“Muslim University” Shut Down By State Officials

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board ordered Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, also known as “TexAM,” to cease operations after state officials determined the institution was operating without the proper authorization required under Texas law. According to the report, the university had been advertising STEM degree programs and actively recruiting students despite lacking the required Certificate of Authority from the state. 

Texas Family Project fully supports the decision by state officials to crack down on unauthorized Islamic institutions operating in Texas. The people of Texas have every right to expect transparency, accountability, and adherence to state law from any organization presenting itself as a university. When institutions attempt to bypass oversight while advertising degree programs to students and families, the state has a duty to step in immediately.

Governor Greg Abbott made it clear Texas “will not allow illegal educational institutions to operate in our state.” State officials reportedly ordered the school to stop enrolling students, stop advertising degree programs, and stop using protected terms such as “university.” 

This issue also comes at a time when Texans are increasingly concerned about efforts to create exclusive Islamic institutions and facilities within the state. Texans recently witnessed another controversy involving a taxpayer-funded public venue in Grand Prairie. A planned

Eid celebration at the publicly owned Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark was originally advertised as a “Muslim only” event before public backlash forced organizers to change the language. Governor Abbott responded strongly, threatening to revoke more than $530,000 in state funding if the city allowed the event to proceed as advertised. The city ultimately canceled the event. 

Texas Family Project applauds Governor Abbott for defending equal access to taxpayer-funded facilities. Public venues funded by Texas families should never be restricted to one religious group. Equal protection under the law matters, and state leaders have a responsibility to prevent discrimination and segregation in publicly funded spaces.

The controversy surrounding the waterpark event also reflects a broader debate currently taking place across Texas regarding religious exclusivity and the influence of organizations attempting to build parallel systems that separate themselves from the broader public.

Governor Abbott previously signed House Bill 4211, legislation designed to prevent discriminatory “Sharia compounds” and housing arrangements that would impose religious-based restrictions on Texans. Abbott stated that Texas would not allow religion to be used “as a form of segregation.” 

Texas must remain a state grounded in constitutional freedoms, equal treatment under the law, and transparency in public institutions. Religious liberty is a foundational American value, but religious liberty does not mean operating outside state law, restricting public access based on faith, or creating systems that divide Texans against one another.

Parents across Texas are already deeply concerned about the direction of education, the erosion of American values in schools, and the increasing politicization of public institutions.

The last thing Texans need is unauthorized universities operating without oversight while marketing themselves as legitimate educational institutions. Families deserve assurance that schools are properly accredited, legally authorized, and accountable to the public.