STUDENTAFFAIRS
AMESSAGEFROMDR.MELISSAHAAB
VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
As we wrap up another vibrant and inspiring spring semester, I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of our students for their resilience and achievements, as well as our staff's unwavering commitment to our university community.
This spring brought a renewed sense of energy to our campus. Dr. Todd Fritch, our new university president, attended many of our student events, including serving (with his wife, Jamie) as a judge for Miss Paragon. Each of our Student Affairs departments has raised the bar to provide outstanding customer service and appropriate resources.
As we head into the summer, know that the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management will be here planning, listening, and preparing for a new academic year filled with growth, support, and opportunity.
With pride and gratitude, Melissa
AMESSAGEFROMBYRONTHETFORD
With the Spring 2025 semester behind us, I want to extend my gratitude for all you’ve done to support our students. From welcoming new initiatives to helping students navigate challenges and celebrate milestones, your commitment has been felt across campus.
This spring brought so many moments of connection, growth, and resilience and your work has been at the heart of it. Whether through programming, advising, or simply showing up for students, you’ve made a lasting impact.
Thank you for being such an essential part of our community. I hope you find time this summer to rest, recharge, and reflect—we’re already looking forward to what’s ahead in Fall 2025!
Go Tigers!
Byron
UNDERGRADUATE ON- CAMPUS ADMISSIONS, RECRUITMENT AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Libba Baker, Director
MeetingswithSIGcontinueasweworkonadditionalSlate projects,suchasthescholarshipapplicationprocess,student portals,shortapplicationfordualenrollment,processingbins, andmanyothers.WehavealsoconsultedwithRHBtobuilda studentportalinSlate.WehavecompletedtheLoFiandHiFi meetingsfortheproject.
CounselorshavebeenbusyinAprilandMayattendingawards programsandsigningdays.
AhugeTHANKYOUtoallwhomadeourfirstorientationa success!Welookforwardtoasummerfulloffunorientations.
SUMMER‘25APPLICATIONS
TOURS
Campus Tours from August 15, 2024 – May 9, 2025
Summer 2025 Applications: 185 (71 admits) Transfer-49applicationswith15admits Freshman-136applicationswith56admits
Summer 2024 Applications: 121 (51 admits) Transfer-43applicationswith18admits Freshman-78applicationswith33admits
FALL‘25APPLICATIONS
Fall 2025 Applications: 2,893 (1,766 admits)
Transfer-214applicationswith91admit Freshman-2,679applicationswith1,675admits
Fall 2024 Applications: 2,581 (1,693 admits) Transfer-272applicationswith129admits Freshman-2,309applicationswith1,564admits
SCHOLARSHIPS
IndividualTours:242students(8288%check-inrate) GroupTours:978students
Campus Tours from August15,2023–May9,2024 IndividualTours:194students(83.26%check-inrate) GroupTours:851students
Summer2025ECF'S-32 Transfer-11 Freshman-21 Transient/Exchange-0
Fall2025ECF'S-305 Transfer-44 Freshman-254 Transient/Exchange-7
EVENTS
Summer2024ECF'S-25 Transfer-12 Freshman-12 Transient/Exchange-1
Fall2024ECF'S-2 Transfer-58 Freshman-199 Transient/Exchange-1
FINANCIAL AID
William Washburn, Director
ThingsarebusyintheFinancialAidOfficeasweheadintoSummerandlookaheadtotheFall!
We’realreadydivingintoimportingandawarding2025–2026FAFSAapplicationsforthe upcomingFallsemester gettingeverythingreadyforourfutureTigersintheClassof2029!
Thissummer,1,481SummerAidRequestswerereceived.Thesearerequiredforundergraduate studentswhowishtobeconsideredforsummerfinancialaid.Ouramazingteamofseven counselors includingtheDirector hasbeenhardatwork,reviewingandawardingeachrequest individuallybeforeSummerDeregistrationtoensureeverystudentgetsthesupporttheyneed.
We’realsosendingabigcongratulationstothe581studentswhograduatedthisSpring!Your hardwork,resilience,anddedicationhavepaidoff,andwecouldn’tbemoreproudtohavebeen partofyourjourney.
Ofthosegraduates,562receivedfinancialaidduringtheirtimeatUWA.We’rehonoredtohave supportedsomanyofyoualongtheway,helpingmakeyouracademicgoalsareality.
HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE
Angela Ward, Director
HOUSINGSTAFFHIGHLIGHTS
ThreenewResidentAssistants(RAs)joinedforSpring2025:BaileyDavidson(Gilbert), MikeirriaMoore(Gilbert),andTrinityCrenshaw(Hoover).
2025–2026StaffSelections:
HallDirectors:
SavannahSanford–Hoover
PhillipMartin–Reed&Patterson
MakaylaLawrence–Selden
MadisonWashington–AssistantHallDirector,Gilbert ResidentAssistants:
GilbertHall:AndrewnettaAdams,RafelBranch,JaquadaBrooks,GrayciHadden, WrigleyHeilman,PrincessHerelle,CarsonJordan,DerianaMcCleon,DukePickett,Tyler Prisock,SydStevenson,CarleyTracey,CanyonTrevino,andJordynWebb
HooverApartments:JakeraBoyd,DonovanDicker,EmilyDjagbare,JaydenMcKenzie, DeniseRodgers
ReedHall:BaileyDavidson,JalenHill
PattersonHall:AlexanderDavis,AutumnSansin
SeldenHall:ShanikaBrown,BriaceMcBeth,Ja’tonieRembert SummerStaffHires:
ShanikaBrown,NyaCampbell,AustinHorne,MakaylaLawrence,DaijLong,Jayden McKenzie,RuthMyrthil,DukePickett,TylerPrisock,SavannahSanford,NickolasSmith, andMasonWatts
ProfessionalDevelopment:
AngelaWard:AttendedSEAHO2025Conference;engagedinmultipleACUHO-Itrainingsand webinarsincludingleadership,supervision,andhousinginnovations.
ShellyFast:ParticipatedinACUHO-ISmallCollegeSymposium,roundtables,andleadership webinars.
Bothcompletedvariouscontinuingeducationincludingstormspottertraining,Canva Create2025,andUAB-sponsoredsessions.
COMMUNITYHIGHLIGHTS
Thesemesterkickedoffwithgoal-setting,visionboards,andcreativewelcome-backeventslike paintingdoormats(Reed)andaffirmationjars(Gilbert).FebruaryfeaturedValentine’sWeekfun, self-loveworkshops,andpracticalsessionslike“Adulting101”andsafesexeducation.March broughtcampus-wideexcitementwithmurdermysteries,MarchMadness,trivianights,andselfcareprograms.InApril,staffwrappeduptheyearwithbigcommunityeventsliketheGilbert Carnival,RPSWars,andtheHooverHangout.
HOUSINGSTAFFBANQUET
OnMay8,2025,wecelebratedourhousingstaffmembersatourEndofYearHousingStaff Banquet.Inadditiontosuperlativesforeachstaffandawardswithineachhall,thefollowing departmentalawardswerepresentedrecognizingoutstandingcontributionstoourresidents, staff,andcommunity:
RookieResidentAssistantoftheYear:SavannahSanford(Hoover)
VeteranResidentAssistantoftheYear:JordynStewart(Patterson) GoldenPawAwards:AdonisWilliams(Gilbert),LeahKeogh(Hoover)
ONE STOP
Thissemester,theUWAOneStop:
FurtherexpandedHelpDeskarticlestoaddressvariouscustomerquestionsandconcerns CreatedandfilledaOneStopStudentAssistantposition HostedaMoneyMattersTablingEventtoassiststudentswithbillingquestion Plannedmonth thevariousOne Inpartnershipw Trellis.Focusin remindersand Implementedv Received 11,480One 3,436Oper
Kirstan Cunningham, Director
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES & CARES
Andrea Farquhar, Director
TRIOSSSSCHOLARSPROGRAMUPDATE
TheTRIOSSSScholarsprogramofferedanumberofacademic,professional,andculturalenrichment opportunitiestoparticipantsthisspring.ScholarstraveledtoMontgomerytoadvocateforfirstgenerationcollegestudentsatthestatecapitolandparticipatedinacareer-focusedtriptoAtlanta. TheAtlantaexperienceincludedvisitstotheMLKNationalHistoricSite,theFoxTheatre,theGeorgia Aquarium,MercedesBenzStadium,theCDC,SpelmanCollege,andMorehouseCollege,aswellas attendanceatanAtlantaHawksgame.Theprogramalsohostedacareerdevelopmentworkshop seriestohelpstudentsexplorepathwaysbeyondgraduation.Weproudlycelebrated17SSS studentsgraduatingthisspring.
Ontheprofessionalfront,theadvisingteamdeepeneditscapacitytoservestudents:theSSSadvisors earnedcertificationinAppreciativeAdvising,DaphnecompletedtheNACADA“AdvisingFirst-Gen Students”course,andJessicacompletedMentalHealthFirstAidcertification.TRIOstaffalsoengaged inongoingprofessionaldevelopmentthroughparticipationintheSAEOPPinNewOrleansandAndrea attendedtheCOEPolicySeminarinWashington,DC,strengtheningouradvocacyandsupportefforts forunderrepresentedstudentpopulations.
CARESUPDATE
Thisspring,ourdepartmentmademeaningfulstridesinsupportingstudentsuccessandprofessional development.AbbyandWescoordinatedasuccessfulDECAtrip,givingfivestudentstheopportunityto expandtheirleadershipandbusinessskills.CoachCochrancameandsharedhisinspiringstorywith studentsinFebruary.WealsolaunchedaFinancialLiteracyseries,empoweringstudentswithessential lifeskills.AndourFinalsWeekProgrammingprovidedtargetedacademicandwellnesssupportduringa criticaltimeofthesemester,includingLoadedTeaandcustomgrilledcheeseevents.
Ontheprofessionalfront,theadvisingteamdeepeneditscapacitytoservestudents:theSSSadvisors earnedcertificationinAppreciativeAdvising,DaphnecompletedtheNACADA“AdvisingFirst-Gen Students”course,andJessicacompletedMentalHealthFirstAidcertification.TRIOstaffalsoengagedin ongoingprofessionaldevelopmentthroughparticipationintheSAEOPPinNewOrleansandAndrea attendedtheCOEPolicySeminarinWashington,DC,strengtheningouradvocacyandsupporteffortsfor underrepresentedstudentpopulations.
ConcertHonorBand
UPWARD BOUND
Diana Pullum, Director
CAMPUS RECREATION
Troy presented “How to Conference as a Small Program” at NIRSA 2025 in Orlando, FL
Administered swim lessons for UCS 1 graders st
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
Dr.
TheAnnualPerformanceReportwassubmittedandaccepted onJanuary27,2025,forUpwardBoundtotheUSDepartment ofEducation.
UpwardBoundmembersassistedatSumterCentralHigh SchoolwithRealityCheck.Thisprogramteachesfinancial literacyandbudgetingtoHighschoolstudents. UpwardBoundhadasuccessfulturnoutfortheSpringterm. WearegettingreadyfortheSummersession,June-July.
NUMBERS
11,647
Fitness Center Check-ins (1,536 Faculty/staff, 3,512 Community, 6,599 Students)
712 146 497 136 23
Group Fitness participations
Rec Center Check-ins (only counts students who have a physical ID or have had one in the past)
Student tickets at the Cinema (790 total tickets)
Intramural Participants
Boat Rentals at Lake LU
Spring2025BigEvents
ChineseLunarNewYear
HoliFestivalofColors
NepaleseNewYearCelebration
GraduationCelebration
Manymoreculturalmeetups,activities,andcollaborations!
BytheNumbers
100internationalstudentsoncampus Representing39countriesacross6continents
35+studentsgraduatingorreturninghomethissemester
AMessagefromInternationalPrograms
Wearesoproudofallourinternationalstudents whetheryou'recrossingthestageorreturning home,thankyouforbeingpartofourUWAfamily.Yourcontributionsenrichourcampusand communityeveryday.
Troy Maddox, Director
Mark Davis, Dean
STUDENT ADVOCACY
Will Atkinson, Director
STUDENTADVOCACYUPDATE
ADA Satisfaction Survey closed on May 16, 2025.
30.6%responserate-online(15of49)
Accommodationreceived:93%-Academic,7%-ESA
Requestinginformationwasasimpleprocess:71%-Stronglyagree,21%Somewhatagree
Reviewofaccommodationrequestwasdoneinatimelymanner:85%-Stronglyagree,15%Somewhat agree
Afterreceivingaccommodations,itwaseasytoscheduleameetingwithmyinstructorstodiscussmy accommodations:64%-Stronglyagree,29%-Somewhatagree
3338%responseratecampus(23of68)
Accommodationreceived:39%-Academic, 32%-Housing,29%-ESA
Requestinginformationwasasimpleprocess:83%-Stronglyagree,9%Somewhatagree
Reviewofaccommodationrequestwasdoneinatimelymanner:82%-Stronglyagree,9%Somewhat agree
Afterreceivingaccommodations,itwaseasytoscheduleameetingwithmyinstructorstodiscussmy accommodations:73%-Stronglyagree,14%-Somewhatagree,14%-Neitheragreenordisagree
ACCOMMODATIONSUMMARY
SponsoredtheUWAServiceStationgearedtoward helpingstudentsensuretheirvehicleissafefortravel astheypreparetotravelforspringbreak.Volunteers cleanedwindshields,addedwasherfluid,checkedoil levels(offeredrecommendationonhowtocorrectifoil waslow),andcheckedtirepressureandadjustingas needed.Inaddition,thevolunteerscheckedthe taillights,brakelights,headlights,andturnsignals. Thisserviceisofferedneartheendofeachsemester.
20studentparticipants 15surveyscollected (14)-5StarRatings (15)-Wouldrecommend
Leslie White, Coordinator
MissParagon STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
STUDENTINVOLVEMENT-GREEKLIFE
GreekWeekwasheldMarch10-13,2025.Activitiesincluded,GreekCookout,FoamParty,GreekGames,“Piea Greek”andGreekAwards. FromMarch2024-March2025,UWAGreekLifedonated1,445hoursofcommunity service,$18,159.30tophilanthropiccausesandheld40awarenessevents.Inadditiontothesenumbers,they raisedover$200and400nonperishableitemsfortheUWAStudentFoodPantryand100itemstoMs. Carter’sKidsofCharacterLearningCenter.
STUDENTINVOLVEMENT-OTHER
BlueKeyHonorSociety-MadelynBrasher(VP),LeahBethStewart(President)andLeslieWhite(Advisor) attendedtheNationalConferenceinFlagstaff,AZinJanuary.LeahBethwasnamedtotheNationalBoardof DirectorsforBlueKeyandwillserveatwoyearterm.
Late Night @ the Caf
CAB NEWS
CAB Members, 20252026 : Marli Davis (President), Courtney Foster, Charlie Raney, Roubie Myrthil, Madyson Jackson, Neely Atkinson
Marli Davis and Courtney Foster attended the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) conference in Philadelphia, PA
CHEERLEADING NEWS
Attended at NCA Nationals in Daytona, FL
Hosted 2 Nationals Showcases
Participated in Giving Day raising over $9,000
Hosted Parent Night Out Fundrasier
Hosted 3 high school Stunt Clinic
Created online UWA Cheer Store
Traveled to Montevallo for GSC Tournament game
SGA NEWS
SGA 2025-2026
Phillip Martin – Presiden
Andrewnetta Adams – V President
Gabriel Stephens – Seni Representative
Reagan Reid – Junior Representative
Vick Jones – Sophomore Representative
Handed out Chick Fil A Biscuits during first week of class
Attended Higher Education Day in Montgomery, AL on February 20
Held EC Elections – 542 total ballots cast
Appointed Madison Booker and Deriana McCleon as Freshman Forum Directors for the 2025-26 school year
Gave away UWA SWAG at 3 different SWAG Fridays
Freshman Forum hosted Freshman Game Night
Passed out stuffed bears for Valentine’s Day
Hosted multiple town hall/public forum events: Dinner with the Dean, Lunch with Leadership, and Freshman Forum Town Hall
Hosted SGA President’s Homecoming
Handed out Chick Fil A sandwiches for Finals Week
Trivia
RIIPENPARTNERSHIP
TheUWAOfficeofCareerServiceshas partneredwithRiipentoofferamicrointernshipforstudents,runningfromMayto December2025.Throughthisprogram, studentswillworkwithlocalSumterCounty businesses supportedbytheSumter CountyChamberofCommerceandUWA’s OfficeofEconomicandWorkforce Development tocreatemediapackages thatpromoteeventsandboostcommunity engagement.Participantswillgainpractical experienceinmarketing,communications, andmediaproductionwhiledeveloping professionalskillsandnetworks.
PRO-CERTIFIEDQEP
AsacomponentUWA’s5-YearStrategicPlan, departmentsthisyearincludeNursing(third yearofparticipation),Technologyand Engineering(secondyearofparticipation), andBusiness(firstyeartoparticipate). Campusprogramswillbeaddedeachyear overthenexttwoyearsofthe5-year programasoutlinedintheQEP,withThe CollegeofEducationwillbeaddedFall2025.
SPRINGTIGERCAREERFAIR
Spring2025TIGERCareerFairwasheldApril 8,2025from12-3pmattheSUB.217 studentsattendedthecareerevent,which isthelargestnumberofstudent participationthusfarreportedfortheSpring CareerFair.Inaddition,therewere36 employerboothswith81recruiters attending.
WRPhelpsstudentsandrecentgraduateswith disabilitiesexploreapotentialcareerinfederal servicebyofferinganopportunityforstudents toapplyeachfalltoWRP’sfederaltalent database.Federalemployersmaythenuse thisdatabasetosearchfortalentthatwill strengthentheirworkforcethrough internshipsorlong-termpositions.WRP participantsmustbeeligiblefortheFederal Government'sScheduleAHiringAuthorityfor PersonswithDisabilities.CareerServices preparesstudentsforthefederalinterview processwitharesumereview,mockinterview, andassistancewithregistration/application guidelines. Thediningexperiencedesignedteaches studentspropersocialandprofessional etiquetteinaformalsetting.Aneducational sessionispresentedontopicssuchastable manners,networking,andcommunication skillsasstudentsconsumethemeal.These eventshelpstudentsdeveloptheconfidence andskillsneededforvariousprofessional situations,includingjobinterviewsand businesslunches.
PROFESSIONALETIQUETTELUNCHEON
UWAROTARACTCLUB
CareerServicesisthesponsorofUWA’s RotaractClub,whichistheuniversitystudent levelorganizationofRotaryInternational, throughtheSumterCountyRotaryClub.The RotaractClubheldtheirend-of-yearbanquet onApril22,2025andelectedthefollowing officersfor2025-26:President,Jayden Mckenzie;VicePresident,TiaraHayes;and Secretary-Treasurer,CalebMcLaughlin.
Gena Robbins, Coordinator
