A variety of professional, service, and social clubs and groups contribute to student life at UAB. Some are open to any UAB student, and some are oriented specifically toward students in SHP. Information on UAB organizations and activities may be obtained from the UAB student handbook,
Direction.
Organizations for SHP students at UAB include the following groups:
SHP Student Government Association (SGA). The SGA facilitates self-government for SHP students and promotes a clear and continuous exchange of ideas and opinions among the students, faculty, administration, and community. The SGA coordinates a number of community service and social activities during the school year. The SGA membership includes all students who have enrolled in and/or paid an activity fee to SHP. A faculty advisor is appointed by the dean.
All existing programs and any new programs developed within SHP elect senators annually to the SGA government body. The number of senators from each program is based on the following apportionment:
- Each entering class within a program is entitled to at least one senator.
- Classes having more than 15 students will have two senators.
Officers of the SGA are the president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer. These officers are elected in October of each
year by secret ballot from the senate membership.
Graduate Student Association. Students in SHP graduate programs may also participate in the UAB Graduate Student
Association (GSA), which works closely with the Graduate School and other offices of the university administration in formulating policy and meeting student needs. All graduate students are automatically members of the GSA, and the GSA Senate is composed of student representatives from the various graduate programs. The GSA provides partial funding for graduate student travel to academic meetings, thesis and dissertation photocopying, computer searches, and interlibrary loans. The organization cosponsors a variety of services and activities, including Graduate Student Research Day and the GSA Emergency Loan Fund. The GSA Office is located in the Hill University Center, Room 440; telephone: (205) 934-4717. Information on travel grants and interlibrary loans may be obtained from the Graduate School Office, Hill University Center, Room 511; telephone: (205) 934-8227; web site:
http://www.uab.edu/graduate/gsa.
American College of Healthcare Executives, Student Chapter. Any student enrolled in the M.S. program in health administration is eligible for membership.
Respiratory Therapy Student Association (RTSA). Any student enrolled in the Respiratory Therapy program is eligible for membership.
Student Health Information Management Association. Any student enrolled in the professional or preprofessional phase of the
health information management program is eligible for membership. The association promotes fellowship among students, faculty, and persons interested in the profession.
Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA). Any student enrolled in one of the professional programs in occupational therapy is eligible for membership.
Student Physical Therapy Organization. Any student enrolled in one of the professional programs in physical therapy is eligible for membership.
Student Chapter of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). Any student enrolled in the professional phase of the surgical physician assistant program is eligible for membership.