The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board issued the cease-and-desist to TexAM in Richardson at the direction of Governor Abbott.
RICHARDSON, Texas — A North Texas Muslim STEM school has been ordered to stop all operations after a cease-and-desist letter from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Thursday.
The letter, sent to the Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, or “TexAM,” states that TexAM is not operating in Texas in compliance with Texas laws and regulations.
THECB states that TexAM was never given a Certificate of Authority to operate in Texas from the board thus barring them from granting or offering to grant degrees. The letter also states that TexAM is unlawfully promoting itself as a university despite not having the certification to do so.
THECB has asked TexAM to sign the letter by May 8.
In a social media post, Governor Abbott says he directed the board to issue the letter.
“If they refuse to comply, legal action will follow,” Abbott says. “Texas will not allow illegal educational institutions to operate in our state.”
TexAM is located in Richardson and offers both in-person and online STEM Courses. On its website, TexAM University lists itself as the first university in the U.S. to offer STEM degree programs embedded with mandatory courses in Islamic Studies.
TexAM’s website says it operates from the Texas American Institute for Technology at Dallas, a non-profit organization, but under the section labeled “Doing Business As,” it says it operates under the name Texas American Muslim University at Dallas.