) and viewing their User Profile or setting up direct deposit information in WebAdvisor (accessible through TigerHub) and adding their bank information.

If your loan information is not on your account, you may be missing the required documents with the Financial Aid Office. If you have questions relating to the status of your financial aid, you can review your financial aid information in Self Service (accessible through TigerHub) or contact the Financial Aid Office at (205) 652-3576.

Log in to Self Service (accessible through TigerHub) using your UWA email address and password. Click the “Student Finance” tab to view your latest account statement and make online payments.

Current Tuition & Expenses are updated as approved by the Board of Trustees.

The Housing Agreement is a legal contract for one academic year. So, in most cases, you will not receive a refund if you move off campus before the end of the agreement period, and will incur a cancellation fee up to $250.

If you are participating in a full-time internship during the Spring semester at least 30 miles from Livingston or graduating at the end of the Fall semester, you may request to be released from your Housing Agreement by submitting a Housing Agreement Release Form by November 15. If your request is approved and you check out of your room properly through your hall director, you will not be charged rent for the Spring semester.

If you withdraw from UWA during the semester, you must submit a Housing Agreement Release Form. If you withdraw after 60% of the semester has taken place, you will not receive a refund on your room or meal plan for the current semester. The 60% point varies from year to year.

Visit the TigerHub portal. Click on your application at the top of the page. There is an option to cancel your application. This option is only available for students who have not checked in or moved on campus. If you have already checked in or moved on campus, you must submit an online Housing Agreement Release form.

Submit a maintenance request through the TigerHub portal. Click on “RCR/Damages” in the main menu, then “Maintenance Requests.” You can add work orders and see the status of any requests you have previously submitted.

Residents of Stickney, Reed, Patterson, Selden and Hoover Phase I may use removable strips/hooks (on walls that are not drywall) as long as they don’t damage the wall and are removed appropriately at check-out. Residents of Hoover Phase II and Gilbert are not allowed to use 3M Command Strips or similar adhesives. While the strips may not cause damage if used appropriately and for a short period of time, excessive damage can be caused if the object is too heavy, the strip is not removed properly, or it is on the wall for more than a few weeks. Residents of Gilbert and Hoover Phase II may choose to use small thumbtacks or staples (up to 12 across the entire room and none within 12″ of each other) and up to 4 small tacks/nails that are less than 1/16″ in size (tiny!). Hanging heavier items on any of these can result in larger holes, for which you would be responsible. Adhesive hooks and strips are not permitted in Gilbert or Hoover II.

Thumbtacks, contact paper and similar products are not permitted on walls — these will cause damage.

Gilbert Hall
185 Student Union Drive
Livingston, AL 35470

Hoover Apartments
494 University Drive
Livingston, AL 35470

Patterson Hall
95 Student Union Drive
Livingston, AL 35470

Reed Hall
321 Student Union Drive
Livingston, AL 35470

Selden Hall
261 Student Union Drive
Livingston, AL 35470

Stickney Hall
134 Washington Street
Livingston, AL 35470

Remember that these are not mailing addresses, only physical addresses. Do not use these addresses for packages, as they will not be delivered.

The Housing Office will notify current residents when the application for the following school year is available. However, the application for returning students is usually available on the TigerHub portal by January 15th. To participate in the first round of online Room Selection, current residents must re-apply for housing by March 1st.

We are unable to offer storage for students during the summer. Special summer storage space has been provided by the Housing Office to the International Programs Office, so international students should contact International Programs regarding summer storage.

An RA is a Resident Assistant. These students have been trained to assist residents in their adjustment to college life and to assist students with housing concerns. RAs provide programs and activities that promote social, educational, physical and mental development.

A resident may have a person of the same sex stay as an overnight guest in their residence hall room if approved in advance by the Hall Director. To request approval for an overnight guest, after speaking with your roommate and getting approval from them, complete the online overnight guest form located on the TigerHub portal (under Links) at least 48 hours prior to the visit (or by Thursday at 5 PM if visiting over the weekend).

No more than four guests are allowed in any residence hall room at the same time. If you have a roommate, you must coordinate this with your roommate so that the total occupancy of your room, including you, your roommate and all guests, does not exceed six people. While this policy also applies to an individual bedroom at Hoover, the total number of people permitted in a Hoover apartment is four guests of any individual resident, for a total of six guests in the apartment at any one time.

Yes. To ensure a degree of privacy for residents and maintain a secure environment, the residence halls and apartments on campus have a visitation schedule that limits visits by guests. A guest is defined as anyone (male or female) who is not assigned to a specific room or apartment.

Visitation is defined as the time period when guests are permitted to be in the residence hall and in your room or apartment. However, visitation is a privilege, not a right. Residents must consider the privacy of their roommates when having guests in their room or apartment. Study and sleep needs have priority over visitation; so, roommates must agree on the times when they will have guests in the room/ apartment. If roommates cannot agree on visitation, the Hall Director has the authority to reduce or prohibit visitation within the room/apartment.

Residents who wish to limit visitation hours within their room/apartment should meet with their Hall Director. The Housing Office staff may limit visitation hours and adjust the visitation schedule, as deemed necessary. For safety reasons, it is a violation of policy to let anyone into your residence hall or your room that is not your guest.

Visitation is permitted during the following times:

Gilbert Hall
Sunday – Thursday, 10:30 AM – 12 Midnight
Friday and Saturday, 10:30 AM – 2 AM

All Other Halls
Daily, 10:30 AM – 2 AM

• Visitation applies to each specific room, so residents may not have guests in their room outside of the above times, even if the person lives in the same building.
• Guests that do not live in your residence hall must be escorted at all times while in your residence hall, including when the guest enters the hall, is in the resident’s room or any common areas within the hall, and when the guest exits the hall.
• The host resident must be present in the room and/or in the common area with the guest at all times while the guest is in the room or common area, even for those buildings with outside entrances.
• Residents are held responsible for the actions of their guests; so, it is very important that you do not let your guest(s) travel in your residence hall without you. You will be held responsible for your guests’ actions, even if you are not escorting your guests. If you do not want to be held responsible for the actions of your guests, you should not have guests.
• Children under 10 years of age must be escorted by a parent/ legal guardian at all times.
• Children under 3 years of age are not permitted in the residence halls or university apartments except on Move-in Day and during official open house events.

No. UWA does not have a residence hall curfew. Students may come and go from our halls as they please, but we do have a visitation policy that restricts the time when students may have guests in the building. Also, exterior doors at Gilbert, Selden and Stickney Halls are locked 24 hours a day. Residents of Gilbert and Selden use a card to gain access to the building, while residents of Stickney Hall may use their room key to unlock the main entrance.

No. Smoking and vaping are not permitted in or around the residence halls. This means that smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the building or within 50 feet of the building. E-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, such as chewing tobacco and smokeless pouches, are also prohibited.

Yes. Residents needing to stay over Thanksgiving Break or Spring Break must sign up for break housing on the TigerHub portal at least one week prior to the first day of the break. There is no additional charge to stay over the break, but residents must sign up.

Residents needing to stay over Winter Break must sign up for break housing by the first day of final exams on TigerHub portal. The fee to stay over Winter Break is $300.00.

Residents that need to stay over May Break must sign up for break housing by the first day of final exams on TigerHub portal. The fee to stay over May Break is $300.00.

May Break housing is only available to spring residents who have reserved housing for the summer semester and may require relocation to a central residence hall.

Residents do not receive mail at their residence halls. For this reason, residents should rent a campus mailbox at the Student Union Building. Boxes are $5.00 per semester, which must be paid in person with cash or check. Students are encouraged to rent a mailbox during Summer Orientation so that they know their mailing address before arriving on campus. Your address will be as follows:

Your Name
1 College Drive
UWA Box (Your Box Number)
Livingston, Alabama 35470-2098

Hoover Window Dimensions:

• Phase 1: 48 ½” x 44 ½” H
• Phase 2: 58” x 34 ½” H

Here is information about Gilbert Hall for which we receive the most questions:

• Window Dimensions: 34 ½” wide by 72” long
• Desk with movable stand included: 24” x 48”
• Distance between beds: 82”
• Clearance under the bed when fully raised: 31”
• Refrigerator space in kitchenette area: 24” wide x 34” tall x 26” deep

Additional information is available on the On & Off-Campus Housing page.

Yes. However, you must register your vehicle with Campus Police and purchase a parking decal.

No. With the exception of fish, pets are not permitted in the residence halls and campus apartments, even for a brief amount of time. Pets are also prohibited within 50 feet of all residence halls and campus apartments.

Fish are permitted as long as they are contained in a 10-gallon or smaller aquarium. Other creatures, such as reptiles, are prohibited, even if they can live in an aquarium.

For information about service animals or emotional support animals, please contact Will Atkinson, Director of Retention and Student Advocacy, at watkinson@uwa.edu.

Deciding what to bring to college is a major task. You don’t want to bring too much stuff, or you’ll be falling all over everything. However, you should bring things that you feel will make your room your “home away from home.” The Housing Office recommends contacting your roommate in advance to discuss who is bringing what. Here is a list of items you may want to bring (packing list) and what to leave at home.

No. Lofts and bed risers are not permitted. All beds on campus are height-adjustable; they may be raised high enough to store the dresser cabinet under the bed.

Yes. The residence hall rooms have mini blinds.

Yes. Each residence hall and apartment area have a laundry room available for use by the residents of the area. There is no additional charge for the use of washers and dryers for residents within each residence hall.

Residents can see which washers and dryers are available before going to the laundry room by checking out LaundryView.

Yes. Every residence hall and apartment on campus is connected to the University’s local area network by way of several wireless access points (Wi-Fi). The residence halls do not have Ethernet connections.

No. TVs may not be mounted to the wall.

Yes. Every residence hall room and campus apartment have free basic cable TV service. You will need to provide your own cable-ready television and coaxial cable. In order to work with the University’s cable service, a television must have a QAM 256 (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) digital tuner. Most flat-screen televisions manufactured after 2009 come equipped with a QAM 256 tuner, but some do not. If you are buying a new TV, you should make sure that the TV has a QAM 256 tuner. This is especially important if you are buying one of the following television brands: Apex, Dynex, Element, Emerson, Haier, HiSense, Insignia, Magnavox, ProScan, RCA, Sanyo, Sceptre, Seiki, Sylvania, ViewSonic and Westinghouse.

Mattresses on campus are twin extra-long (36″ x 80″), except for beds on the sorority wings at Selden Hall (these are full-size mattresses). If you are bringing fitted sheets, we suggest extra-long sheets.

Compact refrigerators (4.0 cubic feet or smaller) are permitted at Gilbert, Selden and Reed Halls ONLY. Refrigerators should be energy efficient and not use more than 350 kilowatt-hours per year (KWH/year). For space reasons, it is recommended that each pair of roommates share one refrigerator instead of having two refrigerators in the room. In Gilbert Hall, there is a designated space under the kitchen counter that has been designed to accommodate one compact refrigerator. The dimensions of the space are 34″ high, 24″ wide and 26″ deep.

Note: Patterson, Stickney and Hoover residents are not permitted to bring refrigerators since refrigerators are provided.

One small microwave oven (800 watts or less) is permitted per room/apartment. It is recommended that roommates discuss who will be bringing the microwave.

No. Since our residence halls are used for camps and conferences during the summer, we are not able to show you your particular room. Gilbert Hall may be seen during a campus tour with the Admissions Office. Transfer students may schedule an appointment to see other residence halls, if available, by contacting the Housing Office at (205) 652-3686 at least one week prior to their anticipated visit to campus.

Although most students do get along with their roommates, from time to time, disagreements may occur. Roommate conflicts are a natural part of community living. We want you to learn to resolve conflicting issues with your roommate since the ability to resolve differences is a useful skill that you will be able to utilize in college and after you graduate. Most residents are able to work out conflicts on their own. However, sometimes roommates find that an outside mediator is helpful. You should contact your resident assistant (RA) if mediation is needed. You may also submit a Request for Mediation. Occasionally, conflicts arise that cannot be resolved. In these cases of irreconcilable differences, one or both of the residents will need to change rooms. Current residents should refer to the Residence Life Guide on the TigerHub portal for information on changing rooms.

If you have not already checked into your assigned room for the Fall semester, you should participate in Pre-Occupancy Room Change, which takes place until July 25th. Current residents should refer to the Residence Life Guide on the TigerHub portal for information about changing rooms.

Fall room assignments are selected by the students themselves. So, as soon as you select your room, you will know your room assignment.

New freshmen who apply for housing by July 15th will select their roommates via MyCollegeRoomie and then select their room shortly after. New freshmen who apply for housing after July 15th may have their roommates and rooms assigned by the Housing Office. Room assignments will be posted on the TigerHub portal.

Transfer students and current students that apply for housing by March 1st will select their roommates during the month of March and their rooms during room selection in early April. Transfer students and current students who apply for housing after regular room selection will participate in open room selection, which is an ongoing process from late May to July.

Students that will begin their residency during the Spring or Summer semester will be assigned by the Housing Office. Room assignments will be posted on the TigerHub portal on approximately December 15th for Spring semester and May 15th for Summer semester. For residents starting the Summer II mini-term, those room assignments will be posted by June 15th.

Yes. You and your preferred roommate may request each other through MyCollegeRoomie. Roommate matching is only available as part of the room selection process. Outside of room selection time, please reach out to the Housing Office to determine if you are still able to match with a specific person.

UWA has partnered with a college roommate matching service, MyCollegeRoomie. On MyCollegeRoomie, you have the ability to search and find your future roommate.

After regular room selection ends, students who do not select a roommate through MyCollegeRoomie are assigned one by the Housing Office. UWA encourages educational, social and cultural diversity within the residence halls. Therefore, roommate assignments are made without regard to race, color, national origin, sexual orientation or religion.

Tiger Bucks and Dining Dollars are debit-like accounts accessed using the Tiger Card.

Tiger Bucks can be used at all on-campus dining locations and at several off-campus restaurants and stores. Tiger Bucks may also be used to pay for printing services in the campus computer labs. Tiger Bucks roll over from semester to semester and are always available to you.

Dining Dollars can only be used at on-campus locations (Young Cafeteria, Starbucks, Subway and Burger & Fries). Any unused Dining Dollars are forfeited at the end of the Spring semester.

Learn more about your Tiger Card, check your balance or to reload TigerBucks.

The All Access Meal Plan allows the student to enter the CAF an unlimited number of times during regular dining hours. Access is limited to once every thirty minutes.

The 9-Meal Plan allows the student the convenience of eating up to 9 meals at the CAF throughout the week. Access is limited to once per meal period. 

Yes.

• All first-year freshmen and all students that live in a residence hall room without kitchen facilities are required to purchase the All-Access Meal Plan.
• A 9-Meal Plan is required of all other residents.
• Hoover residents who have lived on the UWA campus for at least two semesters can be exempted from the meal plan requirement, except during the summer semester.
• All residents, including Hoover residents, must have a meal plan during the summer semester.

Additional information about the meal plans is available here.

Housing applications for the Fall semester are generally available on January 15. Refer to the TigerHub portal for specific deadline dates.

No, a deposit is not required to live on campus. However, new students must pay the University’s $200.00 Enrollment Confirmation Fee. There is a $100.00 application fee for returning students.

Students with disabilities who need special housing accommodations should contact Will Atkinson, Director of Retention and Student Advocacy, at watkinson@uwa.edu. While there is not a specific deadline, current and transfer students are encouraged to contact Will Atkinson by March 1st for the following Fall semester. Incoming freshmen should contact Will by June 1st. For other semesters, it is recommended that Will be contacted at least two months prior to the beginning of the semester. 

No, the University does not have family housing or married student apartments. Housing is only available for enrolled students in single-gender rooms. Freshmen who are married and/or custodial parents are eligible for an exemption from the Freshman Residency Requirement.

Due to high occupancy levels, single rooms are not generally available during the fall semester. Single rooms may be available during the spring semester. A single room costs an additional 50% of the standard rental rate.

At times, the Housing Office will offer the opportunity for students to sign up for a waiting list for single rooms in specific residence halls. Students can do this in their TigerHub portal, where they can see available Waiting Lists. If none are listed, then none are available at that time.

Note that students must have a room assignment already before they sign up for a waiting list, or else they will not be considered.

Check out the Move-In Schedule for the full Move-in Day schedule. Below are other times that halls open and close. See the University Academic Calendar for important university dates.

• Halls close for Thanksgiving Break at 10 AM the Saturday before Thanksgiving and re-open at 10 AM on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
• Halls close for Winter Break at 2 PM the Thursday before Commencement.
• Halls open in the Spring on Registration Day.
• Halls close for Spring Break at 10 AM the Saturday before Spring Break, and re-open at 10 AM on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
• Halls close at the end of the Spring semester at 2 PM the Thursday before Commencement.

Each resident is provided with a desk, chair, bed, closet area and several drawers in a dresser cabinet.

Click here for more information about each of our residence halls.

Yes. Since the University assumes no liability for personal property damage, loss or theft, we strongly encourage students to have renter’s insurance unless you are already covered by your parent’s homeowner’s insurance policy or their renter’s insurance policy. If your insurance company does not provide property insurance, the Housing Office recommends contacting GradGuard, an official partner of UWA Housing.

Living on campus is generally safer than living off campus. Since residence halls serve as private residences for a large number of students, security and safety are important concerns. The UWA campus is patrolled by campus police officers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residence halls with fire alarm systems are tested on a periodic basis and every residence hall room has a smoke detector. In addition, Gilbert, Selden Hall, and Stickney Hall are locked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to limit access to only those students living in the buildings and their guests.

When you take into consideration the cost of utilities and commuting expenses, living on campus is very reasonable. Find out more about specific residence hall rates.

Freshmen are required to live on campus for up to one academic year. In addition, some University scholarships require on campus residency. For example, students who receive Trustee Scholarship awards as new freshmen are required to live on campus for their first two years. View additional information about the Freshman Residency Requirement here.

The TigerHub portal is your online resource for all things housing.

• See messages and alerts from the Housing Office
• Apply for housing
• See your room assignment and your roommate’s name and email
• View your dining plan and change it, if eligible, before you move in for Fall semester
• Select your room during room selection time
• Sign up for available waiting lists
• Submit and view your Room Condition Report form
• Submit new maintenance requests and view the status of previous requests
• Update your emergency and missing student contact information
• Find Helpful Links, including the Overnight Guest Form, LaundryView, Campus Cable Channel Guide and more.

The housing application is available in your TigerHub portal. If you are a newly admitted freshman or transfer student, housing will show in your TigerHub portal the business day after your Enrollment Confirmation Fee (ECF) posts to your account (which could be 2-3 business days after your official payment). If you have attended UWA previously and you do not see an application for Housing on your Housing portal, please call us at (205) 652-3686, or email us at housing@uwa.edu.

You may contact the Housing Office either by phone or email. Call the Housing Office at (205) 652-3686 or email us at housing@uwa.edu.

Information can be found at https://online.uwa.edu/online-degrees/rn-bsn/

For questions about learning accommodations available at UWA, please contact ADA Services.

All questions regarding financial aid and assistance should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid or by phone at (205) 652-3576.

The Division of Nursing welcomes all Licensed Practical Nurses who desire to further their education and become Registered Nurses. Due to the nature of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and blending of classroom and clinical content that exists between the practical nurse and associate nurse degree programs, Licensed Practical Nurses may be exempted from clinical hours in certain courses. The LPN must meet certain criteria, including perform skills and critical thinking challenges to be exempted from a clinical rotation. More information regarding this exemption can be found here: LPN Exemption

The Division of Nursing is grateful for its many community partnerships and clinical affiliations. Due to the location of the University, our students must travel to their clinical locations. Clinical facilities are in Demopolis, Northport, Tuscaloosa, Butler, Birmingham, and York, AL, as well as Meridian, MS. 

The entrance exam is administered by the Division of Nursing in the Spring and Fall semesters. Once the application process is completed, all prospective students are notified, via email, of HESI (Health Education Systems Incorporated) entrance exam dates. 

The Associate in Science in Nursing is not an alternative to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). It is the first step toward a career of lifelong learning in the field of health care that is evolving daily. The ASN degree allows individuals the opportunity to gain licensure in two years (instead of four) and begin their nursing careers. For those seeking the BSN degree, the ASN nurse can take prerequisites and earn an online BSN degree while earning an income and gaining experience in nursing. At the end of four years, the person who obtains the ASN has the potential to: 1) gain registered nurse experience that will propel her/his career and make patient’s safer; 2) earn a competitive salary and increase her/his market value because of work experience; and 3) earn an online BSN degree. 

UWA does not offer an accelerated nursing degree option.

Yes. UWA offers a traditional on campus Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree, an online RN-to-BSN degree and an on campus BSN program starting Fall 2024. The ASN degree is a five-semester or two-year program. UWA offers all prerequisite courses needed for the RN-to-BSN degree, which provides a seamless transition from the ASN to the BSN track.  This degree option would require one year dedicated to taking BSN prerequisite courses and two years toward earning the ASN degree.  At the completion of the ASN degree program, students would sit for the national licensure examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN). Students would then apply to the University of West Alabama for admission into the online RN-to-BSN program and complete the online BSN degree in one year. 

The deadline for submission for the Spring semester is July 15 of the prior year.  The Division of Nursing only admits once a year in the Spring semester. 

All applicants should complete the online application for the University of West Alabama, and then complete an online application for the University of West Alabama’s Nursing program: Online Application.

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree program is designed to be completed in five semesters or two years of coursework if the student chooses to take all courses as outlined on the Nursing Program Curriculum

It is University policy that all letterhead, stationary and business cards are ordered through Printing Services. See UWA Graphic Standards for more information here.

The Postal Service’s pricing varies dramatically for particular sizes of pieces. Contact us first before you begin your design to ensure you are receiving the lowest mail rate.

Pre-sorted Standard mail is a cost-effective alternative to regular mail. Substantial savings can be realized by using this service for mass mailings.

UWA Graphic Standards are a guide for the correct usage of approved logos, symbols, mascots and the University seal.

Printing Services can provide you with any approved logo or symbol in various formats.

Two ways: plan ahead and return proofs promptly.

Call us first before you begin your project to see how much you can save. Depending on the audience you are trying to reach we can offer digital or offset printing. The more you plan ahead the more we can help you save.

We accept Microsoft Office, Publisher, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and PDF files. We are Mac and PC compatible and our office designs with Adobe Creative Suite 5 for Mac. Files may be sent via email, CD or flash drive.

Start with a Printing Requisition found here (link to Requisitions page). The rest will depend on how much you want to actively participate in designing the job. Give us a call to find out more at (205) 652-3868.

Contact our customer service representative at (205) 652-3868 or check out our pricing above.

We can help publicize professional achievements and accomplishments related to a UWA student, faculty or staff member’s role at the University or officially-recognized organizations or programs. Submissions are accepted any time , and we review each submission to determine the methods of publicizing that can be offered effectively and efficiently. We review publicity requests through a wide-angle lens to determine how each request aligns with overarching University goals and objectives, as well as other ongoing similar efforts, and we give careful attention maximizing reach.

We review requests and consider them for various distribution channels, such as:

• Email news
  
• UWA Today magazine and other publications
• UWA News webpage
• Social media channels, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

Information is used at the discretion of the staff and is published at a time and with a frequency that best enables us to accommodate requests and produce timely, meaningful communication for our faculty, staff, and students. The more advance notice we have, the better able we are to promote your events and news. If there are specific news outlets or publications that you would like for us to pitch content to, you should let us know in your request, keeping in mind that we do not have authority for placement but can work through media relations to help the content reach those publications and outlets.

You will receive an email notification confirming the receipt of your request. You may be contacted for an interview to share more information on your request.

Strategic Communications may use many channels and tools to reach out to various audiences with the same story. Our strategies are designed to adapt content for different platforms and audiences as needed, at our discretion based on best practices, including writing style. The content and context may vary between intended uses, and each instance may not appear in the manner requested. We strive to use the information in the way we believe best advances UWA’s interests and its brand while effectively promoting the special people, places, and programs at UWA.  We will uphold the code of ethics and best practices of our profession.

There may be times when we provide content to you for review or further insight, but because the content may be adapted to multiple platforms, generally we will not ask you to proof or review when we are distributing to our typical channels and platforms. We will instead ask for an interview with you to get clarification or explanation of more technical topics. We can conduct interviews face to face or via video call, email, or phone call, at a mutually agreeable time so you are prepared to provide the information needed.

No, there is not a designated communicator with a background in every academic discipline. We are communicators: we look to you for expertise in healthcare, education, business, sciences, mathematics, leadership, and so much more, and you can count on us to put our expertise to work in creating effective messaging and content that will be well-received by various audiences. The centralized Strategic Communications team strives to represent all areas of campus, with the exception of Athletics, which is supported through Athletic Communications. We are indeed a small team, but we aim to work as efficiently as possible to maximize our reach and level of productivity.

We incorporate your publicity requests with our existing strategies in social media, marketing, and public relations to build and strengthen the UWA brand by communicating with integrity, efficiency, and creativity. We work collaboratively to share the unique story of UWA by way of helping our students, faculty, and staff stand in the spotlight, while also growing our scholarly reputation and engaging our alumni and friends in our commitment to truly serving our community, state, region and beyond.