(a) Each institution of higher education shall apply the following procedures in the resolution of credit transfer disputes involving lower-division courses:
  (1) If an institution of higher education does not accept and apply a course included in the field of study curriculum for the program in which a student is enrolled or a course in the core curriculum earned by a student at another institution of higher education, the receiving institution shall give written notice to the student and to the sending institution that it intends to deny the transfer of the course credit and shall include in that notice the reasons for the proposed denial. The receiving institution must attach the procedures for resolution of transfer disputes as outlined in this section to the notice. The notice and procedure must include:
    (A) clear instructions for appealing the decision to the Commissioner; and
    (B) the name and contact information for the designated official at the receiving institution who is authorized to resolve the credit transfer dispute.
  (2) A student who receives notice as specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection may dispute the denial of credit by contacting a designated official at either the sending or the receiving institution.
  (3) The two institutions and the student shall attempt to resolve the transfer of the course credit in accordance with this section. An institution that proposes to deny the credit shall resolve the dispute not later than the 45th day after the date that the student enrolls at the institution.
  (4) If the student or the sending institution is not satisfied with the resolution of the credit transfer dispute, the student or the sending institution may notify the Commissioner in writing of the denial of the course credit and the reasons for denial.
(b) Not later than the 20th business day after the date that the Commissioner receives the notice of dispute concerning the application of credit for the core curriculum or field of study curriculum, the Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee shall make the final determination about a credit transfer dispute and give written notice of the determination to the student and each institution.
(c) If the Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee determines that an institution may not deny the transfer of credit for the core curriculum or the field of study curriculum, the receiving institution shall accept and apply the credit toward the core curriculum or the field of study as determined by the Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee.
(d) A decision under this section is not a contested case. The Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee's decision is final and may not be appealed. Each transfer credit dispute resolved by the Commissioner shall be posted on the Board website, including the final determination.
(e) Each institution of higher education shall publish in its course catalogs the procedures specified in this section.
(f) The Board shall collect data on the types of transfer disputes that are reported and the disposition of each case that is considered by the Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee.

Source Note: The provisions of this §4.27 adopted to be effective April 8, 2021, 46 TexReg 2209; amended to be effective May 16, 2024, 49 TexReg 3239