1. Cale announces resignation

University President William Cale announced his resignation via an email to faculty and staff March 6. While Cale will effectively resign July 1, the Board of Trustees voted to name him president emeritus until Dec. 31.

Cale will continue to oversee projects, such as the completion of the science building, during his time as president emeritus. He will also receive his current benefits and compensation through Dec. 31.

2. Beloved professor, mentor dies

After battling stage-four Glioblastoma, beloved history professor, mentor and friend Larry Nelson died Jan. 14. While Nelson’s diagnosis in May 2013 shocked the campus community, many students, faculty and staff gathered together as a support system for the man who always supported them. Despite his rigorous treatment schedule, Nelson continued to teach at the university during the fall 2013 semester.

3. On-campus construction heats up

Construction cranes, bulldozers and work crews were seen across campus throughout the fall 2013 and spring 2014 semesters.

After several weather delays, The Commons officially opened Feb. 24, as did the much anticipated Chick-fil-A, Starbucks and Frostbite franchises inside it.

The science building remains on track to open for the spring 2015 semester. The building will replace Floyd Science Building and will have more space for laboratories, faculty offices and research, said Paul Kittle, chair of the biology department.

4. ROTC program closure overturned

The 64-year-old ROTC program experienced an eventful year with a program closure announced Oct. 2. The closure was overturned the following month and the Department of the Army moved the ROTC program to a probationary process list Nov. 6.

The program will undergo another transition this year as current ROTC adviser Lt. Col. Michael Snyder retires from the Army and as a faculty member at UNA in May.

5. How safe is fraternity row?

One of the more controversial stories The Flor-Ala published this year posed the question: “How safe is fraternity row?” A series of alleged crimes, including theft, vandalism and an alleged sexual assault, took place at fraternity houses throughout the school year.

6. Integrative Health program progresses

University officials and Chairman Zhang Zhiting, owner of the Shenqi Company, reached an agreement August 15, 2013 to finalize the graduate studies Integrative Health Program. It features a concentration in a multitude of areas such as fitness, exercise science, nutrition, stress management and behavior modification. The program officially established the UNA U.S.-China International Institute. University officials have since hired a one-year visiting professor with the $150,000 allotted by the Shenqi Company.

7. D-II championship moves

After 28 years at Braly Stadium, the Division II National Championship game has moved to Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City will host the game from 2014 to 2017.

The city of Florence entered a bidding process in August 2013 to keep the game in the Shoals since their contract to maintain rights to the championship game expired at the end of 2013.

8. Football, basketball win GSC titles

The Lions football team brought home their first GSC championship title since 2009 after defeating Florida Institute of Technology 55-28. The team ended their season 5-1 in the conference. The men’s basketball team took their first GSC tournament victory in 18 years after defeating Christian Brothers University 79-73 in Birmingham. The tournament win was also head coach Bobby Champagne’s first GSC title.

9. Officials reevaluate housing projects

University officials announced their intent to explore options for new student housing developments in December 2012. Since then the Board of Trustees and division of Student Affairs have worked closely to select a development firm and push forward with the project. The university has worked with Capstone Development Partners during the 2013-2014 school year but recently decided at a special Board of Trustees meeting to reevaluate funding options for the project. New residence halls, as well as the university’s freshman live-on mandate, could be active as early as spring 2016, officials said.

10. SGA accomplishes goals

SGA began raising funds for their endowed scholarship project in 2010 and surpassed their $25,000 goal this year with help from the Office of Student Affairs. UPC announced early in April their spring concert artist would be Ludacris, while Two-9 will open the show Tuesday, April 29. After setting a goal to reach 1,830 service hours this year, Freshman Forum has also surpassed their target.