Texas Shuts Down Islamic University Over Unapproved Degree Programs
State officials in Texas have ordered the closure of an Islamic university located in the Dallas area, citing accusations of operating degree programs without the necessary state approval.
According to a letter dated May 6, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board informed TexAM University in Dallas that it “must immediately stop advertising, offering, and enrolling students in its degrees and programs” until it applies for and receives proper accreditation.
The document alleges that TexAM University was presenting itself as a legitimate institution while offering programs, particularly in STEM fields, both online and at its Richardson campus.
Attorney General Sues TexAM University
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in its communication, indicated that an investigation had uncovered TexAM’s non-compliance with state regulations.
The letter specifically referenced TexAM’s marketing claims, which suggested it offered master’s degrees in artificial intelligence and bachelor’s degrees in various technology disciplines.
On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he would be filing a lawsuit against TexAM University. He accused the institution of making false claims regarding its legitimacy and misrepresenting its accreditation status to potential students.
Paxton noted that TexAM’s branding was “confusingly similar” to Texas A&M University, which has likely led to misunderstandings.
Response from Muslim Leaders
Bajwa, a leader within the Texas American Muslim Institute of Technology, expressed confusion over the lawsuit, pointing out that some compliance facts seemed to have been overlooked. He mentioned that they had followed the guidelines provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and were willing to resolve any misunderstandings.
“TexAM has consistently ignored Texas law, misrepresented its authority to grant degrees, and posed a risk to students,” Paxton remarked, making it clear that illegal degree mills would not be tolerated in Texas.
The Coordinating Board issued a deadline for TexAM to confirm it had ceased operations by May 8, as part of the compliance process.
Although Bajwa asserted that they had discontinued their website and related social media platforms, he acknowledged they may have to reconsider the name “TexAM” based on potential branding conflicts with Texas A&M University, which had also requested compliance.
In the meantime, inquiries directed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Attorney General Paxton for further comments did not receive immediate responses.
