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.
See the Oscars red carpet looks
Stars are arriving for the Academy Awards. The show starts at 7 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. PT on ABC and Hulu.
Selection Sunday is here. Here’s what to know ahead of March Madness
Brackets for the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments are set to be revealed. Duke is expected to be the men's top overall seed. The undefeated UConn Huskies will likely lead the women's.
Snow and wind batter parts of US, with threat of thunderstorms and tornadoes
A broad and erratic patchwork of severe weather rumbled across much of the U.S. on Sunday, dumping heavy snow in the Upper Midwest while damaging high winds swept across the Plains.
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed
The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.
Israeli soldiers fire on family car in occupied West Bank, killing 4
Israeli soldiers fired on a car carrying a family in the northern West Bank, killing four people including two children, the Palestinian Authority's Health Ministry said.
U.S. military names six killed in plane crash as Iran war enters third week
The conflict in the Middle East has entered a third week, with Israel announcing a barrage of new strikes on western Iran on Sunday, while the U.S. defense department released the names of six service members who died when their military refueling aircraft crashed.
