The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings:
  (1) Assistant Commissioner--In this subchapter means the Assistant, Associate, or Deputy Commissioner designated by the Commissioner of Higher Education.
  (2) Emerging Occupation--As defined in §13.596 of this subchapter (relating to Emerging Occupations).
  (3) Essential Occupation--As defined in §13.595 of this subchapter (relating to Essential Occupations).
  (4) High-Demand Field--Academic discipline in which an institution awards a credential that provides a graduate with specific skills and knowledge required for the graduate to be successful in a high-demand occupation, based on the list of high-demand occupations as defined in this subchapter. Fields shall be derived from the CIP SOC Crosswalk most recently published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics, or, at the Commissioner of Higher Education's discretion, the crosswalk most recently published with a reasonable allowance of time for analysis and review.
  (5) High-Demand Occupation--An occupation identified as such by the Commissioner of Higher Education in consultation with the Texas Workforce Commission based on exceptionally high projected growth or status as an Emerging or Essential Occupation and other eligibility criteria under this subchapter. A credential awarded in a high-demand field included in the list approved for an additional funding weight under this subchapter correspond to one or more high-demand occupations.
  (6) Region--An economic region of this state as defined by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Source Note: The provisions of this §13.591 adopted to be effective May 16, 2024, 49 TexReg 3270