AlabamaAlabama college boards oversee faculty senates, tenure, and courses
Starting October 1, 2026, Alabama public college boards must set tenure policies, review tenured faculty, and approve the courses needed for degrees.
What it does
Governing boards may establish faculty senates to advise college leaders. The senates cannot make final decisions or speak for their institutions.
Governing boards must set tenure policies and review tenured faculty at least once every six years, but no more than once a year.
Governing boards must approve what students need to study for a degree and control courses and subjects taught at their colleges.
Argument forRegular reviews could help colleges spot where tenured faculty need support, using standards tied to their work and including peer review.
Argument againstTenured faculty could face more reviews and may lose tenure or their jobs after certain findings, making continued employment less certain.
More detail
A governing board may establish a faculty senate to advise college leaders; the senate cannot make final decisions or speak for the institution. These rules apply to public four-year colleges and universities in Alabama and their faculty senates. Before establishing a senate, the board must adopt membership rules that ensure representation from each college and school. Unless the board sets different rules, the president appoints senate leaders, and membership is limited to 60, with two representatives from each college or school. A senate formed before October 1, 2026, is abolished unless it was formed under these rules or the board finds that it meets them and approves its continuation. The law takes effect October 1, 2026. The rules for existing senates apply to those formed before that date.
Each governing board must adopt a tenure policy that includes reviews of tenured faculty and allows dismissal in specified circumstances. These provisions apply to tenured faculty at Alabama public four-year colleges and universities. Boards may keep stricter policies and may continue a review policy adopted before October 1, 2026, if it meets the law's requirements. A tenured faculty member may be dismissed after legally required due process for listed grounds, including serious misconduct, failure to meet job duties, program changes requiring the position to end, or other good cause under the institution's policies. For serious misconduct, the board must define that term and designate administrators to hold hearings. The faculty member must receive written notice and supporting evidence, and an opportunity to respond at a hearing. Reviews start after a faculty member receives tenure. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
The governing board must approve the courses and curriculum required for a degree and control courses or subjects taught at the institution. These provisions apply to Alabama public four-year colleges and universities. The board may delegate course approval to a designated university administrator. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13EnactedBecame Law
- Apr 9Finance and Taxation Education 1st Amendment Offered (Finance and Taxation Education)Minor
- Vote recorded Waggoner Petition to Cease Debate - Adopted Roll Call 1311. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1312. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 9Orr motion to Table - Adopted Voice VoteMajor
- Apr 9Waggoner Petition to Cease Debate - Adopted Roll Call 1311
- Apr 9Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1312Passed Senate
- Apr 9Ready to Enroll
- Apr 9EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 9Signature Requested
- Apr 9Delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 7Finance and Taxation Education 1st Amendment (Finance and Taxation Education)
- Apr 7Reported Out of Committee Second House
- Apr 7Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Finance and Taxation Education)Minor
- Mar 31Third Reading in House of Origin
- Vote recorded Third Reading in House of Origin. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1056. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1057. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1058. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 31Stubbs 1st Substitute OfferedMinor
- Mar 31Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1056Major
- Mar 31Bracy 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Mar 31Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1057Major
- Mar 31Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1058Passed House
- Mar 31Engrossed
- Mar 31Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation EducationMinor
- Mar 31Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation Education)
- Mar 19Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Ways and Means Education)Minor
- Mar 18Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Mar 10Re-referred to Committee in House of Origin (Ways and Means Education)Minor
- Mar 5Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education PolicyMinor
- Mar 5Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Education Policy)Introduced
Education