ALABAMA AGR. AND MECHANICAL UNIV. v. Jones

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University ("A M"); its president, Dr. John Gibson; and 11 members of its board of trustees (hereinafter referred to collectively as "the University") appeal from a declaratory judgment in favor of Dr. Jeanette Jones, a tenured professor of biology at A M, awarding her approximately $44,000 in her action seeking back pay and injunctive relief, based on an alleged oral contract with the University. We reverse and remand.

I. Background

The events underlying this dispute began early in the 1994-95 academic year, while Dr. Jones was the vice president for…