Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has called for the “Texas American Muslim University at Dallas” to cease operations. In a letter to TexAM University at Dallas, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board said the university violated state code and does not have the ability to operate. Abbott declared on social media that if the university refuses to comply with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the state will take legal action. “Texas will not allow illegal educational institutions to operate in our state,” he wrote.
“TexAM has never been granted a Certificate of Authority to operate in Texas; therefore, TexAM is prohibited by law from granting or offering to grant degrees. A person or entity’s non-compliance with Chapter 61, Subchapter G, subjects them to criminal punishment, administrative penalties, and liability for civil penalties and injunctive relief (Tex. Educ. Code § 61.316-319). Furthermore, non-compliance is a violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and subjects the person or entity to the criminal and civil liability imposed under that act (Tex. Educ. Code § 61.320),” the letter states.
“Additionally, the use of a protected term such as ‘university’ without a certificate of authority is a violation of section 61.313 of the Texas Education Code. Such a violation subjects a person to criminal liability,” it adds.
“TexAM’s advertising and postings via its website indicate that your entity publicly holds itself out as offering in the State of Texas STEM degree programs, including a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and admissions to bachelor’s degree programs in computer science, IT, cybersecurity, and health informatics,” it further states. “TexAM, and all related entities, must immediately cease advertising, offering, and enrolling students in degrees or programs of study until it has applied for and been granted a Certificate of Authority. You must also cease and desist from using any protected terms immediately.”
According to the university’s website, the academic institution is the “first university in the United States to offer STEM degree programs embedded with mandatory courses in Islamic Studies.”
