Birmingham and UAB Partner to Offer Free Tuition to City Graduates
The University of Alabama at Birmingham will offer full tuition scholarships to some graduates of Birmingham City Schools as part of a new partnership with the City of Birmingham.
The city and UAB announced the scholarship program Thursday morning at a press conference.
“It makes a down payment on our city’s economic competitiveness,” Mayor Randall Woodfin says.
The Birmingham Promise Scholarship is part of a city initiative that plans to offer graduates of Birmingham schools full tuition to all in-state public universities and colleges. UAB is the first academic partner to support the Birmingham Promise with a scholarship. UAB estimates it’ll contribute $250,000 the first year, according to a spokesperson for the city. The Birmingham Promise Incorporated does not yet have an estimate on how much it’ll contribute.
“We are committed to supporting access to educational opportunities for Birmingham students, for they will be our city’s future leaders and workforce,” UAB President Ray L. Watts says.
Beginning this May, all Birmingham graduates with a minimum 2.75 GPA and a 20 on the ACT will be eligible for the scholarship. It’ll cover the cost of tuition to first-time full-time students for up to five years. But graduates must first fill out the FAFSA form and apply to UAB to be eligible.
“The partnership shows that UAB is invested in developing the hopes, dreams and capabilities of our next generation,” Woodfin says. “UAB’s partnership in the Birmingham Promise is an example of the collaboration we need to make our community more connected and our economy more competitive.”
Once admitted to UAB, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA, attend full-time and demonstrate progress toward a degree.
Editor’s Note: UAB holds the broadcast license for WBHM, but our news and business departments operate independently.
Soccer-loving ‘grannies’ go for the GOOOOAAAALLLL in their version of the World Cup
The players are women over 50. The oldest this year is 87. They took the field in South Africa for their "World Cup." One team was crowned the winner but all the players consider themselves champions.
Convalescing Pope Francis opens Holy Week with greeting in St. Peter’s Square
A convalescing Pope Francis greeted the crowd in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, in yet another reassuring public sign of his recovery from a life-threatening battle with double pneumonia.
Lies and consequences lend new weight to ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2
The second season of HBO's hit zombie series takes what works the first season and turns it upside down, mining new drama from the uncertainty.
More than 30 people killed in Russian missile attack on Ukrainian city of Sumy
More than 30 people were killed in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, officials said.
A retrial of Sarah Palin’s case against ‘New York Times’ begins Monday
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has the rare opportunity to retry her defamation case against The New York Times even though she lost it — twice in a 24-hour-period — in early 2022.
Will the SAVE Act make it harder for married women to vote? We ask legal experts
Legal experts say states could help married women who have changed their last names by accepting documents like a legal decree or a marriage certificate, but it might not fix the issue for all.
