Rule Changes & Implementation

Overview Proposed Rules Adopted Rules

Overview

The division of Academic & Health Affairs (AHA) regularly reviews, amends, and/or creates new administrative rules related to academic policy and programs. The following information is specific to AHA, and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all rules adopted by the Coordinating Board. Where relevant, information and links to related rules in other divisions will be provided.

Each section includes key information about the proposed or adopted rules including the expected posting date in the Texas Register, quarterly Board meeting for consideration and adoption, and effective date of the changes.

Rule comments may be emailed to AHA during the 30-day comment period at the following email address: AHAcomments@highered.texas.gov.

Upcoming and Proposed Rules

  • Rule Location: Chapter 7, Subchapters A-N 
  • 30-Day Comment Period Start: August 7, 2026 (tentative)
  • Texas Register Link: Proposed Rules > THECB > “Degree Granting Colleges and Universities Other than Texas Public Institutions“, sections 7.1-7.217
  • Rule Action: New Rule (repeal subchapters A&B and replace with subchapters A-N)
  • Planned Board Meeting: October 2026

Summary of Proposed Changes: The proposed new rules are intended to improve rule clarity and navigability by dividing key topic areas into separate subchapters and ensuring that the rules are clearly aligned with current practice and statutory authority

  • Rule Location: Chapter 4, Subchapter D,
  • 30-Day Comment Period Start: August 7, 2026 (tentative)
  • Texas Register Link: Proposed Rules, Sections 4.81-4.88
  • Rule Action: Amend
  • Planned Board Meeting: October 2026

NOTE: The agency used negotiated rulemaking for the development of these rule amendments.

Summary of Proposed Changes:

  • Update definitions
  • Remove MOU submission requirement
  • Update student eligibility requirements
  • Update dual credit funding section
  • Rule Location: Chapter 4, Subchapter U
  • 30- Day Comment Period Start: July 10, 2026
  • Texas Register Link: 4U Register Posting
  • Rule Action: Amend + New Sections 4.366 and 4.367
  • Planned Board Meeting: October 2026

Summary of Proposed Changes: The proposed new sections move related course and degree planning requirements from Subchapters 4E – Learning Outcomes for Undergraduate Students and 4N- Public Access to Course Information into Subchapter U. No substantive changes are proposed to the content of the rules.

  • Rule Location: Chapter 13, Subchapter N
  • 30-Day Comment Period Start: TBD
  • Texas Register Link: Available when posted
  • Rule Action: New
  • Planned Board Meeting: January 2027

Summary of Proposed Changes: The proposed new rules will codify the Coordinating Board’s requirements for the funding exception for research doctorate programs, authorized by Texas Education Code, §61.059 (l) (75th Legislature). Adding these rules will improve transparency and consistency in criteria and processes for both institutions and the Coordinating Board.

  • Rule Location: Chapter 2, Subchapter F, Section
  • Comment Period Start Date: TBD
  • Texas Register Link: Available when posted
  • Rule Action: Amend
  • Planned Board Meeting: January 2027

Summary of Proposed Changes: The proposed rule amendments in chapters 2F and 13G will be designed to improve clarity and feasibility for implementation of the tuition caps on CBE programs developed under Section 51.3535 of the Texas Education Code. The agency recognizes the challenges associated with the current rules and is seeking to address those challenges as much as possible within the existing statutory constraints. For more information on program development under §51.3535, please visit the CBE webpage.

Recently Adopted Rules

  • Rule Location: Chapter 2, Subchapter P
  • Rule Action: Amend
  • Adoption Board Meeting: July 2026
  • Effective Date: September 1, 2026

Summary: These amendments integrate off-campus education approval requirements for community colleges into the existing new subchapter for universities that was adopted in January 2026. The following lunch & learn will be hosted for more information about all new off-campus rules:

THECB Lunch & Learn: Upcoming Changes to Off-Campus Program & Site Approvals

NOTE: Similar off-campus education rules were simultaneously adopted for technical colleges in Chapter 11, Subchapter C. The agency will develop implementation documentation and information that aligns off-campus approval processes across all institution types.

Key Implementation Action Items:

  • Rule Location: Chapter 2, Subchapter R
  • Rule Action: New
  • Adoption Board Meeting: July 2026
  • Effective Date: Immediate

Summary: The new rules establish requirements for participating in the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program, established by Senate Bill 1401 (89th Legislature), Section 61.070. The program encourages  universities to build licensure pathways with community colleges to address workforce and community need for a variety of mental health professions.

Key Implementation Action Items:

  • Develop a program webpage.
  • Develop program interest form.
  • Develop program application form and and reporting procedures.
  • Rule Location: Chapter 4, Subchapter Q
  • Rule Action: Repeal
  • Adoption Board Meeting: July 2026
  • Effective Date: Immediate

Summary: The existing rules for off-campus education were repealed and replaced with new rules in Chapter 2, Subchapter P (universities, health-related institutions, and community colleges) and new rules in Chapter 11, Subchapter C (technical colleges).

Key Implementation Action Items: N/A

Summary: The adopted amendment establishes clearer criteria that would warrant withdrawing and resubmitting an application for a new degree program based on changes made to the proposal after it is approved by the institution’s governing board and deemed administratively complete by the Coordinating Board. 

Key Implementation Action Items: This change will be used by staff and institutions during the degree program approval process in determining whether the scope of changes made during the approval process require submission of a new degree program or additional documentation from a governing board regarding the changes.

Summary: The adopted rules implement the statutory consolidation of the Report on Non-Transferrable Credit and the Transfer Report from Senate Bill 3039 (89th Legislature), into a single report submitted to the legislature every other year. The first biennial report will be submitted in Fall 2026.

Key Implementation Action Items:

  • Revise and distribute GAI institutional survey
  • Create new CTC institutional survey and distribute
  • Redesign transfer report structure
  • Submit revised transfer report for Board approval (October 2026)
  • Rule Location: Chapter 4, Subchapter D, Sections 4.83-4.85
  • Rule Action: Amendment
  • Adoption Board Meeting:
  • Effective Date: April 2026

Summary: The adopted amendments implement the requirements of House Bill 3041 (89th Legislature), Section 51.9675, by providing regulations on the institutional obligations related to establishing institutional agreements with home schools and the offering of dual credit courses to home school students. 

Key Implementation Action Items: N/A

  • Rule Location: Chapter 4, Subchapter U
  • Rule Action: New
  • Adoption Board Meeting: April 2026
  • Effective Date: Immediate

Summary: The adopted rules combine two separate changes. The first change is updated agency processes for reporting recommended course sequences from detailed data reporting to a 5-year compliance and certification process. As required by statute, the agency used negotiated rulemaking to make amendments to rules required for recommended course sequencing. The second change is integration of new requirements under Senate Bill 3039 (89th Legislature), Section 61.07771, relating to transparency in certificate and degree program requirements.

Key Implementation Action Items:

  • Update RCS webpage.
  • Update course sequence reporting and certification form to align with September 2027 certification requirement.
  • Host webinar to provide an overview of the changes (August 2026)
  • Rule Location: Chapter 5, Subchapter D, Sections 5.71-5.7
  • Rule Action: Repeal
  • Adoption Board Meeting: April 2026 
  • Effective Date: Immediate

Summary: The repeal removed existing requirements for universities and health-related institutions to seek prior approval from the Coordinating Board to establish an off-campus educational site. 

Key Implementation Action Items:

  • Update off-campus education webpage.
  • Host a webinar in August 2026 to provide an overview of all changes to rules related to off-campus educational education and sites.

THECB Lunch & Learn: Upcoming Changes to Off-Campus Program & Site Approvals

  • Rule Location: Chapter 6, Subchapter K, Sections 6.91 – 6.96
  • Rule Action: Repeal
  • Adoption Board Meeting: April 2026
  • Effective Date: Immediate

Summary: Shifts the grant administration rules for this program to more general rules designed for grant programs that do not have statutory authority for rulemaking and are only required by riders. Moving forward, the Autism Grant Program will be administered using rules in Chapter 10, Subchapter A. 

Key Implementation Action Items: N/A

  • Rule Location: Chapter 10, Subchapter C, Sections 10.70 – 10.72 
  • Rule Action: Amendment
  • Adoption Board Meeting: April 2026
  • Effective Date: Immediate

Summary of Change: The adopted amendments implement the requirements of Senate Bill 1998 (89th Legislature), Section 58.011, by integrating a pediatric subspeciality into the Preceptorship Grant Program. The agency used negotiated rulemaking in the development of the adopted rules.

Key Implementation Action Items: The Coordinating Board will update RFA and other grant materials to integrate the option for a pediatric subspeciality during the next grant cycle.

Summary: The adopted rules establish requirements for the Behavioral Health Innovation Grant Program that supports institutions of higher education to administer innovative recruitment, training, and retention programs designed to increase the number of mental health professionals.

Key Implementation Action Items:

  • Prepare and distribute grant RFA
  • Review grant applications
  • Award funds
  • Rule Location: Chapter 2, Subchapter P, Sections 2.380-2.388
  • Rule Action: New
  • Adoption Board Meeting: January 2026
  • Effective Date: September 1, 2026

Summary: The adopted rules replace existing rules in Chapter 4, subchapter Q, relating to the delivery of off-campus courses, certificates, and programs, which will be repealed under separate rulemaking, and an agency-issued policy document from 2014. The new rules are designed to streamline processes related to notification and approval of off-campus courses, certificates and programs. The following lunch & learn will be hosted for more information about all new off-campus rules:

THECB Lunch & Learn: Upcoming Changes to Off-Campus Program & Site Approvals

Key Implementation Action Items:

  • Revise off-campus submission forms.
  • Create new off-campus webpage.
  • Host August webinar for institutions regarding the changes to processes and requirements.
  • Rule Location: Chapter 2, Subchapter Q
  • Rule Action: New
  • Adoption Board Meeting: January 2026
  • Effective Date: Immediate

Summary:  The adopted rules establish guidelines for how enrolled students may earn foreign language credit during a study abroad experience as required by Senate Bill 2431 (89th Texas Legislature). These rules apply to: (1) A study abroad program offered in a location where a language other than English is the primary language of communication, completed while a student is enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at an institution of higher education, as defined by Texas Education Code, §61.003; and (2) A study abroad program offered as part of a regular academic term or terms at the institution. 

Key Implementation Action Items: N/A

  • Rule Location: Chapter 4, Subchapter B, Sections 4.22, 4.25, and 4.28-4.31
  • Rule Action: Amend
  • Adoption Board Meeting: January 2026
  • Effective Date: Immediate

Summary: These amendments implement the responsibilities of institutional governing boards to complete the review of general education courses as required by Senate Bill 37 (89th Legislature), Section 51.315. Each governing board must complete the initial review in 2026 and provide initial certification to the Coordinating Board no later than January 1, 2027. Institutions are no longer required to complete a 10-year review of the institution’s core curriculum.

Key Implementation Action Items:

  • Develop governing board certification & compliance form (available Fall 2026).
  • Update web page content with directions for certification & review.

Summary: These new rules implement the new requirements of Senate Bill 3039 (89th Legislature), Section 61.8231, which mandates that each institution formally designate a Transfer Liaison to serve as a point of contact other institutions of higher education and the Coordinating Board regarding transfer issues and to act as a liaison officer for current or incoming students at the institution who will transfer into or out of the institution.

Key Implementation Action Items:

  • Develop form for reporting of institutional liaisons.
  • Create public-facing webpage for liaisons list.

Contact

Inquiries regarding rule changes and implementation should be send to Emma Gelsinger, Senior Director, Academic and Health Affairs.

Email Emma Gelsingerhyperlink to fast program page