View source for University of Alabama System

{{Short description|Public university system in Alabama}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox university
| name = The University of Alabama System
| image = UASystemSeal.png
| image_upright = .7
| caption = Seal of the Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama
| motto = 
| logo = University of Alabama System logo horizontal cropped.png
| endowment = $2.09 billion (2023)<ref name=NACUBO>As of June 30, 2023. {{cite web |url=https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/nacubo1-nacubo-prd-dc8b/media/Nacubo/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2023-NCSE-Endowment-Market-Values-FINAL.xlsx |title=U.S. and Canadian 2023 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2023 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY22 to FY23, and FY23 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student |date=February 15, 2024 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) |access-date=July 25, 2024 |format=XLSX |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523180252/https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/nacubo1-nacubo-prd-dc8b/media/Nacubo/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2023-NCSE-Endowment-Market-Values-FINAL.xlsx |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| established = 1969<ref name="boardhistory">{{Cite web|url=https://uasystem.edu/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515231429/http://www.uasystem.ua.edu/board/Board%20history.htm|url-status=dead|title=University of Alabama System|archivedate=May 15, 2011|website=The University of Alabama System}}</ref>
| type = [[Public university|Public]] [[university system]]
| chancellor = Sid Trant
| city = 
| state = [[Alabama]]
| country = United States
| enrollment = 70,000+
| faculty = 4,940
| campus = {{ubl|[[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]|[[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]]|[[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]}}
| website = {{url|www.uasystem.edu}}
}}
{{Location map+|Alabama|places={{Location map~ | Alabama
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 80
    | label = [[University of Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]
    | position = bottom
    | lat_deg = 33.210833
    | lon_deg = -87.546111 }}
{{Location map~ | Alabama
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 80
    | label = [[University of Alabama at Birmingham|Birmingham]]
    | position = top
    | lat_deg = 33.5
    | lon_deg = -86.8075 }}
{{Location map~ | Alabama
    | marksize = 8
    | label_size = 80
    | label = [[University of Alabama in Huntsville|Huntsville]]
    | position = right
    | lat_deg = 34.727175
    | lon_deg = -86.639818 }}|caption=University of Alabama System locations|float=right}}

The '''University of Alabama System''' is a public university system in [[Alabama]] that coordinates and oversees three research universities: [[University of Alabama]] (UA), [[University of Alabama at Birmingham]] (UAB), and [[University of Alabama in Huntsville]] (UAH). These universities enroll more than 70,000 students. The system employs more than 45,000 employees at its three campuses and health system making it one of the largest employers in the state.

==Campuses==
The University of Alabama was founded in 1831 in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]] and is the state of Alabama's oldest public university. In 1936, UA established an extension center in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], and the [[University of Alabama School of Medicine]] moved there in the same year. In 1950, another extension center was set up in [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]].

In 1966, the Birmingham extension center and the School of Medicine merged as the University of Alabama in Birmingham. However, it was still treated as an offsite department of the main campus in Tuscaloosa. With the creation of the UA system in 1969, UAB became a fully autonomous institution, and the Huntsville extension center also became an autonomous four-year campus as the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Campus
! Abbreviation
! Founded
! Enrollment 
! Athletics<br>nickname
! Athletics<br>conference
! Athletics<br>level
|---
| align=left | [[University of Alabama|University of Alabama Tuscaloosa]]
| '''UA'''
| 1831
| 38,563
| [[Alabama Crimson Tide|Crimson Tide]]
| [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC){{efn|group=Bama|name=D1|Currently an [[NCAA Division I]] athletic conference.}}
| rowspan=2 | [[NCAA Division I]] [[Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]]
|---
| align=left | [[University of Alabama at Birmingham]]
| '''UAB'''
| 1969
| 22,080
| [[UAB Blazers|Blazers]]
| [[American Athletic Conference]] (AAC){{efn|group=Bama|name=D1}}
|---
| align=left | [[University of Alabama in Huntsville]]
| '''UAH'''
| 1969**
| 9,100
| [[Alabama-Huntsville Chargers|Chargers]]
| [[Gulf South Conference]] (GSC){{efn|group=Bama|name=D2|Currently an [[NCAA Division II]] athletic conference.}}
| [[NCAA Division II]]
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=Bama}}

===The University of Alabama===
[[File:Univofalsigncmps.jpg|thumb|left|[[University of Alabama|The University of Alabama]]]]
{{main|The University of Alabama}}
Founded in 1831 and located in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]], [[Alabama]], '''The University of Alabama''' (also known as '''Alabama''', or colloquially as ''''Bama''') was established by constitutional provision under statutory mandates and authorizations. Its mission is to advance the intellectual and social condition of the people of the state through quality programs of teaching, research and service. Within Alabama, it is often called the '''Capstone''' and '''UA'''. Outside the state, it is well known for its athletic teams being nicknamed the "Crimson Tide" (crimson is the primary color of the [[Flag of Alabama|state flag of Alabama]] and one of the school colors).

===University of Alabama at Birmingham===
{{main|The University of Alabama at Birmingham}}
'''The University of Alabama at Birmingham''' ('''UAB''') is a [[Public university|public]] [[research university]] covering 83 blocks in Alabama's largest city [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]. The university is [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education|classified]] among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".<ref>{{cite web |year=2023 |title=Carnegie Classification for UAB |url=https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=100663 |accessdate=January 25, 2023 |publisher=[[American Council on Education]]}}</ref> UAB is a vital economic engine of the state of Alabama with an estimated $7.15 billion annual impact. UAB is currently the state's largest employer with more than 24,000 faculty and staff and over 64,000 jobs at the university and in the health system. Almost 10% of the jobs in the [[Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area]] are related to UAB.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uab.edu/news/research/item/8779-uab-boosts-alabama-economy-with-7-15-billion-impact-supporting-nearly-65-000-jobs|title = UAB boosts Alabama economy with $7.15 billion impact, supporting nearly 65,000 jobs - News &#124; UAB}}</ref>

===University of Alabama in Huntsville===
{{main|University of Alabama in Huntsville}}
[[Image:UAHShelbyCenter.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Shelby Center for Science and Technology at UAH]]
'''The University of Alabama in Huntsville''' (also known as '''UAH''') is located in [[Huntsville, Alabama]] and it was founded in 1950. UAH is accredited by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] to award [[bachelor's degree]]s, [[master's degree]]s, and [[doctorate]]s. This university is organized into five colleges: business, engineering, the liberal arts, [[nursing]], and the sciences.

UAH is known for its programs in [[engineering]] and the [[physical science]]s, such as [[geophysics]] (the Earth's [[magnetosphere]]) and the physics of [[interplanetary space]]. UAH is a [[Space grant colleges|Space Grant]] university, and it has a history of cooperation with both the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (See:  [[Marshall Space Flight Center]]) and the [[U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command]]. The [[National Space Science and Technology Center]] is on the campus of UAH.

==Governance==
The Board of Trustees executes its governance responsibilities through a chancellor, who serves as the chief executive officer of the System. A president heads each campus with responsibility for campus administration and reports directly to the Chancellor and through the Chancellor to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees and the Chancellor delegate certain administrative functions and maintain such offices as deemed appropriate to meet the administrative needs of the System. The Chancellor also provides linkage between the System and various components of state and federal governments, as well as other educational groups and organizations.

===Board of trustees===
The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama is a self-nominating board composed of 15 elected members and one [[ex officio]] member. The makeup of the board is dictated by the [[Constitution of Alabama|Constitution of the State of Alabama]] which requires that the board be made up of three members from the [[congressional district]] that contains the Tuscaloosa campus and two members from every other congressional district in Alabama. The [[Governor of Alabama]] is a member of the board by [[ex officio|virtue of the office]]. Elected board members are nominated by the board and are confirmed by the [[Alabama Senate|Alabama State Senate]]. Board members may serve three consecutive six-year terms.<ref name="boardhistory" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.uasystem.edu/}}

{{University of Alabama System}}
{{University of Alabama}}
{{University of Alabama at Birmingham}}
{{University of Alabama in Huntsville}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:University of Alabama System| ]]
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in Alabama| ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1969]]
[[Category:Public university systems in the United States|Alabama]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Alabama]]