Athens State University (ASU) is the only upper-division university in the Alabama Community College System (ACCS). As a member of the ACCS, Athens State operates under the authority of the Alabama State Board of Education upon recommendations from the Chancellor, who serves as the chief executive officer of the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education.

Members of the Alabama State Board of Education are elected public officials. As such, the actions of members of the State Board are subject to the provisions of the Legislative Code of Alabama. In particular, Board members are bound by the Code of Alabama, Section 36-25-5, which prohibits public officials from using their offices for personal gain and further defines conflicts of interest. In addition, a Board member may be prosecuted under the Code of Alabama, Section 13A-10-62, if that member fails to disclose a potential conflict of interest.

Board members must also comply with the ethics requirements of the State of Alabama, including the annual filing of a statement of economic interests (Code of Alabama, Section 36-25-14).

The aforementioned provisions of the Legislative Code of Alabama ensure that the members of the Alabama State Board of Education are not controlled by organizations or interests separate from the Board.

Additional information on the Board can be found in the narrative for Core Requirement 2.2.