Initiative Tracker

High School SGA Series

The High School SGA Series aims to connect local high schools with the UA Student Government Association through on-campus visits. By incorporating these visits into tour days or school-planned trips, SGA will offer a firsthand look at student leadership and involvement at the collegiate level. The initiative will explore partnerships with other campus organizations to showcase a well-rounded student experience. This effort plans to strengthen community ties, inspire rising leaders, and highlight opportunities available at the University.

Status Update: SGA’s Executive members have been in contact with OTIDE – The Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Technology – to learn more about their program, Leaders to Legends. These initial meetings have also opened doors for SGA to have conversations on how they can be of support to UA Early College (UAEC).

Additionally, SGA is working with UA Early College to develop a day-long experience in Spring 2026 that will connect outstanding UAEC students in Tuscaloosa County to campus leaders and opportunities, with the hope of encouraging excellent high school students to come to The University of Alabama.  

These two efforts embody our passion for engaging young people from West Alabama and across the state of Alabama.  

Crimson Holiday Market

SGA plans to launch an annual Crimson Holiday Market to provide students and local entrepreneurs with a space to sell their products on campus. The market will aim to support small businesses, promote local shopping, and encourage innovation among student creators. Through potential collaboration with entrepreneur-focused organizations, participants may gain access to resources, networking, and visibility. 

Status Update: SGA is partnering with the UA Student Center to develop opportunities for student artists and entrepreneurs to showcase their creative talents through a student-focused market. Our team is focused on finding avenues to showcase talent without the legal complexities that are placed on regular University vendors. Please stay tuned for continued updates on how we are helping to create economic opportunity for creative students. In the meantime, if you are interested in supporting student artists, please join SGA at the Annual Gorgas Library Art Show on Wednesday, October 1, at 4pm in the Music and Fine Arts Room of the Gorgas Library. In partnership with UA Libraries, SGA hosts the annual gathering to highlight student artists. 

UA System Student Leaders Summit

UA System Student Leaders Summit aims to bring together student leaders from UA, UAB, and UAH to promote collaboration and connection across the UA System. The event will provide space for networking, idea-sharing, and discussion on shared student concerns. This initiative will work to foster long-term partnerships and improve the student experience system wide.

Status Update: After a productive planning meeting with student leaders from UAB and UAH, the UA System Student Leaders Summit will be held in conjunction with the UA System Board of Trustees Meeting in November. The event will convene SGA representatives from all three system institutions to share best practices, strengthen relationships, and celebrate our unity. Students will have the opportunity to interact with System and University administrators, attend System committee meetings, and meet with student counterparts. For more information, please reach Rylen Dempsey, Chief Administrative Officer, at rjdempsey1@crimson.ua.edu. 

Lighting the Way Campus Safety Initiative

Lighting the Way, a campus safety initiative, will aim to improve safety around campus by working with the City of Tuscaloosa and UAPD to explore improved lighting and Blue Light emergency stations in high-traffic areas. The goal is to increase visibility, reduce safety risks, and ensure students have direct access to emergency support when needed.

Status Update: In September, SGA President Lucy Bonhaus met with Mayor Maddox and leadership at the City of Tuscaloosa to discuss the safety of the Strip and areas adjacent to campus. This meeting followed a visit of SGA leaders to the Tuscaloosa City Council on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. We are invested in developing relationships with leaders in public safety to help address our most pressing campus and student safety issues.

Bama Pulse Integration & Service Recognition Initiative

SGA will collaborate with OIT to explore integrating Bama Pulse into myBama, aiming to make service tracking easier for students. This initiative will also seek support from the Provost’s Office to evaluate the possibility of adding verified service hours to student transcripts, helping students showcase their involvement to graduate programs and employers. 

Status Update:
BamaPulse has been integrated into the myBama home page. The link can be found on the Student page underneath Student Life. SGA is still exploring ways to increase recognition of service hours completed.

Beat The Heat

This initiative will advocate for the placement of large, free water dispensers in Bryant-Denny Stadium and evaluate the relocation of existing stations to higher traffic areas. The goal is to reduce the risk of dehydration during hot game days and promote student well-being.

Status Update: SGA is proud to announce the new locations of water stations in Bryant Denny Stadium for the 2025 football season! Stay tuned to the SGA Instagram (@uasga) for announcements in the fall regarding new water and charging stations.

Coleman Coliseum Student Seating Expansion

SGA plans to work with Alabama Athletics to explore expanding student seating in Coleman Coliseum from baseline to baseline. This initiative aims to boost game-day energy and increase student access to high-demand basketball games, improving the overall fan experience.

Law School Clinic Visibility

The Law School Clinic Visibility initiative aims to spotlight the impactful work being done through UA’s Law School Clinics. These clinics provide approximately 15,000 hours of free legal aid annually to individuals and communities in need. By highlighting this service, the initiative will seek to elevate awareness of the clinics’ value, both as a public resource and a training ground for future legal professionals. SGA will explore ways to share clinic successes and increase student understanding of the clinics’ role on campus and beyond. This effort plans to strengthen support for experiential learning while promoting the University’s broader commitment to service.

Status Update: SGA will be filming an informational video highlighting the Law School Clinics as part of a new social media series, Legends in the Loop. The video will be posted to SGA social media accounts in October. For more information about the Law School Clinics, visit the law school website here!

First Generation Communities within Each College

SGA plans to collaborate with academic colleges to establish First-Generation Student Communities. These groups will aim to offer mentorship, peer support, and networking opportunities to help first-gen students succeed personally and professionally.

Centralizing Research Opportunities

This initiative will explore the creation of a searchable online database for research opportunities. The database will aim to include faculty projects, funding options, and summer programs, helping students find academic and professional development pathways.

Legends Punch Card

SGA plans to introduce a punch card reward system for students who make the President’s and/or Dean’s List. In partnership with local businesses, the program will aim to offer exclusive discounts or freebies, recognizing academic success and promoting local engagement.

Status Update: The University of Alabama SGA has launched the Legends Punch Card, a program rewarding students named to the Spring 2025 Dean’s or President’s List with discounts from 28 local businesses The initiative, a campaign promise from SGA President Lucy Bonhaus, celebrates academic achievement while strengthening student–community ties. Please visit the SGA Instagram for more information about how to pick up your Legends Punch Card.  

Executive Cabinet Meet & Greet Series

SGA will launch a recurring event series where students can meet and speak directly with members of the Executive Cabinet. These meet and greets aim to open lines of communication, build trust, and encourage student feedback.

Update: SGA is aiming to host its first Executive Cabinet Meet & Greet in the Fall! If you need to schedule a meeting with an executive council member, please reach out to them via email or attend during their regularly scheduled office hours which can be found under the Executive Branch page on this site.