The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

1. (1) Associate of Science degree and the Associate of Arts degree--collegiate degrees consisting of lower-division courses designed to prepare students for transfer to a bachelor's degree program.
2. (2) Associate of Applied Science degree and the Associate of Applied Arts degree--technical certificates issued to students who complete workforce education curricula of collegiate level.
3. (3) Associate of Arts in Teaching degree--Board-approved collegiate degree programs consisting of lower-division courses intended for transfer to baccalaureate programs that lead to initial Texas teacher certification.
4. (4) Bachelor of General Studies degree--a program designed principally for mature students who seek a flexible degree program and who do not desire or may not meet prerequisites of a highly structured traditional degree program, and to permit students to plan, with advisement, an individualized program with access to a wide range of academic disciplines and fields of professional study.
5. (5) Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree--a program designed to provide a path to a bachelor's degree for students who have earned previous collegiate credit through workforce education curricula. The degree program combines general education requirements and a professional component designed to complement the student's technical or vocational competence.
6. (6) Board--The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
7. (7) Commissioner--The Commissioner of Higher Education.
8. (8) Common calendar--dates and information pertaining to the beginning and ending (and lengths) of academic semesters and sessions, applicable to all Texas public universities and community, technical and state colleges.
9. (9) Consulting or testifying expert witness--any non-fact witness whose name must be disclosed during litigation as required by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
10. (10) Degree program--any grouping of subject matter courses which, when satisfactorily completed by a student, will entitle the student to a degree from an institution of higher education.
11. (11) Faculty or professional staff of an institution of higher education--a non-classified, full-time employee who is a member of the faculty or staff and whose duties include teaching, research, administration or performing professional services, including professional library services.
12. (12) Fiscal year--the State of Texas' fiscal year, September 1 through August 31.
13. (13) Institution of higher education or institution--any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, medical or dental unit, or other agency of higher education as defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003.
14. (14) Interdisciplinary baccalaureate degrees--the Bachelor of General Studies degree (defined in paragraph (4) of this section) and such general degrees as liberal arts or humanities. These broad-based degrees vary in the amount of prescriptive structure but share the characteristics of flexibility for the student and interdisciplinary course selection.
15. (15) Non-classified--an employee whose position is not controlled by the institution's classified personnel system or a person employed in a similar position if the institution does not have a classified personnel system.
16. (16) Religious holy day--A holy day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under the Texas Tax Code, §11.20.
17. (17) Active military service--Active service in the armed forces of the United States or in the National Guard or the Texas State Guard.

Source Note:The provisions of this §4.3 adopted to be effective May 27, 2003, 28 TexReg 4107; amended to be effective August 11, 2004, 29 TexReg 7670; amended to be effective November 22, 2005, 30 TexReg 7724.