College of Arts and Sciences Students, Staff, and Faculty,

August is here again, and I am excited to welcome you back to the Capstone!

We have a record number of students this fall. I encourage each of you to plug in early and seek out opportunities to enrich your academic experience. A wonderful place to begin is with Advising in the Woods. Academic advisors will be available in Woods Quad beginning today through August 23 for drop-in advising. Advising is open to all Arts and Sciences majors and pre-professional students, with Honors College representatives, present each afternoon.

As you embark and continue on your journey here, know that we are committed to supporting you to be tomorrow’s leaders who know how to serve their communities with innovative ideas and creative solutions. That is why we created the ICUE Connector – a hub for international programs, community engagement, undergraduate research, externships, and internships. Reach out to ICUE to explore beyond the classroom through their experiential learning opportunities.

Lastly, we have arranged Arts and Sciences pop-up events for today, tomorrow, and Friday in Woods Quad. These are opportunities for you to grab a sweet treat and meet me and the associate deans. I hope to see you all there.

This is an exciting year to be at The University of Alabama and the College of Arts and Sciences. Our collective impact is so much greater than what any of us are capable of on our own. Together the Tide will rise.

Roll Tide!

Sincerely,

Joseph P. Messina
Dean and Professor