The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has ordered that the “Texas American Muslim University at Dallas” immediately cease operations, saying it has been illegally offering higher education programs in Texas without state authorization.

The “TexAM University at Dallas” or “Texas American Muslim University” (TexAM) has been marketing itself as a new university for Muslim students. The institution has been claiming to offer STEM programs alongside mandatory Islamic studies.

According to a letter sent by the coordinating board, TexAM has never received the required Certificate of Authority from the state to operate or grant degrees in Texas under Chapter 61 of the Texas Education Code.

“TexAM has never been granted a Certificate of Authority to operate in Texas; therefore, TexAM is prohibited by law from granting or offering to grant degrees. A person or entity’s non-compliance with Chapter 61, Subchapter G, subjects them to criminal punishment, administrative penalties, and liability for civil penalties and injunctive relief (Tex. Educ. Code § 61.316-319). Furthermore, non-compliance is a violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and subjects the person or entity to the criminal and civil liability imposed under that act (Tex. Educ. Code § 61.320),” the letter stated.

“Additionally, the use of a protected term such as ‘university’ without a certificate of authority is a violation of section 61.313 of the Texas Education Code. Such a violation subjects a person to criminal liability.

“TexAM’s advertising and postings via its website indicate that your entity publicly holds itself out as offering in the State of Texas STEM degree programs, including a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and admissions to bachelor’s degree programs in computer science, IT, cybersecurity, and health informatics. TexAM, and all related entities, must immediately cease advertising, offering, and enrolling students in degrees or programs of study until it has applied for and been granted a Certificate of Authority. You must also cease and desist from using any protected terms immediately,” the letter added.

Gov. Greg Abbott said he personally directed the action against the institution. “I directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue a Cease & Desist to ‘TexAM,’ an unauthorized Islamic educational institution operating illegally in Texas,” Abbott said in a post to X.

“If they refuse to comply, legal action will follow. Texas will not allow illegal educational institutions to operate in our state.”

The university had recently been promoting “Spring 2026 Admissions” for programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Health Informatics, and Islamic Economics, alongside coursework in Islamic studies, math, and English.

TexAM describes itself online as “the first university in the USA to offer STEM degree programs embedded with mandatory courses in Islamic Studies,” stating that roughly 30 percent of its curriculum was devoted to Islamic subjects.