Illegal Degree Mill Busted by Texas Officials

Texas just shut down an unapproved Muslim “university” that was quietly marketing high-tech degrees without a state green light, raising hard questions about who is really protecting students and taxpayers.

Story Snapshot

Gov. Greg Abbott directed state higher-education officials to issue a cease-and-desist against Texas American Muslim University at Dallas (TexAM) for operating without authority.
Regulators say the school never obtained the legally required Certificate of Authority but still advertised and enrolled students in science and technology degree programs.
The order forces TexAM to stop calling itself a university, halt enrollment, and end all promotion of unauthorized degree programs.
The case highlights Texas’ broader effort to crack down on deceptive higher-education schemes while defending families from wasted tuition and useless credentials.

Texas Moves Against Unauthorized Muslim “University” In Richardson

Texas regulators have ordered a Richardson-based institution operating as Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, also branded as TexAM University, to shut down after determining it was offering degree programs without state approval.^[2] According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, TexAM never obtained the required Certificate of Authority under Chapter 61 of the Texas Education Code, which is mandatory before any private outfit can operate as a college, market degrees, or hold itself out as a university in Texas.^[1]^[2]

The board’s enforcement letter, as described in public reporting, states that because TexAM has never been granted a Certificate of Authority, it is “prohibited by law from granting or offering to grant degrees.”^[2] Officials say TexAM had been promoting online and on-campus science, technology, engineering, and math degree programs, including fields like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, wrapped in mandatory Islamic studies courses, despite having no permission to do so.^[1]^[3] Regulators stressed that these rules exist to protect students from sham programs and worthless diplomas.^[2]

Abbott’s Directive And The Fight Against Degree Mills

Governor Greg Abbott did not sit on the sidelines. He publicly announced that he personally directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue a cease-and-desist letter to TexAM, describing it as an “unauthorized Islamic educational institution operating illegally in Texas” and warning that if it refuses to comply, legal action will follow.^[1]^[3] That directive fits a pattern many conservatives welcome: a state finally using its power to defend families against deceptive institutions instead of chasing cultural fads.

Under the order, TexAM must immediately stop offering degree programs, halt all advertising and student enrollment, and drop protected terms such as “university” and “college” from its branding.^[1]^[2] State officials say misuse of those titles, without authorization, can trigger enforcement under both education law and consumer-protection statutes, including the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.^[2] The coordinating board has warned that ongoing violations could bring criminal charges, civil liability, and administrative penalties, and could be referred to Attorney General Ken Paxton for prosecution.^[2]

TexAM’s Defense And What We Still Do Not Know

TexAM’s founder and board chairman, Shahid A. Bajwa, responded by emphasizing that the entity is registered in Texas as a nonprofit and currently operates under the “Texas American Muslim University at Dallas” assumed-name filing.^[2] He claimed the organization is funded largely by donations, has not charged tuition, and “does not grant degrees, certificates, or credentials” at this time, while acknowledging that it must obtain state authorization and accreditation before doing so legally.^[2] Bajwa says the group is working with the coordinating board to resolve the matter.^[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

Those statements complicate the picture but do not erase the reported problems. Bajwa’s acknowledgment that TexAM is only “in the process of seeking the necessary authorizations and accreditations” confirms it lacked approval when it promoted degree programs.^[2] That means outsiders cannot independently verify every detail about what TexAM advertised, how many students enrolled, or whether any instruction had already begun.^[1]^[2]

Consumer Protection, Religious Framing, And Conservative Priorities

The fact that TexAM is an explicitly Muslim-centered institution has drawn national attention, with some commentators using the episode to score culture-war points from both directions.^[1]^[3] Yet the underlying legal theory mirrors past crackdowns on secular “degree mills”: Texas requires any outfit offering degrees to secure a Certificate of Authority first, and bars unapproved schools from using protected terms that can mislead students into thinking they are attending a legitimate university.^[2]^[5] That is basic consumer protection, not an attack on religious liberty.

For conservatives who value limited but effective government, this case underscores why targeted enforcement matters. Families already suffer from inflated tuition, federal loan chaos, and universities that push leftist ideology instead of real skills. Allowing unapproved institutions to market high-tech degrees without oversight would compound that harm, leaving students with empty résumés and drained savings. By insisting that every school—religious or not—play by the same rules, Texas is drawing a line in favor of transparency, accountability, and respect for the law.^[1]^[2]^[5]