University of West Alabama
Located in Livingston in Sumter County, the University of West Alabama (UWA) is a four-year, public university experiencing growth and making an outsized impact on the region. Almost 9,500 students are enrolled at UWA, and the university employs 677 people. In total, UWA adds almost $450 million to the state’s economy through construction, operations, salaries, visitor spending and alumni impact.
With some major infrastructure updates and a slew of new and expanded programs, UWA continues to grow alongside the communities it serves.
In February 2026, UWA broke ground on a transformative $23.4 million renovation and expansion of its Student Union Building — a project funded largely through Alabama Education Trust Fund appropriations. The redesign of the existing 54,000-square-foot, two-story facility will add 12,000 square feet and reimagine virtually every corner of the building to serve students’ academic, social, wellness and dining needs.
The following month, UWA cut the ribbon on a $4.7 million, 7,000-square-foot renovation and expansion of its football locker room at Homer Field House. Dedicated supporters of UWA Athletics contributed $1.3 million toward the project.
In addition to the facility improvements, UWA is in the midst of a major academic expansion. Across colleges and disciplines, the university is launching programs that respond directly to state and regional needs — while maintaining its hallmark commitment to hands-on, practical education.
For example, in the past two years, UWA has launched new programs including:
- Dyslexia therapy master’s program
- Respiratory therapy degree
- Politics and justice major
- Multidimensional interior design track added to the integrated marketing communications program
- Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree added to the physical education program
- Forestry technology associate’s degree
Two new transfer agreements further expand student pathways. A partnership with Wallace State Community College creates a seamless transfer route for early childhood education students, while a similar agreement with Southern Regional Technical College opens a direct pathway for students completing the land, forest and wildlife management program into UWA’s environmental science and conservation programs.
UWA also has entered a landmark partnership with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) that provides summer internship opportunities for students, specialized research equipment for faculty and access to ERDC personnel for teaching or guest lectures.
UWA’s mission also extends beyond its campus gates, evidenced by a series of recent workforce and community initiatives.
For example, to combat Alabama’s persistent teacher shortage, UWA has joined three other Alabama institutions as a pilot partner for the state’s first-ever Teacher Apprenticeship Program, an initiative driven by a 2023 executive order from Gov. Kay Ivey. The program targets paraprofessionals already working in classrooms, paying them 65% of the base teacher salary in year one and 85% in year two while they earn their degree online through UWA — at no cost to the apprentice.
Complementing that effort, UWA launched a Competency-Based Education program in January 2025, allowing experienced paraprofessionals to accelerate toward teacher certification by demonstrating mastery of specific competencies rather than simply logging seat time.
The university also opened the Black Belt Development Center in downtown Livingston. Housed in the historic McMillan Bank Building — which has served the community for more than 120 years — the renovated center now functions as a small business incubator, community welcome center and versatile training space.
Through its Connecting Minority Communities grant program, UWA is tackling two of rural west Alabama’s most pressing challenges: healthcare access and digital connectivity. In partnership with Auburn University’s Rural Health Initiative and OnMed, UWA facilitated the installation of OnMed Care Stations in Gainesville (Sumter County) and Boligee (Greene County). These stations are self-contained telehealth units that provide patients with diagnostic tools and access to healthcare professionals through telemedicine.
On the broadband front, UWA received $1.65 million in federal funding from the NTIA to expand Starlink internet access and distribute digital equipment throughout Sumter and Greene counties. The grant has brought internet access to residents who previously had none, enabling schoolwork, healthcare appointments and digital skills training.
Finally, UWA is expanding real-world experience for students through Riipen, an experiential learning marketplace. Riipen is a database connecting more than 35,000 businesses and nonprofits with university students seeking internships.
All the initiatives underway at UWA paint the portrait of a university with a clear and ambitious vision to expand its academic portfolio, deepen its roots in local communities, and invest in the infrastructure its students deserve.
Wallace Community College Selma – Demopolis Campus
Wallace Community College Selma expanded in 2019 to open a Demopolis campus in the 16,000-square-foot Demopolis Higher Education Center. The Demopolis campus offers academic, career/technical and dual enrollment classes to students from local high schools, as well as short-term certificate programs including CDL training, welding, practice care technician, surgical technician and heavy equipment operation.
In addition to traditional college courses and career training programs, WCCS-Demopolis also offers adult education classes to prepare adults for new careers or training. Offerings include General Equivalency Diploma preparation and the Alabama Career Essentials course designed by the Alabama Community College System.
Students who want to earn an associate’s degree can complete all necessary coursework at the Demopolis campus if they prefer, as the Demopolis campus is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
This article appears in the June 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
