Approval of New Programs

(a) No new department, school, degree program, or certificate program may be added at any institution of higher education except with specific prior approval of the university's Board of Regents and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(b) No new department, school, degree program, or certificate program approved by the board may be initiated by an institution of higher education until the Coordinating Board has made a written finding that the department, school, degree program, or certificate program is adequately financed by legislative appropriation, by funds allocated by the Board of Regents, or by funds from other sources.(VTCA- 61.055)

(c) No funds appropriated to any institution of higher education may be expended for any program which has been disapproved by the Coordinating Board, unless the program is subsequently specifically approved by the legislature.(VTCA-61.054)

(d) No new academic programs can be offered without approval by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Expansion of Existing Programs

Once approved, no department, school, degree program, or certificate program at any institution of higher education may be expanded to include subject matter courses that are outside of approved degree and certificate programs except with specific prior approval of the board. (VTCA 61.051)

Expenditures for Programs Disapproved by the Board

No funds appropriated to the university may be expended for any program which has been disapproved by the Coordinating Board, unless the program is subsequently specifically approved by the legislature. (VTCA-61.054)