State higher education regulators have told a Dallas-area outfit calling itself Texas American Muslim University, or TexAM, to shut it down for now. Acting at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board issued a cease-and-desist letter today, ordering the group to stop offering classes, advertising programs, and enrolling students or risk prosecution and other penalties.
Board Says TexAM Is Operating Outside Texas Law
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board says the organization calling itself TexAM University at Dallas is operating without the authorization state law requires and must immediately stop advertising and enrolling students, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The letter explains that any private postsecondary school in Texas that wants to operate or grant degrees must first secure a Certificate of Authority under Chapter 61, Subchapter G of the Education Code, and warns that the case will be referred to the Attorney General if TexAM does not comply.
TexAM’s Sales Pitch In Richardson
On its website, TexAM promotes Spring 2026 admissions for programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, health informatics, and “Islamic economics,” listing an office at 1100 E. Campbell Rd in Richardson. According to TexAM, the operation says it functions under the nonprofit name Texas American Institute for Technology at Dallas and pitches itself as embedding mandatory Islamic studies into STEM degrees.
Mayor’s Support, Neighbors’ Questions
The launch drew public support from Richardson Mayor Amir Omar, who praised TexAM’s plans and spoke at a promotional event, local station KRLD reported. KRLD also noted that the listed campus address shares a building with the Islamic Seminary of America and that nearby residents have raised concerns about accreditation and academic standards.
What State Law Actually Requires
Texas law says private postsecondary institutions must hold a Certificate of Authority from the coordinating board before granting degrees. Operating without one can trigger administrative penalties and force a school to close. The law also defines “fraudulent or substandard” degrees and restricts use of protected terms such as “university,” with penalties laid out in statute, according to the Texas Education Code. The board’s notice specifically cites Section 61.313 in warning TexAM about potential criminal exposure for misusing protected names.
Risks For Students And Employers
The coordinating board is urging would-be students to proceed very carefully. Credits or degrees from an unauthorized operation may not transfer to other schools or be recognized by employers or licensing boards, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board notes. If TexAM refuses to comply with the cease-and-desist order, the board says it will refer the matter to the Attorney General for prosecution.
Legal Stakes For TexAM And Its Backers
Under the Education Code, anyone running a nonexempt postsecondary institution that uses protected terms without authorization can face administrative fines and a forced shutdown, and the statute allows further remedies, including referral for criminal prosecution. Donors, employers, and students are urged to verify a group’s Certificate of Authority and accreditation status before enrolling or contributing money, since the law draws a sharp line between authorized degrees and “fraudulent or substandard” credentials, as spelled out in the Texas Education Code.
The coordinating board has posted the full cease-and-desist letter on its website, and Gov. Abbott’s press office amplified the move with a post on X on May 7. What happens next depends on whether TexAM complies with the order or ends up facing a referral to the Attorney General.
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