(a) The general purpose of off-campus educational units
of all sizes is to meet the education needs of the people of Texas
with a level of service that is appropriate for the area and cost
effective to offer. Their specific purpose is directly related to
the teaching of courses for academic credit from the parent institution(s)
and/or for health professions' medical training.
(b) The Commissioner shall establish policies concerning
how a location receives designation as a specific type of off-campus
educational unit and how to expand educational activities.
(c) The type and name of all off-campus educational
units, with the exception of higher education teaching sites, must
be approved by the Board. Recognition of an off-campus educational
unit may be withdrawn by the Board.
(d) An off-campus educational unit is financially dependent
upon its parent institution(s) and is supported by the budget of the
institution(s). It is not eligible to request separate legislative
funding. Off-campus educational units should use locally provided
facilities, where possible.
(1) Degree programs offered at off-campus educational
units must be offered by and in the name of the parent institution(s).
(2) The parent institution must commit to providing
a program long enough for a student to have a reasonable opportunity
to graduate before the resource is withdrawn or to make other reasonable
arrangements for students to complete programs that they have started.
(3) The Board must be notified of programs offered
or discontinued at off-campus educational units. The Board shall maintain
a list of these degree programs and make that list readily available
to the public.
(4) Courses offered at off-campus educational units
must be reported separately and accurately in required Board reports.
Semester credit hours completed at the unit must be reported appropriately
by the parent institution(s) and shall be funded as determined by
the Legislature.
(5) The facilities of off-campus educational units
shall comply with Chapter 17 of this title, relating to Resource Planning.
(e) Off-campus educational units are not intended to
duplicate the full array and types of offerings available at regular
general academic campuses. Their specific purpose is to:
(1) Focus on teaching and on delivery of high demand
courses and programs for academic credit from the parent institution(s)
and/or for health professions' training. Research conducted at off-campus
educational units should be limited to that necessary for the courses
and programs offered.
(2) Develop articulation agreements with community
colleges in the area for provision of lower-division courses. In general,
off-campus educational units are not intended to offer lower-division
courses. Lower-division courses can only be offered in accordance
with Chapter 4, subchapter Q of this title, relating to Approval of
Off-Campus and Self-Supporting Courses and Programs for Public Institutions,
and related Board procedures.
(f) Degree programs offered at off-campus educational
units must be offered by and in the name of the parent institution(s).
(g) Off-campus educational units shall adhere to quality
and approval criteria regarding courses, programs, student services
and other academic matters contained in §§4.101 - 4.108
of this title (relating to Approval of Distance Education and Off-Campus
Instruction for Public Colleges and Universities), and in the Approval
of Distance Education, including Off-Campus Courses and Programs located
in Board policies.
(h) The facilities of off-campus educational units
shall comply with Chapter 17 of this title, relating to Resource Planning.
(i) Courses offered at off-campus educational units
must be reported separately and accurately in required Board reports.
Semester credit hours completed at the unit must be reported appropriately
by the parent institution(s) and shall be funded as determined by
the Legislature.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §5.76 adopted to be effective May 28, 2003, 28 TexReg 4126; amended to be effective May 25, 2015, 40 TexReg 2755; amended to be effective November 23, 2016, 41 TexReg 9110 |