When a location for the college has been determined and the board has chosen a name for the college, the board of trustees shall file in the office of the Secretary of State a certificate stating the name and location of the college and the names of persons currently serving as members of the board of trustees. Thereafter, the college shall be a body corporate under the name so filed, with the right to have and use a corporate seal, to sue and be sued in such corporate name in any of the courts of this state of competent jurisdiction as in the case of natural persons.
Ala. Code § 16-60-23 (1975)