Alabama Commission on Higher Education
Inflation, insurance costs expected to take bigger portion of Alabama higher ed budget
Inflationary and insurance costs will consume a larger portion of Alabama’s higher education budget than in years past. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education Friday approved a $156 million consolidated budget request for fiscal year 2025, scheduled to start on Oct. 1 of next year. Due to changes in the law last year, ACHE tried […]
Alabama’s higher education enrollment still below pre-pandemic peaks, says state commission
Enrollment in Alabama’s public institutions of higher education is recovering after a sharp decline during the COVID-19 outbreak but hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to data released last week by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. According to the preliminary numbers compiled by ACHE, two-year college enrollment in Alabama went from 45,967 in the […]
Alabama higher education committee discusses impact of new federal regulations
The Alabama State Reciprocity Committee Wednesday discussed the potential impact of changes to federal regulations on distance learning. The committee, which focuses on higher education issues, works to address State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) in Alabama. SARA was established in 2013 to streamline regulations from the U.S. Department of Education around distance learning opportunities. The […]
ACHE makes administrative changes related to the National Guard
The Alabama Commission on Higher Education Wednesday approved administrative changes to implement extended college and tuition benefits for members of the Alabama National Guard. SB 67, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, extended tuition benefits for active members of the National Guard. The proposed changes will be published in the Alabama Administrative Monthly for a […]
Auburn University Montgomery expanding AI courses
Auburn University Montgomery is moving into the artificial intelligence world. But rather than focusing on creating artificial intelligence, the school wants to teach students how to use AI as a tool. “We’re not trying to create a better AI system, we’re not trying to create the computers that run it or anything,” said Ross Dickens, […]
Why Alabama can’t control college tuition costs
States have varying degrees of control over the tuition price of their public higher education institutions. Alabama has none. Under Alabama law, higher education institutions set tuition and fees for students. The state government cannot control those increases, and one of the Legislature’s education budget chairs says moving in that direction would require an overhaul […]
Alabama’s higher education costs rise like the nation’s, but not always for the same reasons
College tuition has gotten more expensive throughout the United States over the last two decades. Alabama is no exception. According to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE), in-state tuition at Alabama’s public colleges and universities rose 28.2% over the last ten years. In that same time period, out-of-state tuition rose by 30.4%. According to […]
Alabama House passes ban on transgender athletes in college sports
The Alabama House passed a bill banning transgender athletes from college sports on Tuesday, the latest in a series of bills attacking transgender youth in the state. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, passed on a 83-5 vote with 14 abstentions. It would require college athletes to play sports that align with their […]
ACHE director: ‘Divisive concepts’ bill would not affect college instruction
The director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education said Friday a bill banning the teaching of “divisive concepts” would not affect college instruction. Jim Purcell, the executive director of ACHE, told the commission that he believed that HB 7, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, gave instructors room to discuss topics. Oliver said in […]