The Alabama Commission on Higher Education marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks at its quarterly meeting September 11, 2026, honoring those who died and those who responded.
Following the commemoration, Jim Purcell, the commission’s executive director, presented “American Higher Education: A Period of Structural Change.” His report examined demographic, federal policy, technological and workforce changes affecting higher education.
Purcell emphasized the need for Alabama to adapt to a declining traditional student population, respond to changing expectations and connect more residents with education and workforce opportunities. He also called for planning and collaboration to prepare the state’s higher education system for those changes.
Purcell shared preliminary fall 2026 enrollment data showing growth across Alabama’s public higher education system. Enrollment at the state’s public two- and four-year institutions has increased by about 2.4 percent from fall 2025, representing 6,598 additional students.
The commission said in a news release that the preliminary figures demonstrate the continued need to expand access to postsecondary education and support students’ success and the state’s workforce needs.
Jim Hood, deputy director of financial and information systems, presented the commission’s 13th quadrennial evaluation and a proposal for distributing deferred maintenance funds to historically Black colleges and universities. Veronica Harris, director of agency fiscal services and accounting, presented the fiscal 2026-27 operations plan.
Stephanie C. Dolan, director of planning and policy, presented the proposed 2027 commission meeting schedule, the 2025-26 annual report and administrative procedures for the new Move On When Ready program for final approval.
Takena Jones, grants and scholarships associate, conducted a public drawing to determine the order of payments from the Alabama Student Grant Program for the 2026-27 academic year.
Robin McGill, deputy director of academic affairs, and Kristan White, academic program review analyst, presented 18 new academic programs for approval and four for conditional approval.
Commissioners approved or conditionally approved the following programs and changes:
Alabama State University
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Master of Science in criminal justice.
Auburn University
- Substantive modification to the Bachelor of Science in special education, rehabilitation and disability studies.
- Substantive modification to the Master of Education in counselor education, clinical mental health counseling.
Auburn University at Montgomery
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Master of Social Work in social work.
Troy University
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Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in legal studies.
University of Alabama
- Bachelor of Arts in organizational leadership.
- Substantive modification to establish the Doctor of Philosophy in business administration.
- Substantive modification to establish the Doctor of Philosophy in applied statistics and operations management.
- Establishment of the School of Data as a new major unit of instruction.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
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Bachelor of Science in data science.
University of Montevallo
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Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in secondary education.
Central Alabama Community College
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Associate of Applied Science in child development.
Drake State Community and Technical College
- Associate of Applied Science and certificate in barbering.
Northeast Alabama Community College
- Associate of Applied Science and certificate in dental assisting.
Wallace Community College in Dothan
- Associate of Applied Science in biomedical equipment technology.
- Associate of Applied Science in diesel technology.
- Associate of Applied Science in medical laboratory technician, conditional approval.
Wallace Community College in Selma
- Associate of Applied Science in cybersecurity.
- Associate of Applied Science in mechatronics.
- Associate of Applied Science in medical laboratory technician, conditional approval.
- Associate of Applied Science in surgical technology, conditional approval.
- Associate of Applied Science in radiologic technology, conditional approval.
