Author: Kathy Dean

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile announces new dates for Spring Semester 2021 that extend the holiday break between semesters. Classes will start a week later on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

The later start date will allow more time to pass between the major holiday season and when students return to campus. The period including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s is predicted to have a high potential for spikes in COVID-19 infections. The last day for on-ground classes for Fall Semester 2020 is Tuesday, Nov. 24, with final exams given online Nov. 30 through Dec. 3.

The revised Spring Semester 2021 academic calendar includes the two-day President’s Holiday on Feb. 15-16 and Good Friday holiday on April 2, when the university is closed. There will be no spring break, and classes will be in session March 8-12. Graduation will be held as previously scheduled on Saturday, May 8, at 10 a.m. on the Great Commission Lawn on campus.

All other dates including exams, last day of classes and graduation remain the same. Following is the full revised academic calendar for Spring Semester 2021, also found online at umobile.edu/coronavirus:

Revised Academic Calendar for SPRING 2021

• Wednesday, January 13, 2021 – Faculty report back to campus
• Monday, January 18, 2021 – Martin Luther King Day (UM Closed)
• First day of traditional Term 1 – Tuesday, January 19, 2021
• Last day of traditional Term 1 – Thursday, May 6, 2021
• Monday and Tuesday, February 15 and 16, 2021 – Holidays (UM Closed)
• Remove Spring Break –Monday, March 8 through Friday, March 12, 2021  (ALL classes in session)
• Friday, April 2, 2021 – Good Friday (UM Closed)
• Final Exams for Term 1 – Monday, May 3 through Thursday, May 6, 2021
• 1^st 8-week term (Term 2) Tuesday, January 19 – Thursday, March 11, 2021
• 2^nd 8-week term (Term 3) Monday, March 15 – Thursday, May 6, 2021
• 1^st 6-week term (NU Term 4)  Tuesday, January 19 – Friday, February 26, 2021
• 2^nd 4-week term (NU Term 5) Monday, March 1 – Friday, March 26, 2021
• 3^rd 6-week term (NU Term 6) Monday, March 29 – Thursday, May 6, 2021
• All graduating senior grades due – Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 2 pm
• Graduation is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 10 am
• All other final grades are due – Monday, May 10, 2021 at 2 pm

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About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

MOBILE, Ala. – Pippi Longstocking had a problem, and Mother Goose called upon her friends from children’s literature to help Pippi solve it, during the semi-annual “Book Talk” presented by students, faculty and staff from the University of Mobile School of Education.

The colorful cast of characters ranged from the Big Bad Wolf, played by UM President Lonnie Burnett, to the Once-ler, played by elementary education major Brandy Segreto. Students, faculty and university administrators dressed the part of book characters as they took turns on stage with Pippi Longstocking, played by Associate Professor of Education Karen Dennis, and Assistant Professor of Education Brenda Chastain as Mother Goose.

Pippi’s problem? She didn’t want to go to school. The Grinch, Corduroy, young Amelia Bedelia and more dropped by to share with Pippi the problems they faced in their own stories. They left their books with Pippi, so she could read their stories and find out how each solved their problem.

“Book Talks began as an assignment for early childhood and elementary education majors in methods classes, to introduce a strategy that could be used to engage elementary school students in discovering the joy of reading. The university’s Literacy Council came on board, too, with a goal to raise funds to provide a collection of books presented in our Book Talk to the schools in which we perform each semester,” said Dennis.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, the School of Education taped the Book Talk presentation in Dorsett Auditorium to distribute to schools such as Chickasaw Elementary and Bright Beginnings Academy. Previously, costumed participants shared their stories in person at a school assembly at various schools.

Dennis said, “Our hope is that the students who watch these book characters come alive are enticed to go find that book to discover for themselves how that character solved their particular dilemma. If even one student does that, then it was worth our time.”

The University of Mobile School of Education provides a wide range of experiential learning opportunities for students. The curriculum includes over two years of real-world experience in local schools. The Christian university offers small class sizes with mentoring from professors who have extensive backgrounds as educators and school administrators.

For more information about Book Talk, contact Dennis at kdennis@umobile.edu. To learn more about the School of Education, visit umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 251.442.2222.

Books, characters portrayed and the students, faculty and administrators who participated in Book Talk include:

Mother Goose, Brenda Chastain; Pippi Longstocking, Dr. Karen Dennis; “How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?,” Dr. Todd Greer; “Miss Nelson is Missing,” Dr. Cindy Erickson, Briely Teague, Will Spears and Emma McCrory; “Fancy Nancy,” Bri Huber; UM President Dr. Lonnie Burnett as Alexander T. Wolf and Dr. Ashley Milner as Piggie from “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs;”

“Junie B. Jones – 1^st Grader,” Dynasty Wittner; “Tiana Is My Babysitter,” Lexus Peppers; Young Amelia Bedelia book series, Lydia Diegel; “Alice in Wonderland,” Ashlynn Henderson; “The Grouchy Ladybug,” Valerie Dickson; “If You Give a Mouse a Brownie,” Chelsea Evans; “Corduroy,” Erin Williams;

“After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again,” Dr. Mel Sansom; “What Would Darla Do?,” Lesa Moore; “The Lorax,” Brandy Segreto; “The Sneetches,” Claire Taylor; “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Kayla Wood; “What Do You Do With a Problem?,” Dr. Debra Chancey, dean of the School of Education.

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About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

MOBILE, Ala. – Author, podcast host and ministry leader Carol McLeod is the featured speaker at the October meeting of the University of Mobile Torch Society.

The Torch Society will meet Friday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m. at Heron Lakes Country Club, 3851 Government Blvd., Mobile, Alabama. Cost is $30 and includes lunch. RSVP online at umobile.edu/torchsocietyevents. For information, call 251.442.2226.

The Torch Society is a service organization that raises funds for college scholarships for University of Mobile students. In addition to awarding scholarships, the organization presents engaging programs and speakers, social gatherings and philanthropic events. Torch Society membership is open to individuals interested in the society’s vision of “Lighting the Way through Scholarships.”

Future plans include the Torch Society Holiday Market and Expo on Nov. 5 beginning at noon at Lafitte Baptist Church, 3201 Lafitte Road, Saraland, Alabama. The holiday market will feature local vendors offering a variety of merchandise in time for holiday shopping.

Carol McLeod is a best-selling author and popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages. Her books include “The Rooms of a Woman’s Heart,” “Refined,” “StormProof: Weathering the Tough Times in Life,” “Vibrant,” and more. She hosts the podcasts “A Jolt of Joy!” and “Significant Women.” She is a devotional writer for YouVersion, where she has 10 devotionals in current circulation, including “21 Days to Beat Depression,” which has reached nearly one million people. She is president and CEO of Carol McLeod Ministries.

McLeod was the first women’s chaplain at Oral Roberts University, where she currently serves on the Alumni Board of Directors. She has been married to her college sweetheart, Craig, for 42 years and is the mother of five children in heaven and five children on earth. Craig serves as North American director for Global Partners.

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About University of Mobile

University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in over 90 areas of study. Founded in 1961, University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile is the #1 Best Small College in Alabama for 2021 with the #1 Best Dorms in the state, according to the 2021 Best Colleges rankings by Niche.

Plus, the University of Mobile was named #1 Best College in the Mobile Area, according to Niche.

UM also earned national honors from the site that combines research with reviews to offer nuanced insight to help students find their ideal university.

Nationally, the University of Mobile is the #17 Best College Campus in America for 2021 out of 1,408 college campuses ranked by Niche.

University of Mobile residence halls are the highest nationally ranked dorms in Alabama and are named #20 Best College Dorms in America for 202,  out of 1,376 colleges ranked by Niche.

The Christian university earned top honors in other categories, ranking #2 in Alabama for Safest College Campuses, Best College Campuses, Top Private Universities and Best Christian Colleges. UM was named #3 for Best Student Life and #4 for Best College Food in the state.

UM was ranked a Best Value College in Alabama, and Niche also cited the university’s business, psychology, history, education, nursing, music and religious studies programs, as well as overall academics and diversity, in its top 10 rankings for Alabama.

According to Niche, the 2021 Best Colleges rankings are based on key statistics and student reviews using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Top-ranked colleges offer outstanding campus resources across classrooms, labs, performance venues, housing, food and recreational facilities, along with outstanding campus housing that is safe and clean with modern amenities at reasonable prices.

The University of Mobile offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the university is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres.

For video tours of the UM campus and residence halls, or to plan a campus visit or register for a UM Day, go to umobile.edu/umday or call Enrollment Services at 251.442.2222.

See all Niche rankings for the University of Mobile at https://www.niche.com/colleges/university-of-mobile/rankings/.

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About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

 

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile again earned top honors from U.S. News & World Report in the 2021 Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 14, 2020. The annual Best Colleges report assess academic quality among regionally accredited colleges and universities throughout the United States.

The University of Mobile was the highest ranked regional college in Alabama for veterans, named #5 Best Regional College in the South for Veterans. Overall, UM was named #16 Best Regional College in the South.

The University of Mobile was named a “Best Value School” among regional colleges in the South. Best Value Schools are chosen based on academic quality and net cost of attendance. Best Value Schools are considered to offer the best value for students, according to U.S. News & World Report. UM ranked #25.

The University of Mobile also ranked in the top 100 regional colleges in the South as a Top Performer on Social Mobility, at #71. The category recognizes colleges that are successful at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating economically disadvantaged students awarded with federal Pell Grants, which are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000.

School rankings are based on academic reputation and academic quality, including factors such as graduation rates, faculty information, admissions data and peer assessment, according to U.S. News & World Report. Colleges are grouped in categories to compare schools with similar missions.

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About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 77 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile recorded its highest enrollment in five years for Fall 2020, bucking a nationwide trend of declining college enrollments during a global pandemic.

The Christian university reported a total enrollment of 2,016 for Fall 2020, up from 1,989 in 2019. The increase includes the largest class of graduate students in the school’s history, along with a significant jump in transfer students.

School officials said new academic programs, plus a reputation for personal attention that becomes even more attractive to students and parents during a pandemic, helped spur the growth.

“When you consider that many ‘experts’ were predicting up to 20 percent declines nationwide in fall enrollments, our increase reflects a great amount of hard work and God’s faithfulness,” said UM President Lonnie Burnett.

Charity Wittner, vice president for enrollment and student life, said being a small private university actually helped in enrolling students during a pandemic.

“We can more easily make the necessary adjustments in social distancing, and our small classes with a culture where faculty and staff know and care about their students are a real advantage,” Wittner said.

Fueling the record graduate enrollment of 266 are the Family Nurse Practitioner program in the College of Health Professions; the Master of Arts in Musical Theatre in the Alabama School of the Arts; and the Master of Business Administration and new Master of Science in Leadership and Communication, both in the School of Business. New doctoral programs in the School of Nursing and the Alabama School of the Arts also are bringing in more graduate students. Additional graduate programs are planned, with another expected to start by Fall 2021 in the School of Nursing.

The university expects to continue the enrollment trend with the addition of a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies starting in Fall 2021 and a Master of Athletic Training program launching in Summer 2021.

A breakdown of the 2020 enrollment of 2,016 includes 1,530 undergraduate and graduate students, plus approximately 486 dual enrollment students. (Dual enrollment high school students are continuing to enroll, making it possible that total enrollment for 2020 will increase slightly.) That compares to 2019 enrollment of 1,989 with 1,509 undergraduate and graduate students, plus 480 dual enrollment.

The jump in transfer students from 83 in 2019 to 104 in 2020 reflects continued growth in partnerships with Bishop State Community College and Coastal Alabama Community College, Wittner said.

UM President Burnett said the university’s track record for quickly responding to the pandemic has given parents and students confidence in the school’s ability to act rapidly and decisively in an ever-changing pandemic world.

“Parents appreciated what we did last spring,” Burnett said, noting that the university quickly moved to online delivery of classes when the pandemic gained traction. A campus survey several weeks later showed students overwhelmingly felt faculty and staff were going above and beyond to meet their individual needs and make the change as smooth as possible.

“A university of our size is like a speedboat – because of our size, we have the ability to be nimble, which is more difficult for large universities. Larger schools are like aircraft carriers – they are hard to turn quickly,” Burnett said.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 251.442.2222.

 About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.