Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 16-47-1 (2026)

Body Corporate.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
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The Governor and the State Superintendent of Education, by virtue of their respective offices, the trustees heretofore appointed from the different congressional districts of the state under the provisions of Section 264 of the constitution and such other members as may be from time to time added to the board of trustees and their successors in office are constituted a body corporate under the name of “the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama,” to carry into effect the purposes and intent of the Congress of the United States in the grant of lands by the act of April 20, 1818, and of the act of March 2, 1819, to this state, to be by it held and administered for the benefit of a seminary of learning.

(School Code 1927, §543; Code 1940, T. 52, §486.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases, 1982–2019 · leading case: Ex Parte Cranman, 792 So. 2d 392 (Ala. 2000).
Ex Parte Cranman, 792 So. 2d 392 (Ala. 2000). · cites it 2× “[26] See Ala.Code 1975, §§ 16-47-1 and 16-47-2. When State-employed physicians provide health-care services, they perform a public responsibility.”
Willis v. Univ. of North Alabama, 826 So. 2d 118 (Ala. 2002). · cites it 2× “814 (1909), the Court held that the University of Alabama, which was formed under enabling legislation nearly identical to that related to UNA (see Ala. Code 1975, § 16-47-1 et seq.), is a public institution and is part of the State.”
Vandenberg v. Aramark Educ. Servs., Inc., 1100557 (Ala. 9-30-2011), 81 So. 3d 326 (Ala. 2011). “The board of trustees governing UA and UAB was organized as a public corporation by § 16-47-1, Ala.Code 1975, and the board of trustees governing Auburn was similarly organized as a public corporation by § 16^18-1, Ala.”
Hauseman v. Univ. Of Ala. Health Serv. Found., 793 So. 2d 730 (Ala. 2000). · cites it 2× “Ala.Code 1975, §§ 16-47-1 and -34. In furtherance of its educational purposes, the University has created a school of medicine, and, in conjunction with the school of medicine, the University owns and operates UAB Hospital.”
Churchill v. Bd. of Trs., Etc., 409 So. 2d 1382 (Ala. 1982). · cites it 2× “However, because of: 1) Code 1975, § 16-47-1, which states that that Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama is a public corporation with the purpose of the administration of a seminary of learning; and 2) § 16-47-2, which authorizes the Board to exercise those powers…”
Phillips v. Bd. of Trs., 218 F. Supp. 3d 1297 (N.D. Ala. 2016). · cites it 2× “Ala. Code §§ 16-47-1 , et. seq. UAB’s Medical School is governed by a Board of Trustees, and the members of the Board are appointed pursuant to state law.”
Castellanos v. Bd. of Trs. of the Univ. of Ala. Sch. of Med. (In re Bd. of Trs. of the Univ. of Ala. (), 264 So. 3d 850 (Ala. 2018). “See § 16-47-1, Ala. Code 1975. "The University of Alabama School of Medicine" is "under the sole management, ownership and control of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama.”
Regina Patrice Harris v. Univ. of Alabama (11th Cir. 2019). “Ala. Code §§ 16-47-1 , 16-47-30 (2016). Third, as far as the University’s budget, the Alabama legislature allocates money to the University each year and requires reporting from the board on expenses.”
Castellanos v. Bd. of Trs. of the Univ. of Ala. Sch. of Med. (In re Bd. of Trs. of the Univ. of Ala. (), 264 So. 3d 850 (Ala. 2018). “See § 16-47-1, Ala. Code 1975. "The University of Alabama School of Medicine" is "under the sole management, ownership and control of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama.”
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