A Guide to UA Resources and Services

1. BAMA ESSENTIALS A Guide to UA Resources and Services

2. One Card ACTION CARD MANY POSSIBILITIES • What is an Action Card? • It is your student’s official University ID Debit Card. Your student will use the Action Card to access: • NCAA Athletic Events (for football games your student will also need a ticket) • MyTickets • Campus Entertainment Events • Check out books at the University Libraries • University Recreation Center, Outdoor Pool and Aquatic Center • Student Health Center • Computer Labs • Facilities and Residence halls • Parking Decks • Dining Dollars, Bama Cash & Meal Plans actcard.ua.edu

3. One Card ACTION CARD MANY POSSIBILITIES There are three types of accounts on the student’s Action Card: Meal Plans, Dining Dollars, and Bama Cash. • Meal Plan: First year students are automatically enrolled in the All Access Plan. • Dining Dollars: • All undergraduates with 9+ 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) actcard.ua.edu

4. One Card ACTION CARD MANY POSSIBILITIES There are three types of accounts on the student’s Action Card: Meal Plans, Dining Dollars, and Bama Cash. • Bama Cash: • Optional debit account for purchases at both on and off-campus locations. • There are over 100 locations that accept Bama Cash. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: University of Alabama Action Card Office actcard.ua.edu

5. One Card ACTION CARD MANY POSSIBILITIES • Dining Dollars • Dining dollars are required • for students with 9+ credit hours on-campus per semester. • Accepted at Bama Dining • locations and campus vending. • Typically used to grab a snack • or eat at on-campus retail locations. • Any unused balances at the end • of the fall semester will be forwarded to the spring Dining Dollars account.   • Bama Cash • Bama Cash is an optional debit card account. • Money can be added online anytime, by phone, using the UA mobile app or at the Action Card Office during business hours. • Accepted at dining and other • select retail outlets on and offcampus. (Ex. gas stations, laundry, grocery stores, pharmacies, & restaurants) actcard.ua.edu

6. ACTION CARD actcard.ua.edu

7. BAMA DINING • The All Access Meal Plan. • Our Kitchen is Your Kitchen! Students can stop in for a drink, a cookie, or bowl of cereal. No Need for grocery shopping with the All Access Plan! • What is the All Access Plan? • The All Access Plan costs $1,578 per semester and provides our students unlimited access to our all-you-care-to-eat locations. Which are: Burke, Fresh Food Co., Lakeside & Bryant (for lunch only) • First Year Students are automatically enrolled in the All Access Plan • First Year Students who are exempt from Housing are still encouraged to purchase a meal plan • Who Can Purchase an All Access Plan? • Any full time University of Alabama Student • All Freshmen will be required to have the All Access meal plan • (except for those that are exempt from housing) bamadining.ua.edu mealplans@bamadining.com

8. BAMA DINING • Benefits of All Access Meal Plan: • Gives students the ability to visit meal plan locations as often as they want • Student don’t have to keep track of how many meals they have left on their Action Card • Dining Halls are a great place to meet and socialize • Great for students who snack all day or are just looking for no worries when it comes to eating bamadining.ua.edu mealplans@bamadining.com

9. WHERE TO EAT??? • 4 All-You-Care-To-Eat Locations • 2 Food Courts • Grab- N-Go • 5 Coffee Shops • 5 Convenience Stores • At least one dining location is open between 7pm- 2am • Vegetarian options available at all dining locations bamadining.ua.edu mealplans@bamadining.com

10. Going Greek? • This is what happens next: • All new pledges on the bid list will receive a credit for the meal plan that was selected prior to recruitment on your student account. • All new pledges on the bid list will be charged for the Greek 55 meal plan on your student account. • Credits on the student account from the meal plan reduction will go against any outstanding balance on your student account. • New pledges may choose to upgrade their meal plan at any time. bamadining.ua.edu mealplans@bamadining.com

11. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER • Primary Health Care Services where we see your sons and daughters as our own. • Please encourage your student to visit the Student Health Center at the • first sign of illness. www.shc.ua.edu

12. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER • The SHC specializes in walk-ins • Accepts most major health insurance plans/Insurance cards required at time of visit • Offers 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 University Medical Center, and DCH www.shc.ua.edu

13. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER Primary Health Care Services: • Women’s Health, OB/GYN • Allergy/Immunization Clinic • Health Promotion & Wellness • Psychiatry Services • ADHD, ADD • Sports Medicine • Nutrition Counseling • Physical Exams • Pharmacy (Rx and OTC) • Lab/X-ray on site • Substance Abuse Counseling • Collegiate Recovery Community www.shc.ua.edu

14. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER • Pharmacy Services: • No Cash Needed • Billed Directly to Student Account • Transfer Existing Prescriptions by Phone • Accepts Outside Prescriptions • Over-the-Counter Products and • Medications Available • Pharmacy Hours: • Mon – Thurs: 8AM – 5:30PM • Fri: 9AM – 5PM • Sat – Sun: 1PM – 4PM www.shc.ua.edu

15. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER • Quality: Since 1995 the Student Health Center has been accredited by AAAHC. • Convenience: No cash needed and on- campus facilities. • Accessibility: Bus route stops at entrance. Hours of Operation Academic Year Mon – Thurs: 8AM – 8PM Fri: 9AM – 5PM Sat/Sun 1PM-4PM (closed game days) • Interim and Summer Terms: • Mon – Thurs: 8AM-5PM • Fri 9AM-5PM • Insurance: Most major health insurance • plans accepted. www.shc.ua.edu

16. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER • University Admission Requirement:Proof of 2 MMR vaccinations, TB screening – within the last 12 months, and Meningitis vaccination within last five years. • Required form is online at: shc.ua.edu Must be turned in before move in to on campus housing or attending classes if living off campus. • Recommended: Up-to-date Tetanus and other routine immunizations. Please turn in documentation of all childhood vaccinations (blue card) for medical care purposes. www.shc.ua.edu

17. UNIVERSITY SUPPLY STORE • Four Locations: Ferguson Center, Tutwiler Hall, Bryant Museum, and School of Law • Can assist you with… • Course materials (textbooks in various formats, school supplies, kits, and more) • Bama clothing, souvenirs, and gifts • Cards, magazines, best-selling trade books • Official class rings • The Apple Campus Store, located in the SUPe Store at the Ferg, offers education pricing on Apple computers and software.

18. 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, a parent or guardian may obtain non-directory information if their student has authorized a record release through myBama, which is located in the self-service channel under Student Services>Student Records>Record Release to Parent/Guardian (FERPA). Existence of a release does not constitute a “power of attorney” empowering parents to act on behalf of the student. • 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 registrar.ua.edu/academics/privacy-guidelines/

19. FERPA • What 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 (In the student orientation packet) • IMPORTANT NOTE: The university will not disclose grades over the phone regardless of signed release.  The parent must order a transcript to receive the student’s grades. registrar.ua.edu/academics/privacy-guidelines/

20. ACADEMICS – FINISH IN FOUR • UA’s Finish in Four campaign has been designed to publicize the tools students can take advantage of on their way to graduation. • Visit the Career Center to explore your passion and develop a plan to Finish in Four! career.ua.edu • Explore • Explore all 80 Undergraduate degree programs at www.ua.edu/majors. • Plan • Use the Student Educational Planner in DegreeWorks to map out your program of study semester by semester. • Once you have those two behind you, • all that’s left is to: • Study & Graduate!

21. ACADEMICS – DEGREE WORKS degreeworks.ua.edu • 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.

22. ACADEMICS – DEGREE WORKS degreeworks.ua.edu • “Look Ahead”  function • Helps students see how anticipated coursework will apply to their degree program. • GPA Calculator • Allows students to calculate various GPAs.

23. ACADEMICS – DEGREEWORKS Student View Audit Student’s Academic Summary Detailed Coursework Summary degreeworks.ua.edu

24. 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 their advisor regularly. • Students seeking to change majors should see their advisor.

25. 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 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.

26. ACADEMICS – RESOURCES • UA 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 Academic Success: ctl.ua.edu • Student Support Services: ctl.ua.edu/sss • Writing Center: www.writingcenter.ua.edu • Math Labs: mtlc.ua.edu • Career Center: career.ua.edu

27. ACADEMICS – LIBRARIES TOP FIVE THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Electronic resources available 24 hours/7 days a week, on or off campus Late-night-study hours in Bruno, McLure & Gorgas Libraries; Rodgers Library open 24 hours/5 days a week Laptops (Macs and PCs) available for checkout Research and reference help: in person or via phone, email, text or Twitter Sanford Media Center, a multimedia lab open to all students Gorgas Library, designated safe zone during inclement weather lib.ua.edu

28. STUDENT SUPPORT Campus 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. dos.ua.edu/campusministries.cfm Disability Services- If your student has a learning or other disability, they should register right away with Office of Disability Services. eop.ua.edu/disabilities.html Dean of Students- provides a variety of resources to students including crises assistance and opportunities to get involved and connect to campus. dos.ua.edu Counseling Center- helps students achieve academic success and personal growth through quality brief counseling and psychological services, outreach and consultative services. counseling.ua.edu

29. EMERGENCY SUPPORT • 3 on-call staff members, 24 hours a day • On-Call Dean- trainedStudent 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