University of South Alabama

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University of South Alabama

Established: 1964
Type: Public
Endowment: $270,300,000
President: Gordon Moulton
Staff: 992
Students: 14,003
Location: Mobile, Alabama, USA
Campus: Main Campus
Nickname: Jaguars
Colors: Red, White, and Blue
                 
Mascot: South Paw and Miss Pawla
Affiliations: Sun Belt Conference
Website: www.southalabama.edu
Logo is a trademark of the University of South Alabama

The University of South Alabama (USA) is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. At the time that this university was founded, a new concept was implemented in Alabama for the first time; that a public institution of higher education would be created that did not use race as a factor for enrollment. The only place in the state that was really open to this type of policy was the Mobile area. The rich cultural diversity of the Mobile area made it the obvious choice. No other areas of the state were willing to support such a school at that time. Plans for this university were being made as early as 1956.

The University is divided into nine colleges and schools, and includes Alabama's second state-supported medical school. The university has an enrollment of approximately 14,000 students.[1] To date, the University has awarded over 62,325 degrees.[2]

The University has an annual payroll of $245 million (US), with over 5,800 employees. It has remained one of Alabama's fastest growing universities for the past several years.[3]

Contents

[edit] Academics and Campus Life

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in nine colleges and schools. Most prominent fields offer master's level degrees in addition to undergraduate degrees. Doctoral level degrees are offered in several areas of Medicine, Marine Science, and Psychology. Significant research is done by faculty members in these fields.

[edit] Colleges

The University of South Alabama has nine colleges:

  • College of Allied Health Professions
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • Mitchell College of Business
  • College of Education
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Medicine
  • Doctor of Pharmacy Program
  • College of Nursing
  • School of Computer and Information Sciences
  • School of Continuing Education and Special

[edit] Administration

The University is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by and including the governor of Alabama. The Board appoints a president of the University. Since the founding of the University, there have been two presidents: Frederick Palmer Whiddon (served 1963-1998) and V. Gordon Moulton (since 1998).

[edit] Athletics

Main article: South Alabama Jaguars

[edit] Traditions

The USA Outlaws, founded by Daniel Souers and Jack Wu, is a student organization to support Jaguar athletics. The Outlaws are known for "painting up" their chests with letters to spell out catchy sayings that are also used as chants during basketball games: "South In Your Mouth", "Bleed It Red", and "Jaguars". They also refer to the Mitchell Center, where Jaguar basketball games are held, as "The Jungle", and they have been featured on ESPN2, local newspapers, and local news reports.

Oozeball is an annual fundraiser benefiting the Universities student ambassadors, the Southerners. The game is regulation volleyball played in six inches of mud. The event draws a large crowd every spring.

The universities Greek community hosts a number of annual events including: The Alpha Gamma Delta Spaghetti Dinner each fall and Kickball Tournament each spring to benefit the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation which supports diabetes research and education,Alpha Omicron Pi softball tournament, the Chi Omega's songfest, the Pi Kappa Phi Miss USA pageant, Pi Kappa Alpha's Pikefest, Sigma Chi's Derby Days and Tau Kappa Epsilon's Trick or TEKE.

[edit] The USA Rescue Squad

The University of South Alabama is also proud to boast the first collegiate rescue squad in the state of Alabama. The squad was accredited by the Alabama Association of Rescue Squads in November 2005 and attend intramural events and special events on campus. The squad hopes to eventually provide 24-hour on-call coverage for the main campus of the University of South Alabama once they increase their funding and membership.

[edit] Greek Life

Panhellenic Council

Interfraternity Council

National Panhellenic Council

[edit] Alumni

Alumni of the University of South Alabama include:

[edit] Publications

USA Vanguard.

[edit] References

  1. ^ University of South Alabama Press Release
  2. ^ University of South Alabama Press Release
  3. ^ University of South Alabama, Office of Public Relations, "Quick Facts."

[edit] External links