WVUA-FM

WVUA-FM is the University’s only student operated radio station. Operating out of College of Communications facilities, transmits a stereo FM signal 24 hours a day to the University community and much of the city of Tuscaloosa. WVUA-FM is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees. WVUA-FM is a chartered student organization and is staffed by approximately 70-90 student volunteers from both College of Communication and the University at large. Students do not receive course credit for working at the station. The Office of Student Media Broadcast and Digital Media Coordinator is the general manager of the station and works in conjunction with the student executive staff to oversee the station. The general manager reports to the Director of the Office of Student Media and the University of Alabama Board of Trustees, who is the licensee. The Media Planning Board (MPB) and the Office of Student Media provides the station with stable funding, helps with the annual budget, and also conducts the annual interview for WVUA-FM station manager. WVUA’s mission is two-fold. First, the station strives to provide the University community with the best possible news, public affairs, and entertainment programming to meet its special needs as a diverse academic community. The station’s second goal is to provide a vehicle for the basic training and education of University students who have a general interest in the field of broadcasting as well as those who want to pursue broadcasting as a career. As volunteers at WVUA, students learn about most aspects of modern radio station operation including news and public affairs programming, budgeting, underwriting solicitation, personnel management, music programming, promotions, community service and on-air performance, within the context of a federally licensed “real world” radio station operation.