JACKSONVILLE, AL — The Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees has approved a resolution implementing requirements of HB580, a recently enacted Alabama law establishing new governance requirements for the state’s public institutions of higher education.
The Board approved the resolution during its quarterly meeting Tuesday. According to the University, the action is intended to ensure compliance with state law while beginning a transition to Board-approved policies addressing faculty and staff advisory structures, tenure, post-tenure review and curriculum oversight.
HB580 establishes requirements related to faculty advisory structures, tenure, post-tenure review and governance of academic programs at Alabama’s public colleges and universities. Institutions are required to implement policies that comply with the legislation before Oct. 1, 2026.
The resolution also authorizes Jacksonville State University administrators to begin developing recommendations for policies that will later be presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration.
“The Board has a responsibility to ensure Jacksonville State University complies with Alabama law while providing sound governance, accountability, and responsible stewardship of the public resources entrusted to the University,” Board Chairman Randall Jones said. “Today’s action fulfills that responsibility while beginning the important work of developing Board-approved policies that reflect the requirements of the law and support the University’s long-term success. We have every confidence in President Killingsworth’s leadership as he works with University leadership to develop recommendations for the Board’s consideration.”
Under the resolution, Jax State President Dr. Don C. Killingsworth Jr. will work with University leadership, legal counsel and other appropriate officials to develop recommendations addressing the areas covered by the new law.
Those recommendations will include policies governing faculty and staff advisory structures, tenure, post-tenure review and curriculum oversight. The proposed policies are expected to be presented to the Board over the coming months as the University continues implementing HB580.
Killingsworth described the Board’s action as both a step toward legal compliance and the beginning of a broader policy-development process.
“Today’s action fulfills an important legal responsibility, but it also begins the work of thoughtfully developing policies that comply with state law while supporting the mission of Jacksonville State University,” Killingsworth said. “Everything we do as a University should ultimately support student success. As we move through this transition, that guiding principle will not change. I look forward to working with University leadership, our faculty, and our staff to develop policies that reflect the requirements of the law while continuing to strengthen Jax State and the opportunities we provide our students.”
The resolution itself begins the implementation process rather than establishing all of the University’s final policies under HB580. Those policies will be developed and brought before the Board for consideration as the University works toward the Oct. 1 compliance deadline.
Jacksonville State University said it will continue communicating with faculty, staff and other campus stakeholders as recommendations are developed and considered by the Board.
