SECTION 11.27. New Program and Course Approval

(a) Courses and programs wholly or partially financed from state funds are subject to the prior approval and continuing review of the Board or as delegated to the Commissioner as specified in Chapter 9, Subchapter E of this title (relating to Certificate or Associate Degree Programs).

(b) Before any new course or program may be offered by a campus or extension center within the taxing district of a public community/junior college, it must be established that the public community/junior college is not capable of offering or chooses not to offer the program. The campus or extension center must present evidence to the Commissioner that the public community/junior college is not capable of offering the program. After it has demonstrated to the Commissioner that the need for the program exists and that the program is not locally available, the campus or extension center may offer the program, provided approval is secured from the Commissioner. Approval of technical and vocational programs under this section does not apply to McLennan, Cameron, and Potter counties.

(c) Where a local government, business, or industry located in a county or a portion of a county that is not operating a public community/junior college district requests that the campus or extension center offer a program, the campus or extension center must request approval from the Board or as delegated to the Commissioner, to offer the program.

(d) Approval of any courses or programs offered at a campus or extension center under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section must be requested from the Board according to procedures prescribed in Chapter 9, Subchapter E of this title (relating to Certificate and Associate Degree Programs), and Chapter 9, Subchapter F of this title (relating to Workforce Continuing Education Courses).

(e) Partnership agreements between any Texas State Technical College and public or independent institutions of higher education are permissible but are subject to the provisions of Chapter 9, Subchapter G of this title (relating to Contractual Agreements).

Source Note: The provisions of this §11.27 adopted to be effective August 23, 1998, 23 TexReg 8437; amended to be effective March 18, 1999, 24 TexReg 1773