(a) In addition to any criteria specified in statute or this chapter for a specific program approval, the Assistant Commissioner, Commissioner, or Board, as applicable, shall consider the following factors:
  (1) Evidence that the program is needed by the state and the local community, as demonstrated by student demand for similar programs, labor market information, and value of the credential;
  (2) Whether the program unnecessarily duplicates programs offered by other institutions of higher education or private or independent institutions of higher education, as demonstrated by capacity of existing programs and need for additional graduates in the field;
  (3) Comments provided to the Board from institutions noticed under §2.7 of this subchapter;
  (4) Whether the program has adequate financing from legislative appropriation, funds allocated by the Board, or funds from other sources;
  (5) Whether the program's cost is reasonable and provides a value to students and the state when considering the cost of tuition, source(s) of funding, availability of other similar programs, and the earnings of students or graduates of similar credential programs in the state to ensure the efficient and effective use of higher education resources;
  (6) Whether the program has necessary faculty and other resources including support staff to ensure student success;
  (7) Whether and how the program aligns with the metrics and objectives of the Board's Long-Range Master Plan for Higher Education;
  (8) Whether the program meets academic standards specified by law or prescribed by Board rule, including rules adopted by the Board for purposes of this section, or workforce standards established by the Texas Workforce Investment Council; and
  (9) Past compliance history and program quality of the same or similar programs, where applicable.
(b) In the event of conflict between this rule and a more specific rule regarding program approval, the more specific rule shall control.

Source Note: The provisions of this §2.5 adopted to be effective November 28, 2022, 47 TexReg 7875