Tex. Educ. Code § 61.302 (2026)

Sec. 61.302. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Degree" means any title or designation, mark, abbreviation, appellation, or series of letters or words, including associate, bachelor's, master's, doctor's, and their equivalents, which signifies, purports to, or is generally taken to signify satisfactory completion of the requirements of all or part of a program of study leading to an associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctor's degree or its equivalent.

(2) "Private postsecondary educational institution" or "institution" means an educational institution which:

(A) is not an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003;

(B) is incorporated under the laws of this state, maintains a place of business in this state, has a representative present in this state, or solicits business in this state; and

(C) furnishes or offers to furnish courses of instruction in person, by electronic media, or by correspondence leading to a degree or providing credits alleged to be applicable to a degree.

(3) "Agent" means a person employed by or representing a private postsecondary educational institution who solicits students for enrollment in the institution.

(4) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Higher Education.

(5) "Board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(6) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other private entity or combination thereof.

(7) "Program of study" means any course or grouping of courses which are alleged to entitle a student to a degree or to credits alleged to be applicable to a degree.

(8) "Recognized accrediting agency" means an association or organization so designated by rule of the board for the purposes of this subchapter.

(9) "Educational or training establishment" means an enterprise offering a course of instruction, education, or training that the establishment does not represent to be applicable to a degree.

(10) "Representative" includes a recruiter, agent, tutor, counselor, instructor, and other instructional and support personnel.

(11) "Fraudulent or substandard degree" means:

(A) a degree conferred by a private postsecondary educational institution or other person that, at the time the degree was conferred, was operating in this state in violation of this subchapter;

(B) if the degree is not approved through the review process described by Section 61.3021, a degree conferred by a private educational institution or other person that, at the time the degree was conferred, was not eligible to receive a certificate of authority under this subchapter and was operating in another state:

(i) in violation of a law regulating the conferral of degrees in that state or in the state in which the degree recipient was residing; or

(ii) without accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency; or

(C) if conferred by a private educational institution or other person not described by Paragraph (A) or (B), including a private educational institution or other person that, at the time the degree was conferred, was not eligible to receive a certificate of authority under this subchapter and was operating outside the United States, a degree that the board, through the review process described by Section 61.3021, determines is not the equivalent of an accredited or authorized degree as described by that section.

Added by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1867, ch. 587, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 1975. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 2729, ch. 745, Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 1981; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 516, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 232, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1039 (H.B. 1173), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.