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(a)The 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. Institutions should not overcommit resources to a geographic area before a sufficient and sustained level of demand is achieved. (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 the types of educational activities. (c)Off-campus educational units are not intended to duplicate the full array and types of offerings available at regular general academic campuses. The intent is to: (1)Focus on teaching and on delivery of high demand courses and programs. (2)Develop articulation agreements with community colleges in the area for provision of lower-division courses. (3)Make extensive use of technology to limit the number of faculty required for the location and take full advantage of technological advances that promise to improve quality of learning, access to programs, and efficient use of existing resources. (4)Use locally provided facilities, where possible. Except where authorized by statute or the Board, nothing in these sections is to be interpreted as permitting the acquisition by gift or purchase of real property for the purpose of establishing or operating an off-campus subdivision. (d)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 Guidelines for Institutional Plans for Distance Education and Off-Campus Instruction (Notification and Approval Procedures for Distance Education and Off-Campus Programs and Courses and Guidelines for Institutional Plans for Distance Education and Off-Campus Instruction located in Board policies.) (e)An off-campus educational unit is financially dependent upon its parent institution(s) and supported within the budget of the institution(s). It is not eligible to request separate legislative funding. Semester credit hours completed at the unit must be reported by the parent institution(s) as off-campus courses and shall be funded as determined by the Legislature. Formula generated funds earned at an off-campus educational unit are expected to be applied to financing its operation. (f)The Board shall maintain a list of degree programs offered at off-campus educational units. (g)Programs may be offered by and in the name of the parent institution(s). No program may be offered at a teaching center that does not have prior approval to be offered at the parent institution, except under unusual and approved circumstances. (h)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. (i)The majority of faculty members at an off-campus educational unit must, by some means, have prior or continuing significant involvement at the parent institution. Faculty must comply with the provision of §§4.101 - 4.108 of this title (relating to Approval of Distance Education and Off-Campus Instruction for Public Colleges and Universities). They must be hired and evaluated by the same processes and with the same criteria as faculty performing similar duties at the parent institution. The parent institution should not make a permanent commitment to these faculty. (j)Courses offered at off-campus educational units must be reported separately and accurately in required Board reports.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on February 12, 2003
TRD-200301048 Jan Greenberg
General Counsel
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Proposed date of adoption: April 24, 2003
For further information, please call: (512) 427-6162
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