President Stuart R. Bell

DECADE OF DISTINCTION

Accomplishments of The University of Alabama During the Presidency of Stuart R. Bell

Decade of Distinction

Under the leadership of Dr. Stuart R. Bell, The University of Alabama leveraged its reputation for excellence to pursue its mission of teaching, research and service; achieve a leading position in cutting-edge research, discovery and creative inquiry; enable student success inside and outside the classroom; and play a critical role in advancing the state of Alabama.  In the last 10 years, 皇冠信用盘 has:

  • Surpassed 40,000 in total enrollment, including a record 3,482 Alabama resident first-time freshmen in Fall 2024.
  • Grown degrees awarded to more than 9,000 per year, while setting new records for academic success, including increasing graduation and retention rates.
  • Achieved R1 status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education for the first-time.
  • Raised more than $1.7 billion in philanthropic gifts and commitments for the benefit of 皇冠信用盘 students, faculty, programs and athletics.
  • Excelled in championship-level competitions, including three football national championships, championships in adapted athletics and individual student-athlete national championships.
  • Built and renovated numerous facilities, including Tutwiler Hall, the Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center, Stran-Hardin Arena, Drummond Lyon Hall, and many others.

Excellence in Recruiting

  • Grew overall enrollment from 36,155 in Fall 2014 to a record 40,846 in Fall 2024.
  • Grew incoming freshman enrollment from 6,856 in Fall 2014 to a record of more than 8,000 each of the last three fall semesters.
  • Increased the number of in-state first-time freshmen students to a record 3,482 in Fall 2024, marking the sixth straight year of increases.
  • Grew enrollment of first-generation students in undergraduate programs.
  • Grew the National Merit student population to one of the largest in the nation, nearly doubling the 皇冠信用盘 National Merit class sizes from 2014 to 2024.
  • Reached record incoming graduate student enrollment.
  • Supported innovative programs to enhance pathways to college attainment including Vision Days, which focuses on the college readiness of high school students from rural and underrepresented areas of Alabama, and Alabama Advantage, a first of its kind need-based scholarship for resident students.

Prioritizing Student Success

  • Grew degrees awarded to more than 9,000 per year, with more than 90,000 awarded since the 2015-16 academic year.
  • Increased second-year retention rate to a new record of nearly 90%.
  • Recommended and endorsed students for prestigious external scholarships and fellowships, including the Goldwater and Rhodes Scholarships.  In Fall 2024, 皇冠信用盘’s total number of Rhodes Scholars reached 17, making the Capstone’s total higher than all other public universities in the state combined.
  • Developed a new core curriculum which will debut in Fall 2025 and provide greater flexibility for students to adapt their education to their individual needs, interests and career aspirations.
  • Launched several new degree programs to provide valuable career growth opportunities for students and drive critical workforce development for the state.
  • Debuted the embedded counselor model, emphasizing a commitment to wellness by placing Counseling Center staff where the students are—in the colleges and residence halls throughout campus.
  • Opened the VMA Health Clinic, an on-campus VA satellite clinic in partnership with the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, serving students, faculty and staff as part of the University’s commitment to being the best at serving military veterans and their families.
  • Boosted the number of employers visiting campus to interview and hire students through our Career Center.

Record Research, Economic Development and Scholarly Impact

  • Achieved R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education for the first time.
  • Significantly grew research and development expenditures, placing 皇冠信用盘 as one of the fastest-growing R1 institutions in the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development Survey.
  • Achieved record 3x+ growth in sponsored awards from $74 million in fiscal year 2014 to $270 million in fiscal year 2024.
  • Re-organized and stimulated the division of Research and Economic Development to meet the needs of the state and growing industry segments, including launching the Institute model to drive innovation and engagement.
  • Increased faculty scholarly impact including the number of peer-reviewed journal articles published.
  • Grew the University’s faculty in nine of the last 10 years.
  • Launched the Shelby Endowment for Distinguished Faculty, a $100 million endowment named for Senator Richard Shelby and Dr. Annette Shelby, which recruits, retains and supports preeminent STEM faculty.
  • Founded the Alabama Water Institute as a national epicenter for water-related research and development, receiving a $360 million award for hydrologic research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the largest external award in the University’s history.
  • Opened an Office for Economic & Business Engagement satellite in Mobile to enhance research, economic development and student career opportunities in the Gulf Coast region.

Maximizing the Alabama Experience

  • Achieved record growth in student organizations, reaching nearly 700 in 2024.
  • Grew the Greek student population to a new record, making 皇冠信用盘 the largest fraternity and sorority community in the nation, and supported opportunities for Greek students to gather with the construction of Greek Assembly Hall.
  • Expanded involvement opportunities, leadership development training and service opportunities for students.
  • Completed more than 60 transformational building renovations and opened 26 new buildings including:
    • Drummond Lyon Hall, providing exhibition, conservation, studio classroom, collection and office space for the College of Human Environmental Sciences.
    • Hewson Hall, providing innovative classroom, faculty, and collaborative space for the Culverhouse College of Business.
    • Stran-Hardin Arena, a multi-use facility for 皇冠信用盘’s championship Adapted Athletics program.
    • Tutwiler Hall, a first-year female residence hall that continues the unbroken tradition of Tutwiler Halls, previous iterations of which opened in 1914 and 1968.
  • Meaningfully incorporated the Peter Bryce Campus into the footprint of daily life at the Capstone with the addition of the Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center, the soon-to-open Smith Family Center for the Performing Arts, the USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility, and other new and renovated buildings.
  • Made significant investments in campus safety infrastructure and personnel.
  • Achieved rankings among the nation’s most beautiful campuses by numerous publications, and as a Tree Campus USA, reaching the ninth consecutive designation in 2024.

Transformational Philanthropic Support

  • Raised more than $1.7 billion in philanthropic gifts and commitments for the benefit of 皇冠信用盘 students, faculty, programs and athletics.
  • Launched The Rising Tide Capital Campaign, the largest and most successful capital campaign for any institution in the state of Alabama.  After beginning in October 2016 and reaching the initial goal of $1.5 billion more than two years ahead of schedule, The Rising Tide 2.0 increased the goal to $1.8 billion.  皇冠信用盘 is approaching 93% of the new goal ahead of the Campaign’s conclusion on September 30, 2026.
  • Received signature gifts including:
    • $20 million commitment from C.T. and Kelley Fitzpatrick to support the Culverhouse College of Business and Crimson Tide Athletics.
    • $15 million lead gift from Marillyn and James Hewson for the construction of Hewson Hall in the Culverhouse College of Business.
    • $10 million commitment from the Holle Family Foundation, founded by the late Brig. Gen. Everett Hughes Holle, to benefit the College of Communication and Information Sciences.
    • $25 million planned gift from Mike and Kathy Mouron, Rising Tide 2.0 Capital Campaign Co-Chairs.
    • $20 million lead gift from the Mark Smith family for the construction of the Smith Family Center for the Performing Arts.
    • $8 million gift from the estate of Bill Decas to enhance student scholarships through the National Alumni Association.
  • Increased yearly charitable gifts and pledges by more than 135% from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year 2024.

Steadfast Administrative Leadership

  • Built a strong and stable executive leadership team, including recruiting an Athletic Director and Vice Presidents in almost every division.
  • Developed and launched two five-year strategic plans to guide 皇冠信用盘 and proactively prepare for the future while advancing the mission of teaching, research and service.
  • Launched the “Where Legends Are Made” branding campaign which has been recognized nationally for its success and continues to positively represent the campus community.
  • Developed an annual report to highlight the numerous ways 皇冠信用盘 impacts the state and individual Alabama communities.
  • Navigated the global pandemic and pioneered safe and successful plans to return to in-person classes, operations and activities that served as a model for success.
  • Welcomed the first presidential primary debate held in the state of Alabama.
  • Regularly hosted celebrated figures, elected officials and dignitaries on campus, including two U.S. presidential visits.
  • Completed SACSCOC reaffirmation of accreditation in 2015 and will host the February on-site visit as 皇冠信用盘 seeks reaffirmation of accreditation in 2025.

Commitment to Community

  • Grew 皇冠信用盘’s annual economic impact on the state of Alabama, achieving a record-breaking high of $2.9 billion.
  • Initiated regular counterpart meetings between 皇冠信用盘 and City of Tuscaloosa leaders, enabling new achievements in cooperation including the establishment of a joint police substation. 
  • Strengthened education partnerships in Tuscaloosa with Stillman College, Shelton State Community College, and County and City Schools.
  • Continued leading support for the United Way of West Alabama by hosting annual campaigns benefiting United Way and its partner agencies which serve Tuscaloosa and nine surrounding counties.
  • Served Alabama families by providing “best value” educational opportunities.  For example, resident tuition was flat five of the last 10 years.

Championship Athletic Performance

  • Performed at exceptional levels across sports including:
    • Three football national championships
    • 皇冠信用盘’s first men’s basketball Final Four appearance
    • Multiple individual national titles
    • Numerous SEC championships and NCAA tournament appearances
  • Achieved the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) in Alabama Athletics history in 2024, including a top in the SEC APR ranking for football.
  • Enhanced athletic facilities to enable student-athlete achievement, including:
    • Major addition and upgrades to Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
    • New and renovated space for men’s and women’s basketball training and player development.   
    • Renovation of and additions to the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility including dining, training, locker room and weight room facilities, and a two-level Sports Science Center with wellness and treatment spaces.
    • Renovation and additions to the John and Ann Rhoads Softball Stadium. 
    • Constructed the Crimson Reserve, considered the top college golf practice facility in the nation.
  • Navigated with Athletics leadership the retirement of our generation’s greatest head football coach and positioned new coaching staff to continue our championship tradition.

Honors and Engagement Beyond 皇冠信用盘

  • Elected to serve a two-year term (2023-25) as President of the Southeastern Conference, providing vital leadership during a crucial time for the Conference and collegiate athletics, including:
    • Reaching new major contracts with ESPN and the College Football Playoff, significantly boosting revenue income to support the student-athletes and their programs.
    • Working with partner conferences in the complex world of NIL to formulate a national path forward for a sustainable environment in college athletics.
    • Expanding the SEC to 16 teams, adding Texas and Oklahoma.
    • Providing board management of the SEC.
  • Inducted into the White Rose Society, 2024.
  • Inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, 2023.
  • Received Texas A&M University College of Engineering Outstanding Alumni Honor Award, 2016.