The legal authority and operating control of the institution are clearly defined for the following areas within the institution's governance structure:
The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama System in Board Bylaws, Article I, Section 6, set forth the "primary functions" of the Board in general terms and include specifically the responsibility to "define the missions, role and scope of the University and each of its major divisions or component institutions." Within that broad authority, the Board is further directed by this section to "[e]stablish policies and goals of the University and direct the Chancellor to implement and achieve those policies and goals" and "[r]eview and approve academic plans, including new programs and new units, and major modifications in existing programs and units." The Board regularly reviews the mission of the University. The most recent review and approval of the UAH mission statement, without revision, occurred in June 2005.
Board Bylaws, Article V deals with The University of Alabama System, identifying the Chancellor as its chief executive officer and The University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, as its three component institutions. Article V, Section 2 states that the Chancellor is, among his other responsibilities, to "[r]ecommend to the Board the mission, role and scope of the University and of its respective campuses." Board Bylaws, Article V, Section 3 then assigns to the President of each campus certain authority and responsibility in the implementation and administration of the campus' established mission as follows:
[The President] shall have full authority to administer campus affairs and to formulate and issue regulations and orders not inconsistent with the Bylaws, rules, policies and procedures of the Board and the Chancellor. The President shall be responsible for the participation of his campus in the overall planning, resource allocation, and program evaluation of the University.
It is clear that the President has the duty and authority to develop the University's mission and direct the use of the institution's resources so as to accomplish that mission.
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Source
Location
1
Board of Trustees Meeting, June 17, 2005
2
Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama Board Manual Bylaws, Article I, Section 6
3
Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama Board Manual Bylaws, Article V, Section 2
4
Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama Board Manual Bylaws, Article V, Section 3
5
Code of Alabama, Section 16-47-1
6
Code of Alabama, Section 16-47-30 through 16-47-37
