Governing boards must approve degree-required courses or curriculum at public institutions of higher education, and accrediting agencies may not force violations or retaliate for compliance.
(a) For the purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) ADMINISTRATION. The institutional administration of a public institution of higher education, including any university system administration. (2) GOVERNING BOARD. The body charged with policy direction of any public institution of higher education, including, but not limited to, the board of trustees. (3) PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION or INSTITUTION. A four-year public institution of higher education in this state. (b) The courses or curriculum required to obtain a degree at a public institution of higher education must be approved by the institution’s governing board. (c) Each governing board shall have control over any course or subject taught at a public institution of higher education. (d) Each governing board may delegate approval of courses to a designated university administrator. (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that no provision of this article shall be construed to impede a constitutionally created board of trustees’ authority to manage its respective campuses and that each constitutionally created board of trustees may undertake the actions provided in this article in a manner consistent with that authority. (f)(1) No accrediting agency or association may: a. Compel a public institution of higher education to violate this article; or b. Take adverse action against a public institution of higher education based in whole or in part on that institution’s compliance with this article. (2) No public institution of higher education may use an accrediting standard as justification to violate this article. (g) No private cause of action is created by or exists under this article.