Texas Moves Against “TexAM” After Muslim-Affiliated School Allegedly Offered Unauthorized Degrees

By Midtown Tribune Staff

Texas officials have moved aggressively against a Richardson-based entity calling itself Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, or “TexAM,” after state regulators said it was operating without the legal authority required to offer higher-education programs in Texas.

The case drew national conservative attention after Dr. Steve Turley highlighted the controversy in a video titled, “Muslims Tried To Open an Islamic University in Texas, Then THIS HAPPENED…” The issue, however, is not merely political rhetoric. Official Texas agencies say the institution was not authorized to operate as a private postsecondary school, advertise degree programs, or use protected terms such as “university” without approval.

According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a private postsecondary institution must hold a Certificate of Authority before operating or granting degrees in Texas. The agency said TexAM had never received that certificate and therefore had to immediately stop advertising programs, enrolling students, and presenting itself as a university.

TexAM had reportedly promoted STEM-related programs, including bachelor’s programs in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, and health informatics, as well as a master’s program in artificial intelligence. The institution’s website and promotional materials also drew scrutiny because the school appeared to blend technical education with mandatory Islamic studies coursework.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton later filed suit against Texas American Muslim University, alleging that the entity unlawfully presented itself as a university, offered degrees it was not authorized to grant, and misled prospective students about its legitimacy. Paxton’s office also said TexAM solicited students online and overseas despite lacking state authorization.

“TexAM has repeatedly disregarded Texas law, misrepresented its authority to grant degrees, and risked deceiving students about its legitimacy,” Paxton said in the official announcement. His office is seeking to halt unauthorized operations and recover civil penalties exceeding $1 million for alleged violations of Texas law.

The case also triggered a separate dispute with the Texas A&M University System. State officials said TexAM’s name and branding were “confusingly similar” to Texas A&M, prompting the university system to issue its own cease-and-desist demand. Texas A&M officials argued that the similarity could mislead the public into believing there was an affiliation with the state’s flagship university system.

For critics, the case raises broader questions about oversight, accreditation, foreign student recruitment, and the use of religious branding in higher education. For supporters of TexAM, the dispute may be viewed as part of a wider political climate in Texas, where Muslim organizations and religiously affiliated institutions have faced increased scrutiny.

But the narrow legal question is straightforward: Texas says no organization may call itself a university, advertise degrees, or enroll students in degree programs without meeting state requirements.

The TexAM controversy is now a test of how strictly Texas will enforce higher-education laws against unapproved institutions — and whether regulators can stop unauthorized schools before students are misled into paying for credentials that may have no legal standing.

Official Sources

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: Cease-and-desist announcement regarding TexAM
Texas Attorney General: Lawsuit against TexAM for alleged unauthorized degree offerings and misleading Texans
Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter G: Private postsecondary institutional authority requirements
Texas A&M University System: Trademark and branding concerns reported in official state filings and public statements

Official Sources

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York