North Texas Muslim-focused university ordered to cease operations by state regulators
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board ordered Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, known as TexAM, to halt operations
DALLAS, United States (MNTV) – The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has ordered Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, known as TexAM, to halt operations, citing the institution’s lack of a Certificate of Authority required to legally operate and grant degrees in the state.
The board stated in its directive that TexAM does not hold the necessary state authorization to function as a university and has requested formal acknowledgment of the cease-and-desist order by May 8.
TexAM, based in Richardson and offering both in-person and online STEM courses, has contested the characterization. In a public statement, the institution said it is a legally registered entity in Texas and is cooperating with regulators to address what it described as misunderstandings regarding compliance requirements.
The school describes itself as a STEM-focused institution integrating mandatory Islamic studies into its academic programs. It argues that the inclusion of “Muslim” in its institutional name reflects the identity and values of its founders and is comparable to other faith-based educational institutions across the United States.
The action follows a directive attributed to Governor Greg Abbott, who stated that state regulators were instructed to intervene. State officials characterized the issue as one of regulatory enforcement against unlicensed educational providers and warned that legal proceedings could follow if the institution does not comply.
TexAM states it operates under a nonprofit organization structure and relies primarily on donations rather than tuition fees. Regulatory documents cited by the state raise questions about the institution’s operational structure and how it presents itself publicly versus how it is registered as a business entity.
The dispute highlights broader regulatory scrutiny over alternative higher education providers, particularly those that combine religious identity with academic branding. It also underscores ongoing tensions between state oversight mechanisms and emerging private educational models that operate outside traditional accreditation systems.
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