Texas regulators just moved to shut down a self-styled “Muslim university” they say was operating outside the law, raising fresh questions about who is really protecting parents and students in higher education.
Story Snapshot
- Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a cease-and-desist against “Texas American Muslim University at Dallas” for operating without state approval.
- Officials say the school advertised and enrolled students in science and technology degree programs without a required Certificate of Authority.
- The state warned of potential criminal and civil penalties, including misuse of the protected term “university.”
- School leaders admit they lack authorization but claim they have not yet granted degrees or charged tuition.
Abbott Backs Crackdown On Unauthorized Muslim University In North Texas
Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue a cease-and-desist order against Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, also known as TexAM, after officials concluded it was operating without the required state authorization.[1][2] The board determined the Richardson-based institution had never been granted a Certificate of Authority under Chapter 61 of the Texas Education Code, which is necessary before any private institution can legally offer or grant degrees in Texas.[1][2]
State higher education officials said TexAM had been advertising and enrolling students in online and on-campus science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degree programs while presenting itself as a university, despite lacking legal approval to do so.[1][2][3] A board letter, described in reporting, states that because TexAM has not obtained a Certificate of Authority, it is prohibited by law from granting or even offering to grant degrees in Texas, exposing the entity to potential criminal and civil penalties if it continues operations.[2]
Cease-And-Desist Order Targets Degree Claims And “University” Branding
The May order reportedly requires TexAM to immediately stop advertising unauthorized degree programs, halt student enrollment, and discontinue use of protected terms such as “university” and “college” that Texas law reserves for approved institutions.[1][2] The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board warned that continued violations could trigger enforcement under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and possible referral to the state Attorney General for prosecution, signaling that officials view the case as more than a minor paperwork problem.[2]
According to public statements, the board also questioned TexAM’s branding, suggesting its name and marketing materials might create confusion with Texas A and M University, one of the state’s flagship public institutions. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has separately alleged that the Muslim-centered school operated as an unlicensed university while using branding that could mislead prospective students and donors into believing it was connected to Texas A and M, raising both consumer protection and intellectual property concerns.
School Founder Pushes Back While Admitting Lack Of Authorization
TexAM founder and board chairman Shahid A. Bajwa responded that the organization is legally registered in Texas as a nonprofit and operates under a “doing business as” filing for Texas American Muslim University at Dallas.[2] Bajwa said the institution is funded primarily through donations, insisted it has not charged tuition, and stated that TexAM “does not grant degrees, certificates, or credentials” at this time, framing it as a developing institution still working through regulatory requirements rather than a functioning degree mill.[2]
At the direction of Governor Abbott, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) today sent a letter demanding that an entity calling itself Texas American Muslim University at Dallas (TexAM) cease all operations. pic.twitter.com/1zs5TMl5Re
— Hemingwaypaws (@Hemingwaypaws) May 21, 2026
Bajwa further acknowledged that TexAM must obtain state authorization and accreditation before it can legally grant degrees, saying the group is “in the process of seeking the necessary authorizations and accreditations” and is “actively engaging” with the coordinating board to ensure compliance.[2] However, the available record does not show whether any application for a Certificate of Authority was actually on file when enforcement began, and it does not rebut state claims that the school had already been advertising and enrolling students in degree programs.[1][2]
Why Conservatives Should Care About Enforcement, Transparency, And Equal Treatment
This clash highlights two issues conservatives have long cared about: honest dealing with families and equal enforcement of the law in a higher education system already riddled with bureaucratic games. Texas law requires private schools to clear specific hurdles before calling themselves universities or promising degrees, largely to protect students from being saddled with useless credentials and wasted savings.[2] When an institution markets science and technology degrees before securing that authority, regulators are expected to step in on behalf of parents and taxpayers.[1][3]
At the same time, the dispute is being framed publicly in explicitly religious terms, with repeated references to a “Muslim university” and an “Islamic educational institution,” which risks turning a straightforward licensing matter into another culture-war flashpoint.[1][2][3] Without the full cease-and-desist letter and board investigative file publicly available, citizens cannot yet see every fact behind the order, leaving room for both supporters and critics to claim either necessary consumer protection or selective targeting, depending on their politics.[1][2]
Next Steps: Demand Documents And Consistent Standards In Higher Education
For Texans who want both strong oversight and limited government, the path forward is clear: insist on transparency and consistent standards for every private institution that seeks to call itself a university, regardless of religious or ideological branding. Obtaining the full coordinating board order, investigative memos, and any TexAM authorization filings would clarify whether officials followed established precedent or treated this case differently.[1][2] That documentation would also show precisely what was advertised to prospective students and how far operations had advanced.
Conservative voters should watch closely how the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Attorney General’s office handle similar cases involving nonreligious or secular progressive institutions, to ensure this is not a one-off crackdown while politically favored campuses skate by. If state law is enforced fairly and transparently, Texans can both protect families from deceptive academic promises and defend religious liberty against genuine double standards, reinforcing the rule of law that underpins the constitutional order.
Sources:
[1] Web – Abbott’s Urgent Order: TexAM University Banned in Texas – Audacy
[2] Web – State Board Orders Muslim University in Dallas To Shut Down
[3] YouTube – Texas to Shut Down Unauthorized ‘American Muslim University’
