The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Board--The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(2) Degree or certificate program--Any grouping of subject matter courses which, when satisfactorily completed by a student, will entitle the student to receive a degree or certificate from an institution of higher education.

(3) Institution of higher education or institution--Any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, medical or dental unit, or other agency of higher education as defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003.

(4) Low-Producing Degree Programs--Degree programs that do not meet the following minimum standards for degrees awarded in the program: (A) For career technical certificates, associate and bachelor's programs, an average of five degrees awarded per academic year, to total not fewer than twenty-five degrees awarded for any five-year period; (B) For master's programs, an average of three degrees awarded per academic year, to total not fewer than fifteen degrees awarded for any five-year period; and (C) For doctoral and special professional degrees, an average of two degrees awarded per academic year, to total not fewer than ten degrees awarded for any five-year period.

(5) Permanent Exemption--Exemption for degree programs which removes them from the list of low-producing degree programs indefinitely.

(6) Related Degree Program--A degree program for which an institution may use common faculty and other resources.

Source Note: The provisions of this §4.287 adopted to be effective May 26, 2010, 35 TexReg 4148; amended to be effective November 29, 2011, 36 TexReg 8010; amended to be effective November 24, 2013, 38 TexReg 8425