Community Engagement

Our faculty, staff, and students engage with local government, nonprofits, businesses, and community members to foster creativity and innovation as we advance knowledge through research and promote active citizenship through campus-community partnerships. Informed by research and scholarship, these collaborations bring both knowledge and necessary services such as health care into cities and towns across the state. And in community-engaged courses, UA students learn to apply classroom knowledge to real-world settings, challenging them to grow as scholars, citizens, and leaders.

participants in an EMBRACE Tuscaloosa event working with plants

Our impact is felt statewide

Across the state and right here in Tuscaloosa, Barefield College of Arts & Sciences offer education, health services, cultural events, and scholarly resources to hundreds of thousands of Alabamians each year

  • 18K+

    students, teachers, mentors & parents engaged in off-campus events sponsored by the School of Music

  • 4.5K

    hours of treatment and diagnostic services provided annually by the Speech and Hearing Center

  • 1.6K

    preschool and K–12 children served by biology outreach programs, conferences, and courses

  • 350K

    maps, photos, and more in the Map Library, a regional repository consulted by scientists and scholars nationwide

Programs & Courses That Engage UA Students

Creating Opportunities to Learn & Lead

three women standing in a conference room

Community-engaged learning programs and courses let students apply classroom concepts in real-world settings, connecting theory with practice as they work with communities to address global issues and build a sustainable future. Student leadership opportunities offer space for students to develop and practice their leadership skills while engaging with the community.

Learning Leadership

Engaged Scholarship, Outreach & Research

College-Community Partnerships that Change Lives

students painting in a building

Collaborative partnerships bring together academic and community-based knowledge, as we work together to improve the quality of life for all people in Alabama and beyond.

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Community Education & outreach Programs

World-Class Resources for All Alabamians

a young woman helping a girl use a computer

Our faculty, staff, and students offer community education programs that have an impact on children and adults alike in Alabama.

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Civic Engagement

We prepare students to be members of the global community and through individual and collective action reflect a responsibility to contribute to the common good.

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Real-World Impact: Community Engagement News

Inaugural Class of ICUE Fellows Complete Experiential Learning Program

The inaugural class of ICUE Fellows completed the ICUE Fellowship program last month. The ICUE Fellowship is a yearlong program for undergraduate and graduate students in the Barefield College of Arts & Sciences who are interested or engaged in research, internships or community-based learning.   After participating in at least 20 hours of professional development workshops, research training with library experts, community engagement field trips, and networking events, ICUE Fellows earn a certificate for resumes, LinkedIn and/or applications.   Mallori’ Wilkerson, a Spring 2026 graduate who earned her degree in psychology […]

Brain Health Team Wins Interdisciplinary Research Award

This spring, the Brain Health Team won the Interdisciplinary Research Award at Faculty Research Day. Led by College of Human Environmental Sciences faculty Dr. Jessica Wallace, Barefield College of Arts & Sciences faculty Dr. Courtney Helfrecht and Dr. Heather Gunn, along with College of Human Environmental Sciences faculty Dr. Tiffany Marcantonio, were recognized for their contributions to “Brain Day at UA.”  The annual event hosts over 150 high school football players representing six Alabama counties on UA’s campus for a full day […]

Barefield Student Wins Key into Public Service Scholarship

Barefield College of Arts & Sciences student Benjamin Smith has won the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service Scholarship, a national scholarship which is awarded to 20 accomplished sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated interest in local, state or federal government. Smith is the second consecutive UA recipient of the award, after Barefield alumna Addison Miller received the award last year.   “I first became aware of the scholarship via an email newsletter from the Honors College, congratulating a previous recipient of the award from UA and encouraging others to apply,” Smith said. […]

UA Capacity Clinic Offers Older Adults Evaluations for Living Independently

The University of Alabama Capacity Clinic, which opened this year in Psychology, offers an important resource for older adults and their families in Tuscaloosa and throughout the state of Alabama. Run primarily by graduate students in the clinical psychology program, the clinic offers evaluations for capacity, which refers to an individual’s ability to live independently, reason through options and understand information as they age. Until the end of June, these capacity evaluations will be offered at no cost.  Dr. Rebecca […]