Fall Semester Starts At Alabama, Stillman and Shelton State

Welcome back to "T-Town!" Traffic is heavier, and the additional energy is palpable as the new 2026-27 fall semester at the University of Alabama, Stillman College and Shelton State Community College hits high gear this week.

Classes are already underway at Stillman College. They began last week at Tuscaloosa's historic HBCU on the city's west side.

Shelton State, one of Alabama's premier community colleges, conducted its first day of classes yesterday.

Students at the University of Alabama head to their first day of classes tomorrow.

The boxes may still be scattered around the apartment or dorm room from move-in, and new students are still learning their way around campus, but now is the time to set a goal for a successful school year.

Higher ed leaders point out that the first week of classes sets the tone for the entire semester. Students who attend every class from the start have an easier time. Build on these goals:

Understand expectations early
Build rapport with instructors
Avoid falling behind before the semester even gets going.

The key to the new school year is to start strong and stay strong.

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Recently, I was going through some boxes in storage and found some ancient papers from freshman orientation. The advice offered then still holds true today. It advised to:

Get organized:
- College success is all about time and activity management.
- To begin the semester, read and get familiar with each class syllabus.
- Put all important deadlines on a calendar and refer to it frequently.
Create a weekly routine for study, work, and social activities.
- For freshmen away on your own for the first time, don't get carried away with your newfound freedom. Excessive partying and play can create problems that are hard to overcome academically.
- Don't cut classes just because you can.
Use campus resources:
- Don't wait until you are struggling, visit available tutoring, get to know academic advisors, and get familiar with library research tools.
Build relationships:
- Learn about campus organizations.
- Get to know instructors
- Join study groups.
- Build a healthy social network. It is amazing how many lifelong friendships you can develop.
Establish healthy habits:
- Eat healthy foods, not just junk food.
- Get enough sleep, there is plenty of time to party on weekends.
- Stay hydrated - with water.
- Don't let social life take over. Pace yourself.
The first month is when healthy study habits form (or disappear). Create a distraction-free space to study
Don't be afraid to ask questions.