The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board) adopts amendments to §§5.41, 5.43, 5.44, 5.48 - 5.50, and 5.52, concerning the approval of new programs and the review of existing programs. Section 5.44 is adopted with changes to the proposed text as published in the April 5, 2013, issue of the Texas Register (38 TexReg 2179) and will be republished. Sections 5.41, 5.43, 5.48 - 5.50, and 5.52 are adopted without changes and will not be republished.

The intent of the amendments is to reduce the amount of time spent by public institutions and Board staff in submitting, reviewing, and approving requests for changes to administrative units at public universities and health-related institutions (HRIs). These amendments would allow public institutions to make changes to their administrative structures without requesting permission from the Coordinating Board. The amendments would also require public universities and HRIs offering a new degree or certificate program to notify all public institutions within 50 miles of the teaching site of their intention to offer the program at least 30 days prior to submitting their request to the Coordinating Board. The amendments would also change the required date of submission for graduate program review documents from 90 days to 180 days.

No comments were received from the public; however, a staff member suggested that §5.44(a)(1) needed to be revised to reflect "new" bachelor's and master's programs.

The amendments are adopted under Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter C, §61.051(e), which states that no new department, school, degree program, or certificate program may be added at any public institution of higher education except with specific prior approval of the board.