Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that the Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, a North Texas school that advertises degree programs with Islamic studies courses, must cease operations.

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The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board said the school is offering higher education courses and degrees without a proper certificate of authority, violating Texas laws for operating a higher education institution. 

At Abbott’s direction, the state agency ordered the school, which is based in Richardson, to cease advertising its programs and enrolling students. 

“Texas will not allow illegal educational institutions to operate in our state,” Abbott wrote Thursday in a post on X. 

Shahid Bajwa, the school’s founder, said the school was “actively engaging” with state officials to “clarify any misunderstandings and to ensure full compliance with state regulations.”

Bajwa said that the school, which started its first semester in October 2025 with 26 students, was aware of the state’s process for authorization. School leaders are “in the process of seeking the necessary authorizations and accreditation and will not offer degrees until all regulatory approvals are secured,” he said in a statement Thursday evening.

The school has not granted degrees, certificates or credentials, he said, adding that it is primarily funded through donations.

Abbott’s directive comes as state leaders have increasingly scrutinized Islamic schools and sought to curtail activities hosted by Muslim groups. The state comptroller’s office initially held up dozens of Islamic K-12 schools from enrolling in Texas’ new voucher-like program, with Abbott deeming the schools sites of “radical Islamic indoctrination.”

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Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, whose website says its “north star” is to “advance Texas,” advertises itself as the first university in the country to offer STEM degree programs with mandatory courses in Islamic studies.

For example, students can enroll in what the website describes as an online Master’s in Artificial Intelligence program, which consists of 40 credits. Students take nine technology classes and four Islamic ones. Another class, called Introduction to Cybersecurity, meets twice a week and promises to provide a “comprehensive introduction to cybersecurity fundamentals.”

Overseas students can pay $99 for a 3-credit course, while U.S. students pay “$99 X 3 for a 3-credit course,” according to the website.

Bajwa said Islamic studies makes up about 30% of the school’s coursework, and the requirement is “transparent” to prospective students.

“Our goal is to showcase the positive contributions of Muslim scholars to science and knowledge, enriching the academic experience for all students,” he said.

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Richardson Mayor Amir Omar, the city’s first Muslim mayor, has previously thrown his support behind the Texas American Muslim University at Dallas. 

In a video circulating on social media, Omar can be seen at an event for the school and is heard saying that he would be “more than thrilled to be a conduit, to be able to connect you guys and your programs to industry that’s here and ready to be hiring these people.” 

Omar told The Dallas Morning News that he “was not aware of any issues regarding the required state approvals” when he attended the event in September. 

“I first learned of the potential issue only a few hours ago,” Omar said in a message, clarifying that he is not involved with the school. “I trust the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will take the appropriate steps to review and address the matter accordingly.” 

Private universities must be authorized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to grant degrees in Texas under state law. The law, which aims to “prevent deception of the public” based on “fraudulent or substandard college and university degrees,” requires institutions that are already accredited or working toward accreditation to apply for authorization. For schools that are not accredited, agency officials review several factors, such as the institutions’ mission, governance and financial resources and stability. A site visit is also part of the application. 

The school does not appear in the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. 

On Thursday, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board said the school, which is listed in state filings as a nonprofit, cannot use the term “university” without a certificate of authority, according to a letter sent from the agency to the school. 

The school has until Friday to respond to the higher education agency’s letter and confirm that it has “voluntarily, permanently, and immediately ceased” advertising, offering and enrolling students in programs. 

Both Abbott and the coordinating board threatened legal action by the attorney general if the school does not comply. 

Staff writer Jessica Ma contributed to this report.