Texas Education Code

§ 61.0512 — BOARD APPROVAL OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

ED § 61.0512Title 3. HIGHER EDUCATION · Part B. STATE COORDINATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION · Ch. 61. TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD · Art. C. POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD

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(a)A new degree or certificate program may be added at an institution of higher education only with specific prior approval of the board. A new degree or certificate program is considered approved if the board has not completed a review under this section and acted to approve or disapprove the proposed program before the first anniversary of the date on which an institution of higher education submits a completed application for approval to the board. The board may not summarily disapprove a program without completing the review required by this section. The board shall specify by rule the elements that constitute a completed application and shall make an administrative determination of the completeness of the application not later than the fifth business day after receiving the application. A request for additional information in support of an application that has been determined administratively complete does not toll the period within which the application is considered approved under this section.

(b)At the time an institution of higher education begins preliminary planning for a new degree program, the institution must notify the board before the institution may carry out that planning.

(c)The board shall review each degree or certificate program offered by an institution of higher education at the time the institution requests to implement a new program to ensure that the program:

(1)meets a national need or is needed by the state and the local community, and does not unnecessarily duplicate programs offered by other institutions of higher education or private or independent institutions of higher education;

(2)has adequate financing from legislative appropriation, funds allocated by the board, or funds from other sources;

(3)has necessary faculty and other resources to ensure student success; and

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Legislative history

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1155 (S.B. 215), Sec. 32, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1128 (S.B. 37), Sec. 3.02, eff. September 1, 2025.