Bama Essentials A Guide to UA Resources and Services.

Bama EssentialsA Guide to UA Resources

and Services

Action CardWhat is an Action Card? • It is an official University ID Card. • ACCESS TO…: • NCAA athletic events/ ticket pickup • Campus entertainment events• Vote in student elections• Check out books at the university libraries • University Recreation Center• Student Health Center• Computer labs• Facilities and residence halls• Parking decks

www.actcard.ua.edu

Action CardThere are three types of accounts on your student’s Action Card: Meal Plans, Dining Dollars, and Bama Cash.• Meal Plan: Your student may choose the Meal Plan that is best suited to their

needs.

• Food Card: We call this Dining Dollars. All undergraduates with 9 or more hours are required to purchase $300 Dining Dollars each semester. A balance of $300 per fall and spring semester is automatically billed to your student’s account. ($100 per summer term)

• It can be a Debit Card:—known as BAMA Cash. A BAMA Cash account is similar to a checking account.

www.actcard.ua.edu

Bama Dining

www.bamadining.com

• Freshmen have three meal plans to choose from: unlimited, gold, or silver.

• Unused meals roll over from the fall to spring semester, unless the student chooses to downgrade their meal plan.

• Unused meals at the end of the spring semester do not roll over into the summer or following fall semester.

Meal Plan Total Meals Per Semester

Average Meals Per Week

Unlimited ∞ ∞Gold 220 14

Silver 160 10

Bama Cash vs. Dining DollarsDining Dollars• Dining dollars are required for

any student with 9 or more credit hours

• Accepted at Bama Dining locations and campus vending

• Typically used to grab a snack or eat in the Food Court

• Any unused balances at the end of the fall semester will be forwarded to the spring Dining Dollars account.

Bama Cash• Bama Cash is optional and only

available if money is deposited to your student’s account.

• Money can be added at anytime during the semester.

• Accepted at dining and other select retail outlets on and off campus such as gas stations, the UPS store and laundry facilities.

Depositing Money into Bama Cash

Must have student’s Campus Wide ID (labeled Card Number on website)!!

This campus has everything!• All-you-care-to-eat • Food Court• Grab-and-go• Diners• Coffee Shops• Smoothie Bars• Convenience Stores

There are FIVE locations that accept meal plans: Burke Dining, Lakeside Dining, Fresh Food Co., Bryant Dining, and Julia’s Market.

http://www.bamadining.com/

The Student Health Center• Appointments are made by calling 205-348-APPT or online.• Walk-ins are welcome, but an appointment is advisable to

shorten wait time. • Accept most major health insurance plans.• Offer affordable health insurance on an open enrollment basis.• All students are seen, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.• Co-pays and services not covered are billed directly to student’s

account.• The Student Health Center works with specialists within the

community including DCH, the local Regional Medical Center, and UA School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa Campus.

Primary Health Care Services:• Women’s Health, OB/GYN• Nutrition Counseling • Health Promotion & Wellness• Psychiatry Services• ADHD, ADD• Sports Medicine• Pharmacy

Please encourage your student to visit the Student Health Centerat the first sign of illness.

The Student Health Center

shc.ua.edu

The Student Health Center• Quality: 2009 Quality Award Winner and the ONLY student

health center in the state that is accredited.• Convenience: No cash needed

Pharmacy, Immunizations, Allergy Injections, and Lab and X-Ray are on site.

On Campus

• Accessibility: Bus route stops at entrance.

Hours: Mon – Thurs 8AM – 8PMFri 9AM – 5PM Sat – Sun 1PM – 4PM

• Insurance: Over 15 major health insurance plans accepted. shc.ua.edu

• Required: Proof of 2 MMR vaccinations, TB screening – within the last 12 months, and Meningitis vaccination before attending classes!

• Recommended: Up-to-date Tetanus and other routine immunizations.

• Forms are online at: shc.ua.edu

The Student Health Center

shc.ua.edu

• Required online education course educating students about alcohol and its effects on the mind and body.

• Parents should review the alcohol education program as well, and talk with your student about what you both have learned.

• Available for access beginning July 20th: alcoholedu.ua.edu

AlcoholEdu

Transportation ServicesMotorist Assistance Program (MAP):• Run out of gas near campus• Need a jump-start • Need air in tires• If you lock your keys in your car, MAP will call a locksmith• 205-348-0121 or 205-348-5454 after hours

Crimson Ride is the University of Alabama's transit system. Students can track the bus online and see the various routes offered at http://crimsonride.ua.edu/.

(205) 348-RIDE is an after hours van service for no cost to help students move about campus. http://crimsonride.ua.edu/pages/348-ride.htm

(205) 348-RIDE Express is a no cost, late night option for students running Thursday-Saturday. http://sga.ua.edu/expresshome.cfm

Bama Bikes• Rental program with an annual low cost fee ($10) for students to

be eligible to check-out a bike for use around campus and town. • 3 locations to rent: Rose Towers, Outdoor Recreation office

(located in the Student Recreation Center), and the Ferguson Center. Bamabikes.ua.edu

Transportation Services

• Four Locations: Ferguson, Tutwiler, Bryant Museum, School of Law

• Can assist you with…• Textbooks!• Apple products• Clothing, memorabilia, and supplies• Check cashing

Supestore.ua.edu

University Supply Store

FERPA• The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

• FERPA rights transfer to the student at the age of 18 or when they begin attending a post-secondary institution regardless of age

• A major goal we have for your first-year experience is to forge a strong partnership between UA, our students, and the parents of UA students. To this end, students may sign the record release form found in their orientation packets which allows the University to communicate with parents about their student’s educational records

What is protected under FERPA?• Grades and transcripts• Academic class schedules• Information accessed in myBama• Class rosters• Any document designated as part of the educational record

http://registrar.ua.edu/privacy.html

FERPAWhat can be released?• Directory information• Information needed by a government agency • Some information to accrediting organizations• Information needed in a health or safety emergency• Some information to attorneys representing UA• Information the student has given written consent to release• Remember your student must sign the release for either 1 year or 4

years in order for you to obtain this information. (In student orientation packet, NOT parent).

• IMPORTANT NOTE: The university will not disclose grades on the phone regardless of signed release. The parent must order a transcript to receive the student’s grades.

http://registrar.ua.edu/privacy.html

Student LifeGetting involved in University life is essential to student success! Here are some upcoming events your student should take advantage of:

• Week Of Welcome (WOW) August 13-19Highlights: Bama Blast, Plaza Live &

• The Ripple Effect August 14 10am-2pmCommunity-wide service initiative for new students

• Student Involvement Week August 23-27 Highlights: Get on Board Day, On-Campus Job Fair

Student LifeUA has a multitude of organizations and ways to get involved!

The SOURCE : http://thesource.ua.edu/

The Office of Student Involvement & Leadership: http://leadership.ua.edu

The Community Service Center: http://www.volunteer.ua.edu

Student Recreation Center: http://urec.sa.ua.edu

Freshman Learning Communities: http://flc.ua.edu

Student Employment: http://jobs.ua.edu

Academics—Advising • Advisors are the faculty or staff member who will assist

students in selecting classes for their degree program.• Students should get know their advisor and seek their advice. • Encourage your student to visit regularly.• Students seeking to change majors should see their advisor.

DegreeWorks allows a student to plan & track time to his or her degree – 24/7.

Student View Audit• This allows students to be able to view their past and current work to best plan

their future before meeting with an advisor.

Student Educational Planner• This feature works in conjunction with the Student View Audit to help plan

future coursework.

“What If” function• “What If” allows students to hypothetically change their major, minor, or

concentration.

“Look Forward” function• Helps students forecast their time at UA.

GPA Calculator• Allows students to calculate various GPAs.

Academics- DegreeWorks

Academics- Faculty• Key to your student’s academic success.• Students should get to know at least one professor each semester.

This will help when it comes to needing letters of reference.• Professors are very limited to what they can talk to a parent about,

so many will prefer to communicate with the student directly. • Mid-term grades distributed to students in 100 and 200 level

courses so inquire with your student around mid-term to ask how they are doing.

• Office hours- time dedicated to talking to students.

Academic ResourcesUA has many academic resources available for all students. If there is not a dedicated resource, have the student talk to their professor or advisor about helping them find assistance.

Center for Teaching and Learninghttp://www.ctl.ua.edu Writing Centerhttp://www.as.ua.edu/english/writingcenter/index.html Math Labshttp://www.mtlc.ua.edu/ Career Centerhttp://www.career.ua.edu/ Tide Early Alerthttp://newstudents.ua.edu/importantlinks.html

Transition SupportCampus Ministries- comprised of pastors and lay leaders who serve the UA community by offering students a place to worship and a ready ear to listen.

Disability Services- If your student has a learning or other disability, they should register with Office of Disability Services.

Dean of Students- provides a variety of resources to students including crises assistance and opportunities to get involved and connect to campus.

Counseling Center- helps students achieve academic success and personal growth through quality brief counseling and psychological services, outreach and consultative services.

Emergency Support•  3 on-call staff members, 24 hours a day

• On-Call Dean- Student Affairs professional on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Partners with campus services (Academic Colleges, Housing and Residential Communities, Women’s Resource Center, Counseling Center, and Public Safety)

• Partners with community agencies (DCH Hospital, North Harbor, and Tuscaloosa Police)

• Call UAPD to contact the On-Call Dean at: (205) 348-5454

How YOU Can be InvolvedOffice of Parent Programs • Parent Hotline• Contact by e-mail, [email protected]• Sign up for PENPALS• E-mail listserv that keeps parents informed on

university news and events.• Parents Association Board• Online Network- familyconnection.ua.edu• Don’t forget to join us for Family Weekend

September 3-5 this fall!• More information posted at parents.ua.edu