EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 48, AMENDMENT ONE

WHEREAS, the State of Alabama has a vested interest in participating in reciprocity agreements with other states to allow our institutions of higher education to offer classes online and otherwise engage in interstate commerce with individuals in other states who are seeking to further advance their training and education;

WHEREAS, a number of organizations, affiliations and associations have made great strides toward bringing the number of states with similar interests together in order to streamline and make more efficient the means of achieving these shared goals;

WHEREAS, the State of Alabama will be best served and most effectively and efficiently represented in such efforts by having one person designated to negotiate and recommend agreements for reciprocity for our state with other states, along with coordinating all other things necessary for the State of Alabama to participate in and comply with such agreements;

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Alabama, as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Magistrate of the State, is the entity and person who clearly has the authority to enter such agreements on behalf of the State and thus to negotiate such agreements; and

WHEREAS, the undersigned Governor desires to designate a means and a person to serve as the lead negotiator and coordinator for such agreements.

NOW, THEREFORE, based upon these considerations, and for other good and valid reasons, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Alabama, do hereby appoint the Chancellor of the University of Alabama System (who shall serve as Chair of the group), the President of Auburn University,  the President of the University of South Alabama, and the Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System (hereinafter collectively the “Reciprocity Committee”), each of whom may appear or participate by designee, and empower them to appoint and direct the lead negotiator and coordinator for the State of Alabama in negotiating reciprocal agreements with other states with respect to the offering of educational services in other states and to allow institutions of higher education to make such offerings in this state and to coordinate the State of Alabama’s compliance with such efforts and such agreements.

BE IT ORDERED, that the appointed negotiator/coordinator shall understand and agree as follows in the pursuit and fulfillment of his duties and obligations hereunder:

  1. He shall act at the direction of the Reciprocity Committee;
  1. He shall inform the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in the course of such negotiations;
  1. He shall confer with other institutions of higher education within the State of Alabama in the course of such negotiations;
  1. He shall keep the Reciprocity Committee promptly informed of all developments in such negotiations;
  1. He shall make recommendations to the Reciprocity Committee and they shall make recommendations to the Governor on all issues, decisions, appointments and designations that should be done or undertaken in order for the State of Alabama to participate and comply with such reciprocity agreements;
  1. He shall coordinate and lead all activities, actions and efforts necessary for the State of Alabama to participate and comply with such reciprocity agreements; and
  1. He shall have no authority to bind the State of Alabama to any agreement, as such power and authority is reserved for the undersigned Governor of the State of Alabama.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Postsecondary Education, the public institutions of higher education in the State of Alabama, their officers, employees, and agents are hereby directed to provide the appointed negotiator and the Reciprocity Committee with the information, cooperation, and support that is necessary in furtherance of the negotiations, participation and compliance made the subject of this Executive Order.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that this Executive Order shall become effective immediately upon signing and shall remain in full force until such time it is modified or rescinded by the Governor.

DONE THIS 9th day of December, 2014.

Robert Bentley

Governor

ATTEST:

Jim Bennett

Secretary of State

Provided by the Office of the Governor of Alabama | governor.alabama.gov