TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- A grand opening celebration for The University of Alabama’s new television station, WVUA Channel 7, is planned for Thursday, Jan. 17, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on the first floor of Reese Phifer Hall on the UA campus.

UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences acquired the television station, Tuscaloosa’s WJRD 7, last summer. The station moved into facilities in Reese Phifer Hall in December. The station will debut as WVUA on Monday, Jan. 21.

UA is only the second public university in the country to own and operate a commercial television station that integrates student teaching into the daily operation of the station.

“We plan to involve students in news, production, sales -- all aspects of running a commercial station,” said Dr. Loy Singleton, chair of UA’s department of telecommunication and film. Singleton noted that UA’s facility is the first television station located within a college of communication building. “It is literally in the middle of a teaching department. We have a classroom in the station,” he said.

UA President Andrew Sorensen and Dr. Culpepper Clark, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, will speak briefly at the grand opening. Special guests will include Crimson Tide quarterbacks Andrew Zow and Tyler Watts as well as Miss University of Alabama Amy Calhoun.