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(a)Requests for new degree programs must be made in
accordance with the following procedures.
(1)Institutions must request new bachelor's and master's
programs using the most recent version of 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 for completeness
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)New bachelor's and master's programs will 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.
(F)The proposed program would be offered by a university
or health-related institution.
(4)If a proposed bachelor's or master's program meets
the conditions in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the institution
may submit a request to the Assistant Commissioner of Academic Quality
and Workforce to add the program to the institution's Program Inventory.
If a proposed program does not meet the conditions outlined in paragraph
(3) of this subsection, the institution must submit a proposal using
the most recent version of the full request form.
(5)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-semester
credit hour limit. The Board staff will review the documentation provided
and make a determination to approve or deny a request to exceed the
120-semester credit hour limit.
(6)The institution proposing the program must notify
all public institutions of higher education 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 will update the
institution's program inventory. 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 Academic Quality and Workforce to
mediate the objections and determine whether the proposing institution
may submit the proposed program. No new program will be approved until
all objections are resolved.
(7)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) of this subsection.
(8)An institution requesting a new doctoral program
must submit a proposal using the most recent version of the standard
doctoral program request form.
(b)Requests for new certificate programs will be made
in accordance with the following procedures.
(1)New undergraduate and graduate certificate programs
will be approved if all of the following conditions are met:
(A)The certificate program has institutional approval.
(B)The institution certifies that adequate funds are
available to cover the costs of the new certificate program.
(C)The certificate program meets all other criteria
in §5.48 of this title (relating to Criteria for Certificate
Programs at Universities and Health-Related Institutions).
(2)If a proposed certificate program meets the conditions
in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the institution may submit a
request to the Assistant Commissioner of Academic Quality and Workforce.
If a proposed certificate program does not meet the conditions outlined
in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the institution must submit a
proposal using the most recent version of the full request form.
(3)The institution proposing the certificate program
must notify all public higher education institutions within 50 miles
of the teaching site of their intention to offer the certificate 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. 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 certificate program, the proposing institution may request
the assistance of the Assistant Commissioner of Academic Quality and
Workforce to mediate the objections and determine whether the proposing
institution may submit the request for the proposed certificate program.
No new certificate program will be implemented until all objections
are resolved.
(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 §5.48 of this title.
The agency certifies that legal counsel has
reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid
exercise of the agency's
legal authority.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on February 2, 2017
TRD-201700460 Bill Franz
General Counsel
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Effective date: February 22, 2017
Proposal publication date: October 14, 2016
For further information, please call: (512) 427-6104
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