Texas American Muslim University (TexAM) at Dallas broke its silence Thursday, providing The Dallas Express with a written response to the cease-and-desist order from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office. The unaccredited and unauthorized “university” now states that it does not actually grant degrees or charge tuition.
TexAm has also pledged to cooperate with state regulations it had previously ignored.
The response, sent Thursday evening, came after Abbott publicly directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to issue the cease-and-desist against TexAm. The school had been given until Friday, May 8, to sign a compliance letter confirming it had stopped all advertising, enrollment, and use of protected academic terms, such as using the “university” label.
As of Friday morning, the school’s official website still reads: “TexAM University is the first university in the United States to offer STEM degree programs embedded with mandatory courses in Islamic Studies,” and has class schedules posted for the remainder of 2026.
TexAM University webpage screenshot 05/08/26
As DX has previously reported, TexAM started receiving scrutiny for advertising degree programs – including a master’s in Artificial Intelligence and bachelor’s programs in computer science, cybersecurity, IT, and health informatics – without holding a Certificate of Authority from the THECB, which is required under Chapter 61 of the Texas Education Code.
TexAM Spring 2026 Admissions post/webpage as of 05/08/26
The school also did not list any accrediting body on its website and was actively recruiting overseas students, including through a “Special Initiative for Pakistani Students.”
Bajwa’s Defense: No Degrees, No Tuition — Contradicting Active Website Claims
Despite advertising something different, TexAM founder and Board of Trustees Chairman Shahid A. Bajwa claims that “At present, TexAM University does not grant degrees, certificates, or credentials,” Bajwa wrote in a written response provided to The Dallas Express. “We will not offer degrees until all regulatory approvals are secured.”
This is a peculiar response, seeing that the TexAM webpage states:
Posted on the TexAM webpage as of 05/08/26
Bajwa described four hurdles the school says it must clear before making the changes: first, getting 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the IRS – which he says is currently pending – then obtaining a Certificate of Authority from the THECB, then earning accreditation from SACSCOC, the regional body that accredits colleges across the South, and finally any program-specific accreditation required for fields like engineering.
On the question of what TexAM actually is, legally speaking, Bajwa said the school is registered with the Texas Secretary of State under the name “Texas American Muslim Institute for Technology at Dallas” and uses “Texas American Muslim University at Dallas” essentially as a business name.
Bajwa also pushed back on additional concerns that have fueled the scrutiny: the school has not charged tuition, he said, runs purely on donations, and allegedly does not help international students pursue visa sponsorship or post-graduation work permits.
Regardless of the lack of clarity around tuition, TexAm’s website still has an active page accepting “payments“ – not “donations – as of Friday morning.
Payment tab in TexAM webpage as of 05/08/26
Additionally, flyers on their website show fees associated with courses:
Master’s in Artificial Intelligence – TexAM University – on webpage as of 05/08/26
Mandatory Muslim Curriculum
The response also addressed the school’s widely discussed requirement that roughly 30% of coursework focus on Islamic Studies. Bajwa’s statement described it as a clearly disclosed option for students, not a mandatory religious requirement, and said the courses are offered as electives meant to highlight Muslim contributions to science, scholarship, and knowledge.
Yet, in addition to stating otherwise on their webpage, a recent screenshot of a viral video clearly shows a sign in the background advertising “mandatory Courses in Islamic Studies.”
“Our mission is to foster an environment of peace, equality, and knowledge, welcoming students of all backgrounds without discrimination based on religion, race, gender, or ability,” Bajwa wrote. “The inclusion of “Muslim’ in our name is an expression of our founders’ identity and values, like many other faith-based institutions in the United States and not a discrimination.”
Where Things Stand
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has reportedly not yet referred the matter to the Texas Attorney General’s office as of the time of publication. However, it has made it clear that if Texas A&M (TexAM) fails to return its compliance letter by the May 8 deadline, the next step will be to refer the issue to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office.
Bajwa’s statement concludes by saying: “We remain committed to transparency, regulatory compliance, and our mission to deliver high-quality education to a diverse student body. We welcome continued dialogue with the State, the media, and the public, as we move forward with our plans for TexAM University.”
