1. (a) An academic course may be approved for unique need if it meets the following criteria:

   1. (1) The course must have college-level rigor. A course designed to meet a community service, leisure, vocational, or avocational need is inappropriate for unique need approval and state appropriations.

   2. (2) The course must be acceptable for transfer and apply toward a baccalaureate degree. In order to satisfy this requirement, the course must meet at least one of the following requirements:

      1. (A) The course has a documented course equivalent at a minimum of two Texas and/or regional universities; or
      2. (B) The course will be accepted in satisfaction of either general education or degree program requirements at a minimum of two regional universities.
   3. (3) Exceptions may be granted for courses that transfer to a single regional university if the college documents that a large number of its students transfer to that institution and the course is part of a current, documented articulation agreement between the two-year college and the regional university.

2. (b) Procedures for unique need approval.

   1. (1) The application for each unique need course submitted must be accompanied by a statement of need for the course and a syllabus which includes a course description, detailed course outline, and objectives. Except as specified in subsection (a)(3) of this section, the application must be accompanied by letters from regional universities that clearly indicate the basis for transferability of the course (as a course equivalent, general education course, or academic major course).
   2. (2) Once approved, a unique need course shall be placed on the college inventory for three years. Colleges must reapply for approval of unique need courses every three years.
3. (c) Courses listed in the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual but offered for a greater number of contact hours or semester credit hours than specified must be submitted for unique need approval.
4. (d) Courses approved as continuing unique need courses prior to September 1, 2004 shall expire five years from the date of approval.

Source Note:The provisions of this §9.74 adopted to be effective May 25, 2004, 29 TexReg 5067.