Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to order the immediate shutdown of an unauthorized Muslim “university” operating in the Dallas suburb of Richardson.

The fake “university,” calling itself the “Texas American Muslim University at Dallas,” has been marketing and enrolling students in degree programs, including master’s degrees in Artificial Intelligence and bachelor’s programs in computer science, IT, cybersecurity, and health informatics, without state approval.

The school openly promoted that roughly 30 percent of its curriculum consists of mandatory Islamic studies courses, billing itself as “the first university in the USA to offer STEM degree programs embedded with mandatory courses in Islamic Studies.”

On Thursday, the THECB issued a formal cease-and-desist letter demanding that the institution immediately “cease advertising, offering, and enrolling students in degrees or programs of study” and stop using protected terms such as “university.”

The letter explicitly states that TexAM has never been granted a Certificate of Authority under Chapter 61 of the Texas Education Code, which is required for any institution to legally offer or grant degrees in the state.

THECB’s letter warns of severe consequences for continued violations, including criminal punishment, administrative penalties, civil penalties, injunctive relief, and liability under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

It reads in part:

In order to operate or grant degrees in Texas, a private postsecondary educational institution is required to hold a Certificate of Authority issued by the THECB pursuant to Chapter 61, Subchapter G 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).

It also notes that unauthorized use of the term “university” carries its own criminal liability under Texas Education Code § 61.313.

The institution was given until Friday to confirm in writing that it had “voluntarily, permanently, and immediately ceased” all prohibited activities.

Governor Abbott personally announced the action in a post on X, saying, “I directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue a Cease & Desist to ‘TexAM,’ an unauthorized Islamic educational institution operating illegally in Texas. If they refuse to comply, legal action will follow. Texas will not allow illegal educational institutions to operate in our state.”

I directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue a Cease & Desist to “TexAM,” an unauthorized Islamic educational institution operating illegally in Texas.

If they refuse to comply, legal action will follow.

Texas will not allow illegal educational… pic.twitter.com/JoxvIvrgJg

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 7, 2026

The move comes as TexAM has been aggressively promoting “Spring 2026 Admissions” on its website and has classes already underway.

The Texas A&M University System has also issued its own cease-and-desist letter to TexAM, demanding it stop using names and branding that allegedly infringe upon or dilute Texas A&M’s trademarks.

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