A person generally may not grant degrees or make certain credit claims for a private postsecondary educational institution unless the board has issued the required certificate of authority.
Sec. 61.304. REQUISITE AUTHORITY TO GRANT DEGREES AND OFFER COURSES; OFFENSES. (a) A person may not grant or award a degree or offer to grant or award a degree on behalf of a private postsecondary educational institution unless the institution has been issued a certificate of authority to grant the degree by the board in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter. (b) A person may not represent that credits earned or granted by that person or institution are applicable for credit toward a degree to be granted by some other person or institution except under conditions and in a manner specified and approved by the board. (c) The board is empowered to specify and regulate the manner, condition, and language used by an institution or person or agents thereof in making known that the person or institution holds a certificate of authority and the interpretation of the significance of such certificate. (d) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) grants or awards a degree or offers to grant or award a degree in violation of this section; (2) represents in violation of this section that a credit earned or granted by the person can be applied toward a degree offered by another person; (3) grants or offers to grant a credit for which a representation is made as described by Subdivision (2); or (4) solicits another person to seek a degree or to earn a credit the actor knows is offered in violation of this section. (e) An offense under Subsection (d) is a Class A misdemeanor. (f) In addition to any other venue authorized by law, venue for the prosecution of an offense under Subsection (d) is in the county in which an element of the offense occurs or in Travis County. Added by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1867, ch. 587, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 1975. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1985; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 516, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1039 (H.B. 1173), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2005.