Paxton sues North Texas Muslim school over alleged 'illegal, unaccredited' degrees

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Texas American Muslim University at Dallas, alleging the school illegally operated as a degree-granting institution without proper authorization from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The lawsuit, filed in Collin County District Court, follows Governor Greg Abbott’s directive earlier this month for the school to halt operations after determining it violated state law. The school, which branded itself as the first U.S. institution to offer STEM degrees with mandatory Islamic studies courses, stopped enrolling students and deactivated its website and social media last week after complying with the state’s May 6 order. Paxton’s office claims the school, founded by Shahid Bajwa, misled students by granting unaccredited degrees and using branding similar to Texas A&M University, potentially causing public confusion. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the school from operating as a private postsecondary institution or using logos resembling Texas A&M’s, while also pursuing over $1 million in civil penalties under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Act and the Texas Education Code. Bajwa stated the school had ceased operations and complied with state directives, arguing the Higher Education Coordinating Board should have formally announced the closure. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board confirmed receiving a letter from Bajwa on May 11 stating the school had halted operations and stopped using protected terms. The board requires private universities to apply for authorization to grant degrees, reviewing factors like mission, governance, and financial stability. Texas American Muslim University does not appear in the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited institutions. Additionally, Texas A&M University System has threatened legal action over alleged trademark infringement, as the school used the name 'TexAM University,' risking public confusion about its affiliation with the state university system. State leaders have increasingly scrutinized Islamic schools in Texas, with Abbott previously ordering the school to stop advertising its programs. The legal challenges highlight concerns over unaccredited institutions operating without oversight, raising questions about student protections and academic legitimacy in the state.