More than a dozen ĢƵ graduates were honored as part of the recent commencement ceremonies. Eleven students received a Keller Key for achieving the highest grade point average in the graduating class, while two students were awarded with the Turris Fidelis, an honor based on their outstanding service to the University as well as superior academic achievement.
Sky watchers will be in for a treat as the Geminid meteors will peak this week, on the night of Dec. 13-14. This year’s Geminids will peak during a waning crescent Moon, so the Moon will not be a large factor in diminishing the number of meteors that may be viewed in the night sky.
Through a generous gift to the ĢƵ, James “Jim” Spencer and his wife, Sherry, have established an endowment for ĢƵ’s College of Education and Human Sciences to name the College the Colonel (Ret.) James and Sherry Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences.
Winter commencement at the ĢƵ is set for Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13, in Norton Auditorium as part of five ceremonies that will feature two speakers who are also outstanding ĢƵ alumni.
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology, Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety option at the ĢƵ has been reviewed by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) and approved as a Graduate Safety Practitioner® (GSP) Qualified Academic Program, providing the program’s graduates the opportunity to apply with BCSP for the GSP designation after graduation.
ĢƵ students in the senior-level German Film course have recently swept the top spots in the annual Goethe Institut’s essay contest. Students were asked to develop the essay theme – Solidarity in Today’s World – into their submissions and by examining how collective action can help address global challenges.
Military and Veterans’ Affairs at the ĢƵ is hosting a number of events this week that will culminate with a Rucks for Recognition 5K Ruck March on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 7:30 – 10 a.m.
The Department of Foreign Languages at the ĢƵ will celebrate the 10th National French week through Nov. 10, with a variety of campus-based cultural events, including Croissants with the French Club at noon on the lawn of Wesleyan Hall. The celebration will also include a bit of history in celebration of the French Club’s 100th anniversary on ĢƵ’s campus.
The Department of Entertainment Industry at the ĢƵ has been renamed to the David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry. The naming was made possible by a gift given by Darren and Gabriel Briggs, the sons of session musician legend David Briggs, and David’s brother, John Briggs. The naming was unanimously approved by the ĢƵ Board of Trustees at its recent quarterly meeting in September.
Dr. Michael Pretes, Professor of Geography at the ĢƵ, is the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers (APCG), a professional organization that promotes geographical research and education in the Pacific Coast region of North America.
The Department of Entertainment Industry program at the ĢƵ has been named among Billboard’s 2025 Top Music Business Schools in an announcement by the publication.
Grab your best dirndl and lederhosen, and join the Department of Foreign Languages for the eighth GermanFest on Tuesday from noon until 2 p.m. at the Memorial Amphiteatre.
Students at the ĢƵ will have an opportunity to interact with representatives from Germany and German companies as part of Germany on Campus, which will be Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. until noon in the banquet halls of the Guillot University Center. The event is made possible by the German Embassy in Washington, D.C.
The College of Education and Human Sciences at the ĢƵ has recently been awarded a $20,000 grant by the Alabama State Department of Education Alabama Reading Initiative Program Improvement Grant. The award is offered to support initiatives that improve quality, relevance, and effectiveness, ultimately preparing students for literacy success.
The ĢƵ’s Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2025-2028 program term.
Meteorologist, author, and podcaster James Spann will be the main event at the ĢƵ College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Sunseri Speaker Series on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Norton Auditorium.
The ĢƵ and the City of Florence celebrated the award of a $145,585 grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) during an event today at Bank Independent Stadium. The funding will enhance recycling efforts in both athletic and community settings by providing new recycling receptacles at ĢƵ’s 10,000-seat Bank Independent Stadium and surrounding athletic fields, as well as supporting the purchase of a new enclosed event recycling trailer and pickup truck for the City of Florence.
The ĢƵ’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Baccalaureate Program has been officially granted candidacy status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). This approval allows ĢƵ to admit its first cohort of OTA students in January 2026 and marks a significant step toward addressing workforce needs in North Alabama and beyond.
The latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report are out, and the ĢƵ is among the south’s best regional institutions in a variety of categories, including Top Public Schools, Best Colleges for Veterans, and Best Value Schools.
The ĢƵ and the City of Florence have been awarded a $762,000 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant by Governor Kay Ivey’s office. The grant is administered by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), and executed locally in partnership with the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments (NACOLG).