SECTION 5.76. General Principles for Off-Campus Educational Units

(a) The general 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. Their specific purpose is directly related to the teaching of courses for academic credit from the parent institution(s) and/or for health professions' medical training.

(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 educational activities.

(c) The type and name of all off-campus educational units, with the exception of higher education teaching sites, must be approved by the Board. Recognition of an off-campus educational unit may be withdrawn by the Board.

(d) An off-campus educational unit is financially dependent upon its parent institution(s) and is supported by the budget of the institution(s). It is not eligible to request separate legislative funding. Off-campus educational units should use locally provided facilities, where possible.

(1) Degree programs offered at off-campus educational units must be offered by and in the name of the parent institution(s).

(2) 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to providing a program long enough for a student to have a reasonable opportunity to graduate before the resource is withdrawn or to make other reasonable arrangements for students to complete programs that they have started.

(3) The Board must be notified of programs offered or discontinued at off-campus educational units. The Board shall maintain a list of these degree programs and make that list readily available to the public.

(4) Courses offered at off-campus educational units must be reported separately and accurately in required Board reports. Semester credit hours completed at the unit must be reported appropriately by the parent institution(s) and shall be funded as determined by the Legislature.

(5) The facilities of off-campus educational units shall comply with Chapter 17 of this title, relating to Resource Planning.

(e) Off-campus educational units are not intended to duplicate the full array and types of offerings available at regular general academic campuses. Their specific purpose is to:

(1) Focus on teaching and on delivery of high demand courses and programs for academic credit from the parent institution(s) and/or for health professions' training. Research conducted at off-campus educational units should be limited to that necessary for the courses and programs offered.

(2) Develop articulation agreements with community colleges in the area for provision of lower-division courses. In general, off-campus educational units are not intended to offer lower-division courses. Lower-division courses can only be offered in accordance with Chapter 4, subchapter Q of this title, relating to Approval of Off-Campus and Self-Supporting Courses and Programs for Public Institutions, and related Board procedures.

(f) Degree programs offered at off-campus educational units must be offered by and in the name of the parent institution(s).

(g) 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 Approval of Distance Education, including Off-Campus Courses and Programs located in Board policies.

(h) The facilities of off-campus educational units shall comply with Chapter 17 of this title, relating to Resource Planning.

(i) Courses offered at off-campus educational units must be reported separately and accurately in required Board reports. Semester credit hours completed at the unit must be reported appropriately by the parent institution(s) and shall be funded as determined by the Legislature.

Source Note: The provisions of this §5.76 adopted to be effective May 28, 2003, 28 TexReg 4126; amended to be effective May 25, 2015, 40 TexReg 2755; amended to be effective November 23, 2016, 41 TexReg 9110