The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter,
shall have the following meanings:
(1) Board--The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board.
(2) Commissioner--The Commissioner of Higher Education,
the Chief Executive Officer of the Board.
(3) Certificate of Authority--The Board's approval
of postsecondary institutions (other than exempt institutions), with
operations in the State of Texas, to confer degrees or courses applicable
to degrees, or to solicit students for enrollment in institutions
that confer degrees or courses applicable to degrees.
(4) Exempt Institution--An institution that is accredited
by an agency recognized by the Board under §7.6 of this title
(relating to Recognition of Accrediting Agencies), or is defined as
a "private or independent institution of higher education" under Texas
Education Code, §61.003(15), or is a career school or college
that applies for and is declared exempt under this chapter, by the
Texas Workforce Commission as described in Texas Education Code, §61.303(a),
or Texas Education Code, Chapter 132, respectively. Exempt institutions
must comply with certain Board rules.
(5) Postsecondary Educational Institution--An educational
institution which:
(A) is not a public community college, public technical
college, public senior college or university, medical or dental unit
or other agency as defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003;
(B) is incorporated under the laws of this state, or
maintains a place of business in this state, or has an agent or representative
present in this state, or solicits business in this state; and
(C) furnishes or offers to furnish courses of instruction
in person, by electronic media, by correspondence, or by some means
or all leading to a degree; provides or offers to provide credits
alleged to be applicable to a degree; or represents that credits earned
or granted are collegiate in nature, including describing them as
"college-level," or at the level of any protected academic term.
(6) Private Postsecondary Educational Institution--An
institution which:
(A) is not an institution of higher education as defined
by Texas Education Code, §61.003;
(B) is incorporated under the laws of this state, maintains
a place of business in this state, has an agent or representative
presence in this state, or solicits business in this state; and
(C) furnishes or offers to furnish courses of instruction
in person, by electronic media, or by correspondence leading to a
degree or providing credits alleged to be applied to a degree.
(7) Recognized Accrediting Agency--Any accrediting
agency the standards of accreditation or membership for which have
been found by the Board to be sufficiently comprehensive and rigorous
to qualify its institutional members for an exemption from the operation
of Chapter 7 of this title (relating to Degree Granting Colleges and
Universities Other Than Texas Public Institutions).
(8) Site visit report--The report produced by the site
review team in accordance with Chapter 7, Subchapter A, §7.8(3)(I)
of this title (relating to Institutions Not Accredited by a Board
Recognized Accreditor).
|
