The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board) adopts new §5.53 and §5.54, concerning Approval of New Academic Programs and Administrative Changes at Public Universities, Health-Related Institutions, and Assessment of Existing Degree Programs, without changes to the proposed text as published in the August 13, 2010, issue of the Texas Register (35 TexReg 6889).

Specifically, these new sections establish the authority for quality and effectiveness audits of new doctoral degree programs and establish a procedure for handling instances of noncompliance with conditions of approval of new doctoral degree programs.

No comments were received concerning these new sections.

The new sections are adopted under the Texas Education Code, §61.051, which provides the Coordinating Board with the authority to coordinate institutions of higher education.