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) Commissioner--The Commissioner of Higher Education.

(3) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)--Formal Agreement between two or more public institutions of higher education that define their roles in the establishment and operation of a multi-institutional teaching center. One or more private institutions may be included in the memorandum of understanding.

(4) Multi-Institution Teaching Center (MITC)--An off-campus educational unit administered under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between two or more public higher education institutions. It may also involve one or more private institutions. It has minimal administration and locally provided facilities.

(5) Off-campus educational unit--A subdivision under the management and control of a parent institution(s), in a separate geographic setting with varying degrees of dependence in academic, administrative and fiscal matters. Off-campus education units include: (A) Branch campus--A major, secondary location of an institution offering multiple programs, usually with its own administrative structure and usually headed by a Dean. A branch campus must be established by the Legislature or approved by the Board. (B) Higher education teaching site--An off-campus teaching location that promotes access to a very limited array of courses and/or programs. Teaching sites may not own facilities, nor are they eligible for state support to acquire or build facilities, and do not entail a permanent commitment for continued service. See §5.76(i). While higher education teaching sites do not require Board approval or recognition, institutions must notify the Board and institutions within a 50-mile radius of the teaching site and/or Higher Education Regional Council(s) prior to offering courses and/or programs. Issues and concerns must be resolved following Board policy related to approval of distance education off-campus courses and programs. (C) Multi-Institution Teaching Center (MITC)--An off-campus educational unit administered under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between two or more public higher education institutions. It may also involve one or more private institutions. It has minimal administration and locally provided facilities. (D) Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC)--A special purpose campus of parent health-related institution(s) that may be used to provide undergraduate clinical education, graduate education, including residency training programs, or other levels of medical education in specifically identified counties. (E) Single institution center--An off-campus educational unit administered by a single parent institution. It has minimal administration and locally provided facilities. (F) Special Purpose Campus--A major, secondary location of an institution offering programs related to specific and limited field(s) of study, usually with its own administrative structure and usually headed by a Dean. Regional Academic Health Centers are considered special-purpose campuses. Special Purpose Campuses must be established by the Legislature or approved by the Board. (G) University System Center (USC)--An off-campus educational unit administered by a single university system comprised of two or more of the system's parent institutions. A memorandum of understanding must be established between all parties that governs the operations of the USC. It has minimal administration and locally provided facilities.

(6) Parent institution--General academic teaching institution, medical or dental unit, or university system as defined in TEC §61.003 that offers its courses, programs or training at an off-campus educational unit. Credit hours are reported by the parent institution and degrees are awarded in the name of the parent institution.

Source Note: The provisions of this §5.73 adopted to be effective May 28, 2003, 28 TexReg 4126; amended to be effective August 11, 2004, 29 TexReg 7671; amended to be effective November 23, 2016, 41 TexReg 9110