Welcome to Tide to Success
This student/parent guidebook contains pertinent information regarding the program, expectations and general UA information and resources to assist you with the Tide to Success Program.
Although we have made reasonable efforts to provide factual accuracy herein, Participants should refer to official University policies, procedures and guidelines, which will prevail over the materials contained herein. Further, all information contained herein is subject to change by the appropriate officials of The University of Alabama without prior notice, and users are cautioned that changes or additions to policies, procedures and guidelines may have become effective since the publication of this material. In the event of a conflict, the current statements of board policy contained in the official minutes and manuals of rules, bylaws and guidelines shall prevail.
How to Apply for Tide to Success
Register / Payment
Alabama Residents: Complete the online registration. Tide to Success is free for any in-state Alabama high school student in grades 9-12.
Non-Alabama Residents: Complete the online registration. Tide to Success costs $200 for all non-Alabama high school students. This fee must be paid in full to complete registration.
Age Requirement
Tide to Success is open to all high school students currently in grades 9-12.
Dates / Deadlines
| Registration Deadline | Course Start Date | Mandatory Orientation via Zoom | Course End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 8, 2026 | Sept. 15, 2026 | Sept. 15, 2026 (6-8 p.m.) | Oct. 15, 2026 |
| Oct. 13, 2026 | Oct. 20, 2026 | Oct. 20, 2026 (6-8 p.m.) | Nov. 19, 2026 |
| Jan. 19, 2027 | Jan. 26, 2027 | Jan. 26, 2027 (6-8 p.m.) | Feb. 25, 2026 |
| March 30, 2027 | April 6, 2027 | April 6, 2027 (6-8 p.m.) | May 6, 2027 |
| May 25, 2027 | June 1, 2027 | June 1, 2027 (6-8 p.m.) | July 1, 2027 |
The orientation is virtual and all times are in Central Time.
Courses and Activities
The Tide to Success course is an online ACT preparatory class that follows an asynchronous format, meaning the class does not have set meeting times but will have weekly deadlines for turning in coursework.
The University of Alabama offers five Tide to Success courses each year — two in the fall, two in the spring and one summer offering. Students and parents need to select the course offering in which the student can devote time and energy during the 30 days in which the class takes place.
Students and parents are expected to attend a mandatory, virtual parent/student orientation session via Zoom on the evening of the class’s first day from 6-8 p.m. Central time. Students will then have 30 days to complete the course by watching all videos, taking all quizzes and completing all assignments.
Participation
Although the Tide to Success course is free for Alabama high school students and a nominal fee of $200 for out-of-state students, full participation and completion of the course are expected. Accordingly, although participation in Tide to Success does not guarantee an ACT score improvement, the likelihood of an ACT score improvement increases based on the commitment and hard work the student is willing to devote to the class. Therefore, we ask each student to select the class option where they can commit the most time and energy to the Tide to Success class. See Tide to Success Expectations for more information about participation requirements.
Tide to Success Program CHECKLIST
Application Requirements
- Complete the Tide to Success online registration.
- If out of state, complete the online registration and pay the $200 course fee at the time of registration.
- Receive the registration status email, which means you are now enrolled in the course.
Student/Parent Requirements
- Attend a required virtual orientation session via Zoom for both parents and students on the course start date from 6-8 p.m. If you are unable to attend, you will automatically be removed from the course.
- Complete the course within 30 days of the course start date.
Materials Requirements
- Students must have access to a working computer with a reliable internet connection to be successful in this course.
- Upon completion of the parent/student orientation, students will receive the e-book format of ACT. The Official ACT Prep Guide 2026–2027: E-Book + Online. 10th ed., Wiley, 2026. Please check your emails the next morning for an access code to download the e-book.
- Calculators are highly recommended but not required. A calculator will help students successfully navigate the math section of both Tide to Success and the ACT. Please see the approved calculators for ACT.
Access to the virtual meeting platform Zoom, either via app download or the web version. The Zoom meeting link will be shared via email seven days prior to the required orientation session.
Accessing the Course
Tide to Success is hosted via Blackboard Ultra. You will receive a link to the course along with enrollment instructions via email from Crimson Compass seven days prior to the mandatory orientation that will take place on the first day of class for each session. Please note that the course will not open until after the student and parent/guardian have attended the required orientation session.
Although Blackboard works with most web browsers, students report having the best outcome using the Chrome web browser. You can access Chrome by searching for “Chrome” and downloading the web browser.
Accessing Zoom for Orientation / Office Hours
Student/parents may access Zoom either by downloading the app or by using the web version of Zoom (https://app.zoom.us).
Required Orientation
Students and a parent/guardian are required to attend a virtual orientation session with the Tide to Success program manager on the course start date. During the orientation session, we will review the guidelines for Tide to Success, relevant University of Alabama policies regarding online courses, general expectations and answer any questions via chat.
If this is your first experience with Zoom virtual meetings, please take time to download the Zoom app on your device and familiarize yourself with the platform.
Virtual Orientation Days via Zoom
| Mandatory Orientation | Time (Central Time) |
|---|---|
| Sept. 15, 2026 | 6-8 p.m. |
| Oct. 20, 2026 | 6-8 p.m. |
| Jan. 26, 2027 | 6-8 p.m. |
| April 6, 2027 | 6-8 p.m. |
| June 1, 2027 | 6-8 p.m. |
Participant Success
As part of the Tide to Success program, students are required to participate and complete all coursework, including watching all videos, completing all assignments and taking all quizzes. To be successful, students must commit time and energy to the class and must adhere to all coursework deadlines.
Virtual Office Hours
Each week, students will have the option to participate in virtual open office hours via Zoom. While this is not a requirement, we encourage students to join the Crimson Compass staff online for additional guidance throughout the course, to ask questions about the course or to listen to others’ questions and the facilitator’s responses. The time for office hours will be posted in the course at the start of each week. *Please keep in mind that office hours are not for specific tutoring but more for general guidance and questions pertaining to the overall course or Blackboard format.
Digital Citizenship
Netiquette Rules for Zoom Meetings
- Remember the human: Be polite, respectful and avoid sarcasm as tone can be misinterpreted.
- Adhere to real-life standards: Follow the same behavioral standards online that you do in real life.
- Respect diversity in viewpoints.
- Proofread messages to avoid errors and ensure the tone is appropriate.
Netiquette Rules for Video Conferencing
- Mute your microphone when not speaking to minimize background noise.
- Dress appropriately and ensure your background is suitable.
- Be present and attentive; avoid ignoring people to look at your phone.
Student Misconduct
Students who do not adhere to the netiquette rules listed above may be removed from the course.
Program Expectations
Students are expected to virtually attend the parent/student orientation on the first night of class from 6-8 p.m. (Central time). If a student and/or parent misses the orientation, the student will be automatically removed from the current class roster. Students are then welcome to join another class offering in which both parent and student can attend the orientation.
Students must have a working computer with a reliable internet connection to successfully complete the course. The University of Alabama will not provide a device.
Students must watch all videos and complete all assignments and quizzes in the Tide to Success course to receive their digital badge of completion. Digital badges are similar to certificates of completion for in-person classes.
Contact Information
The following contact information may be used to obtain general information about the program. For specific questions pertaining to the class as students are progressing through the material, please plan on attending weekly office hours sessions.
General Contact: Amber Barnes – Tide to Success Program Manager
Phone: 205-348-2587
Web address: https://crimsoncompass.ua.edu
Email: crimsoncompass@ua.edu
University Resources
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Programs receives reports of protected class harassment and discrimination, sexual misconduct and related retaliation. The Office provides Supportive Measures to individuals who are impacted by sexual misconduct or involved in an investigation related to sexual misconduct. To contact the Office, call 205-348-5496 or email titleix@ua.edu.
University Policies
Participants in Tide to Success are University of Alabama online guests and subject to all University Policies that apply to UA guests, including but not limited to, the Code of Student Conduct, the Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Policy and the Harassment Policy. Violations of University Policy could result in removal from Tide to Success. A determination that a participant violated University Policy while participating in the Tide to Success program will be considered when determining whether the participant will be admitted as a UA student and could impact their ability to enroll at the University for future semesters.
Below is a summary of relevant University Policies. For all UA Policies, see the UA Policy website.
Code of Student Conduct: The Code of Student Conduct details overall expectations of behavior by University of Alabama students. All University students are expected to read and be familiar with the Code of Student Conduct. Allegations of violations of the Code of Student Conduct will be reported to and addressed by the Office of Student.
The Code applies to all student conduct, including off-campus conduct.
The Code defines acts of misconduct, including physical abuse, harassment, threatening behavior, theft, use/possession of alcohol or drugs, disruptive behavior and others.
The Code provides information regarding conduct procedures for investigations involving allegations of a Code of Student Conduct violation.
The Code provides guidelines for sanctions, including expulsion from the University.
Violations of the Code of Student Conduct are noted on the student’s disciplinary record.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Policy: Title IX and Sexual Misconduct prohibits sexual misconduct and related offenses and provides reporting options. Allegations of violations of the Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Policy are addressed by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Programs. Early College staff are considered mandatory reporters and must report incidents of sexual misconduct to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Programs.
The Policy applies to all student conduct, including off-campus conduct. The Policy defines what is considered Prohibited Conduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, related retaliation and failure to comply.
The Policy contains information regarding students’ rights and resources, including Supportive Measures.
The Policy provides links to the Procedures used to investigate allegations of Prohibited Conduct.
The Policy provides guidelines for sanctions including expulsion from the University and/or a ban from campus.
Violations of the Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Policy are noted on the student’s disciplinary record.
Harassment Policy: The Harassment Policy prohibits harassment or discrimination based on legally protected classes such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or other legally protected status.
- The Policy defines protected-class harassment/discrimination and related retaliation.
- The Policy provides information regarding reporting incidents of protected-class harassment/discrimination and related retaliation.
- Violations of the Harassment Policy are noted on the student’s disciplinary record.
Reporting
The University is committed to providing a safe and respectful campus environment for all students, employees and campus visitors. To achieve this goal, members of the University community are encouraged to report concerns that potentially endanger students, employees, or the campus community. Further, the University provides a variety of resources to assist students in need.
The UAct program is a comprehensive website that provides users with detailed information regarding reporting options for a variety of concerns, such as Sexual Misconduct, Code of Student Conduct violations, Students of Concern, Threats or Alarming Behavior, general concerns and others. Additionally, the UAct website summarizes University support services.
UA students are encouraged to report concerns to the appropriate office as described on the UAct website.