Alabama Commission on Higher Education: Shaping the Future of Education in the State

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) plays a central role in the state's higher education landscape. Founded to address the need for a centralized body to oversee and coordinate higher education institutions across the state, ACHE continues to have a significant impact on the development and enhancement of higher education in Alabama. Through its oversight and coordination efforts, the commission ensures that higher education institutions are responsive to the evolving needs of students, employers and the community.

Origin and Legal Basis

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education was created by Alabama law, through a series of Acts including: Acts 1969, Ex. Sess., No. 14; Acts 1979, No. 79-461; Acts 1982, No. 82-486; Acts 1993, No. 93-369; Acts 1994, No. 94-202; Acts 1995, No. 95-255; Acts 1996, No. 96-497; Acts 1996, No. 96-509; Acts 1996, No. 96-539; Acts 1996, No. 96-557; Acts 1996, No. 96-771; and Acts 2000, No. 2000-409 (Codified; Code of Alabama, Title 16, Chapter 5). Established in 1969, ACHE serves as a statewide coordinating board for public postsecondary education and has oversight over other institutions.

Purpose and Mission

The purpose of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, as defined, is to promote an educational system that will provide the highest possible quality of collegiate and university education to all persons in the State able and willing to profit from it. ACHE's mission is to promote reasonable access to quality collegiate and university education for the people of Alabama. The commission aims to ensure that higher education institutions in the state operate efficiently, effectively and in a manner that meets the needs of students, employers and the broader community. In meeting this commitment, the Commission facilitates informed decision making and policy formulation regarding wise stewardship of resources in response to the needs of students and the goals of institutions.

To achieve this, the commission provides for continuous study, analysis, evaluation, planning, reporting, and recommendations as a basis for long-range planning with established priorities on a statewide basis to assure a sound, vigorous, progressive, and coordinated system of higher education for this State.

Governance and Structure

ACHE operates as a statewide 12-member lay board appointed by the Governor of Alabama, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House, with appointments confirmed by the Alabama Senate. The affiliated administrative agency is charged with carrying out board policies and administering student financial aid and state and federal academic programs. These members are charged with representing no particular institution nor region but rather are deemed members at large, serving the best interests of the entire system of higher education in the state. The board is responsible for setting policies and overseeing the activities of the commission. The executive director, appointed by the board, manages the day-to-day operations of ACHE.

If any member of the Commission shall not be in attendance at three consecutive regular meetings for reasons other than personal illness, family illness, or a Commission-approved absence, that member may be requested by the chairman to submit his or her resignation to the appointing authority.

The Commission may invite or designate representatives of the various postsecondary education segments or institutions to sit with the Commission during regular meetings for the purpose of ensuring that perspectives and concerns of the educational community might be made known to the Commission. Such advisory representatives shall be free to participate in deliberations but shall have no vote on formal Commission business.

Officers and Committees

The Commission annually elects from its membership a chairman and a vice-chairman. Such election will be held at the closest regular meeting of the Commission after August 1 of each year. Elections shall be presided over by the chairman, or in the chairmanâs absence, the vice-chairman. The election of officers shall require the concurrence of a majority of all members of the Commission. The election shall be determined by a voice vote or a show of hands of Commission members present. No officer shall be elected to the same office more than two consecutive full terms. Terms of office shall begin October 1, following the election.

In the event of a vacancy in one of the offices, written notice shall be given to all members and a special election shall be held at the next regular meeting following the occurrence of the vacancy. Should a vacancy occur in the office of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall become interim chairman and shall preside over the special election to elect a chairman. Officers in a special election shall take office immediately upon election and shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term and one full term thereafter unless such member elects to give up such office, is elected to another office on the Commission, or a vacancy occurs in the appointment occupied by the officer.

There shall be committees appointed by the chairman as deemed necessary by the Commission. Committee chairs and vice-chairs shall be appointed by the chairman of the Commission. The Commission may under certain circumstances, and/or as desired, meet as a committee of the whole. The chair of the committee of the whole will be the vice-chairman of the Commission. Committees shall meet as needed to review all matters before the Commission, but no action is to be considered final until and unless adopted by the full Commission in a public meeting.

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Additionally, there shall be an Executive Committee of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to consist of the chairman, vice-chairman, and such other commissioners as appointed by the chairman, the number of which shall not exceed four.

The Executive Committee is empowered to act on behalf of the Commission between regular scheduled meetings of the Commission with said action being subject to ratification by the full Commission at a regular or special meeting held in accordance with all laws requiring open and public meetings.

The Executive Director shall be the secretary of the Commission. He shall present the minutes of the previous Commission meeting to the Commission at least ten days prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The chairman or other presiding member shall witness Commission approval of minutes by appropriate notarized signature.

Meetings

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education shall hold regular meetings as provided by the annual adoption of a calendar of regular meeting dates. Special meetings may be held at any time by call of the chairman or by call of six of the membership or upon call by the Governor. The Commission shall abide by the Alabama Open Meetings Act, as it may be amended from time to time. The Commission shall meet at least once every three months. The chairman shall preside over all meetings of the Commission. In the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall preside. In the absence of both the chairman and the vice-chairman, the chairman shall designate a member to preside. Robertsâ Rules of Order will be used as a procedural guide for conducting all business, unless they conflict with the Commissionâs stated bylaws.

An agenda which lists those items on which action is expected at the meeting shall be published in advance of the meeting date as required by law and shall be distributed to the Commission members, the president of each postsecondary education institution, the chairman of the governing board of each such institution, and the public upon request. The Commission will meet as often as seems desirable on the campuses of the institutions of higher education in the state.

A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting official business. No vote may be taken on any matter which requires Commission action unless a quorum is present. Commission action shall be determined by a voice vote or a show of hands of Commission members; however, any Commissioner may request a roll call vote on a specific matter and/or the chair may request a roll call vote if the outcome of a voice vote or a show of hands is in question. A show of hands vote or a roll call vote may become necessary if an action requires more than a simple majority vote. Proxy voting shall not be allowed. Commission members must be physically present in order to vote.

The positive recommendation of a new instructional program, new unit of instruction, research, or public service, or a new public institution of higher education (as provided in Code of Alabama, 16-5-4(b)) shall require the concurrence of a majority (7) of all the members of the Commission.

A new instructional program, new unit of instruction, research, or public service, or a new public institution of higher education that receives a negative recommendation by a majority vote of Commission members present may be reconsidered after one year provided that in the judgment of the Commission substantive changes indicate the need for reconsideration.

A new instructional program, new unit of instruction, research, or public service, or a new public institution of higher education that receives a favorable vote of a majority of the members present, but which falls short of receiving a favorable vote by a majority of the members of the Commission, may be reconsidered at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

At the Commissionâs discretion, a âconsent agendaâ may be used to expedite action on common issues; however, any Commissioner may request that a specific issue(s) be held from the consent approval for further review and/or action.

Expenses incurred by Commission members in the performance of their duties shall be reimbursed at the rate authorized for state employees.

The Commission shall approve the Commissionâs annual budget request prior to the fiscal year for which it is effective. The Commission shall establish such personnel policies regarding staff personnel as deemed necessary.

Responsibilities and Functions

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education is responsible for the overall statewide planning and coordination of higher education in Alabama, the administration of various student aid programs, and the performance of designated regulatory functions. The Commission seeks to provide reasonable access to quality collegiate and university education for the citizens of Alabama.

Below are the responsibilities of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education:

Approves new units of instruction. This includes new institutions, mergers, branch campuses, colleges, schools, divisions and departments.
Approves any new academic programs.
Approves off-campus instruction.
Facilitates planning for higher education. This includes developing a statewide plan.
Reviews and makes recommendations concerning existing programs.
Prepares a Consolidated Budget Recommendation to the Governor and the Legislature.
Collects and compiles information concerning higher education in the State.
Administers student assistance programs. ACHE administers several state-sponsored student grants and scholarships. Free Application for Federal Student Aid The FAFSA form is the key to obtaining grants, scholarships, work-study and loans to help pay for college.
Conducts studies on higher education issues and makes recommendations to the institutions, the Legislature and the Governor concerning its findings.
Provides a state-level framework for institutions to respond cooperatively and individually to the needs of the citizens of the State.
Reviews institutional facilities masterplans and report to trustees and the Legislature.
Maintains an electronic student unit record system to provide accountability on student progress.
Oversight for the programmatic review of private and public institutions operating as foreign corporations in Alabama in accord with the regulatory authority assigned to the Commission by statute.
Serves as the state portal for Alabamaâs participation in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).

The Commission is not responsible for:

The appropriation or allocation of funds.
The termination of existing programs or existing units of instruction outside the program viability process.
The approval of new construction projects.
The establishment of tuition and fees.
Recommending/enforcing policies concerning enrollment parameters.

The types of institutions subject to this agencyâs authority and that the agency authorizes include all privately licensed degree granting, post-secondary educational institutions. These institutions must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), be a candidate for accreditation or in process of application for accreditation as determined and monitored by the Alabama Community College System.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance

While accreditation is a voluntary, nongovernmental process, ACHE plays a significant role in the quality assurance of higher education in Alabama. The commission is responsible for reviewing and approving new academic programs and changes to existing programs at public institutions. This process ensures that programs meet established standards of quality and align with state priorities.

Network of Alabama Academic Libraries

Under the umbrella of the commission is the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries, an academic consortium. For 41 years, NAAL has fostered collaboration and innovation among Alabamaâs academic libraries, strengthening teaching, learning, and research statewide.

ACHE in the News: College Degrees and Long-Term Earnings

New analysis from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) highlights an important reality: while college degrees may not pay off immediately after graduation, the long-term return becomes clear by age 30.

Early in the workforce, earnings can look similar across education levels, and in some cases, those who delay or skip college may earn more initially. However, by the late 20s and early 30s, individuals with associate and bachelorâs degrees see significantly higher earnings, with the wage gap continuing to widen over time.

Key takeaways:

Postsecondary education delivers a strong long-term wage premium
The financial return on education increases with time
Aligning education pathways with workforce needs remains critical

This insight reinforces the value of informed education and career planning, and the importance of policies that support access, completion, and alignment with Alabamaâs workforce.

International Cooperation

ACHE actively engages in international cooperation to enhance the quality and competitiveness of Alabama's higher education system. In March 2022, the commission signed a Memorandum of Education Cooperation with Taiwan, making Alabama the second state to do so.

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