Gov. Kay Ivey signed HB580 into law on April 13, changing faculty governance and establishing a process for removing tenured faculty at Alabama's public colleges and universities. The law is set to take effect on Oct. 1.
Alabama House Bill 580 (HB580), sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs (R-Wetumpka), shifts faculty senates to an advisory role and expands the authority of university boards over curriculum and tenure decisions, granting them final decision-making authority.
House Bill 580
Under the law, the removal of tenured faculty is allowed under certain conditions. These include failure to complete newly implemented post-tenure review policies, as well as failure to meet professional responsibilities.
"This bill would allow governing boards to adopt procedures for the dismissal of tenured faculty members, provided those procedures include specified due process rights such as a right to a hearing and appeal," Stubbs said in the synopsis of the bill.
The law does not apply to Auburn University and The University of Alabama, as their governing structure is written into the Alabama Constitution, meaning a bill like HB580 does not have the power to change their core governance rules directly.
Supporters of the bill say it will shift authority appropriately by giving greater responsibility to governing boards. Stubbs also highlighted the importance of increasing transparency and accountability in Alabama's higher education system.
The bill passed the House floor four weeks ago despite opposition from House Democrats, who argued it could allow faculty to be targeted for political reasons and viewed it as part of broader efforts to roll back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies.
Other critics, including faculty groups like the American Association of University Professors (UA-AAUP), argue that the law could undermine academic independence and shared governance. While acknowledging that the law may not directly apply to constitutionally governed institutions like The University of Alabama and Auburn University, they warn that indirect pressures through state funding could still influence compliance and weaken higher education across the state.
This bill would also prohibit accrediting agencies or outside organizations from requiring a public institution of higher education to violate the bill or from taking adverse action against an institution for its compliance with the bill, meaning that the agencies can’t require Alabama public universities to break the law or punish universities because they follow the law.
The bill marks one of the most significant changes to higher education governance in Alabama in recent years.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
