SB236 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Alabama State University, authority and responsibilities of the board of trustees and president of university, further provided for, Secs. 16-50-20, 16-50-23, 16-50-27 am'd.

Summary

SB 236 clarifies that the Alabama State University Board of Trustees sets policy and tuition and does not run daily operations, while the university president handles day-to-day management under the board’s oversight.

What This Bill Does

The bill clarifies the division of power between the Board of Trustees and the president. It states that the board should not interfere with daily operations and that its main duties are policy making and setting tuition and fees. It gives the board authority to organize the university by appointing or removing the president for cause, with the president serving as the chief executive officer and having a salary fixed by the board. The president is responsible for appointing faculty, regulating university organization (with board concurrence), prescribing courses and tuition within board-approved programs, and conferring degrees as appropriate to promote the university’s interests.

Who It Affects

• Board of Trustees of Alabama State University — gains clear authority to set policy, set tuition/fees, and appoint or remove the president for cause; their decisions also influence salaries and the overall governance of the university.
• President, faculty, and university staff — the president appoints faculty and other personnel, oversees day-to-day operations under the board’s guidance, prescribes courses and tuition within board-approved programs, and has authority over organizational structure and degree conferral (subject to board concurrence and recommendations from the faculty).

Key Provisions

• The board shall not engage in activity that interferes with the day-to-day operation of the university; its primary responsibility is to set policy and tuition/fees.
• The board has the power to organize the university by appointing a president or removing a president for cause, with salary fixed by the board; the president serves as chief executive officer.
• The president shall appoint a corps of instructors (faculty) and other personnel, and may remove instructors or staff and fix salaries, within the board’s discretion.
• The president may regulate, alter, or modify the university’s government organization as advisable, subject to review and concurrence of the board.
• The president shall prescribe courses of instruction and tuition/fees within academic programs approved by the board; the president may confer academic and honorary degrees usually conferred by similar institutions.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and the governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Colleges and Universities