UAH is seeing renewed enrollment momentum, with early fall 2026 indicators showing gains. New first-year undergraduate enrollment is currently up 5%, while new graduate enrollment is up 4.8%. Total university enrollment is projected to increase 2% to approximately 8,524 students, which would mark UAH’s first overall enrollment increase in six years. 

The increase follows a strategic enrollment approach focused on personalized student support, expanded scholarship opportunities, stronger school partnerships and enhanced graduate recruitment efforts.

“This is an exciting moment for UAH because these numbers show that our enrollment strategy is working,” said Dr. Michael Poll, vice provost for enrollment management at UAH. “Through our strategic enrollment roadmap, we have been very intentional about how we engage with students and families, and we are seeing the results in the number of students choosing UAH.”

Charger Blue is primed for a bigger role across UAH and the Huntsville community, with new illustrations, a refreshed costume and an expanded presence at university events. As UAH’s branding continues to evolve, the beloved mascot will bring more personality to communications, merchandise and campus experiences.

“This is the next step in bringing our brand to life in more ways and in more places,” said Kristina Hendrix, vice president for strategic communications at UAH. “Charger Blue is one of the most recognizable and beloved parts of the UAH experience, and giving him a more versatile visual identity allows us to bring that personality into more of our campus and community interactions.”

Family & Friends Weekend returns Sept. 24–27 with four days of Charger traditions, family fun, athletics, alumni events and opportunities to experience UAH and Huntsville together. From the Downtown Charger Lounge and Volleyball Tailgate to the 5K Color Run, Family & Friends Fun Day and Cocktails and Cosmos, there’s something for Chargers of all ages.

“Family & Friends Weekend is really about bringing people together and giving our students an opportunity to share their UAH experience with the people they care about,” said Megan Wilkinson, director of Student Life.

Two UAH students made history as the first students from the same institution to earn Alabama’s top Intern of the Year and Co-op of the Year honors in the same year. Brian Niswonger and Joshua Kolby were recognized for experiential learning opportunities that put their classroom knowledge to work — with Kolby’s multi-year internship and co-op experience helping him stand out and land a full-time position after graduation.

“Having two UAH students named Intern of the Year and Co-op of the Year in the same year, competing against nominees from institutions across Alabama, speaks directly to the quality of experiential learning our students bring to employer partners in Kinesiology and Aerospace Engineering,” said Dr. Dave Puleo, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

New College of Engineering Dean Dr. Srinath Ekkad is building on UAH’s unique position within Huntsville’s aerospace, defense and technology ecosystem to create an engineering education model rooted in real-world experience and industry collaboration. His vision connects students, faculty, government and industry partners while expanding opportunities for applied research and hands-on learning.

“I want UAH engineering to be recognized as a premier engineering school for educating engineers and also solving technological challenges, but in a different way than other schools,” Ekkad says. “Because of where we are.”

Nearly 100 UAH faculty and staff members have completed Mental Health First Aid training, learning how to recognize signs of a mental health crisis, provide basic assistance and connect students with appropriate resources. Offered through UAH’s Academic Success Advocacy Program, the training gives faculty and staff a plan for responding when a student may be struggling.

“This is a first aid class, like somebody on the scene of a physical medical incident,” says Kari Morris, a UAH research engineer and scientist who completed the training. “You do those kinds of things that you would do in any sort of health emergency. ...Then you call for the pros, or you give that person the resources they need to call for help.”

A $100,000 gift from Dr. Amit and Dr. Aruna Arora will help UAH’s Honors College expand opportunities for students to engage with distinguished scholars, explore new ideas and build connections across disciplines. The gift will support the student-led Amit and Aruna Arora Honors Student Conference, including keynote speakers and seminar-style experiences that extend Honors education beyond the classroom.

“We are proud to support this conference and speaker series because we believe opportunities like this are essential to an Honors education,” says Dr. Amit Arora. “We hope it becomes a signature experience for Honors students – one that introduces them to new ideas and broader ways of thinking while helping them think critically across disciplines. This kind of engagement helps students build the confidence and skills to make a meaningful impact.”

Applications are now open for the University of Alabama (UA) System Capitol Scholars Program, a competitive summer internship in Washington, D.C., open to students from UA System campuses interested in government and public service. Students will gain hands-on experience, professional networking opportunities and valuable insight into careers in and around government.

The application deadline is Monday, Sept. 14, at noon.

Click the link below to check out a list of other upcoming events across campus! 

The University of Alabama in Huntsville

301 Sparkman Drive

Huntsville, AL 35899

contactus@uah.edu

256.824.1000

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301 Sparkman Drive | Huntsville, AL 35899 US