| (a) In addition to any criteria specified in statute
or this chapter for a specific program approval, the Assistant Commissioner,
Commissioner, or Board, as applicable, shall consider the following
factors:
(1) Evidence that the program is needed by the state
and the local community, as demonstrated by student demand for similar
programs, labor market information, and value of the credential;
(2) Whether the program unnecessarily duplicates programs
offered by other institutions of higher education or private or independent
institutions of higher education, as demonstrated by capacity of existing
programs and need for additional graduates in the field;
(3) Comments provided to the Board from institutions
noticed under §2.7 of this subchapter;
(4) Whether the program has adequate financing from
legislative appropriation, funds allocated by the Board, or funds
from other sources;
(5) Whether the program's cost is reasonable and provides
a value to students and the state when considering the cost of tuition,
source(s) of funding, availability of other similar programs, and
the earnings of students or graduates of similar credential programs
in the state to ensure the efficient and effective use of higher education
resources;
(6) Whether the program has necessary faculty and other
resources including support staff to ensure student success;
(7) Whether and how the program aligns with the metrics
and objectives of the Board's Long-Range Master Plan for Higher Education;
(8) Whether the program meets academic standards specified
by law or prescribed by Board rule, including rules adopted by the
Board for purposes of this section, or workforce standards established
by the Texas Workforce Investment Council; and
(9) Past compliance history and program quality of
the same or similar programs, where applicable.
(b) In the event of conflict between this rule and
a more specific rule regarding program approval, the more specific
rule shall control.
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