Amendment No. 161 of the Alabama Constitution specifies that, "Auburn University. . . shall be under the management and control of a Board of Trustees." The Code of Alabama, Chapter 48, §16-48-4 provides further that the Auburn University Board of Trustees "has the power to organize the institute by appointing a corps of instructors, who shall be styled the faculty of the university. . . to regulate, alter or modify the government of the university as it may deem advisable; to prescribe courses of instruction, rates of tuition and fees; to confer such academic and honorary degrees as are usually conferred by institutions of similar character; and to do whatever else it may deem best for promoting the interest of the university." The Board's By-laws (Chapter II, Section 2, Paragraph 2.2) describe the Board's responsibility as follows: "In the exercise of its responsibility and authority, the Board determines policy; reviews existing policy; periodically evaluates the administration and management of the University; approves the missions, role and scope of the University and each of its major divisions; and provides ultimate accountability to the public and the political bodies of Alabama. Any authority delegated by the Board shall be subject to the ultimate authority of the Board."

     The Board of Trustees long has had responsibility for and been involved in the following: (1) Approving programs of instruction. (2) Establishing general student admission, continuation in residency and graduation requirements and policies. (3) Prescribing program-specific enrollment levels, admissions criteria, and similar regulations and/or policies. It is common for university boards of trustees to be assigned such responsibility.

     The Board of Trustees approves admissions regulations by two methods: (1) By specific Board resolution that addresses the program and proposed policy and/or regulation. (2) By resolution approving the contents of the annual Auburn University Bulletin.

     Once admissions policies and other requirements have been approved by the Board of Trustees, the President of Auburn University is charged with the administration of these regulations. The President, in turn, may delegate to various campus officers responsibility for daily administration of these regulations. In the case of general undergraduate admissions, the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Office of Admissions administer for the President the Board-approved admissions regulations. Where professional and graduate programs are involved, the President assigns responsibility for administration of the admissions
process to the Office of the Provost, which may further delegate responsibility to the program's dean. The President may also call upon faculty committees to assist in the admissions process in an advisory capacity. The ultimate responsibility for admissions resides with the President and the Board of Trustees and cannot be delegated.

     This policy specifies the authority for and method of approval, and responsibility for administering admissions and other academic standards. In addition to other regulations and policies previously established by this Board, the special admissions policy described below is approved. This policy addresses the occasional need, in the admissions process, to make provision for special consideration of a limited number of applications.

     A limited number of applicants who may not fully meet admissions requirements, but who demonstrate a strong aptitude for and commitment to university studies, may be admitted under the special admissions policy. Justification for special admissions may include related work experience, maturity, motivation, and the
need to increase underrepresented groups in an entering class. The Admissions Office or appropriate dean may admit each year no more than 5 percent of any undergraduate, professional or graduate degree program's entering class under this special admissions policy. Requests to exceed the 5 percent limit must be approved by the Provost and President.

ADOPTED: 11/4/94