Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a North Texas institution operating as “TexAM,” accusing the school of illegally offering degrees without state authorization and misleading students by using branding similar to Texas A&M University System.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit <\/a>targets Texas American Muslim University, also known as TexAM, along with three people associated with its operations. <\/p>\n TexAM describes itself as a faith-based institution focused on STEM education integrated with Islamic studies.<\/p>\n The school advertised bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in fields including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computer science and health informatics, while promoting online coursework and a campus in Richardson.<\/p>\n Paxton alleges the school advertised bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, operated a campus in Richardson and recruited students online and overseas despite never receiving a certificate of authority from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.<\/p>\n “TexAM has repeatedly disregarded Texas law, misrepresented its authority to grant degrees, and risked deceiving students about its legitimacy,” Paxton said in a statement <\/a>announcing the lawsuit. “My office will not allow illegal, unaccredited degree mills to operate in Texas.”<\/p>\n The legal action follows a cease-and-desist letter<\/a> sent by the Higher Education Coordinating Board earlier this month at the direction of Governor Greg Abbott<\/a>.<\/p>\n The board said the institution was operating illegally under Texas law and ordered it to stop advertising degree programs and enrolling students.<\/p>\n Days later, the Texas A&M University System issued its own cease-and-desist letter,<\/a> arguing that the use of “TexAM” and similar names created confusion and falsely implied an affiliation with the university system. <\/p>\n Chancellor Glenn Hegar said the system had “a responsibility to protect the name and trademarks” tied to Texas A&M’s reputation and public trust.<\/p>\n