FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama has been named to the highest tier of the Opportunity Colleges and Universities: Higher Access, Higher Earnings by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education (ACE). The tier recognizes UNA’s commitment to accessibility, return on investment, and upward mobility.
“This recognition from Carnegie and ACE re-affirms the commitment UNA has always had to our students – to help them succeed while enrolled, as graduates, and once they enter the workforce,” said UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts. “It is part of our DNA as Alabama’s Workforce Development University that we ensure our graduates are well-prepared for their next steps into their roles in our state and region.”
Universities that earn this distinction represent a select group that are “higher access, higher earnings institutions that can serve as a model for fostering student success,” according to Carnegie. Further, the designation is comprised of two distinct areas: access and earnings.
The access part refers to UNA students who come to UNA from a wide variety of backgrounds or with the help of a Pell Grant. The earnings portion refers the higher salaries UNA receive in the job market compared to their peers.
“Our job is not solely to educate students,” said Dr. Brien Smith, UNA’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “If we educate them and they don’t walk across the stage, our students are better for the experience but they have not achieved the ticket to a better life. Our job is to help them get to graduation.
“This designation tells me we are paving the way for their future success.”
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