1. (a) In addition to any criteria specified in statute or this chapter for a specific program approval, the Assistant Commissioner, Commissioner, or Board, as applicable, shall consider the following factors:

   1. (1) Evidence that the program is needed by the national, state and the local community, as demonstrated by student demand for similar programs, labor market information, the location where the program is offered, and value of the credential;
   2. (2) Whether the program unnecessarily duplicates programs offered by other institutions of higher education or private or independent institutions of higher education, as demonstrated by capacity of existing programs and need for additional graduates in the field;
   3. (3) Comments provided to the Board from institutions noticed under §2.7 of this subchapter (relating to Informal Notice and Comment on Proposed Local Programs);
   4. (4) Whether the program has adequate financing from formula funding, tuition and fees, awarded grant funds, or redistributed revenue streams to become financially self-sufficient within five years. Appropriations by the legislature to support a new degree program must be available to the institution before submitting the proposal;
   5. (5) Whether the program's cost is reasonable and provides a value to students and the state when considering the cost of tuition, source(s) of funding, availability of other similar programs, and the earnings of students or graduates of similar credential programs in the state to ensure the efficient and effective use of higher education resources;
   6. (6) Whether the program provides a credential of value as defined in Texas Education Code 130A.102, of this title (relating to Community College Finance Program: Base and Performance Tier Methodology);
   7. (7) Whether and how the program aligns with the metrics and objectives of the Board's Long-Range Master Plan for Higher Education;
   8. (8) Whether the program has necessary faculty and other resources including support staff to ensure student success;
   9. (9) Whether the program meets academic standards specified by law or prescribed by Board rule or skill standards recognized by the Texas Workforce Investment Council, if they exist for the discipline; and
   10. (10) Past compliance history and program quality of the same or similar programs, where applicable.
2. (b) In the event of conflict between this rule and a more specific rule regarding program approval, the more specific rule shall control.
3. (c) A request for approval of a joint degree program that does not include existing degree programs is considered a new degree program and is subject to new degree program approval requirements.

Source Note:The provisions of this §2.5 adopted to be effective November 28, 2022, 47 TexReg 7875; amended to be effective August 15, 2024, 49 TexReg 5953; amended to be effective February 11, 2026, 51 TexReg 715.