Higher

Education Governance

Amanda Gilliland

State of Alabama Organizational Chart
Voters of
Alabama

Legislative

Independent
Agencies

Education

Executive
Branch

Judicial Branch

Other Elected
OfBicials

Governor

Department of
Postsecondary
Education

State Board of
Education

Lt. Governor

Secretary of
State

State
Treasurary

Department of
Postsecondary
Education

Alabama Commission on Higher

Education

Important History and Legislation

Affecting Alabama Higher Education
See Appendix B

Higher Education Governance

9 board members,
Led by Governor
Delegates authority to
ACCS Chancellor
Creates policies and
Procedures for ACCS

Department of
Postsecondary
Education

Amanda Gilliland

State Board of
Education

Alabama Commission on
Higher Education

Alabama Public
Universities

ACCS Chancellor
Mark Heinrich

Alabama Community
College System

Alabama Southern
Bevill State
Bishop State
Calhoun
Central Alabama
Chattahoochee Valley
Drake State
Enterprise Srate
Faulkner State
Gadsden State
Ingram
Jeff Davis
Jefferson State
Lawson State
Lurleen B Wallace
Northeast Alabama
Northwest Shoals
Reid State
Shelton State
Snead State
Southern Union
Trenholm State
Wallace Dothan
Wallace Hanceville
Wallace Selma
Marion Millitary

Coordinating Board
for Higher Ed.
(See Appendix A)

Carnegie
Classifications
See Appendix C
University Board of
Trustees

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical

University
Alabama State University
Auburn University
Auburn University at Montgomery
Jacksonville State University
Troy University
University of Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Huntsville
University of Montevallo
University of North Alabama
Univeristy of South Alabama
University of West Alabama

Higher Education Governance

Amanda Gilliland

Appendix A
Alabama Commission on Higher Education Responsibilities
- Coordinating Body over Higher Education in the state
- Approves new units in areas of instruction including new institutions, departments, and campuses
- Approves new academic programs
- Facilitates planning for higher education statewide
- Reviews and make recommendations for existing programs
- Manages preparations of consolidated budget and recommendations to Governor and Legislature
- Administers Student Assistance Programs
- Oversees Residency policies, transcript requests for closed schools, loan information, transfers
- Provides resources about education for students, educators, and general public
- Creates policies and best practices for Alabama institutions
www.ache.state.al.us

Appendix B
Important History to Note
In 1958 Alabama Education Commission worked to form ACHE
Alabama Legislation votes to form ACHE in 1969
1976 Governor Wallace transfers authority over Alabama Student Assistance and Alabama 1202
commission
Act 79-461 transfers authority over creation of new programs to Alabama Commission
Acts 96-509, 96-771, 96-539 and 96-557 Major legislation that pushed the commission to review student
and faculty unit records, and master plans. Ultimately this led to over 1000 programs being closed
1982 - Department of Post Secondary Education is formed

Appendix C

University

Carnegie Classification

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University

Alabama State University
Auburn University
Auburn University at Montgomery
Jacksonville State University
Troy University
University of Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
*First Classified Research institution in the state
University of Alabama at Huntsville
University of Montevallo
University of North Alabama
University of South Alabama
University of West Alabama

Masters Large
Masters Large
High Research University
Masters Large
Masters Large
Masters Large
High Research University
Very High Research University
Very High Research University
Masters Medium
Masters Large
Very High Research University
Masters Large