Off-Campus Education

Overview

The Coordinating Board establishes administrative rules and guidance to public institutions of higher education regarding procedures for approval off-campus education. Recently adopted rules in Chapter 2, Subchapter P (universities, HRIs, and community colleges), and Chapter 11, Subchapter C (technical colleges), govern off-campus education for public institutions and are effective September 1, 2026.

Off-Campus Changes Lunch & Learn

• Title: Upcoming Changes to Off-Campus Program & Site Approvals 
• Date: August 18, 2026 
• Time: 12:00-1:00PM 
• Register Here 

Note: Amendments to 2P and new rules in 11C were adopted at the July quarterly Board meeting and will be available in the Texas Administrative Code on August 13th .

Off-Campus Programs

Off-campus programs are defined as a degree program in which fifty percent (50%) or more of required instruction or coursework is in-person at an off-campus educational site. These programs require Coordinating Board approval prior to offering the program at the off-campus location.

Key Changes to Off-Campus Program Approvals:

• No Higher Education Regional Council (HERC) review process
• All institutions will follow the same approval process for an off-campus degree program
• A revised off-campus program approval form will be developed
• Institutions are no longer required to complete a 50-mile notification prior to submitting an off-campus program to the Coordinating Board
• Coordinating Board will complete a 30-day regional comment period for any off-campus program in the region where the program will be delivered

Off-Campus Sites

An off-campus educational site is defined as an additional location, approved by the institution’s Board-recognized accreditor, where an institution delivers in-person required instruction for courses, certificates or degree programs.

• For universities, HRIs, and technical colleges, an off-campus site is a location away from the main campus 

• For community colleges, off-campus site is outside of the college’s service area 

The Coordinating Board no longer requires approval of off-campus educational sites prior to delivery of courses at those sites. Administrative rules in Chapter 5, Subchapter D, regarding these approvals were repealed in April 2026.

Institutions will submit an annual notification to the Coordinating Board with the name and address of any off-campus educational site in which off-campus education is provided for a given academic year.

NOTE: Sites where only dual credit, internship or clinical courses are delivered are exempt from the annual reporting requirement.

Study Abroad and Study-in-America Courses

Institutions are no longer required to submit a separate certification for individual Study Abroad or Study in America courses.

An institution must ensure that study abroad programs and courses meet the Standards and Criteria for Delivery of Courses and Programs at an Off-Campus Educational Site.