August 27, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has been named one of the 100 best universities in the Southeast in the recently published first edition of the Princeton Review’s “The Best Southeastern Colleges: 100 Great Schools to Consider.”

Robert Franek [cq], lead author of the Princeton Review guides said each college had to meet two criteria. “First, it had to meet our criteria for academic excellence within its region. Second, we had to be able to survey its students anonymously, either through our online survey or our paper survey, which we distributed and collected on campuses.”

Students were asked 70 questions about their school’s academics, campus life, student body and themselves. In addition to UAB’s course offerings, students praised the university’s diverse student body, which allows students to “interact with people from many different religions and cultures,” as well as its location in the state’s largest city, which gives students access to career as well as entertainment options. Students also were impressed with faculty response to requests for guidance saying, “from the president down” UAB has “an open door policy.”

“We are very pleased to be recognized as one of the top 100 universities in the Southeast,” said Virginia Gauld, Ph.D., UAB vice president for student affairs. “This ranking is even more meaningful to us because one of the criteria is the student survey, which shows our students view us in a positive light."

The guide includes two-page school profiles with information and data on admissions, financial aid, student body demographics and academics. The profiles also include the Princeton Review’s ratings of the schools’ academics, admissions, financial aid and quality of life.