Responsibilities - Alabama Commission on Higher Education

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.
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 Alabama’s participation in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).

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. This includes: setting enrollment caps; limiting the number of out-of-state students; setting residency requirements; or setting admission standards.
setting faculty work loads or salaries.
the hiring and firing of personnel at the institutions.