. 

Honorable Bevington Reed 

Commissioner, Coordinating Board 

Texas College & University System 

P. 0. Box 12788, Capitol Station 

Austin, Texas 78711 

Opinion NO. M-1065 

Re: Whether Texas State 

Technical Institute has 

the authority to award 

Dear Dr. Reed: baccalaureate degrees. 

You ask whether Texas State Technical Institute may award 

baccalaureate degrees in Technical Education and in Technology 

at its James Connally campus in Waco. 

The James Connally Technical Institute was established 

in 1965 under the control of the Board of Directors of Texas 

A&M University. The enabling Act, Article 2615f-1, Vernon's 

Civil Statutes, is quoted in part as follows: 

"Section 2. . . . 

"a. No series of courses or course 

of study shall be offered which leads to 

a baccalaureate, masters, doctorate or 

professional degree; . . .'I 

In 1969, by Article 2615f-la, Vernon's Civil Statutes, the Texas 

State Technical Institute was created with its own board of 

regents. This statute was codified in 1971 as Section 135 of 

the Texas Education Code. We note that in the general index to 

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Honorable Bevington Reed, page 2 (M-1065) 

Title 3-Higher Education, which is a part of the codification 

enacted by the Legislature, Texas State Technical Institute is 

listed in Subtitle G - Non-Baccalaureate System. Section 135 

is quoted in pertinent part as follows: 

"135.03. Role and Scope of Institute 

(a) The institute shall provide occupationally 

oriented programs in highly technical and vocational 

areas, including field or laboratory work and 

remedial or related academic and technical instruction. Particular emphasis shall be placed on industrial and technological manpower needs of the state. 

Technical and vocational programs shall be subject to 

the approval of the State Board of Vocational Education. Related academic instruction is subject to the 

approval of the Coordinating Board, Texas College and 

University System. 

(b)The institute shall provide training programs 

for technical teachers, counselors, and supervisors 

which shall be subject to prior and continuing approval 

of the State Board of Vocational Education. 

(c)The institute shall conduct manpower development and utilization research programs for identification 

of training and retraining needs and projected needs 

and for curriculum development, either individually or 

in cooperation with other public and private institutions." 

"135.04. Approval of Programs 

(a)Educational programs wholly or partially 

financed from state funds are subject to the prior 

approval of the State Board of Vocational Education 

and the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System." 

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Honorable Bevington Reed, page 3 (M-1065) 

"135.51. Certificates and Diplomas 

The board shall prescribe and award certificates and diplomas limited to those common to 

technical education." 

We are not apprised of what certificates and diplomas are 

"common to technical education" but the several legislative 

Acts make clear to us that the Legislature has consistently 

viewed Texas State Technical Institute as an intermediate 

vocational and technical training institution, with ancillary 

academic programs. According to your request, Texas State 

Technical Institute has requested permission to grant baccalaureate 

degrees in Technical Education and in Technology. In Webster's 

Third New International Dictionary, a bachelor (baccalaureate) 

is defined as "a person who has received what is usually the 

first or lowest degree conferred by a college or university or 

by some professional schools." 

Our opinion is that Texas State Technical Institute does 

not have the authority to grant baccalaureate or bachelor degrees. 

SUMMARY 

The Texas State Technical Institute does 

not have the authority to grant baccalaureate 

or bachelor degrees. 

mYodrs very truly, 

6 A 

/(j&$&-J* 

Attorne General of Texas 

Prepared by Malcolm L. Quick 

Assistant Attorney General 

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, 

Honorable Bevington Reed, page 4 (M- 1065) 

APPROVED: 

OPINION COMMITTEE 

Kerns Taylor, Chairman 

W. E. Allen, Co-Chairman 

John Reeves 

Jack Goodman 

Ben Harrison 

J. C. Davis 

SAMUEL D. MCDANIEL 

Staff Legal Assistant 

ALFREDWALKER 

Executive Assistant 

NOLA WHITE 

First Assistant 

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