University of Alabama Board of Trustees

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees is a group established by the Alabama Constitution of 1901 which is charged with overseeing the property and operation of the University of Alabama. Since 1976 the board has overseen the University of Alabama System, made up of the University in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama at Huntsville.

As originally constituted, the board was made up of two members from the Congressional District including Tuscaloosa and one member from each of the state's other districts, along with the Alabama Superintendent of Education and the Governor of Alabama, who presides as chair ex-officio.

Members serve 12-year terms and receive no payment, except in reimbursement of "actual expenses incurred in the discharge of board duties." In light of earlier efforts by Governors to interfere with the university's endowment, the Constitution provided that the board would appoint its own members to vacant seats by secret ballot.

Members so selected serve immediately, but are subject to confirmation by the Alabama State Senate at their next regular session. The seats of candidates so rejected are to be filled by the Senate alone

References

• Alabama Constitution of 1901, Section 264