| (16) Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)
Code--The four (4) or six (6)-digit code assigned to an approved degree
program in accordance with the CIP manual published by the U.S. Department
of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. CIP codes
define the authorized teaching field of the specified degree program,
based upon the occupation(s) for which the program is designed to
prepare its graduates.
(17) Commissioner--The Commissioner of Higher Education.
(18) Degree--Any title or designation, mark, abbreviation,
appellation, or series of letters or words, including "associate,"
"bachelor's," "master's," "doctor's" and their equivalents and foreign
cognates, which signify, purport to signify, or are generally taken
to signify satisfactory completion of the requirements of all or part
of a program of study which is generally regarded and accepted as
an academic degree-level program by accrediting agencies recognized
by the Board.
(19) Educational or Training Establishment--An enterprise
offering a course of instruction, education, or training that is not
represented as being applicable to a degree.
(20) Exempt Institution--A postsecondary educational
institution that is fully accredited by and not operating under sanctions
imposed by an agency recognized by the Board under §7.6 of this
chapter (relating to Recognition of Accrediting Agencies), is defined
as a "private or independent institution of higher education" under
Texas Education Code, §61.003(15), a career school or college
that applies for and is declared exempt under this chapter, an institution
that has received approval by a state agency authorizing the institution's
graduates to take a professional or vocational state licensing examination
administered by that agency as described in Texas Education Code, §61.303(a),
or an institution exempted by the Texas Workforce Commission under
Texas Education Code, §132.002. Exempt institutions must comply
with certain Board rules.
(21) Experiential Learning--Process through which students
develop knowledge, skills, and values from direct experiences outside
an institution's classrooms. Experiential learning encompasses a variety
of activities including, but not limited to, internships, externships,
practicums, clinicals, field experience, or other professional work
experiences. References to clinicals within this chapter encompasses
all site-specific health professions experiential learning. Clinicals
include site experiences for medical, nursing, allied health, and
other health professions degree programs.
(22) Fictitious Degree--A counterfeit or forged degree
or a degree that has been revoked.
(23) Fraudulent or Substandard Degree--A degree conferred
by a person who, at the time the degree was conferred, was:
(A) operating in this state in violation of this subchapter;
(B) not eligible to receive a Certificate of Authority
under this subchapter and was operating in another state in violation
of a law regulating the conferral of degrees in that state or in the
state in which the degree recipient was residing or without accreditation
by a recognized accrediting agency, if the degree is not approved
through the review process described by §7.12 of this chapter
(relating to Review and Use of Degrees from Institutions Not Eligible
for Certificates of Authority); or
(C) not eligible to receive a Certificate of Authority
under this subchapter and was operating outside the United States,
and whose degree the Board, through the review process described by §7.12
of this chapter, determines is not the equivalent of an accredited
or authorized degree.
(24) Out-of-State Public Postsecondary Institution--Any
senior college, university, technical institute, junior or community
college, or the equivalent which is controlled by a public body organized
outside the boundaries of the state of Texas. For purposes of this
chapter, out-of-state public institutions of higher education are
considered postsecondary educational institutions.
(25) Person--Any individual, firm, partnership, association,
corporation, enterprise, postsecondary educational institution, other
private entity, or any combination thereof.
(26) Personally Identifiable Information--Information
of a potential, current or former student, including name, address,
telephone number, social security number, email address, date of birth,
education records, or any other identifying number or information
that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity,
either alone or when combined with other personal or identifying information
that is linked or linkable to a specific individual.
(27) Physical Presence--
(A) While in Texas, a representative of the school
or a person being paid by the school, who conducts an activity related
to postsecondary education, including for the purposes of recruiting
students (excluding the occasional participation in a college/career
fair involving multiple institutions or other event similarly limited
in scope in the state of Texas), teaching or proctoring courses including
internships, clinicals, externships, practicums, and other similarly
constructed educational activities (excluding those individuals that
are involved in teaching courses in which there is no physical contact
with Texas students or in which visiting students are enrolled), or
grants certificates or degrees; and/or
(B) The institution has any location within the state
of Texas which would include any address, physical site, telephone
number, or facsimile number within or originating from within the
boundaries of the state of Texas. Advertising to Texas students, whether
through print, billboard, internet, radio, television, or other medium
alone does not constitute a physical presence.
(28) 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.
(29) 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.
(30) Professional Degree--A degree that is awarded
for a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), Doctor
of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.),
Juris Doctor (J.D.), and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and their equivalents
and foreign cognates.
(31) Program or Program of Study--Any course or grouping
of courses which are represented as entitling a student to a degree
or to credits applicable to a degree.
(32) Protected Term--The terms "college," "university,"
"school of medicine," "medical school," "health science center," "school
of law," "law school," or "law center," its abbreviation, foreign
cognate or equivalents.
(33) Reciprocal State Exemption Agreement--An agreement
entered into by the Board with an out-of-state state higher education
agency or higher education system for the purpose of creating a reciprocal
arrangement whereby that entity's institutions are exempted from the
Board oversight for the purposes of distance education. In exchange,
participating Texas public and private or independent institutions
of higher education as defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003
and private postsecondary educational institutions as defined in Texas
Education Code, §61.302(2) would be exempted from that state's
oversight for the purposes of distance education.
(34) Representative--A person who acts on behalf of
an institution regulated under this subchapter. The term includes,
without limitation, recruiters, agents, tutors, counselors, business
agents, instructors, and any other instructional or support personnel.
(35) Required State or National Licensure--The requirement
for graduates of certain professional programs to obtain a license
from state or national entities for entry-level practice.
Cont'd... |
