(a)Requests for new degree programs shall be made in accordance with the following procedures. (1)Institutions shall request new bachelor's and master's programs using the appropriate degree program request form. (2)Institutions must submit documentation sufficient to establish that the new program meets all of the criteria listed in §5.45 of this title (relating to Criteria for New Baccalaureate and Master's Degree Programs). Board staff will review all requests for new programs within five business days of receipt. If Board staff determines that the request is incomplete and additional information or documentation is needed, the institution must respond with all of the requested information or documentation within ten working days or the request will be returned to the institution. An institution may resubmit a request that was incomplete as soon as it has obtained the requested information or documentation. (3)[(1)] New bachelor's and master's programs shall be approved if all of the following conditions are met: (A)The proposed program has institutional and governing board approval. (B)The institution certifies compliance with the Standards for New Bachelor's and Master's Programs. (C)The institution certifies that adequate funds are available to cover the costs of the new program. (D)New costs during the first five years of the program would not exceed $2 million. (E)The proposed program is a non-engineering program (i.e., not classified under CIP code 14). [(F)The proposed program is not one which the institution previously offered and has been closed due to low productivity in the last 10 years.] (F)[(G)] The proposed program would be offered by a university or health-related institution. (4)[(2)] If a proposed bachelor's or master's program meets the conditions in paragraph (3) [ (1)] of this subsection, the institution shall submit a request to the Assistant Commissioner of Workforce, Academic Affairs and Research to add the program. If a proposed program does not meet the conditions outlined in paragraph (3) [(1)] of this subsection, the institution must submit a proposal using the full [standard degree program] request form. (5)[(3)] If the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete a proposed bachelor's program exceeds 120, the institution must provide detailed documentation describing the compelling academic reason for the number of required hours, such as programmatic accreditation requirements, statutory requirements, or licensure/certification requirements that cannot be met without exceeding the 120-hour limit. The Coordinating Board will review the documentation provided and make a determination to approve or deny a request to exceed the 120-hour limit. (6)[(4)] The institution proposing the program shall notify all public institutions within 50 miles of the teaching site of their intention to offer the program at least 30 days prior to submitting their request to the Coordinating Board. If no objections occur, the Coordinating Board staff shall update the institution's program inventory accordingly. If objections occur, the proposing institution must resolve those objections prior to submitting the request to the Coordinating Board. If the proposing institution cannot resolve the objection(s), and the institution wishes to submit the proposed program, the proposing institution may request the assistance of the Assistant Commissioner of Workforce, Academic Affairs and Research to mediate the objections and determine whether the proposing institution may submit the proposed program. No new program shall be implemented until all objections are resolved. (7)[(5)] The Coordinating Board reserves the right to audit a degree program at any time to ensure compliance with any of the criteria outlined in paragraph (3) [ (1)] of this subsection. (8)[(6)] An institution requesting a new doctoral program shall submit a proposal using the standard doctoral program request form. (b)Requests for new certificate programs shall be made in accordance with the following procedures. (1) - (3)(No change.) (4)The Coordinating Board reserves the right to audit a certificate program at any time to ensure compliance with any of the conditions outlined in §5.45 of this title [paragraph (1) of this subsection].
This agency hereby certifies that the
proposal
has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's
legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on August 19, 2013
TRD-201303484 Bill Franz
General Counsel
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Proposed date of adoption: October 24, 2013
For further information, please call: (512) 427-6114
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